Image: Nisolo

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The Best Sustainable & Eco-fRiendly Belts

Whether your belt is being used for function or simply adding a little flair to your look, they are something often overlooked in sustainable fashion. From wide belts with large buckles or slim belts with a slide fastener to braided or carved, belts can transform your style. Since belts are often made from plastic or rubber and not sustainable materials they quickly contribute to fast fashion waste as they crack, break and are discarded often. Thankfully, there are companies dedicated to the innovation of fashion who used some creativity and innovation to make a sustainable belt option.

What materials are sustainable belts made from?

Traditionally belts were made from animal skins, like cow or crocodile, or materials like nylon, plastic, and vinyl. There are many more sustainable materials available now. One of the most renewable resources is cork. It doesn’t require cutting down the cork oak tree to use it and the bark grows back quickly to be harvested again. Cork easily mimics the leather look and is durable for daily wear and tear which is important for a belt.

Many companies choose to use recycled nylon or polyester, which prevents it from otherwise being sent to the landfill. While these materials are not renewable or sustainable on their own, but using recycled versions is a great way to reduce waste. Belts are especially good for recycled materials as they require less material as other garments so the recycled material can be utilized more efficiently.

More recently leather replacements using materials like plant skins of cactus, pineapple leaves, or apple peels have become increasingly popular. These bio-based leather alternatives are growing in demand and popularity due to how accessible they are and decreased environmental impact they make.

You can also find sustainable brands who use veggie-tanned leathers.

Where can you shop sustainable belts?

This list compiles a variety of shops with a range of price points, from luxury to budget options, there is something for everyone!

1) Unbelts

For | Gender Neutral

The super comfy stretchy belts made for real life! Unbelts was created to help you feel great in your jeans while sustaining quality jobs throughout their entire supply chain. Their Intrepid Belts are guaranteed to last a lifetime; buy it once and Unbelts will repair or replace it forever. They are also a Certified B Corp and made from recycled plastic bottles.

Besides the many colors and patterns for adults, they make belts for children too! You also never have to worry about buckle bulk with their super-smooth low-profile hardware.

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2) Nisolo

For | Men & Women

Nisolo offers versatile designs for your everyday life. The company is built on the mission to create products that are comfortable, functional, and always made responsibly. B Corp Certified, Climate Neutral certified and their factory is solar-powered. They also are transparent with their labor policies and all producers receive beyond fair trade wages, healthcare, and a healthy working environment. Nisolo’s belts offer easy and effortless styling that will go with everything you already have in your closet and conventional & veggie-tanned leather is used for their belts.

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3) Will’s Vegan Store

For | Men & Women

Will’s Vegan Store believes that if we all try to make a positive choice we can create positive change in the world. The belts are made from Italian vegan leather with plants created with bio oil sourced from organic cereal crops grown in Northern Europe. In addition to safe and fair labor for their workers in Italy and Portugal, everything in Will’s Vegan Store is certified carbon neutral, all packaging is plastic-free and they offer a recycle service when your items are ready to retire.

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4) Poppy Barley

For | Men & Women

Poppy Barley is a Canadian brand and B-Corporation founded by two sisters in Edmonton, AB.

Their company is committed to rethinking every step to create sustainably made, fairly-priced products designed to be worn on repeat.

Their classic belts are made with LWG Certified leather and come in 2 different styles.

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5) Asket

For | Men

Cut and braided in an artisanal studio in Florence, Italy, The Braided Elastic Belt is made from soft and durable Italian cotton-rubber-viscose cords and embellished with vegan leather trims. Find it in 3 different colors - beige, black and dark navy.

ASKET believes in full traceability from the very start to the end. They refer to this as ‘From Farm to Finish Line.” For each garment, you can look up its history.

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6) Mayamam Weavers

For | Women

If you’re looking for a belt to bring some color and vibrancy to your outfit, Mayamam Weavers is known for just that! Handwoven and embroidered with eye-catching patterns, each belt is one of a kind. Mayamam Weavers is a company based in New Jersey and are members of the Fair Trade Federation ensuring their workers are not only paid fair wages but they are also empowered to learn business skills to better their future. Their belt styles are all made from 100% cotton and don’t let their beauty fool you, all styles are durable for daily use.

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7) Elvis & Kresse

For | Men & Women

Not only can you support sustainable ethical business, you can also support a great cause. Elvis and Kresse is a luxury lifestyle accessories brand that makes belts out of London’s decommissioned fire hose. This company is built upon the three pillars of rescue, transform, and donate. They rescue their materials and transform them into something new then donate a part of the profits. They will even repair your belt for life. As a B Corp Certified, Living Wage Employer and Certified Social Enterprise company, ethics and sustainability is at the forefront of the business model. 50% of profits from the fire-hose range are donated to The Fire Fighters Charity.

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8) Nae

For | Men & Women

Sustainable and ethical for people, the planet and the animals. Using recycled or eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and cork, Nae makes shoes and accessories that are manufactured in certified and ethical factories in Portugal. The available belt styles and colors are classic for everyday outfits and use vegan leather with OEKO-TEX certified microfiber manufactured without CO2 emissions. Nae’s most popular belt styles are the braided or skinny width vegan leather.

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9) Clinch

For | Women

Clinch strives to be timeless and create accessories that you want to pass down to the next generation. While they are still working to be fully sustainable, they incorporate sustainable processes where they can. They use vegetable tanning when possible, use recycled sterling silver and brass for the belt buckles and the belts are made by people paid a livable wage in safe working conditions. Clinch has an interchangeable belt line, which allows you to mix and match your straps and buckles for a fully customized look. Their belt buckles are what makes their belts truly unique and the signature design looks like high end designer quality.

