Image: Moth Oddities

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ONLINE STORES FOR SECONDHAND SHOPPING

A sustainable closet looks different for everyone, and if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new sustainably made dress, shopping secondhand is your best alternative! 

Shopping Secondhand is the most inexpensive way to build a sustainable closet

One of the biggest complaints I receive from viewers is how expensive are sustainable fashion brands. Because these brands produce sustainable clothes with high ethical guidelines, they cannot offer their designs at the low prices you see in conventional fast fashion stores. People are finally being paid a fair wage, which makes sustainable fashion a little more pricey. While some brands have started offering payment plans, great sales, and lower price points, shopping secondhand is typically your best bet for higher deals on clothes. 

secondhand shopping is a great way to support climate mitigation 

Did you know that the average American throws out around 80 pounds of textile waste yearly? Many of us are familiar with the fashion industry being one of the most polluting in the world, so giving new life to clothes that may have ended up in landfill is such a fantastic thing to do.

Now, our favorite places to shop for secondhand clothing:

1) Flyp

For | Men & Women

Categories | Clothing, Bags, Shoes, Handbags, Accessories

Flyp is a dream app for those who want to sell pieces from their wardrobe but don’t have the time or energy to do it themselves. With Flyp, you just upload photos of your clothing, shoes, or accessories, and then professional sellers apply to sell them for you. They take care of the rest of the process, and you just pay them an agreed-upon commission!

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code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 5% off (minimum purchase of £20)

2) Green Heart Collective

For | Women

Categories | Clothing, Accessories

Green Heart Collective is a treasure trove for preloved fashion, with every item carefully hand-picked from sizes 6-32. Help keep clothes out of landfill by taking part in a circular model of buying secondhand instead of new. This UK-based social enterprise reinvests its profits into its mission to reduce waste to landfill, as well as working with local charities in the North East of England - so you can look good, feel good and do good with every purchase.

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3) M.M.LaFleur Second Act

For | Women

Categories | Workwear Clothing & Shoes

Almost a year ago, I wrote about how secondhand shopping is growing 21x faster than traditional retail and how many brands were starting to create their own pre-loved sites to keep their clothing in circulation rather than at the landfill. That’s why when M.M.LaFleur came on our radar, I knew this would be the perfect example to showcase on Sustainably Chic.

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4) Etsy

Stores to Check Out | Wayward Collection, Vaux Vintage, Downhouse

There are SO many vintage/secondhand stores on Etsy, and it’s a platform I’m sure many of us have used at some point.

I used to own an Etsy shop, and always loved how easy the platform was to shop and list goods. Etsy is also the first major online shopping destination to offset 100% of shipping carbon emissions.

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5) Wearwell

For | Women

Categories | Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry, & Home Goods

Wearwell is a sustainable fashion marketplace and membership platform (with lots of perks like a personal styling service!), but they also have a wearwellagain circularity initiative, too.

All you have to do is ship back your gently used wearwell pieces and then you get a discount on your future purchases. (The more pieces you send back, the bigger discount you get!) Then, they close the loop by offering affordable secondhand pieces on their site.

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6) Moth Oddities

For | Men & Women

Categories | Clothing, Accessories

This is Yana Pietras & Ian O'Neill, and they are the creators of Moth Oddities. I had the joy of meeting them a few years ago in Charleston, SC during their USA roadtrip. They were traveling all over the US, finding really great vintage pieces along the way. They have a great eye for fashion, and always some cute dress pops up in my feed that I feel like needs to be in my closet. And the prices are always great!

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7) Swap Society

For | Women & Kids

Categories | Clothing, Jewelry

The ultimate online clothing swap! For just a small monthly fee, you have access to one of the biggest clothing swaps in the world. Swap Society has 2 types of monthly memberships- LUXE & BASIC. The site works on a point system. When you send clothing in, a certain amount of points are awarded to you based on brand & quality of garment. With those points you are able to swap it for something of equal value.

