By Rebecca Omastiak
This Sunday, April 22 is the perfect day to throw a “house warming” party. Why? It’s Earth Day! And what better way to take care of our shared home (Earth) than with eco-friendly and sustainable fashion? Before images of hemp and Birkenstocks cloud your mind, check out these innovative and cause-supporting styles:
Try a ruffled dress, a tie blouse, or a patterned skirt for chic Earth Day style:
(Best Party Dress in grey gabardine ($126), from Popomomo; Knot blouse ($154) by Camilla Norrback, from Kaight; Saint skirt ($175), from Study)
Popomomo, a clothing company based in Los Angeles, incorporates sustainability into its designs, using fabrics that are non-detrimental to the environment, organic, and made with recycled materials.
Kaight clothing in New York City boasts “smart, ethical, and eco-friendly clothing and accessories” featuring clothes and jewelry made from recycled materials and fabrics that are plant-based, like the bamboo fabric of this blouse (center).
Tara St. James, owner and head designer of Study, a “high-concept fashion brand” in New York City, sources fabrics from fair trade organizations. A few of these collaborations include Women Weave (in India), Madres Y Artesanas (in Bolivia), and Conservation Through Poverty Alleviation or CPALI (in Madagascar).
For another way to green up your look, try a few spring-like accessories:
(Top left, “Plant a Seed” Charity Frame, ($140), by Marc by Marc Jacobs, from marcjacobs.com, top right, sea glass earrings, ($25), by Swept from the Sea Designs, from etsy, bottom left, FEED Nature bag, ($50), from FEED, bottom right, Corbel Women’s Vegan Classics, ($54), by TOMS, from toms.com)
Marc Jacobs has partnered with The Nature Conservancy and designed a pair of eco-friendly shades through his Marc by Marc Jacobs line. The sunglasses (seen at top left) are bio-based, made from a material originating from castor oil seeds and arrive in a case made from repurposed leather. Through the Plant a Seed Project website, each customer can plant a tree virtually to replenish the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest.
Sea glass is always a fun find on the beach and now you can wear it as a pretty pair of earrings. Swept from the Sea Designs accents its root beer bottle sea glass earrings with dainty gold flowers.
FEED, an organization known for its work with the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) School Feeding program, has launched a very Earth Day-friendly bag. For every FEED Nature bag sold, FEED will donate 25 meals to those in areas devastated by natural disasters.
Eco-friendly footwear king, TOMS shoes, has stepped up its game even more with a vegan line: the shoes do not use any animal products and are made with pesticide-free cotton.
With these sustainable clothing and accessory options, you can enjoy your Earth Day plans knowing you have had a (very fashionable) hand in the reduce, reuse, recycle movement. For local sales and events celebrating Earth Day, check out Dani Segelbaum’s list.
Featured image: Tree Shirt ($29), by Forgotten Shirts, from forgottenshirts.com