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10) Brave Leather

For | Men & Women

At Brave Leather, this Canadian company uses a vegetable tanning process to create their unique leather goods. This means no carcinogens for you or the environment and your artisan-crafted piece will last a lifetime. Brave also only uses industry by-product leather, which means not one piece of leather has ever come from an animal sacrificed for its skin. Even their adhesives are sustainable by only using those that are water-based with zero VOCs. All workers are paid fair wages and work in a safe environment in their Toronto workshop. From classic, stud-embellished or patterned, Brave creates a variety of belt styles to suit your wardrobe.

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11) Corkor

For | Men & Women

Corkor only uses certified cork and their products are handcrafted by artisans in Portugal. Cork is an eco-friendly material as it can be harvested off the tree without cutting the tree down. The Corkor belts use cork in a way that resembles leather without the exploitation of animals and is more durable. Corkor prioritizes sustainable materials, labor and manufacturing. There are three main colorways and a few different sizes for both men and women. All belts are very neutral and understated so they would be suitable for anyone looking for a classic belt.

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The ethics of jewelry

Humans have decorated themselves with jewelry for thousands of years. In prehistoric times, they used to wear shells, bones and stones as a mark of status or to protect themselves from dangers. 

But it was not until the Ancient Egypt era that jewelry making was truly established. People would use precious metals and gems to create ornaments, mainly worn by the affluent class as a symbol of wealth and power.

Over the centuries, jewelry has become so popular and widespread that today, consumers around the world spend around $348 billion every single year to buy fine and costume jewelry.

But this all comes at a cost. The jewelry industry has disastrous consequences on the environment and people working in the supply chain. 

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the impacts of jewelry on the planet and the ethical issues it raises. In the end, we give you some helpful tips to make your jewelry collection more sustainable and ethical. 

The environmental and social issues that come with producing fine jewelry 

Let’s first focus on fine jewelry and see how ethical and sustainable it is. 

Fine jewelry is made of precious metal, like gold or silver, and often features different gemstones or diamonds. All these rare resources have to be extracted from the ground in a specific country and are then processed in different other locations. Finally, they are transformed into beautiful jewelry pieces, somewhere else yet again. 

Many stakeholders play a role in the production of fine jewelry, and corruption is a common practice in the industry. The whole supply chain is very complex, so it is incredibly difficult to know exactly where a piece of jewelry was made. 

However, we know that most precious metals and gemstones are mined in some of the poorest countries in the world where there are barely any environmental and social regulations. 

The consequences on the planet and workers in the supply chain are usually disastrous. 

The environmental consequences of producing fine jewelry

The production of fine jewelry is particularly unsustainable during the mining process, during which we extract precious metals and diamonds from the ground. 

First of all, mining massively contributes to air pollution. Many toxic elements are released into the air, such as volatile organic compounds and other hazardous air pollutants. Some of the particles found in the air can even contain cadmium, lead, and arsenic. 

Mining companies also use hazardous chemicals, like mercury, cyanide and sulphuric acid, to leach the minerals out of the earth. The chemicals then end up in the local environment, not only contaminating the soil, but also groundwater and all kinds of waterways.

Another consequence of mining is land degradation. Mining companies remove different soil layers and dig deep into the ground, which can destabilize the whole area. They also create huge open pits that are so big they can be seen from space!  

Digging up precious metals and gemstones shifts large piles of rocks and earth (up to 250 tons of earth displaced per carat of mined diamond!). This all requires substantial amounts of energy, which often comes from fossil fuels. So mining also generates a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and global warming. As an example, 160 kg of greenhouse gases are created on average per polished carat of mined diamond. 

Plus, processing ore creates a lot of waste because the amount of recoverable metal is tiny compared to the total ore mass. For instance, crafting a single gold ring generates around 20 tons of waste! 

And of course, when the land gets polluted and destroyed, we usually observe severe biodiversity loss. The local fauna and flora lose their natural habitats, and many species are endangered because of the toxins released into the environment. 

Even officially protected natural areas are not spared, as around three-quarters of active gold mines and exploration sites overlap with regions of “high conservation value”.

The detrimental effects on the environment caused by mining companies are so huge that the local landscape is often damaged permanently, and it sometimes never recovers. 

How ethical is the production of fine jewelry? 

Not only is producing fine jewelry very unsustainable, but it also comes with various ethical issues, which we should not ignore.

According to the World Bank, about 100 million people, including workers and their families, engage in artisanal mining activities, and another 7 million work in the industrial mining industry. 

In developing countries, mining activities provide people with an income and help them feed their families. However, many of them only earn less than a dollar a day, and it does not allow them to live decently.  

As we explained earlier, their local environment is also highly impacted by mining operations. The air and the water supply are polluted, which has disastrous consequences for the local populations.   

Many people develop respiratory diseases, allergies, skin rashes, as well as other health conditions. Environmental pollution also negatively impacts fishing activities, and cattle regularly die after drinking contaminated water. 

Not to mention that, since the soil is degraded, it is more difficult for them to grow crops and food. As a result, people living near the mines struggle even more to survive.

What’s more, workers are constantly exposed to toxic dust and incredibly hazardous chemicals, like mercury and cyanide, which are used to dig out precious metals from the ground. Those substances can cause life-long disabilities and can even lead to death. 