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8) Worn Wear

For | Men, Women & Kids

Categories | Outdoor Apparel, Activewear

I just LOVE that Patagonia has a used store so you can shop their repaired and secondhand clothes at a discounted rate. And they have clothing for the entire family! It would be great if more sustainable brands would have a platform like this where you could trade in your old clothes or have clothes repaired so you can keep on loving them.

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9) Vestiaire Collective

For | Men & Women

Categories | Clothing, Bags, Watches, Jewelry

This online luxury thrift store has A LOT of secondhand categories and products to go through. Vestiaire Collective has over 25,000 new items submitted by their community of sellers every week, which enables buyers to search over 3,500 coveted and must have fashion pieces a day!! It’s an amazing collection.

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10) eBay

Stores to Check Out | vonvixenvtg, DowntownGenerations, ShannonMyIndi

This may be an obvious one, but Ebay really does have some of the best secondhand and vintage finds on the internet.

I will definitely be making a much bigger list of great eBay stores to shop in the future, but here are just a few cool ones I recently found. It’s fun to be able to bid on items, but the prices are usually always pretty good.

I also look for a lot of sustainable brands like Sezane and Christy Dawn to see if anyone has listed anything!

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11) Recurate

For | Shopify businesses to set up their own secondhand program

This idea is just too cool! A new startup called Recurate is making it easier than ever for sustainable brands to create their own secondhand shop. Being able to shop secondhand products we know are sustainably-made in the first place is like a double win! Recurate understands that secondhand shopping is growing 21x faster than traditional retail, and so many brands could benefit from this amazing concept. If you are a Shopify store, visit Recurate here, today, to learn more!!

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click - here - to find 10 more used clothing apps for secondhand shopping

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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:

A Guide to Sustainable Tea & Five Sustainable Tea Brands to try

If you’re an avid tea drinker like me, your daily tea is a great place to make a difference in your sustainable habits. I enjoy iced matcha tea lattes in the mornings and usually prefer herbal or mint tea in the evenings to unwind. The way most people cherish their coffee breaks is how I savor my cups of tea. When I found out how problematic the tea industry can be I knew I needed to find brands that share the same values for people and the planet.

As the second most consumed beverage in the world and increasing commercialization due to demand, the tea industry has become filled with unsustainable practices like wasteful packaging, worker exploitation and environmental destruction. However, it doesn’t have to be this way and there are tea companies out there committed to a sustainable business model. To make it easier for my fellow tea and planet lovers, I did the research for you and put together a guide for what you need to know about sustainable tea consumption and some great companies to check out!  

image from The Tea Spot

What makes tea sustainable?

There are a lot of opportunities to make tea consumption more sustainable from the way tea leaves are grown and sourced to how they’re packaged. Many industrial tea companies use heavy machinery when harvesting tea and destroy the surrounding land in the process. Tea from organic tea leaves, grown without the use of pesticides, direct relationships with farmers and thoughtful packaging will be easy ways you can recognize more sustainable tea companies.

image from The Tea Spot

What to look for when shopping for sustainable tea?

There are four key values to keep in mind as you make your tea shopping more sustainable. Just by having conscious consideration to the sourcing, packaging,resources and ingredients can make a big difference.

While sourcing the high quality tea, look for companies with close relationships with their farmers. Direct sourcing, or close to it, will help you avoid industrially cultivated tea and be more traceable with their supply. It will also guarantee that what is being advertised is what actually makes it into your tea and not just a strategically marketed product.

When looking at packaging, loose leaf tea decreases the carbon footprint considerably since it cuts out the production for tea bags and the need for individual product packaging. It also eliminates the need for string, staples, inks, and adhesives. Not to mention, loose leaf tea will be fresher and better quality. Look for tea packed in reusable and recyclable containers like tins or backyard compostable packaging.

The resources used to produce the tea like solar power, energy efficient buildings and carbon emission offset policies are all feasible ways companies can make their production more sustainable. Conscious companies will ensure the resources used to produce the tea do not destroy the environment in the process or pollute the nearby communities.

