Sustainable Brands to Shop for Earth Day (And Every Day)

Ralph Lauren worked with the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) to create this cashmere sweater that’s verified to be responsibly made and circular. The cashmere fibers, dye, and even the organic cotton label are produced with the environment in mind, making the sweater the first-of-its-kind luxury product to be C2C Certified. Areas of assessment include: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air & Climate Protection, Water & Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.

• Material: Italian cashmere.

Hunter’s BLOOM™ line is created with algae that have grown in excess in natural waterways. By sourcing the material from ecosystems that would otherwise be harmed by overgrowth, the process actually helps reverse the effects of water pollution. Not to mention, the clogs are comfy and lightweight!

• Material: 90% EVA, 10% Algae BLOOM™

All Fruity Booty products are made using only deadstock fabric and sustainably sourced materials. This set was made completely out of surplus lace, which means it’s recycled and limited edition.

• Material: 100% surplus lace (85% Polyamide and 15% Elastane)

Just like the fashion industry, the gold industry doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to sustainability. Daniella Samper uses only Fairmined gold, which is ethically sourced with the environment and local communities in mind. The gold is traceable and extracted from small-scale mines in Colombia and Peru, with regulated practices to minimize impact and protect workers.

• Material: Solid 18K Fairmined gold

All mou products contain a minimum of 95% natural fiber materials and when possible, biodegradable and recycled/recyclable materials. Their goal is to reduce hazardous waste and plastic usage while raising awareness for environmental issues in the industry. Their products are also designed to last, reducing the need to buy and buy and buy.

• Materials: EVA sole, microsuede footbed

Etica prides itself on being an ethically made denim brand. The brand uses Refibra, which is an upcycled cellulose fiber made from recycled cotton. Their low-impact wash process uses 90 percent less water and 63 percent less energy than typical denim cycles, and zero harmful chemicals are used. Social responsibility is at the heart of the brand, as well, with fair labor, vertical integration, and local communities prioritized within the company’s structure.

• Material: 77% Cotton, 23% Refibra Tencel, an upcycled cellulose fiber made from recycled cotton

DETA produces its products locally in Brooklyn and only on demand, which means there’s no overproduction or excess fabric waste. Each suit is 3-D printed and knitted with one piece of yarn as part of the zero-waste knitting process. Only what is needed is used!

• Material: 80% Polyester, 20% Nylon, 3-D printed in Brooklyn

Moo creates handbags out of discarded, ethically sourced cow horns in Uganda. The use of the horns not only creates beautiful, unique bags but also reduces local air pollution (as it’s common to simply burn and scatter discarded horns). The closures and lining are made with vegan leather, sourced from local Ugandan shops.

• Material: 100% discarded Ankole cow horns

Jeanerica’s sustainability commitment stems from a zero-waste philosophy that focuses on using recycled fabrics and fibers and reducing water usage and chemical treatments. The brand’s manufacturer ISKO specializes in design research to maximize quality and minimize footprint.

Crap Eyewear products are made with a plant-based frame material called bioacetate, which is biodegradable yet sturdy. The packaging is single-use plastic free and made with recycled materials when possible. The brand is Certified Carbon Neutral and donates one percent of sales to environmental causes.

• Material: Handcrafted bioacetate–biodegradable & plant-based.

97 percent of the materials used in Bite Studios’ collections are organic, recycled, or low-impact. Based between London and Stockholm, the brand uses organic cotton, ethical and regenerative wool, organic silk, recycled cashmere, and trademarked sustainable materials.

• Material: Organic cotton and elastane

Founded by sisters Pipatchara and Jittrinee Kaeojinda, Pipatchara is a Bangkok-based brand whose goal is to help rural communities in Thailand support themselves. Their crafting techniques are taught to local artisans who create the bags out of meat-byproduct Italian leather. The brand also has an upcycled collection of bags made out of recycled plastic bottle lids, food containers, and tupperware.

• Material: 100% Calf Leather / Suede leather

Fashion lovers everywhere ogle over Reformation pieces, and those who are sustainably minded can appreciate that the brand has been carbon neutral certified since 2015 and pledged to be climate positive by 2025. The label produces limited quantities of items using low impact materials, deadstock fabrics, and repurposed vintage garments in sustainable factories. Currently, Reformation recycles about 75 percent of its waste and offsets all carbon emissions. They even offset the energetic cost of you shopping on their website. Yes, seriously!

These sneakers by Camper are made with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified materials. These recycled textiles help reduce dependence on virgin plastics and decrease the waste sent to landfills. The shoes are also just cool to look at, as per usual for Camper.

• Material: 3-D knitted water-repellent recycled PET sock interiors, TPU exteriors, and 100% recycled PU outsoles. Fully recyclable.

Kye Intimates products are made from deadstock and renewable materials. Their packaging is minimal with 100 percent recycled materials, and any non-compostable bra samples are donated to I Support the Girls, an organization that donates bras and menstrual products to women and refugees experiencing homelessness, natural disasters, or domestic violence.

• Material: 93% Nylon, 7% Spandex

CLED literally turns trash into treasure with its jewelry. Glass tends to be thought of as recyclable, but it’s actually not so easy, as it’s expensive, heavy, and requires more sorting. CLED sources recycled glass from local establishments to turn into unique Eco Gems™ for their pieces.

• Materials: Sterling silver or 24K gold vermeil, upcycled eco gem repurposed from discarded glass bottles

Dauphinette’s upcycled collections allow vintage items to be made anew. Pieces are created with the materials available that day. One-of-a-kind and eco-friendly? That’s tough to beat.