Accidents can also easily happen in the mining industry: rocks can fall and mines can collapse, trapping and killing dozens of workers at once.

These issues are even more problematic because child labor is very common. It is estimated that in Africa alone, about one million children between the ages of 5 and 17 work in mines where they extract precious minerals like diamonds or gold. 

Every day, these children are exposed to hazardous chemicals, unstable structures, extremely heavy equipment, and unbearable heat. Most of them work between 12 and 15 hours a day for less than $2, and some only receive food as compensation. Child miners also rarely attend schools, and girls are regularly sexually harassed and pressured to engage in the sex trade.  

On top of that, the mines from which we extract diamonds and precious metals are often controlled by violent armed groups. Members of those groups do not hesitate to rape, torture or murder civilians, which is why we regularly refer to diamonds as “blood diamonds”.  

New mining activities also usually lead to the displacement of hundreds of inhabitants, and mining companies do not even care about the historical significance of these lands. 

Finally, mining is not the only problematic stage of the production process of fine jewelry. The gem-cutting phase also causes ethical concerns. 

Gem cutting creates microscopic dust that is very damaging to the lungs. Workers in those facilities are rarely provided with safety gear and often work without proper ventilation. Thus, they risk developing long-term health complications, some of which can lead to death. 

Is costume jewelry any better? 

Because of all the environmental and social issues that come with producing fine jewelry, we would logically be tempted to instead only buy costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is also usually a lot more affordable, which seems to be perfect for those of us who are on a budget. But is it really better? 

It is very difficult to tell whether producing costume jewelry is more sustainable and ethical than making fine jewelry. 

The problem with costume jewelry is that we rarely know what it is made of, let alone where it was made and how. This is especially true for all the cheap jewelry pieces we can find online or at fast fashion stores. 

The majority of costume jewelry is made of some kind of metal, which probably had to be mined and extracted from the ground, or processed in a very energy-intensive facility. This is usually very unsustainable and causes similar damages to the environment, like air and water pollution. 

Some pieces are also produced using synthetic materials like plastic, which has its own disastrous impacts on the planet. It is made from oil and will take hundreds of years to break down once thrown away. 

Consumers can buy those cheap jewelry pieces for as little as a dollar. When something is so cheap, it always means that workers in the supply chain are paid extremely low wages, and they are most likely working under unsafe and unhealthy conditions. 

Cheap jewelry pieces are also probably made by children as these are usually a lot cheaper to employ. Most costume jewelry is made in developing countries where there are barely any labor laws or environmental regulations, and where human rights violations are common. 

So costume and fine jewelry are both incredibly unsustainable and unethical to produce! But I think that fake jewelry might be worse for different reasons. 

While some costume jewelry pieces may be well made and high quality, the vast majority of them are designed to be thrown away. You wear them a couple of times, and a few days or weeks later, they turn brown or leave a green mark on your skin. 

Their quality is so low that they also break very easily! They then end up in a landfill where they release toxins into the environment and do not biodegrade.

And because we have to throw them away regularly, we also buy huge quantities of them. This means that the environmental impact of our jewelry collection quickly increases over time. The damage done to the planet and workers in the supply chain gets bigger and bigger. It is a never-ending cycle!  

Another issue we cannot ignore is that many cheap jewelry pieces contain high levels of unsafe chemicals, including heavy metals like cadmium, lead, chromium, and nickel. Many of these metals are neurotoxic, and some are even known to be carcinogens.  

When we buy cheap fake jewelry, we do not know if the products are made with any of these chemicals, so it is better to stay away from them. 

As if it was not enough, alarming levels of heavy metals are also found in children’s jewelry! Children are even more at risk because they often put jewelry in their mouths, and their bodies absorb some of these substances, like cadmium, more easily than adults. 

And since the jewelry pieces are poorly made, they can chip or break easily, which increases the likelihood of them being ingested by children. 

We should also not forget about workers in the supply chain. Since they are making these products, they are exposed to heavy metals on a daily basis, often resulting in serious health issues in the long run. 

For all these reasons, I think that costume jewelry seems to cause even more environmental and ethical issues than fine jewelry! 

Find several sustainable jewelry brands over at Made Trade PLUS use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+ *affiliate link but we only add brands we truly love!*

Our top tips for a (more) sustainable jewelry collection 

If you are someone striving to live as sustainably as possible, you can thankfully still enjoy and wear jewelry without compromising your values. 

The most eco-friendly thing you can do is wear the jewelry pieces that you already own for years without necessarily buying new ones. Take good care of them, and store them in a specific place to make sure you do not lose anything. The longer you use a jewelry piece, the lower its environmental impact becomes. 

If you ever need to buy new jewelry, for yourself or to gift your loved ones, try to get it second-hand first. Check if there are any jeweler nearby who sells pre-loved pieces, or look online on second-hand websites like eBay. You will find some gorgeous vintage pieces! 

Another eco-friendly way to buy jewelry is to shop from ethical brands. We have an entire article on Sustainably Chic featuring 11 sustainable jewelry brands, so check it out for some inspiration! 

Sustainable brands are transparent about how and where their products are made, and they make sure workers in the supply chain are treated fairly and paid a decent wage. Their products are high quality and designed to last for years. 

Also, when choosing jewelry, go for pieces made with recycled metals, like recycled gold or silver. Using recycled materials means that no additional metal had to be mined, which minimizes the pollution and environmental damage caused by mining. 