For the actual tea ingredients you want to look for loose leaf tea that is organic and fair trade. This will ensure your tea is made from high-quality ingredients and harvested by workers being paid a fair wage in a safe work environment. Choosing organic is important with tea because if any pesticides or herbicides are sprayed on the tea plants, the first time the leaves ever get washed will be when you steep the leaves in your cup. Those chemicals are not what you want to be drinking with your delicious tea. If you do not see the organic or fair trade label on the packaging, not all is lost. These certifications are not the end all be all, especially in the tea industry. Any company that shares these values will be transparent and proudly share about their production on their website. Keep reading for a list of companies I already researched for you.

image from Rare Tea Co.

What are some sustainable tea brands?

1) The Tea Spot

Why this company is great: Founder Maria Uspenski used loose leaf tea as part of her cancer recovery and created The Tea Spot to provide high quality tea to others. It is a B Corp certified company and they donate 10% of all profits to cancer survivors and wellness programs. In addition to their loose leaf tea selections, they also have individually packaged pyramid sachets. However, they are made with plant-based, compostable and biodegradable materials. Not all teas are organic but they are labeled so you know which is certified organic.

Teas To Try: Organic Lights Out, Organic Meditative Mind, Organic Clouds and Mist

2) Arbor Teas

Why this company is great: As a small family-owned business, Arbor Teas is USDA Organic and Fair Trade certified while offering a wide selection of loose leaf teas. Their packaging is fully backyard compostable and they offset carbon emissions with CarbonFund.org. Their website is so comprehensive and transparent providing direct actions they take for sustainability from sourcing to shipment.

Teas To Try: Organic Dragon Well Green Tea, Organic Peach Rooibos, Organic Masala Chai Black Tea

3) Rare Tea

Why this company is great: Rare Tea is a small London-based company offering a variety of small-batched loose leaf teas that only works with fully sustainable farms. They pay the costs associated with having the tea checked for quality, which is usually the responsibility of the farm. This allows small farms that cannot afford or don’t have access to the organic or fair trade certification procedures the same opportunities as large industrialize farms Rare Tea even started their own Rare Charity, which re-invests a percentage of the revenue from Rare Tea sales into the education for young people connected to the Satemwa Tea Estate, a small farm in Malawi.

Teas To Try: Recovery Tea, Rare Nepalese Cherry Blossom, Chinese Iron Goddess Oolong

4) Rishi Tea

Why this company is great: Rishi Tea is an independently owned company that works directly with the farms they obtain their organic teas from. While they offer both loose leaf tea and tea in sachets, their sachets are plant-based and biodegradable making them more sustainable than most individually wrapped tea options.

Teas To Try: Chamomile Medley, Everyday Matcha, Earl Grey Supreme

5) Young Mountain Tea

Why this company is great: Young Mountain Tea works closely with Indian and Nepali communities to raise the quality of their tea. This empowers them to earn more and the formerly abandoned farms and unsafe fields are becoming areas with 90% women farmers achieving financial independence. Additionally, the packaging is high quality so it can be reused and repurposed to reduce waste. Most of their tea is organic certified.

Teas To Try: Organic Darjeeling Ruby Oolong, Organic Kumaon White, Organic Darjeeling First Flush

How can I make preparing my tea more sustainable?

By choosing loose leaf tea, you eliminate a lot of packaging waste. Also, be mindful of water use by only heating the amount of water needed for your pot or cup of tea helps to conserve water. Keep your tea in an air-tight container away from light and heat to prolong freshness and quality. Re-steeping your tea leaves is a great way to make your tea last longer and many tea makers believe tea is best after the second or third steep. While the world of teaware is filled with beautifully handcrafted pottery and tea pots, the mug you already have works just as well! However, if you need a few accessories to make your steeping easier, here are some reusable items that are helpful for your sustainable tea enjoyment!

Rare Tea Glass Teapot

The clear glass allows you to view the tea as it brews and includes a strainer to catch most tea leaves as you pour.

Rare Tea Overcup Strainer

To help catch tea leaves while pouring fresh brewed tea.

Everest Tea Tumbler

For taking your loose leaf tea on the go!

