Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands and Ideas

Whenever possible, I approach fashion in the way that I explain in my blog post on “greening” my existing wardrobe. Yet sometimes I do need some new socks, underwear, and bedlinen. And even a cobbler cannot keep fixing the same pair of shoes forever. Sometimes, we all need some new footwear. So where to turn for sustainable options? What are eco-friendly clothing brands and ideas? Below are 7 actions that I took to find sustainable new eco-friendly clothing for myself and my family.

1. Make a list of what is really needed, and shop when you feel good

This was very important for me. I can easily be attracted by nice window displays, enter the shop, and end up buying very beautiful things—that are not really necessary. In French there is this saying, “se faire plaisir,” to spoil myself. I definitely used to shop sometimes to make me feel better. For instance, when I heard some bad news or broke up with a boyfriend. I also used to shop because things were on sale. In the last few years, I have gotten into the habit of making a list of eco-friendly clothing I really need BEFORE going shopping. As with food, I make this list in order to avoid buying things that I already have.

My blog post on Greener Christmas speaks of waste pyramids and the circular economy, an approach that motivates me. I also get inspiration from Sarah Lazarovic’s Buyerarchy of Needs, which she draws like this:

In my opinion, this is a great tool to rely on, and shopping should be seen as a last resort.

Another change I have made is shopping when I feel good. No more clothes shopping to make me feel better or treat myself! A long time ago, somebody told me not to go grocery shopping when I’m hungry, as I would end up buying more food than I need. I have realised that shopping remains shopping, whether for eco-friendly clothing or food. If I only shop when I’m feeling well, then the way I shop is different.

2. Eco-friendly socks

We are always missing socks in our family. Partially it is because they “break up” in the laundry, and I always put them into a pile, thinking I will sort them together. This mostly only really happens when the boys have no more clean socks in their drawers 😊

But even with sorting, my boys’ sock supply diminishes with incredible speed, so socks are always on the list.

Wanda Thompson outlines many reasons to switch from cotton to bamboo. Among others, bamboo makes a more durable fabric that stays cleaner longer (thus, needs less washing). Bamboo grows very quickly, without pesticides, and using 30% less water than cotton. I decided to try out eco-friendly socks made by Bambuso and Rainbow socks. My son and my husband love these socks, and so do I.

3. Sustainable underwear

As to underwear, Aurore suggests 5 top organic and eco-friendly clothing brands making underwear in France. Many of them use organic cotton and have selections for women, men, and also kids. Looking for sustainable clothing alternatives for cotton, one can find many great eco-friendly clothing brands making beautiful underwear from bamboo.

Yet my eye caught something even more unusual. I decided to try the eco-friendly brand Do You Green that makes underwear from pinewood fibre, which is recycled from by-products of the construction industry in France.

4. Greener bedding sets

Just like clothing, bedding sets can also be made of many different fabrics. These days, many brands offer organic cotton bedding, as discussed by Christelle in a blog post for Demain is Cool. Wanda Thompson praises bedsheets made of bamboo. However, after purchasing bamboo socks, I wanted to try something new—or perhaps old, as I decided on bedding sets made from linen, bringing back memories of my grandmothers’ cupboards. Christelle recommends Landmade in France as a great source for linen bedsheets. To start, I decided to buy this sheet by Landmade that is now in the process of being made for me while I wait impatiently:

Another thing to consider is to buy eco-friendly bedding sets that use low-impact dying. For instance, in France, the eco-friendly brand Couleur Chanvre uses a process they call –0% Dye. I like that they also use hemp as fabric to make greener bedding sets, something that I would like to try out in the future.

5. Sustainable footwear

On my list of things we need to buy were eco-friendly sneakers for my oldest son. Lev has been a vegetarian since he was two years old. I thought that it was time to tell him about footwear and its connection to animal leather, to allow him to move towards footwear that matches his convictions. Jemima Webber makes a list of cruelty-free vegan sneakers. So is Nothing New, which makes sneakers out of plastic waste. Jemima Webber also mentions that an Australian company called No Saints uses fruit peels to make amazing shoes. In particular, the company uses pineapple and apple peels, both leftovers from the food industry.

I had already previously also heard about Veja and then there is Allbirds, which also reached the French market last year. After looking at various options, the selection for kids, and the prices, we decided to start Lev’s transition toward more sustainable footwear with these ZOURI Mat Pinatex vegan sneakers (photo below from ZOURI website):

The upper part is made from pineapple fibre. Moreover, as ZOURI webpage states: “Each pair reuses the equivalent to 6 bottles of plastic from the Ocean.”

6. Eco-friendly clothing for kids

To start with, I was looking for sustainable cute T-shirts for my boys. I came across this WWF boutique (photo below from their website) and loved their T-shirts and the prices. The T-shirts are made of organic cotton (so, I finally bought something made from good old cotton too 😊), and the proceeds go toward WWF actions to protect wildlife. How cool is that!

7. Buy locally sourced, organic and natural fibre clothing I will care for

Hopaal and 1083, the eco-friendly clothing brands that I mention on my blog post on greener Valentine’s Day, are both French companies. So are Do You Green and Landmade. As with grocery shopping, the best choice for the environment is to shop as locally as possible to reduce the carbon footprint related to travel. I am very proud that my husband and I decided to go for these locally sourced and locally made clothes. However, this did not come without challenges.

Challenges

The prices of the things that we bought are mostly higher than we were used to paying. This made me hesitant, and I noticed a certain resistance. I grew up in the Soviet Union and went through perestroika, so we had very few things available in shops. The counterreaction during some years in my young adulthood was to buy a lot of cheap clothes. Indeed, as I saw things breaking down quickly and my values changed, I increasingly tried to shop for fewer items that were better-quality, even if they were more expensive. However, the last few days challenged me to take that approach to yet to another level.

It was particularly difficult to pay more than 100 euros for just one bed sheet. I have to cultivate the eco-friendly fashion mindset in me that suggests buying less and better, and then take also more care of what I have. I have to admit that this principle does make one much more mindful of shopping. With cheaper sheets, I would not run up to measure my bed and mattress again. Even if I would have bought a slightly wrong size, I would not have cared. And I know already that I will wash my linen sheet as instructed to ensure that it lasts for a long time. In general, linen bed sheets are much more durable than cotton ones.

The eco-friendly shopping is a bit new and uncomfortable, as some prices are higher than what I am used to. However, it I also exciting, as I discovered so many new cool options! Who would have thought I would wear underwear made of pine trees and sneakers from plastic bottles and pineapples?!