Even though they still have a large carbon footprint, lab-grown diamonds are a more ethical alternative to mined gemstones and diamonds. And they are usually a more affordable option, so they are better for your wallet too!  

You can also look for different certifications that ensure the certified pieces are made ethically and sustainably. For instance, the Fairmined certification certifies gold produced by small-scale mining companies that have adopted responsible practices such as better traceability, fair wages, and no involvement in conflict situations. Some jewelry pieces can be certified Fair Trade by FLO-Cert, which is another trustworthy certification. 

If you prefer costume jewelry, do your research and try to only buy from a reputable source that clearly discloses which materials are used in its pieces. I know it may be difficult, but be aware that many brands are greenwashing, so do not hesitate to ask them questions. 

Also, do not buy costume jewelry from fast fashion brands because their jewelry is always very poorly made and not designed to last, and it is too cheap to be ethically produced. Remember to always look for quality pieces so that you can wear them for many years to come. 

And just to be sure, do not buy costume jewelry for your children. The risks are not worth it! 

My final tip is to sell or give away your unused jewelry to other people, especially if you have fine jewelry. If you do not like or wear these pieces, giving them a new home is a great way to ensure these precious resources are being reused. 

Some jewelers can buy your gold pieces, and they will melt them and transform them into new jewelry. You will be able to get a decent amount of money out of them, and the gold will have a second chance to shine. Win-win! 

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Conclusion

Nowadays, most jewelry pieces are produced in a very unethical and unsustainable way. 

Mining precious metals and gemstones is particularly problematic, as human exploitation, pollution and environmental destruction are common practices.

But it does not mean that costume jewelry is a better choice than fine jewelry. The environmental and social impacts are similar, and most pieces are so badly made that they are usually only worn a couple of times before being thrown away. 

Thankfully, conscious consumers can still enjoy jewelry. From supporting ethical brands to buying vintage pieces, there are many things we can do to make our collections more sustainable! 

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About the Author:

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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image: Verloop

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the fashion industry a better place!

SUSTAINABLE WINTER ACCESSORIES

During the freezing winter months, most of us cannot leave our homes without our good old friends: our trusty scarves, beanies, and gloves. 

Winter accessories are essential to have around, especially for those of us who live in cold climates. They keep us warm and comfy and prevent us from catching a cold or getting frostbite. 

Winter accessories are also nice additions to our outfits if we want to style them and add a little something to how we look. 

Unfortunately, most fashion brands sell beanies, scarves and gloves made from synthetic, unsustainable fabrics. Their winter accessories are usually made unethically by workers who can barely survive and live on their tiny wages. Not to mention that they are so poorly made that they wear out pretty quickly! 

But it does not have to be this way. Thankfully, some sustainable clothing brands are doing things differently and making shopping for eco-friendly winter accessories easy and accessible for everyone. 

In this blog post, we have rounded up 11 of our favorite sustainable brands selling comfy winter accessories. Their beanies, scarves and gloves (and many more!) are so cozy and warm that you will want to wear them all the time! 

WHAT MAKES WINTER ACCESSORIES SUSTAINABLE?

Above anything else, sustainable winter accessories are made to last for many years. They are made with high-quality yarns, and they should not lose their shapes over time. 

To be ethical and sustainable, winter accessories also need to be sweatshop-free. They should be made by a transparent brand that makes its workers' well-being a priority. Buying pieces crafted in Fair Trade Certified™ factories ensures that workers in the supply chain are paid fairly and treated humanely. 

Sustainable winter accessories are also made from eco-friendly fabrics using manufacturing processes that do not pollute or harm the environment. 

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY FABRICS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Winter accessories can be made with a variety of eco-friendly fabrics. 

Most sustainable brands produce them using GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, recycled cotton, or any type of recycled wool (including recycled cashmere). You can also find pieces made from deadstock fabrics, linen and hemp. 

If you pick virgin wool, make sure it is responsibly sourced and cruelty-free. And if you can, go for yak wool, which is usually more sustainable than other types of wool. 

NOW, OUR TOP 12 PICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE WINTER ACCESSORIES 

1) tentree 

Categories: Beanies, Scarves

Materials: Wool, Organic Cotton, Recycled Nylon, Recycled Polyester, Cork

Price Range: $25-70

tentree is a Canadian brand that plants ten trees for every item purchased. It has some good wardrobe staples for each member of the family, including beanies and winter scarves. 

Sold in a few neutral colors, most of the company’s winter accessories are made with Responsible Wool Standard certified wool.

If you prefer to stay away from animal-based fabrics, tentree also offers some models made from organic cotton, or recycled polyester and recycled nylon. 

tentree’s beanies and scarves feature fun details like pom-poms, unique logos, and the brand’s signature cork trim. You will also be able to keep your little ones cozy and warm as the brand has a kids’ beanie, all made of 100% organic cotton. 

tentree is climate-neutral certified and a certified B Corporation, and it has planted more than 75 million trees to date.

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2) Pact 

Categories: Scarves, Beanies, Arm Warmers

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price Range: $15-38

Pact is an ethical fashion brand that has some of the most affordable organic clothes you can find. It has you covered with different kinds of scarves, winter hats, and arm warmers. 

All these cozy pieces are super soft and made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.

They are also produced in Fair Trade Certified™ factories, so you know your winter accessories are crafted by workers who are paid a fair wage!

You can choose between thin scarves and thicker ones for colder weather. Some are designed in lovely colors and stripes and feature cool fringe detailing. 