Tea Infuser

If you prefer to steep your loose leaf tea right in your cup without straining

Japanese Washi Tea Tin

For storing your teas, these air-tight containers are beautiful and functional.

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About the Author

Karmen Flores is a creative entrepreneur based in Michigan. Karmen shares all about plant-based and sustainable, intentional living on her blog Karmen Collective. From recommendations for all things plant-based to tips for living more sustainably, Karmen makes living with intention less intimidating and more accessible. You can connect with Karmen on Instagram @karmencollective and at www.karmencollective.com

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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:

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 world a better place!

sustainable bathroom brands & Eco-friendly Products

My journey in sustainability went from food to clothing to bedroom to the bathroom. I'm still learning little tricks to make my environment more eco-friendly (particularly healthy), but these 11 brands are an excellent start for those in the market for a bit of bathroom - eco - upgrade. From the towels you dry off with to the toothpaste for your pearly whites, these brands create products that make switching to a more sustainable lifestyle easier. 

Why is it important to create a non-toxic, sustainable bathroom?

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of regulations when it comes to bath & beauty products. This means you could potentially be bringing home toxic chemicals and not know the impact they could have on your health. This is more than just creating an eco-friendly bathroom; it's about our bodies' sustainability and ensuring our health is put first.

The Average American Produces over 280 pounds of plastic waste every year

& a lot of that waste can be found within the bathroom. Almost everything we use within bath & beauty products is packaged in plastic, from our shampoo to toothpaste. It can be challenging to eliminate from your bathroom, but a few brands are working to help us with this!

what to look for when shopping for eco-friendly bathroom products

Always check the brand's website first! They should have transparent information on the materials and ingredients they use within their products. Another thing to look out for is sustainable packaging - is it refillable? is it plastic-free? Also, sustainable certifications are a good indicator (but, of course, just because a brand doesn't have one doesn't mean it isn't worth shopping). We make things easier for you by creating beauty listicles with our favorite brands. Finally, if you ever have a question about a product or brand, always feel free to contact them. Transparency is so crucial for sustainable brands!

our top picks for sustainable bathroom brands & products:

1. Nix Mouthwash

Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic Mouthwash

This is honestly the best eco-friendly and non-toxic mouthwash I’ve tried!

It’s made with high-quality ingredients, without any alcohol or toxic chemicals. The bottle is refillable, too, making it very low waste & the perfect sustainable bathroom swap.

Plus, 10% of profits go toward providing dental care to underprivileged children in the U.S. and abroad.

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2. Grow Fragrance

Air Fresheners & Candles

Grow Fragrance is a North Carolina-based brand that creates certified 100% plant-based and toxin-free candles and air and fabric fresheners. It has a great selection of beautiful scents for every ambiance, including a few limited editions that you can only get at certain times of the year. With its perfumery expertise, Grow Fragrance only uses non-toxic, plant-based ingredients that are found in nature and relies on what is in season to come up with its limited editions. 

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use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC for 10% off

3. THE POWDER SHAMPOO

Powder Formulated Shampoo & Body Wash

Are you looking for a completely plastic-free shampoo brand? THE POWDER SHAMPOO offers something unique to the beauty industry with its vegan, cruelty-free, powder-to-foam formulas.

Since no water is added to their formula, you can get way more washes out of a single bottle - one of their bottles is equivalent to FIVE bottles of liquid shampoo. In one 100g bottle you have over 100x washes!

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use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC10 for 10% off

4. Green Eco Dream

Marketplace for hair, oral, & body care, cleaning products, and more

Green Eco Dream was created to help sustainable shopping grow by offering high-quality and reliable products that will have a positive impact on consumers’ lifestyles and the environment.

They have a wide range of eco-friendly products for the bathroom, from low-waste haircare and non-toxic body washes to men’s skincare, feminine care, cleaning products… and more!

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5. Nebia

Water-saving showerheads and PVC-free shower curtains

A great addition to any sustainable bathroom, Nebia’s sleek showerheads save up to 50% more water compared to a standard shower (with up to 60% more force—no slow flow here).

