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!

The Best Alternatives to Amazon Shopping

Over the last few years, many people have opted not to purchase from Amazon anymore because of ethical issues. But, I’ll admit, it can be hard to stay away altogether. Sometimes I give up looking for a particular product on another website and take the Amazon plunge, but I know people who use it ALL THE TIME, and this post could be of great help! Especially with Amazon Prime Day around the corner…

Why You Should Avoid Amazon & Support Smaller sustainable Marketplaces

From hurting small businesses to the unethical treatment of warehouse workers, Amazon is in the news often. This trillion-dollar corporation makes over 2,500 thousand dollars per second, and supporting owner billionaires is just something that doesn’t sit well with me. So instead, I’d put my money into a smaller business helping people more like myself and those who care about people and the planet. Here is a helpful little list of the worst things Amazon has been accused of. 

Fortunately, today, we have many Amazon alternatives that are way more sustainable and support small businesses all over the world. Every alternative to Amazon listed here offers unique, ethical & sustainable brands you will feel good about purchasing from! 

Our Top Picks for Sustainable Amazon Alternatives:

1) Shades of Green

Great For | Home Decor, Kitchen & Dining, On-The-Go

This is the place for you if you are looking for products that have undergone rigorous evaluation. Shades of Green offers us carefully curated products that stand the test of time without sacrificing aesthetics. They believe in being as transparent as possible to make your shopping experience easy and trusting. No matter what product you choose, you will be sure to create a healthier living space at this stop!

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2) Leaf’d

Great For | Home, Health & Beauty, Apparel, Accessories, Pet Products, Food

Leaf’d seriously gives Amazon a run for their money with their wide selection of products in just about every category you could need.

Every decision they make about what products to carry align with their values, which include authenticity, diversity, and inclusivity.

Plus, every purchase gives back to a non-profit organization.

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3) Made Trade

Great For | Home, Furniture, Clothing, Shoes, Accessories, Gifts

Made Trade includes many different price points, sizes, styles, and values, so you'll surely fall in love with something no matter where you are in your sustainable journey. They ensure each product covers one {or more} values - Sustainable, Fair Trade, Heritage, USA Made & Vegan. Each value has a little symbol next to the product for easier shopping.

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+

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4) EarthHero

Great For | Clothing, Accessories, Kids, Home, Travel, Outdoor, Tech, Beauty, Pets

There aren’t many online shops that curate conscious goods as great as EarthHero. Their product list is comprehensive; you can shop anything from clothing to audio + tech. They even have an excellent section dedicated to zero-waste shopping. Plus, with every item purchased and reviewed, you can earn rewards towards future purchases.

use code sustainablychic10 for 10% off

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5) Better World Books

Great For | New & Used Books

Do you remember the days when Amazon was just made for books? Well, now there is a socially conscious online bookstore to take its place. To this date, Better World Books has donated 26,502,000 books, $28,430,000 for literacy and libraries, and has recycled and reused 320,019,014 books! It is impressive what they have done for the world regarding education and saving books from landfill. Love it!

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6) Credo

Great For | Beauty

Their mission is to change the beauty industry for the better since it is one of the least regulated consumer categories. Isn’t it crazy that companies can legally use known harmful chemicals - or ones that have not been evaluated?!

There is also so much Greenwashing within the beauty industry, but with Credo, you can trust everything is transparent, clean & safe for you to use and enjoy.

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7) Blk & Grn

Great For | Beauty, Home, Grocery

This wonderful online marketplace is home to all non-toxic, Black-owned brands! Their Black artisans are carefully chosen by Black health experts who know what an authentic all-natural product looks like. Their approval process is rigorous & they don’t add anything unless it meets every requirement. They carry products from over 60 Black artisans, ranging from green beauty and skincare to wellness and health.

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8) The Detox Market

Great For | Beauty, Wellness

Another amazing beauty marketplace, The Detox Market, keeps their ethos simple: no compromises. You can feel confident purchasing from this place because aesthetics is never the number one factor. They will not offer it on their site if performance is lacking or questionable ingredients are found. Their Banned Ingredients List is the strictest in the country, and no product will have any listed.

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9) Grove Collaborative

Great For | Home Cleaning, Wellness

If you want cleaning products, this is the place to check out! Their sustainable home essentials are delivered right to your door with flexible monthly shipments.

By 2025, Grove has pledged to be completely plastic-free, switching everything to their ‘Beyond Plastic’. They also have an app for easier shopping, and everything is highly vetted before listing.

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10) The Little Market

Great For | Gifts, Home, Accessories, Kids, Wellness

One of the sweetest little corners of the internet, The Little Market is full of wonderful Fair Trade products creating sustainable livelihoods for artisans worldwide.

This nonprofit fair trade shop features ethically sourced, artisan-made products with a unique story. Their mission is to believe that every person has the right to dignified jobs.

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11) Safe & Chic

Great For | Beauty, Wellness, Pets, Baby, Home

Since 2015, Safe & Chic has been the premier destination for clean & cruelty-free beauty. They have over 2000 products and over 160 brands, from makeup to pet toys. Each product is free of parabens and has never been tested on animals. In addition, they have thoroughly researched thousands of products for safety and effectiveness and dedicated a lot of time to educating the public on harmful chemicals.

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12) Simple Switch

Great For | Clothing, Home, Grocery, Travel, Outdoor

Simple Switch is out to help you cast your vote with each dollar you spend. With this sustainable online marketplace, every purchase you make has a positive impact. You can even shop based on certifications (like Fair Trade) and impacts (like supporting education) that matter most to you. So regarding your values and giving back, this is the best online shopping destination!