For a complete look, pair Pact’s scarves with some of its beanies and arm warmers. 

The company measures the carbon footprint of each product and offsets it through different projects supporting renewable energy, communities and reforestation. 

Pact also ships its products in FSC-certified paper bags, and through its partnership with the Give Back Box program, it provides you with a free shipping label you can use to send gently-used clothing to local charitie

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3) Patagonia

Categories: Gloves, Mittens, Beanies, Neck Gaiters

Materials: Recycled Polyester, Recycled Wool, Recycled Nylon, Recycled Cotton, Merino Wool

Price Range: $23-79

Patagonia has been crafting high-quality outdoor gear for the past 50 years. The brand’s gear and clothes are made using recycled and sustainable materials, and most are produced in Fair Trade Certified™ factories. 

Patagonia has a very large selection of beanies, gloves, mittens, and neck gaiters for women and men. They are designed to trap warm air, dry fast and wick moisture, which is perfect for those who love exploring the great outdoors! 

Most winter accessories are made of recycled polyester, but some also contain recycled wool, recycled cotton, recycled nylon, and responsibly sourced merino wool. 

Patagonia also sells gloves, mittens, and incredibly cute winter hats for kids and babies (one beanie features the most adorable bear ears!).  

The company is a member of 1% For The Planet, and it even has a platform on which you can buy and sell used Patagonia clothes.

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4) Thread Tales Co.

Categories: Beanies, Mittens, Scarves

Materials: Cashmere, Wool, Recycled Cashmere, Yak Wool, Silk

Price Range: $93-458

Thread Tales Co. is on a mission to help resurrect and safeguard traditional skills in Myanmar and Nepal by working with workshops that craft unique handwoven pieces. While its signature fabric is produced using Lotus flowers, the brand offers all kinds of winter accessories made from natural fabrics like cashmere, yak wool, and recycled wool.  

Thread Tales Co. has many styles of scarves for both men and women, all of which are knitted on hand-operated machines and embellished with a metal tab. Some models even feature tie-dye designs and beautiful embroideries. 

If you want something more personal, several scarves can be personalized with an embroidered monogram. How cool is that?! 

Thread Tales Co. also unravels unsold cashmere sweaters to create its gorgeous beanies and fingerless mittens, all made of 100% recycled cashmere. 

Everything is colored using eco-friendly dyes that are free of toxic substances like formaldehyde, chlorine and mercury.

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5) Eileen Fisher

Categories: Beanies, Scarves, Arm Warmers

Materials: Organic Cotton, Recycled Cashmere, Alpaca Wool, Silk, Wool

Price Range: $34-298

Founded in 1984, Eileen Fisher is an ethical fashion brand designing a circular system with its responsibly produced clothing pieces. 

The company sells several winter accessories for women, all of which are very versatile and easy to combine with other clothes. 

The scarves are generously sized so you can also wear them as wraps, and they will keep you cozy and warm all winter! You get to choose between different fabrics, including alpaca wool, organic cotton, cashmere, and hand-dyed silk. 

Eileen Fisher also crafts two lovely beanies and arm warmers, each available in multiple colors. Incredibly soft, their fabric is either made of a cashmere-silk blend or a blend of organic cotton and GRS-certified recycled cashmere.

The brand makes sure to dye its pieces using Bluesign-certified dyes, so they are completely free of harmful substances. It is also a certified B Corporation, and it sells pre-loved Eileen Fisher pieces on its platform Renew.

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6) prAna

Categories: Scarves, Hats, Headbands

Materials: Recycled Polyester, Organic Cotton, Acrylic, Hemp 

Price Range: $18-35

prAna is a sustainable fashion brand selling Fair Trade Certified™ clothing for both women and men. It has various styles of beanies, from classic neutral-colored hats to fun models featuring pom-pom detailing or outdoor-themed embroidered patterns. While some winter hats contain acrylic, most of them are made from recycled polyester.  

For those cool winter days, you can also keep your ears warm with prAna’s Marin headband, which is made with a 100% recycled polyester fleece lining. 

The brand’s Ember infinity scarf is another winter staple you can throw on and wear with any outfit. Its elegance will elevate your looks all season! 

prAna ships its clothing pieces in plastic-free packaging, and it is a Fair Labor Association-accredited brand. It is also very transparent about the factories it works with.

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7) Faherty

Categories: Gloves, Beanies, Scarves

Materials: Recycled Cashmere, Recycled Wool, Leather, Merino Wool, Alpaca Wool

Price Range: $29-268

Faherty is a family-run lifestyle brand making high-quality, comfortable clothing pieces for women and men.

It offers a huge selection of winter accessories, all made using natural materials like recycled cashmere and recycled wool. 

The company sells many minimalist-looking beanies that will keep you warm and stylish at the same time. For a more whimsical look, you can pick some of its pom-pom beanies featuring a unique colorful pattern. 

Faherty also crafts high-quality leather gloves, which are great for wearing around the city as well as in the great outdoors. And it has several scarves with fun patterns that will make you stand out from the crowd! 

We really love that Faherty partners with Native American artists to create its designs! 

The brand is a member of 1% For The Planet and a corporate sponsor of the Surfrider Foundation. It also regularly supports A Second U, a program that has helped place many formerly incarcerated men and women in the personal training industry.

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8) Happy Earth

Categories: Beanies, Scarves

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price Range: $15-46

Happy Earth is a social enterprise striving to make its clothes and accessories as sustainable as possible. 