The Nebia by Moen Quattro showerhead comes with four different spray modes so you can change the pressure and feel for the kids or for extra-dirty messes. They’re also super easy to install and come with a lifetime warranty!

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code: SUSTAINABLYCHIC10 for 10% off

6. Everist

Waterless Hair Product & Soap

Did you know most shampoos are more than 70% water, made from petrochemicals, and packed in single-use plastic? Everist saw a problem and has introduced the first waterless shampoo concentrate, a 100% plant-based paste-textured concentrate activated by the water in your shower. Not only is this a great way to reduce waste, but with 5 essential oils, your scalp will be left feeling refreshed. All their products are color-safe, vegan, and cruelty-free and free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, dyes, synthetic fragrances, and added preservatives!

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7. By Humankind

Zero-Waste Personal Care

By using products from by Humankind for just one year, you’ll save the planet up to 5 pounds of single-use plastic waste. They offer almost everything you need in personal care, from deodorants to mouthwash. This is a brand we use at home, & it’s so great. I especially love their hand sanitizers and always keep them on me. Once you finish an item, you order a refill, helping you cut down on plastic!!

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8. Delilah Home

Organic Cotton Towels

These soft towels are European-crafted and made of 100% organic cotton.

They are created with long-staple, 100% organic Turkish cotton, Global Organic Textile Standard Certified, spun into fine yarns, and loomed into long, two-ply, double loops making the most of the fiber’s extraordinary length. The extra-long loops make the towels highly absorbent, soft, and up to 50% thicker than most other towels. Talk about cozy and warm!

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9. EarthHero

A Curated Assortment of Eco-Goods for the Bathroom

This online shop has so much to offer in terms of eco-friendly goods.

From your office to your bathroom, there is something you can find that will make your oasis a little more green.

They have a great collection of bathroom goods like these sweet little bamboo and ceramic pieces.

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10. EcoRoots

Plastic-Free Bath and Beauty

I’m so happy to find more and more plastic-free stores becoming available and making zero-waste look really really good!! From rose gold safety razors (pictured here) to zero-waste dental kits, EcoRoots has much to fill your eco-friendly bathroom. They also always ship plastic-free with compostable, recyclable materials. Plus, they give 1% to Ocean Conservancy to preserve and protect our blue planet. Make sure to follow along with them on Instagram because they give great tips for living plastic-free!

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11. Made Trade

Curated Collection of Bathroom Goods

From bathrobes to shower curtains, Made Trade has a lot for you to choose from when decorating your bathroom. Their brands include popular ones like Coyuchi, Kiliim, & Anatoli Co.

I would love to have another Kiliim rug for my bathroom. Coyuchi is another brand you may have heard of that has luxurious bath towels and some beautiful colors and patterns to choose from.

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12. REEL

Bamboo Toilet Paper

One of the easiest eco-friendly switches you can make in your bathroom is toilet paper, and with 27,000 trees being cut down every day just for TP, it’s an essential switch.

Reel is made from bamboo! It grows much quicker than trees and uses less water. It’s also strong and soft, making excellent toilet paper. Plus, for each roll you purchase, they donate a single-use biodegradable toilet to someone in need.

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13. Under the Canopy

Organic Towels & Bath Robes

Under the Canopy's commitment to a cleaner planet and home goods industry is admirable.

They adhere to 6 kinds of certifications {FAIR TRADE, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, C2C, RCS & FSC}, and sustainability is at the forefront of their business model. All products are made ethically with eco-minded materials. Their waffle robe is a must have after your shower! We’ve been using their towels and robes for years, now.

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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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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.

What is Viscose?

Viscose is a human-made material that’s partially synthetic, and made of trees. Sometimes it’s labelled as at least somewhat sustainable due to its woody beginnings, and other times, it’s called out as totally harmful for the planet – so how is viscose really made, and how does this process really impact the planet?

What is viscose used for?

Viscose is a fairly silky, draped fabric that is often used by brands seeking a cheaper version of animal-derived silk. In the realm of fashion, it’s common to see it in women’s blouses, skirts, and flowing dresses, and even making up partially synthetic velvet. 