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13) Ten Thousand Villages

Great For | Gifts, Accessories, Home

Ten Thousand Villages has been putting people and the planet first for over 70 years - and you may have even visited one of their shops in person before! More than just a store, this market-to-market movement is connecting us to some of the most talented artisans worldwide. Every product celebrates the culture and the planet, so you know not one is compromised for the other.

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14) Thrive Market

Great For | Grocery, Wellness, Beauty, Kids, Pets

Thrive Market offers food made of real ingredients, safe for the environment, fairly priced, created for your needs, and delicious. They want to make sure everything that comes through your home is non-toxic, eco-friendly, affordable & effective - and they even go a step beyond for those who cannot afford this, and with every paid membership to Thrive Market, one goes to someone in need!

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15) Uncommon Goods

Great For | Gifts, Home, Kitchen, Accessories, Kids

This is such a cool spot to find unique gifts. Their range of products are made by independent designers all over the world. They look for goods that serve a purpose, solve a problem, are handmade with exceptional craft and skill, use unusual or recycled materials, & make them wonder, "Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?" Truly a fantastic place to browse.

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16) Obakki

Great For | Gifts, Home & Kitchen

We’re obsessed with Obakki’s collection of home goods—their pieces are so gorgeous! Everything is made by their artisan partners in small batches, from their Italian glassware collection to these stunning Japanese totem candles to these naturally-dyed and handwoven baskets. In addition to paying artisans fair wages for their craft, their non-profit Obakki Foundation allows them to give back even more.

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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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related reading you may also enjoy:

image: Whimsy & Row

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. This post is also sponsored in part by Eleven44. 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!

THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY LITTLE BLACK DRESSES

A little black dress is truly a staple piece every woman should have in her wardrobe. It is probably one of the most versatile clothing items you can own, as it is easy to dress up and dress down. 

Paired with simple sandals, it is a great casual dress that you can wear for picnics, shopping or walking in the city. When you add a few accessories and put high heels or booties on, it becomes the ideal dress for going out at night and for most special occasions.   

Since you always look good in a little black dress, it is THE dress you choose whenever you do not know what to wear to a more formal event. It is classic, yet chic and timeless! 

However, it is often cheaply made by fast fashion brands using synthetic materials. But thankfully, we can choose a more eco-friendly version to minimize its environmental impact.

If you are on the hunt for a staple piece for your wardrobe, one of these 14 sustainable little black dresses will be perfect for you!  

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

The little black dress was introduced to the world in 1926 when Vogue published a drawing of a simple black dress designed by Coco Chanel. Before that, women only wore black when mourning, but in the late 1920s, the Parisian designer changed everything.  

Thanks to its simplicity and affordable price, the little black dress became very popular in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. Women of all classes could finally wear an elegant yet practical outfit without breaking the bank. 

It became a uniform for many women at the time, and above all, one of the most influential garments in fashion history. After the Second World War, designer Christian Dior updated the little black dress and gave it a sexier look, which truly changed women’s fashion. 

Hollywood stars quickly adopted the little black dress, the most famous one being Audrey Hepburn who paired it with a pearl necklace in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961. Since then, the little black dress has remained one of women’s favorite fashion pieces. 

WHAT MAKES A LITTLE BLACK DRESS SUSTAINABLE?

A sustainable little black dress is made with high-quality, eco-friendly fabrics. It is built to last, and you should be able to enjoy it for years without it wearing down.  

Also, an eco-friendly little black dress is not produced in a sweatshop, so stay away from fast fashion brands. Workers should be paid fair wages, and work in a safe and healthy environment. 

A dress made by a certified B Corporation or a Fair Trade brand is always a good option!  

WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY FABRICS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?

Sustainable little black dresses are usually made with organic cotton, linen or recycled polyester. Some lovely dresses are also produced from Tencel, hemp, reclaimed cotton and deadstock fabrics. All of these are great, eco-friendly fabrics! 

In general, avoid synthetic fabrics that are non-recycled, and prefer organic and biodegradable materials. And try to choose fabrics that are OEKO-TEX certified, meaning that they are free of harmful substances and safe to wear. 

Plus, it is even better if the fabric is dyed using low-impact, non-toxic dyes (look for the GOTS and Bluesign® certifications). 

OUR TOP PICKS FOR SUSTAINABLE LITTLE BLACK DRESSES:

1) Sleeveless Tee Black Organic Cotton Dress by Eleven44

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $74

Slow-fashion brand Eleven44 focuses on minimalist comfort basics for your capsule wardrobe. This comfortable yet sassy LBD is made from certified organic cotton jersey.

The design is meant to be oversized for an easy, relaxed fit, but if you want a more fitted look, choose a size down.

Eleven44 works with several small family-run businesses in Bali to manufacture their clothing brand. They source certified organic cotton dyed using low-impact reactive dyes, which are GOTS-certified.

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2) Fit & Flare Shorty midi dress (in black) by Pact

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $74

This Fit & Flare Shorty midi dress created by Pact has a classic and timeless style, yet it is very flattering and beautifully made. Fitted at the top and flared at the waist, it has a midi length, but you can also choose a longer version of this dress. 

Pact’s little black dress features two hidden side pockets as well as a built-in, wireless shelf bra that makes it very comfortable and easy to wear.

The dress is made of GOTS-certified organic cotton in a Fair Trade certified factory in India. Producing this dress requires 47 gallons less water than a similar dress made of conventional cotton, which is huge! 