The brand crafts comfy unisex beanies that are all very affordable! Available in six different colors, these stretchy, warm winter hats are made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. They are reversible, so you can wear them cuffed or slouchy, depending on which style you prefer. 

To keep your neck protected from the cold, you can also choose between Happy Earth's four organic cotton scarves. The striped, herringbone or plaid patterns will add the perfect accent to any winter style! The scarves are very soft and breathable, and they can even be worn as shawls. 

All of Happy Earth’s products are ethically produced in factories that are Fair Trade or WRAP certified. Plus, for every item you buy, the brand will plant 15 trees, offset 150 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions, or clean up 1 lb of trash (you choose!). 

The company is a certified B Corporation and a member of 1% For The Planet, and it offsets its entire carbon footprint.

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9) Frank and Oak

Categories: Neck Warmers, Hats, Balaclavas, Gloves, Mittens, Headbands

Materials: Recycled Polyester, Yak Wool, Merino Wool, Lambswool, Recycled Nylon, Wool, Oyster Shells

Price Range: $15-31

Frank And Oak is a Quebec-based sustainable fashion brand creating clothes that are thoughtfully designed using innovative fabrics. 

It offers a variety of affordable winter accessories for both men and women.

For instance, Frank And Oak sells different kinds of beanies and headbands, and it even has two balaclavas that are perfect for those extremely cold winter days. 

The brand also crafts several neck warmers, puffer mittens, as well as long gloves. All these pieces feature a timeless style and are made of responsibly sourced materials, like cruelty-free, non-mulesed merino wool, recycled polyester, yak wool, and recycled nylon. 

Frank And Oak even has a cool beanie made from a blend of recycled polyester and upcycled oyster shells, which has great antibacterial properties! 

It is also a certified B Corporation, so it meets the highest standards of environmental and social performance.

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10) Verloop

Categories: Scarves, Gloves, Mittens, Hats, Balaclavas, Hoods, Arm Warmers 

Materials: Deadstock Fabrics, Acrylic

Price Range: $27-95

Verloop creates the happiest and most colorful accessories and home goods I have ever seen!

From bold solid colors to fun checkered patterns, the brand has everything you may want if you are looking to brighten up your outfits. 

On a mission to minimize textile waste, Verloop diverts excess deadstock yarns and fabric scraps from the landfill and turns them into quality knits. It has all kinds of winter scarves, gloves, mittens, and beanies, as well as hoods, balaclavas and arm warmers. 

You will even be able to keep your children warm with the company’s kids’ collection, featuring pom-poms, adorable fuzzy faux fur, and fringe detailing. 

Each piece is produced in a family-owned factory in the Philippines. Plus, I love that Verloop’s winter accessories are all equally fun and useful, and they make us stand out from the crowd!

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11) NAADAM

Categories: Gloves, Hats, Scarves, Headbands

Materials: Cashmere, Modal, Merino Wool, Recycled Nylon

Price Range: $65-550

NAADAM works with herders from Mongolia’s Gobi desert to bring you sustainable cashmere knitwear that you will live in all season. The brand crafts many winter accessories, all of which are unbelievably soft and cozy! You can choose between different elegant scarves, two pairs of gloves, and many styles of beanies.

Each piece is made to last as it contains finer, longer cashmere fibers, which are of higher quality. 

We love that NAADAM cuts out the middlemen and works directly with herders. It means that herders can be paid significantly more for their work (and you get to enjoy cashmere accessories for a lower price!). 

The brand also gives back to the local communities through nonprofit work with the Gobi Revival Fund. It supports nomadic herding families and provides veterinary care to thousands of goats. 

Finally, NAADAM ships all its products in sustainable packaging, using FSC-certified recycled paper inserts and recycled plastic mailers and bags.

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About the Author:

Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.

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The Best Sustainable & Eco-Friendly watches

Looking for a new timepiece? These sustainable watch brands are creating an eco-friendly alternative to one of the most practical things we wear - the watch! As someone who tries to be on their phone very little, I like to wear a watch to tell the time to avoid constantly checking the phone. There are a few brands I have personally tried and love, which I’ve included in this list, along with a few others I’ve heard great things about.

What makes a watch ‘sustainable’?

We look for a few things when determining if a watch brand can be added to this list. The first, who made them? Each watch brand should have high factory standards and support ethical production. The second, what are they made from? Many of these brands use non-conflict and recycled materials to create their watches (one even uses solar to power - pretty impressive!). Third, what is the quality? Are these watches something you can wear for many years? Are they versatile? Are they affordable and accessible price-wise? We ask many questions before adding a new watch brand, and these brands have all impressed us!

our top picks for the best sustainable & eco-friendly watches:

1) SOLIOS

Price |$265+

Vegan

A solar-powered watch! Can you believe these exist?! Did you know 300 million batteries could avoid being produced every year if all quartz watches were solar-powered?

The average lifetime of a watch battery is only 2 years, but with a Solios watch, you will need only one battery over its lifetime, eliminating the production of 20 batteries per watch.

They also use Eco Leather bands free of any animal skin, as well as free of PU, PVC, and toxic waste.

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2) 2°EAST

Price | $130

Vegan Options

2°EAST carries a wide range of watches for women, men, and children.

Their watches are made out of materials like recycled plastic bottles, zero-waste conflict-free rose gold, and Italian full-grain vegetable-tanned leather.

Plus, 2°EAST is able to ensure transparent and ethical manufacturing because they own their own factory! For every watch or strap purchased, 30 trees are planted too.