It’s considered a lightweight and breathable material that maintains shape, is absorbent, soft and dye-fast. This makes it fabric that is widely used when it comes to printed fabrics and summer collections.

What is viscose made of?

Viscose is a cellulose material – like Tencel – meaning it is made from wood pulp. In the case of viscose, this ‘wood’ is from beech, pine, and eucalyptus trees much of the time, but it can also be made of bamboo and even soy or sugarcane.

One of the reasons Tencel is great is because of one particularly unsustainable aspect of viscose production: old-growth forest logging. Canopy, an organization dedicated to protecting forests, has found that for the production of viscose and rayon (essentially the same material), more than 200 million trees are logged each year. If these trees were placed end to end, they would circle our planet seven times! 

While Tencel uses wood from certified sustainably managed sources, this is too often not the case for viscose. Less than 20% of the world’s ancient forests remain in intact tracts large enough to maintain critical biological diversity. Yet, forests in Indonesia, Canada’s Boreal and temperate rainforests, and the Amazon are being logged for fast and even luxury fashion. In fact, it’s estimated that 30% of viscose and rayon used in fashion is made from endangered and ancient forests which once were home to native plants and animals. 

If fashion brands and people wearing viscose don’t know where the raw material behind it (the wood) is coming from, sadly, it may be from destroyed endangered forestry.

How is viscose normally made?

Once trees have been cut down, they are chopped into small pieces before being dissolved into a pulp. This is where viscose becomes semi-synthetic, as this is a very chemical-heavy process. Sodium hydroxide, carbon disulfide, and sulphuric acid are all used in this process and are all considered toxic.

Sodium hydroxide is highly irritating and corrosive, resulting in severe burns and permanent damage when it comes in contact with human tissue, including the eyes, which can also be permanently harmed and impaired due to exposure. In the case of carbon disulphide, evidence has suggested that exposure to this chemical by factory workers – as well as people living near viscose production facilities – can cause coronary heart disease, birth defects, skin conditions and even cancer. Meanwhile, sulphuric acid can cause severe skin burns, irritate the nose and throat, burn eyes, possibly cause blindness and difficulty breathing when inhaled by workers. 

These toxic chemicals – amongst others – are used together in order to dissolve the wood chips into pulp, clean and bleach the pulp, and treat the pulp so that the solution, known as ‘viscose’, is produced. This viscose solution is then run through a spinneret, a machine that creates filaments or fibers. Finally, this cellulosic fiber can be spun into yarn and then made into fabrics used in fashion. 

This chemical process can lead not only to poor health outcomes for workers, but often, to significant air and water pollution. Air emissions around viscose manufacturing facilities often include sulfur, nitrous oxide, carbon, disulfide, and hydrogen sulfide. 

Can viscose ever be made sustainably?

While viscose is biodegradable, meaning it won’t pile up in landfill for thousands of years like polyester or another completely synthetic fabric, this alone doesn’t mean that it is sustainable. Deforestation and chemical pollution are serious issues, and the process of making viscose can also be highly water intensive – from the watering of growing trees to the significant water requirements during processing. 

Fortunately, there are other ways to make viscose that are more sustainable. These processes are more expensive, so brands need to make clear commitments to prioritise the environment over profit, should they choose them. Since there’s no fashion if there’s no planet Earth, this should be an easy decision!

The previously mentioned Canopy non-profit produces an annual CanopyStyle report, which lays out the newest innovations and next-generation fibers in the textile space, that should allow us all to keep in line with set sustainability targets.

Certified Safer Logging

A great question to ask brands using viscose, is ‘where did the raw material come from?’. If brands can’t answer this for you, and if they can’t assure that the sourcing was responsible, according to a third-party accreditation, this is a real concern.

CanopyStyle offers brands plenty of information as to how they can source viscose responsibly. Brands that are a part of the CanopyStyle certification and program are also audited to ensure that ancient and endangered forests are protected from destruction. These better materials are considered ‘green-shirt’ rated.