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3) Ines bubble sleeve dress from Made Trade

Materials: Organic Cotton 

Price: $98

The Ines bubble sleeve dress created by the small fair trade brand Mata Traders is sold on Made Trade’s website. It is made of organic cotton jersey, a soft and breathable fabric that you can wear for all your daily activities. 

This little black dress finishes just above the knee, and it features cute puffy sleeves and practical hidden pockets.

It is handcrafted at a fair trade women’s cooperative in India. 

The brand Mata Traders specializes in making beautiful dresses, jewelry and accessories using traditional techniques such as block printing and embroidery. Every order on Made Trade’s website is 100% carbon-neutral, so you can feel good about purchasing this little black dress! 

use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for $20 off your first order of $150+

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4) Joni dress in black linen by Whimsy & Row

Materials: Linen

Price: $192

The Joni dress sold by Whimsy & Row is a mini dress that you can easily wear with sneakers for a more laid-back style, or with nice sandals or booties whenever you want to look more elegant and chic. 

It features a stretchy smocked bodice and cool puffy sleeves. This little black dress is made of 100% linen, which absorbs moisture and is naturally antibacterial, making it a great fabric to wear in the summer or on a warm spring day. 

The website discloses how much water, energy and waste are saved and how many carbon emissions are avoided when you buy this dress instead of a non-sustainable version. How cool is that?!

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5) Adelina cotton eyelet midi dress (in black) by Amour Vert

Materials: Cotton, Recycled Polyester

Price: $228

Amour Vert designed the Adelina cotton eyelet midi dress with an A-line silhouette, adjustable straps and an invisible zipper in the back. Its elegant detachable tie waist offers a very flattering fit. 

The bodice is made of cotton while the beautiful lining of the dress is made with 100% recycled polyester. You will love how easy it is to dress it up and dress it down! 

Amour Vert produces its clothes in California and always makes them in limited quantities to eliminate any excess waste. To minimize its impact, the brand sends its products in protective bags made from compostable and recycled materials, all printed with soy-based inks. 

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6) City stretch crepe shift dress (in black) by Universal Standard

Materials: Recycled Polyester

Price: $108

This City stretch crepe shift dress created by Universal Standard is a cool addition to any capsule wardrobe. Great to wear at work or for all your daily activities, it has a straight fit and it finishes just above the knee. 

Universal Standard’s dress has bracelet-length sleeves, which are ideal for spring days or cooler summer nights.

Made from recycled polyester, it also features a V-neckline and practical, deep pockets on the sides. 

The brand is extremely size-inclusive: this dress is available in sizes 4XS up to 4XL! Universal Standard also regularly donates its clothes to organizations that support women returning to the workforce, like Dress For Success. 

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7) Organic Cotton Ponte Zip-Up Dress by Eileen Fisher

Materials: Organic Cotton, Polyester, Polyurethane

Price: $178

The Ponte zip-up dress sold by Eileen Fisher is a classic sleeveless little black dress that is perfect for wearing to the office, but you can also easily dress it up for going out. 

Available in sizes XXS to 3X, it is tighter at the top and wider at the hem.

It stops above the knee and features hidden side pockets and a short front zipper. This dress is made in Indonesia using organic cotton, polyester and polyurethane. 

Eileen Fisher is a certified B-Corporation, and it colors its clothes with Bluesign® certified dyes, meaning that they are free of hazardous chemicals and they help save water and energy.

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8) The Annabelle Dress by Christy Dawn

Materials: Organic Cotton

Price: $358

Christy Dawn's take on a classic victorian night dress!

This dress is made from 100% organic cotton and features ladder stitching detailing, delicate pintucks, picot and lace edging. It is also naturally and organically dyed.

Christy Dawn is committed to practices that honor Mother Earth and believe that sustainability doesn’t go far enough, instead focusing on regenerative processes that heal the planet.

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9) Nellie Dress by Carve Designs

Materials: EcoVero

Price: $98

This LBD from Carve is simple and elegant and comes complete with side pockets!

If you are unfamiliar, EcoVero™ is a more sustainable viscose made using sustainable wood from controlled sources like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) certified in Europe.

As a company born at the beach and endlessly inspired by the outdoors, Carve prides themselves on crafting fashion forward everyday designs that are made mostly out of sustainable materials.

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10) Zenni Linen Dress by Reformation

Materials: Linen

Price: $218

Are you looking for a bit of shape?

The Zenni is a sleeveless mini dress with a boat neckline, a slight V-back, and an A-line skirt. We love that it is made from linen, too! Reformation specializes in selling sustainably-made clothing and shoes for women. In addition, the brand creates dresses for any special occasion, including weddings and proms.

Reformation is climate-neutral certified, and it is a member of Textile Exchange, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the Fair Labor Association. 

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11) Zero Dress by Malaika

Materials: Deadstock Fabric

Price: $230

The Zero Dress is a black knee-length shift dress with up-cycled bike tube detail to hold the snaps, oversized neck detail, and raw edges. The draping makes it flattering to many body types, and it is quite versatile to create multiple looks.

Malaika New York’s unique zero waste designs embrace the female body, focusing on comfort, versatility, and timelessness.

Malaika is a great choice if you feel like trends are wasteful and are building a high-quality capsule collection.

use code MALAIKASCHIC for 15% off your first order

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12) The Gisele Dress by Bastet Noir

Materials: Discarded Silk

Price: $182

The Gisele Dress is a mini satin dress with a V neckline, long bishop sleeves with four-button closures, front pleated detail with three buttons on the side, and a hidden back zipper. It is also double-lined, and you can submit your measurements for a custom order.