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3) Mondaine

Price | $220+

Vegan Options

As a Swiss girl myself, I think it would be silly not to have some watches from one of the most famous watch-making countries in the world.

Mondaine prioritizes sustainability, and they are one of the first entirely carbon-neutral watch companies globally (which extends to all areas of their business, including manufacturing). Their manufacturing warehouse is powered by solar energy, and their collection Essence uses sustainable materials like recycled PET bottles, cork lining, & castor bean oil.

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4) WoodWatch

Price | $99+

Vegan Options

These beautiful watches from WoodWatch are so timeless. This ethical brand fights against climate change by planting 3 trees for each product sold. To date, they’ve planted 120,000 trees thanks to their customers!

You can add custom engraving on the back of the watches, which make for a perfect gift. Plus, they offer free worldwide shipping, a 45-day return policy, & a 2- year warranty. I own the Bellflower Flora Watch, and it is so beautiful!

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5) Skagen

Price | $95+

Vegan Options

While not all Skagen’s watches are a part of their sustainable collection, they have several styles to choose from. Look for the leaf icon to see styles made with materials that meet one or more of their sustainable criteria, like solar movement, planet-friendly leather, or upcycled/recycled materials. Their eco-friendly versions are made with a 50% recycled stainless steel case and plant-forward shipping materials.

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6) Original Grain

Price | $149+

Vegan Options

Original Grain was created by brothers Ryan and Andrew Beltran, who were inspired by their Pacific Northwest roots. They wanted to create a unique timepiece out of wood and steel and used reclaimed materials from things like Kentucky Bourbon barrels or Yankee™ Stadium seats making every watch one-of-a-kind. Besides reusing materials, they also plant trees with every purchase with their partnership, Trees for the Future.

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7) Nordgreen

Price | $189+

Vegan Options

My husband and I both have a watch from this brand, and love them! Nordgreen’s Chief Designer is inspired by nature and a desire to get a little simplicity back into our lives. Their interchangeable straps come in natural stainless steel links or vegan leather (made with both virgin and recycled synthetics), and make the watches very versatile. Their entire production is carbon offset and they partner with Danish factories that ensure ethical labor practices. Plus, every purchase gives back to one of three causes.

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8) Decideandact

Price | $229+

Vegan

The swisstainable watch is made with Swiss movement (powertech) with low energy consumption, which allows an extended battery life of up to 10 years. In addition, the watch case body is made of 80% recycled stainless steel, and a single stamped monobloc case is designed to reduce carbon emissions during manufacturing. Plus, the straps are made of 50% recycled PET fiber and 50% plant-based material.

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9) TRIWA

Price | $149+

Vegan Options

An acronym for Transforming the Industry of Watches, TRIWA is committed to creating watches with a low carbon footprint that are traceable and transparent. They have a collection made from ocean plastic that is also water resistant making it great for outdoor adventures. Plus, with every watch, you can find its exact carbon footprint. They also donate to causes like Girl Up to fight gender inequality.

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10) Vestiaire Collective

Price | $12+

Vegan Options

A secondhand watch is always a great sustainable option!

A global marketplace of pre-owned luxury fashion, Vestiaire is the top destination for discounted designer pieces and vintage clothing.

Clothing, bags, shoes and jewelry from hundreds of brands, with thousands of new items, added every day. It’s definitely a fashion lover’s paradise.

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Where to Find Sustainable Tights & Stockings

Until we hit warmer weather and brave getting our legs out, we’re all still likely walking around in tights or stockings under our dresses and skirts. They see us through from fall to spring and are staples in our wardrobes, but how much do we really know about these undergarment base layers?

Known collectively as ‘hosiery’, tights and stockings (also pantyhose) have been around for much longer than you might think. As far back as the 9th century, legs were covered with bandages of material, often held in place with strands of gut. However, the introduction of synthetic yarns in the Twenties revolutionized the industry, with hosiery now sheerer than cotton and cheaper than silk.

Worn under clothes like dresses, skirts, shorts or even trousers, and can be used as a fashion accessory to add an extra element to an outfit or worn out of necessity for those of us living in colder climates! They come in a variety of different styles, from fishnet and patterned tights to sheer and back seamed. You'll likely see the word ‘denier’ in the product description of tights and stockings, this is used to describe the thickness of fiber. If you’re looking for thicker, warmer, and opaque tights, look for 40d+ or ‘high denier’ tights, but if you’re after something thinner or sheerer, opt for below 30d or ‘low denier’ tights. Bear in mind that the lower the denier, the weaker the fabric will be and may be more likely to rip or ladder.

What Makes Tights & Stockings Unsustainable?

In terms of garment waste, hosiery is one of the most disposable items in the industry. This is largely due to their mass production, mostly being cheaply made and with synthetic fibers. As many as 8 billion pairs of tights are made, worn a handful of times, and then discarded every year. Tights and stockings often ‘ladder’ or rip within a few uses and, with no widely available way of recycling them, are then thrown away and end up in landfills. If they’re made from synthetic materials, they won’t biodegrade but will break down into microplastics that pollute the soil, oceans, and aquatic life. 

The most commonly used materials for making tights and stockings are Nylon, Spandex, polyamide, cotton, and elastane Lycra. Apart from cotton, these are all synthetic fibers that are derived from non-renewable fossil fuels. To produce these synthetic fabrics is emission intensive, requires a cocktail of toxic chemicals, and is environmentally degrading. When we wash tights or stockings made with synthetic material, hundreds of thousands of microfibers (containing microplastics) are released into our water system and end up in our ocean system and food chain. 