Responsible, Closed-Loop Processing

Lenzing, the company that creates Tencel in a closed-loop system, also makes Ecovero, a viscose material derived from ‘certified renewable wood sources using an eco-responsible production process by meeting high environmental standards’.

Awarded the EU Ecolabel, Ecovero is manufactured with up to 50% fewer emissions and water impact than generic viscose. Importantly, Ecovero is also produced in a closed-loop, meaning that no harmful gases are released into the environment and are instead recovered, converted, and reused as raw materials.

Ecovero is made in a highly transparent supply chain, so brands can offer all the information that people deserve to know, about how this material was made, where, and from what.

Next-Generation Fibers, Made From Old Material

In order to combat deforestation, we cannot only rely on ‘sustainable sourcing’ of wood, from non-protected trees and forestry. We need to use less new raw materials in general. Fortunately, we don’t need to cut down so many trees in order to keep on making clothing.

Our current fashion system is one built upon overproduction, overconsumption, and waste. Because of this, more than an enormous 25 million tonnes of cotton and viscose textile waste is generated annually around the world. While we also need to slow down how we produce and consume, today, we can make use of this waste by creating viscose that is, at the very least, partially recycled. 

In fact, Canopy states that ‘all 6.5 million tonnes of viscose being produced this year could be made using only 25% of the world’s wasted and discarded cotton and viscose fabrics, thereby saving forests, reducing municipal and industrial waste to landfills, and reducing carbon emissions, energy, and water use.’ What an opportunity!

Brands using more sustainable viscose

There are plenty of brands working with both Canopy and Lenzing to ensure their viscose is more sustainable, and free from harm to precious biodiversity. Here are some of our favourites, that also ensure ethical production, when it comes to the people making their clothes.

Eileen Fisher

A trailblazing brand when it comes to transparency and ethics, Eileen Fisher has a collection of viscose and rayon styles that are largely sourced from responsibly managed, legally harvested forests. What’s more, the brand is supporting the research and development of recycled cellulose materials. The offerings from this brand, in cellulosic materials, include cardigans, pullovers, dresses, t-shirts, comfortable pants, and even velvet tops, dresses and jackets.

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Stella McCartney

This brand, famous for its animal-friendly refusal to use animal skins, is also committed to being a ‘zero-deforestation brand’. Since 2017, all viscose in Stella McCartney’s ready-to-wear collection has been from sustainably managed and certified forests in Sweden. Stella McCartney offers up a range of dresses, shorts, shirts, jackets, pants and co-ord suits in their more sustainable viscose material.

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Brava Fabrics

Showcased in our brand features this past Spring, Brava Fabrics creates beautiful patterns and colors on Ecovero shirts, pants, and skirts.

They ethically produce everything close to home in Spain and Portugal.

Brava Fabrics believe in fairness & transparency throughout the entire supply chain, so they keep a close relationship with all of their tailors.

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Amour Vert

Another great sustainable brand using Ecovero for lovely, vibrant prints and designs!

This brand uses a lot of sustainable fabrics like TENCEL, Organic Cotton, & Hemp - and it’s great to see a few Ecovero pieces thrown into the mix.

Amour Vert makes 97% of their clothing right here in the US, and their packaging is eco-friendly & compostable.

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Tamga Designs

TAMGA offers beautiful feminine clothing with colorful & vibrant designs. Whether you’re lounging around the house in one of their silky soft robes or headed out to a party in one of their evening dresses, you’ll love the way their fabrics and designs feel and look.

Everything is made ethically in Indonesia from sustainable materials like TENCEL, EcoVero, and French Linen.

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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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The Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Slippers

After a long day out, it’s nice to come home to a pair of cozy slippers. But wouldn’t it be even better if your slippers were made from eco-friendly materials and by people who were paid fairly for their work?

what to look for when shopping for sustainable slippers

When it comes to sustainable slippers, there are many things to look for - Who makes them? What are they made from? Can you wear them for years to come? Transparency is essential when shopping sustainably, and if your questions can’t be answered easily on the brand’s website, you may want to look elsewhere.