Bastet Noir is a sustainable brand that creates made-to-order clothing to ensure its pieces fit its clients perfectly. The company creates beautiful, elegant dresses from discarded materials like silk and cotton.

You will love that the brand always discloses how much time was needed to make the dress and the detailed costs of each step of the production process!

Bastet Noir’s dresses are produced in Macedonia by a community of single mothers. The brand reinvests its profits to help these women grow their businesses and fund their children's education.

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13) V Mesh Compact Crepe Slip Dress by Stella McCartney

Materials: Forest-Friendly Viscose & Silk Lining

Price: $1,250

We love this ultra-sheer mesh insert on this little black dress by Stella McCartney. The dress is made with compact stretch crepe and hugs the figure for a flattering silhouette. Stella McCartney is a renowned British fashion brand that sells clothing for women and men, accessories, perfume, eyewear, as well as kids’ clothes. 

The brand is very transparent regarding its environmental impact. In 2021, it became a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, which promotes respect for workers’ rights and helps companies to improve the working conditions in their supply chains.

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14) Cue Wrap Short Sleeve Dress by Toad&Co

Materials: Organic Cotton & Tencel

Price: $90

Toad & Co has reimagined the wrap and t-shirt dresses with this sweet number.

Made from their exclusive Samba fabric, this durable and sustainably made dress has the soft feel of a t-shirt with the elegant drape and styling of a wrap dress - the best of both worlds.

Most of Toad & Co’s clothes also carry the Bluesign or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certifications (some even have both). All the company’s products are picked, packed, and shipped in a warehouse that trains, employs, and empowers people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Toad & Co is also a member of the Conservation Alliance and 1% For The Planet, and has helped fund 120 environmental protection organizations over the past 20 years.

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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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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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RELATED READING YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:

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Get More Wear Out of the Clothes You Already own

When coming in contact with slow fashion for the first time, many people fall for the misconception that one must throw everything away and start building a new, sustainable wardrobe from scratch. 

On the contrary, though, slow fashion and a throw-away mindset are deeply antithetic. According to the EPA, textile waste makes up 5.83 percent of the total MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) generated yearly. So it's better for the planet and those on it if we wear our clothes for a long time. 

Regardless of the size of your wardrobe and the sustainability score of the clothes in it, finding ways to get more wear out of your pieces can be challenging. After all, we see our clothes every day, which may dull the spark. Not to mention the time constraints that may get in the way of our creativity. Yet getting creative with the clothes you already own is a fantastic, budget-friendly way of waving sustainability into your everyday life. Bonus points: it can help avoid that dreaded moment when you say "I don't have anything to wear" right in front of your closet. 

To help you out in this pursuit, we have selected some helpful tips to get more wear out of a piece. 

Keep things interesting by wearing the same piece in different ways 

So many items can be worn in many, sometimes unexpected ways. A button-up shirt can make for a simple, breezy summer jacket, and your one-piece swimsuit can also be worn as a top. 

You can wear your favorite summer tops and camisole dresses year-round if you wear them with a turtleneck underneath, and the number of ways you can tie up your scarves to wear them as tops is infinite. Taking this approach to clothing will help you think outside the box and create unique outfits and combos. 

Wearing the same piece in different ways is also a fantastic way of experimenting with the clothes you already have. It also helps you use seasonal garments for longer, and it shows you ways to give a second chance to the pieces you don't wear much but don't feel like parting from yet. 

 Play with colors to create new outfits

A fun and creative way to get the most out of your wardrobe is to use colors as inspiration to create new outfits. To do this, you check the color of the piece you want to get more wear out of and find out which other clothes you can pair it with.  

With this creative and budget-friendly method, you can sustainably get out of your comfort zone and explore your personal style. You can experiment with monochrome outfits in your favorite colors, bold and unexpected color palettes, and mixing different textures while giving all of your clothes a chance to be in the spotlight.    

Create a capsule wardrobe that includes the piece you want to get more wear out of  

Creating a capsule wardrobe is all about selecting functional attire that works for your lifestyle and makes you feel fabulous. Creating one that includes only the pieces already in your closet makes the process simpler, affordable, and sustainable.  

To spice things up, you can even choose a fun theme for your capsule wardrobe, such as "Dopamine Dressing" or "Y2K," to spice things up. You can change the theme whenever you feel inclined to keep on having fun while wearing the clothes from your capsule wardrobe. It's the perfect way to get a lot of wear out of your clothes while also having fun with fashion. 

Keep a little notebook handy for whenever inspiration strikes

Fashion inspiration can come from all sorts of sources: movies, artworks, magazines, social media, and even the fashionable people you encounter while going out and about. Looking for fashion inspiration can help you figure out your personal style and fall back in love with the clothes you already have.  

Having a place to save or write down what inspires you will make sure that you won't miss out on a chance to experiment with fashion sustainably. If you are not one for pen and paper, you can create a collection on Instagram, a Pinterest board, or a page on Notion.  

The key here is to use what you already have in your closet to recreate the look and aesthetic of what inspires you instead of buying new items. The number of clothes and accessories you already own that match the vibe of what you are getting inspiration from at the moment may positively surprise you. Pair them with the item you want to get more wear out of for a fun and sustainable look. 