How to Find Sustainable Hosiery?

When searching for sustainable tights and stockings, there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re picking an eco-friendly product. Most importantly, you can opt for more sustainable materials like traceable natural fibers such as bamboo, organic cotton, or recycled synthetics like ECONYL®, Nylon, or polyamide, or even leftovers from other companies' production processes (referred to as ‘deadstock’ materials).

With hosiery it’s crucial that longevity has been considered in the product design. This means the brand has included features that help the garment last as long as possible and protect it from being easily damaged. Look for features like reinforced toes that help prevent ripping or a wide waistband that stops the tights from rolling. 

You should also consider if the brand has wider sustainability initiatives or certifications that make their hosiery ethical as well as sustainable. Do they ensure a living wage for their garment workers? Do they use renewable energy in their factories? Can you see where they’ve sourced their materials from? These are all questions that you should be able to find answers to on the brand’s website. 

One element of sustainable hosiery is down to you. The aftercare of any garment is just as important as how it was made, and looking after your tights or stockings can help them last much longer. Check the washing and drying guidance from the brand, and if they’re made with synthetic fibers, you can use a Guppyfriend or similar bag to catch any microplastics that are released during the wash.

Now, Our Top Picks for Eco-Friendly Tights & Stockings

1) CLOECO

Materials: Tencel

Price: $19-32

These natural tights made from Tencel are comfier for your body and easier on the environment. CLOECO tights are naturally durable, luxuriously soft and anti-itch. They also have a 30 days risk-free trial and free shipping. Plus, how cool is it that women scientists and engineers founded CLOECO?! This definitely gives us more confidence in what we put on our bodies.

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2) Underprotection

Materials: Recycled Polyamide

Price: $15-22

Underprotection has a range of five sustainable tights made with soft, recycled polyamide in 25 – 45 denier.

Their tights have a soft waist elastic and light to medium support, depending on the style. Underprotection is also a certified B Corp! 

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3) Swedish Stockings

Materials: Recycled Polyamide, Organic Cotton, Organic Wool

Price: $30-62

Knitted from recycled yarn in their zero-waste, 100% emission-free facility, Swedish Stockings tights are ideal for sustainable hosiery. These tights have been designed to last with a wide comfort waistband and toe reinforcements! They also have a recycling program where you can send back three old pairs of stockings for 10% off your next purchase.

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4) Sezane

Materials: Recycled Polyamide, Recycled Elastane

Price: $20

Sezane’s tights come in black, charcoal, and black polka dots and range from 40 – 80 denier. The tights are made with recycled Polyamide and recycled elastane, and their pieces are certified by 5 of the industry’s most reliable certifications: GOTS, Oeko-Tex, FSC, RWS and RMS.

Sezane has also recently become a certified B Corp!

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5) Thought

Materials: Bamboo, Recycled Nylon

Price: $19

Thought has a range of well-made tights created with bamboo that feels luxurious on your skin, and the thick yarn is just the right amount of opaque. They also have a range of tights made from recycled nylon, helping to divert waste from landfill. Available in black, grey, navy, sage green, and toffee brown, Thought has the perfect pair of tights for any outfit. 

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6) Organic Basics

Materials: Recycled Nylon

Price: on sale $24-27 for 2-pack

Organic Basics are well known for their premium basics and underwear, but did you know they also make tights? Made with GRS certified recycled nylon, their tights are 3D knitted, ladder-resistant and feature toe reinforcements for durability. Compared to using virgin nylon and traditional practices, these tights will save 3.5kg of CO2 emissions and 52 liters of water!

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7)  Seasalt Cornwall

Materials: Organic Cotton, Bamboo, Recycled Nylon

Price: $32

UK-based brand Seasalt Cornwall offers a range of tights in rich colors inspired by the landscapes of the coastal country of Cornwall. Choose from the breathable bamboo or organic cotton tights or recycled ones made from repurposed nylon. They have gentle elastic tops for comfort, with sizes ranging from Small to XXL. 

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8) Heist

Materials: Recycled Polyamide, Recycled Elastane

Price: $14-41

Heist’s latest collection of tights are made with soft, recycled yarn from materials including polyamide and elastane. Choose from four styles: the Geometric, the Fine Line, the Over-Knee, and the Cut-Off footless tights. Heist has removed the gusset from these tights to reduce sagging when worn and feature a waistband that doesn’t dig or roll, perfect for all-day comfort!

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9) Pretty Polly

Materials: Biodegradable Polyamide

Price: $18-30

Are these the world’s first biodegradable tights?

The Eco-Wear collection by Pretty Polly features a range of hosiery, seam-free underwear and leggings made from the first biodegradable polyamide in the world. The tights feature a reinforced body, flat seams, cotton gusset and lightly reinforced toe.

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10)  Dear Denier

Materials: Recycled Polyamide, Recycled Elastane

Price: $20-43

Dear Denier specializes in sustainable and innovative hosiery, and the production of their tights is emission-free and zero-waste. With air vents and a light control top, these tights are so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing them. Vegan? Check out their range of vegan hosiery that is certified by PETA! Dear Denier also has a recycling initiative where you can save your tights from landfills and receive a 10% discount code.

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About the Author

Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on vegan fashion, sustainability and ethically made clothes. She campaigns for change in the fashion industry through her blog and on her Instagram page.

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