Eco-friendly clothing has come a long way from those foggy, hippie-dippie days filled with crunchy, hemp sandals and patchouli-smelling maxis. Thanks to brands like Kowtow and Amour Vert that focus on style as much as sustainability. In honor of Earth Month, we’re sharing our favorite sustainable fashion brands that get it right, from ready-to-wear and handbags to jewelry and shoes. Because, let’s face it, we are what we wear.
LABEL: H&M Conscious
CREATIVE ADVISOR: Ann-Sofie Johansson
AESTHETIC: Trendy, modern wares, from bridal gowns to day dresses.
The brand tapped Julia Restoin Roitfeld, daughter of famed editor Carine Roitfeld, to model the new bridal collection. Its April 7 launch coincides with the opening of an exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs called Fashion Forward: Three Centuries of Fashion (1715–2015).
LABEL: A Peace Treaty
FOUNDERS: Dana Arbib and Farah Malik
AESTHETIC: Ethically-produced, opulent baubles and scarves with an international flair.
The label's jewelry is designed in New York, but handmade everywhere from Pakistan to Ecuador to Colorado.
LABEL: Edun
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Danielle Sherman
AESTHETIC: Sophisticated and feminine ready-to-wear designs.
Edun was co-founded by Bono in 2005 with the mission to build sustainable growth
LABEL: Alabama Chanin
DESIGNER: Natalie Chanin
AESTHETIC: Locally-sewn jersey garments and home goods.
The line was named after the designer’s home state of Alabama and all its pieces are produced in Florence, Alabama.
LABEL: Pelcor
FOUNDER: Sandra Correia
AESTHETIC: Contemporary accessory designs made entirely from cork skin.
The Portuguese brand harvests cork from trees in the country's oak forests. It takes 20 to 25 years before the first cork can be harvested from an oak tree and after the first extraction, cork can be removed every nine years. Because of small color variations in the cork, no two Pelcor pieces are alike.