It's easier to get more wear out of a piece by treating it right

Being mindful about what you choose to purchase is essential when trying to live sustainably and build a wardrobe made of only clothes you will honestly want to wear for a long time. Whether or not that was your approach when you bought that item, the way you treat it makes a tremendous difference in its longevity and long-term wearability. 

Not to mention that creating clothes takes a lot of time, labor, and skills, and taking care of them is a way of honoring all that went into making them.  

So as a general rule, try to avoid over-washing your clothes, follow the cleaning instructions you find on the tag as meticulously as possible, and repair them when needed. These may seem like simple tips, but over time they'll make a tremulous difference, keeping your clothes looking sharper for longer. The better a piece will look in the long run, the longer you will be able to wear it.  

Harness the power of accessories to make a piece you already own feel new

Let's get something straight: there is no shame in outfit repeating. Having figured out what pieces suit your lifestyle, taste and personality is a great testament to your organizational skills, so kudos to you!

But, if wearing that piece is not so exciting anymore, then playing with the accessories you already own can be a way for you to re-discover that garment instead of buying a new one to switch things up.  

Accessories can completely change the look of any garment: even something as simple as a necklace or a pair of sunglasses can freshen up a once-beloved piece that now feels a bit stale. In addition, adding accessories to your looks can elevate even your simpler pieces, making them more suited to fancier occasions and helping you get more wear out of your plainer clothes. The other way around works too, as sportier and more casual accessories can help you dress down fancier pieces. 

Try easy and creative ways to revamp that piece  

Ask yourself, "When was the last time I wore this?" If the answer to this question is some version of "quite a while ago," then challenge yourself to try new ways of revamping it and styling it. 

If it's a scarf, look for new ways to tie it up or try dyeing it up. If it's an older jacket that needs to be freshened up, add a new pin to it or change the buttons. If it's a neglected pair of trousers, mix belts and chains to give it a new life or try distressing it. 

This little game can be a helpful exercise year-round, but if you live in an area with changing seasons, and a seasonal piece is the one you are trying to get more wear out of, then try to do it mid-season to squeeze as much wear out of it as possible before the weather changes. 

Plus, find inspiration for visible mending and repair here.

Create go-to uniforms for when you're out of ideas

On some days, decision fatigue gets the best of us, and we don't feel like experimenting much with our clothes. However, fashion has the power to make us feel more like ourselves when we are feeling down. With a bit of preparation and planning, you can save yourself time and energy, feel better and get more wear out of your wardrobe all in one go. 

Having a few go-to uniforms for different occasions can help you feel good and put together even on low energy or busy days, but it's also the perfect chance to create new outfits with the pieces you already have. 

Try mixing some of your most beloved and frequently used pieces with newer and less familiar clothes to create your go-to uniforms for work, dates, and nights out. This way, you can ensure that you are getting good use out of your more newly purchased pieces and the oldest ones. 

Conclusion 

Dressing sustainability isn't just about purchasing ethically made and eco-friendly clothes. It's about changing how we see clothes and steering clear of overconsumption. 

Trying to get more wear out of your clothes is a fantastic exercise to get out of the fast fashion mindset, and it's good for the wallet too. After all, nothing is cheaper and more sustainable than using what you already have. 

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About the Author:

Roberta Fabbrocino is a journalist specialized in climate change and sustainability-related topics. Her articles have been published in several international eco-publications. Roberta also works as a content writer for sustainable companies.

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LOOKING FOR SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!

Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.

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related reading you may also enjoy:

image: Sabai Design

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.

The Best Sustainable Vegan Furniture

The homes we create for ourselves are so important – a home should be a safe space, a nest, a place to hibernate and care for yourself. But the planet is our primary home, so we need to make sure that when we are furnishing our homes, we are caring for the planet, and all those living on it, too. It’s for this reason that sustainable, animal-free furnishing is growing in popularity. 

Why sustainable, vegan furniture matters

Today, we are in a climate crisis. If we don’t act now to radically reduce our emissions, we will see further climate catastrophe; even more unruly wildfires, deadly floods, hurricanes and extreme, unliveable temperatures. We are facing mass extinction events, and a biodiversity crisis too, where many animal and plant species are becoming endangered and even disappearing. 

While only system change can truly curb further crises, we all have our part to play – not only in using our voices to push and vote for said change, but to do our bit to reduce our personal impact. While we hear about sustainable and ethical fashion fairly often, sometimes we think less about furniture. 

Not only should we buy less, buy better and care for the furniture we already have, we should consider vintage, and when buying new, consider animals, people and the planet. After all, just as with fashion, furniture and homewares are made by people who deserve fair treatment, and can either cause immense cruelty to animals and environmental harm, or be kinder, with a lower impact. 

If you’re wondering ‘why vegan’, it’s important we remember that sustainability is also a form of social justice, and that all animals – humans and non-humans deserve protection. Too, animal-derived materials have disproportionately negative environmental impacts compared to many of their non-animal counterparts. So, let’s look at how to nail sustainable, vegan home furnishing…

Sofas – the centerpiece of the living room

A stylish home has a stylish couch. Sofas and lounges are one of the largest pieces of furniture anyone has, and our eyes often head straight to them in a living room. Many couches are made with either leather or wool, and some are filled with down. 