Popular Eco-Friendly Materials Used in Sustainable Slippers

Many slippers listed below are made from wool, rubber & leather since they hold up well over time, and recycled plastics. You can also find a few up-cycled materials. My favorite Chilote slippers are made with up-cycled salmon leather & the entire shoe’s materials are locally sourced and support local artisans. All brands below source their materials sustainably as possible and create a beautiful, well-made slipper!

Our Favorite Sustainable Slippers for 2023:

1) Salmon Leather Slippers

Brand | Chilote

Price | $84

Material | Wool, Leather

Their most popular slippers have been recognized with multiple international design awards - and I have a pair, and love them. These slippers are 100% handmade ethically by artisan women in Patagonia using only natural sheep wool and up-cycled salmon leather, all locally sourced making it easy on the planet.

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2) Mel Slippers

Brand | Baabuk

Price | $79

Material | Wool & Rubber

Colors | Pink, Grey, Purple, Navy, Light Blue, Orange, Yellow & Green

A comfortable pair of slippers that are also easy on the planet. The wool is long-lasting, & each pair is handmade with a traditional felting, and the natural latex soles & glue are sustainably harvested.

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3) Mediterranean Organic Room Shoes

Brand | Coyuchi

Price | on sale for $24

Material | Organic Cotton

Colors | Light Blue, Grey

Inspired by Japanese Uwabaki house slippers, these room shoes are washable and designed for indoor comfort. The inside is lined with their best selling Cloud Loom terry for extra comfort.

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4) Tengries Slippers

Brand | Kyrgies

Price | $89

Material | Wool, Leather

Colors | Oatmeal, Charcoal, Navy, Orange, Plum, Grey

These slippers are made with centuries-old heritage techniques by the best wool felters in the world - women artisans in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. They use super soft & pliable wool and feature a midsole orthopedic sole for extra comfort.

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5) House Loafers

Brand | Dooeys

Price | $128

Material | Plant-Based, Recycled Materials

Colors | Black, Grey, Beige, Cinnamon

These slippers are great if you have hardwood floors or tiles at home!

Plus, they are vegan, and feature a vegan apple leather upper, recycled polyester suede sides, recycled lining, natural latex and cork insoles, and sugarcane soles.

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6) SeaChange Slipper

Brand | SeaVees

Price | $65

Material | Recycled Polyester Fleece, Natural Rubber

Colors | Blue, Leopard, Light Purple, Grey & Ivory

SeaChange is their most responsible collection, each style made with recycled materials. They are also vegan and give back $1 to their partner SeaTrees, a non-profit working to restore global coastal ecosystems and ocean health.

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7) Classic Turkish Cotton Slippers

Brand | Parachute

Price | $39

Material | Cotton, Rubber

Colors | Blush, Grey, White, Moss

If you want a more affordable option, these basic cotton slippers from Parachute (made to match their Classic Turkish Cotton Robe) are OEKO-TEX Certified and come with climate-neutral shipping.

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8) Patellie Bamboo Slipper

Brand | Thought

Price | $20

Material | Organic Cotton, Bamboo

These bamboo slipper socks from UK-based brand Thought are so sweet! If you can’t decide between comfy socks or slippers, this is the perfect solution. Thought is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a leading alliance of companies, trade unions, & NGOs that promotes respect for workers’ rights worldwide.

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9) Wool House Shoes

Brand | Nootkas

Price | $94

Material | New Zealand Merino Wool, Suede Sole

Colors | Oatl, Charcoal, Heather Grey, Wine

These slippers have a barefoot/zero-drop construction for better posture and joint alignment, and they are great for wood floors with their soft suede outsole. The colors are made using non-toxic AZO-free dye, and each pair is crafted in a Fair Trade Certified facility in Nepal. 

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10) Wool Baby Booties

Brand | Silk Road Bazaar

Price | $27

Material | Wool

Too cute not to mention in this post! Find over 20 different animals, from dinosaurs to bumble bees. Each pair is ethically made in Kyrgyzstan with 100% locally sourced sheep’s wool.

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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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