Given the massive emissions, land clearing and water use associated with leather production – even when it’s vegetable tanned – and the similar impacts caused by wool, not to mention the cruelty to animals involved in producing these materials, it’s worth finding alternatives. Too, feather down comes from either live-plucked or slaughtered birds largely raised in polluting factory-farms. We can do better than that. Whether you choose a totally different material like a sustainable cotton velvet or corduroy, linen, hemp or a plant-based leather, there are plenty of options when buying new – which, remember, isn’t your only option! Here a few top of the line examples of what you could fill your home with:

1) Sabai

This BIPOC owned brand makes a classic ‘essential sofa’ from recycled velvet, FSC wood and recycled fiber filling that doesn’t release the same supposedly toxic substances some foams can. This company also aims to ‘close the loop’ by offering to replace parts of your sofa which might wear out after about a decade, so you don’t need to buy a whole new couch. 

Sabai also offers love seats, ottomans and plenty of other gorgeous interiors – made sustainably and ethically in North Carolina. 

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2) Medley

Made fairly in Los Angeles, these sofas come in 75 material options, with plenty of plant-based, ethical options to choose from. Propped up on American, consciously sourced hardwood and filled with non-toxic certified foam, Medley offers mid-century and other minimalistically styled couches in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit your needs. 

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3) Ecobalanza

With plenty of material options available, Ecobalanza’s perhaps most sustainable and animal-friendly option is their organic cotton couch filled with natural kapuk fiber. The brand uses only Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) wood as well as certified organic latex. 

Everything here is made to order, ensuring reduced waste and only loved furniture is made. In a world where so many purchases head to landfill so soon, this is important. 

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4) Gus* Modern

Ever wanted a modular couch made partly from apple skins, cores and seeds diverted from apple juice industry waste streams?

Now you can. 

Gus* Modern offers AppleSkin couches and chairs, with this material reducing agricultural waste, maintaining a smaller land and carbon footprint than leather, while being oh so comfortable to sit on.

While this material is pricier, it’s worth noting many eco-conscious homeware brands offer (water-based and solvent free) PU vegan leather which is far from perfect, but which still has a far reduced production impact, and is free from cruelty. 

Gus* couches and chairs also only use FSC wood to ensure forest protection, and instead of down-filled cushions, otherwise discarded plastic bottles are recycled into a soft, comfortable filling. 

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Rugs and blankets – the cozy elements 

The simplest way to warm up a room is to add a soft rug to it. Rugs and throws that lie under and drape over couches are very often made from wool, supporting a slaughter industry. If you’d rather choose something kinder, there are plenty of options – recycled and organic cotton, hemp, post-consumer waste fabrics, Tencel and more. 

Whether you want an earthier, more textured and sturdy rug, or something super soft and pillowy (better suited for a part of your home with less foot traffic) there are some great selections out there. Here are a few: 

1) Miss Amara

This Australian brand has a beautiful collection of rugs, and with an easy search function that allows you to select only the materials you’re looking for, choosing sustainable and vegan is easy. Offering materials like jute, cotton, recycled plastic-bottles, hemp and even bamboo silk, Miss Amara has simple, block-coloured rug offerings, as well as intricate patterned and linear detailed designs. 

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2) Bhumi

Offering the softest, classically styled cable knit blankets and throws made from certified organic and fair trade cotton, Bhumi is an ethical, animal-free label. These blankets are free from unsustainable chemical bleaches and dyes, even recommended for babies and their sensitive skin. Everything at Bhumi is made in fair trade Indian facilities. 

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3) Hook and Loom

Recycling post-consumer cotton textiles into loomed rugs that don’t require any latex backing, Hook and Loom’s eco-cotton collection is a sustainable choice.

With both neutral and bold colors, minimalist block patterns and a wide variety of sizes available, there’s plenty to explore here. 

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4) Zouzou

This label is designed in very limited runs, so you know your rug will be unique, and that there’s always something new to explore from Zouzou. Made ethically in India using bamboo silk – a kind of bamboo viscose which can be made more sustainably – Zouzou is a great choice if you’re looking for muted tones and an animal and plastic free rug. 

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5) Slow Down Studio

If you’re looking for a blanket to bring a bit of color and life to your bedroom or living area, Slow Down Studio might be your new favorite. Woven with American grown and recycled cotton, this label offers limited edition collaborations with different independent artists. 

Abstract forms and shapes, illustrations and patterns look beautiful against more minimalist furniture pieces, with these pieces spun and woven in the USA.

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Bedding that won’t keep you up at night

Who wants to rest their head on a bed that’s caused environmental destruction and cruelty, when dreamier, green and ethical options exist? When it comes to bedding, again, we need to watch out for down feathers. We also want to avoid unsustainable virgin synthetic replacements, and again, wool. Too, if you’re looking for bed sheets that keep your hair and skin extra smooth, you might want to find a silk alternative.

1) MINNA

Feature cushions can enliven a bedroom and bring some texture to a space. MINNA is a queer owned business dedicated to cultural preservation, parterning with family-run and independent co-operatives full of artisans using indigenous techniques to make throw pillows.

MINNA’s organic cotton collection made across Mexico and Peru feature neutral and pastel tones in simple and beautiful patterns.

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2) ettitude

This brand’s bedding is made from bamboo lyocell, a material that’s as soft as silk, breathable like cotton and more sustainable than both. Bamboo lyocell is made in a closed-loop system, avoiding water pollution while transforming bamboo fibers into the softest material you’ve touched. 

In beautiful dark green olive, dusty rose, pastel and neutral tones, ettitude has something for everyone. 

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3) Avocado

If you’re looking for bedding, Avocado’s got it all. FSC hardwood bed frames, pillows filled with kapok seed-hair fiber from growing trees, certified vegan, organic cotton, non-toxic mattresses, you name it. With a wealth of information on their ethical practices, responsible and fair trade sourcing, material choices and everything in between, you can be comfortable knowing that the vegan options at Avocado are as good as bedding gets. 

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4) VISO

Another label to enliven both your living and bedroom, VISO offers cotton throw cushions and blankets to snuggle up with. VISO is another label offering limited-edition designs, and supports artisan communities through their label, which uses recycled and plant-based materials. 

Featuring block colors and abstract forms, VISO’s blankets also make for beautiful wall hangings, which make a bedroom feel extra warm and homely. 

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About the Author

Emma Håkansson is the founder and director of Collective Fashion Justice which seeks to create a total ethics fashion system that prioritizes the life and wellbeing of non-human & human animals, as well as the planet, before profit & production. She has written countless articles on ethics, sustainability, and fashion, and has two books due out over the next two years.

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A Guide to Sustainable Packaging

Read on if you’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of plastic packaging you encounter in your day-to-day life - whether grocery shopping, ordering online, eating out, or just purchasing something in general.

I feel you. There’s a lot of plastic in the world. And while plastic isn’t inherently a bad material (it works wonders in the medical field where other materials simply wouldn’t be able to do what plastic does), the overproduction and overconsumption of plastics are out of hand. Plastic is a durable material that can withstand a lot of use and wear before actually breaking down, hence why it can be so helpful in certain instances. But it is NOT designed for single-use in the way our society currently abuses it. 

Thankfully, with more and more research being done and with increased consumer pressure on corporations to take responsibility for the waste they create, inventive, plastic alternatives are emerging!

The Issue With Conventional Packaging & Why Sustainable Packaging Is Important

Ok, how many times have you googled “Is X recyclable”? I bet it’s a lot. And usually, answers from your search bar aren’t very straightforward. That can be for a couple of reasons. 

First, recycling varies depending on where you live. I’ve lived in a handful of places across the U.S., and during my stint in Alabama, my city didn’t offer curbside recycling. Instead, I collected our recyclables and drove them to our town facility. And only plastics 1 and 2, cardboard, and aluminum were accepted. No glass. Now, I live in California. But even the county I grew up in (Orange County) and the county I now live in (Los Angeles County) have super different recycling rules.

Second, there’s a lot of misinformation about recycling in general. It’s hard to get to the bottom of what is and isn’t recyclable because the majority of recyclable materials aren’t getting recycled at all. Yeah, brace yourself for this stat if you don’t already know it. According to the EPA, 66% of discarded paper gets recycled, 27% of discarded glass, and only 8% of plastics. This article by Green Matters breaks it down by material, too. There are so many factors that go into the failure of the recycling system and so many people don’t even know about this issue. I highly recommend giving this article a read, which goes over causes as well as solutions.

As we continue to live during a climate crisis, there needs to be a level of awareness around alternative packaging, whether it’s non-plastic, reusable, or *actually* recyclable. Below are a few general options as well as a few brands working with packaging alternatives. 

image: Funpak

 The Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Packaging Alternatives

So let’s talk about plastic packaging alternatives:

Dissolvable Packing Peanuts

• The purpose of packing peanuts is to crowd around an item in a box and protect all of the nooks and crannies while not adding much weight to the overall package. Unfortunately, they used to all be made out of polystyrene, a type of plastic used in products like Styrofoam. As we all know well by now, plastics take 5ever to decompose and almost always end up polluting our environment while they do so. Especially since packing peanuts are so lightweight, they easily fly out of trashcans and into our oceans.

• That’s where these packing peanuts go from nuisance to nifty! In the 90s, after considerable negative feedback from consumers and environmental activists, companies began to turn away from plastics and toward starch. The biggest problem plastic peanuts encountered was polluting our environment and harming wildlife that mistook the pieces of foam for food. But the new and improved, plant-based peanuts are 100% biodegradable and won’t harm wildlife that happens upon a stray one every now and then (because most of them are disposed of at home!).

• So how can I tell if I have the plastic version or the biodegradable goodies? A super-easy way to tell is to put a peanut in a glass of water. If it dissolves, you’re good! If not, you have a plastic peanut on your hands. Sometimes, the biodegradable version is tinted green (versus pink or white) to help you solve the question.

• What do I do with plastic packing peanuts? These are pretty hard to recycle, and most facilities don’t recycle Styrofoam. You can try to google search to see if there is a facility near you that recycles Styrofoam, or you can get creative and reuse those peanuts. This post had some fun suggestions, like stuffing a bean bag or using them for arts and crafts!

image: Noissue

Compostable/Biodegradable Plastics

• Ok, this seems like an oxymoron. Let’s chat about it. The first big thing to know: compostable and biodegradable are *not* the same thing. It’s similar to the “All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares” saying: “All compostable items are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable items are compostable.” Ha. Let’s dive deeper with the help of Google.

• Compostable: “(of organic matter, especially kitchen waste) able to be made into compost.”

• Biodegradable: “(of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.”

• When applied to bioplastics, the thing to know is that compostable plastic can become soil-enriching compost. Unless the item is clearly labeled “backyard compostable,” however, most compostable plastic still needs to be broken down in a special facility. Some brands that use this material have send-back programs where they properly compost their bioplastic. As for biodegradable plastic, it does not break down into beneficial compost, but it does, in fact, break down, while standard plastics take up more space and never break down.

• The world of bioplastics is a grey area. Some people in the sustainability community are all in on their support for bioplastics, while others say the material simply doesn’t cut it and actually just creates more of an issue with confusing packaging and marketing. I happen to ride that middle line because I truly believe that imperfect sustainability practiced by thousands of individuals and hundreds of companies is better than absolutely perfect sustainability practiced by the minority.

• While this article is told from a European standpoint, it is still super informative on bioplastics and all their intricacies.

Refillable/Reusable Tins

• We love a packaging option that is reusable! For one, it helps stretch out the item’s lifecycle *a ton*. Instead of getting the item and recycling it, throwing it away, or even returning it in a closed-loop program, a refillable or reusable item can be put to use in your life! This keeps it out of landfills for much longer.

• These items can also have a ton of variety. In the reusable sense, some packaging items may come in glass that you can reuse as plant propagation vessels, food storage, or candles. Some items may come in tins, which are more lightweight and can be easily tossed in a purse to organize your on-the-go vitamins, hair accessories, or makeup.

• For refillable items, whether glass, tin or even plastic, you just scored! Take your refillable items to your local refill or bulk store and load up. Shampoo, multi-purpose spray, spaghetti noodles, sunscreen, gluten-free flour - the list of what your refillable tins can be used for is basically endless!!

• If the packaging item is part of a circular system, you may be able to ship back your container once empty and receive a refill in return. This method helps to eliminate the creation of *new* items and instead places importance on the items we already have and finds a way to utilize them properly.

• Get creative with how packaging items can be given new life right in your home.

image: Noissue

Here are some companies thinking outside of the (plastic) box

Noissue

• This brand is awesome because it is available to businesses of all sizes, which encourages your local mom & pop shop to take advantage of their sustainable practices. You can also choose which type of packaging works best for your business - compostable, recycled, or reusable. They have an entire breakdown of each option on their site here but let me give you the low down. 

• Compostable - to qualify as compostable, packaging must be able to break down in a backyard compost environment within 180 days. This usually leans toward paper and cardboard packaging, since compostable plastics need extra help to break down in a facility. 

• Recycled - while the recycling infrastructure in our country is shoddy, at best, it is *still* better than choosing virgin plastics. And the more we, as consumers, seek out post-consumer recycled materials, the more effort will be put into actually recycling plastics. 

• Reusable - think “I burned my candle down and now it’s a cute succulent pot”! Having your packaging double as something useful in your life not only makes it last longer but keeps it out of the landfill and being useful for longer, too.

• You can learn more about Noissue on their site. 

ErthCycle

• To be blatantly transparent: I am currently in the process of launching this brand as the Marketing Director. But it’s seriously so cool that I couldn’t help but share it with you! ErthCycle is a brand new technology that creates fully biodegradable plastics that 1. Leave behind no microplastics, and 2. Use 20-40% less fossil fuels. Oh, and it biodegrades in a landfill environment, all on its own. I KNOW! This is possible due to the addition of two organic additives to each piece of plastic: calcium carbonate (limestone) and Eco-One™ technology. This power couple replaces the need for more plastic and then acts in tandem to degrade the packaging in a landfill environment at a super accelerated rate; where normal plastics take 500+ years, we’re looking at 3-5 years for full decomposition.

• As I mentioned above, this material resides in the gray zone. There are pros and cons, but it is SUCH a better option than the plastic packaging we currently have. What makes ErthCycle so attractive to larger corporations (think Amazon, FedEx, Costco) is that it’s almost always cost-negative or -neutral, meaning these big businesses don’t have to dole out a crazy part of their budget for eco-friendly packaging. That can be a downside to options like compostable plastics.

• You can learn more about ErthCycle on their site.

EcoEnclose

• This brand has high standards and sticks to them religiously, even if that means the loss of customers that don’t align with its sustainability framework. Their big hitters are circularity, biodegradation, life cycle entirety, and deep-rooted sustainable practices. Let’s break it down for you.

• Circularity - they’re super into post-consumer recycled content, especially domestic recycled materials. They provide packaging that is firstly reusable and secondly recyclable to help elongate the life cycle of that item.

• Biodegradation - they really preach the avoidance of all plastics, propping up all paper and cardboard products that will biodegrade on their own without damaging our soils or oceans. This is great but a little idealistic.

• Life Cycle Entirety - something that’s so important for packaging companies is to consider the item’s life cycle in its entirety, not just from creation to consumer. EcoEnclose considers their emissions the #1 thing they can curb to help climate change. They will choose packaging with lower emissions over many bioplastics, like corn-based PLA.

• Deep-Rooted Sustainable Practices - the final portion of their framework focuses on parts of the packaging process that are often overlooked. For example, stickers, ink, and labels. They are also proud to choose domestic partners that align with their sustainability beliefs.

• You can learn more about EcoEnclose on their site.

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Do you feel slightly better about tackling your plastic packaging now? I hope so.

I’ll leave you with this awesome resource: How2Recycle. This is a super user-friendly site that has boat-loads of information about recycling. Their “Check Locally” tab is an easy way to learn more about recycling in your area. Also, explore their “Store Drop Off” tab to see if you can dispose of trickier items (plastic bags, plastic film, plastic pouches) nearby. Their site also has a “Labels” tab that breaks down the different recycling labels on all different types of products.

Now that you know go forth and reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose, reimagine, and recycle :)

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About the Author:

Paige Annelayne is a freelance writer and digital media specialist currently based in Alabama, who loves to cook, learn about intersectional sustainability, and read a lot of books. Her cat, Gnocchi, her plants, and a good cup of matcha bring her joy. You can connect with Paige on Instagram @vitality.blog and at www.vtltyblog.com

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