When the sun comes out, so do legs, arms, and smiling faces. With warm weather on the horizon, we’ve compiled some of the internet’s best eco-friendly fashion tips for summer 2018.
Let’s start from the top, and work our way down!
Hats and Headwear
Floppy, wide-brimmed sun hats are the go-to headwear accessory this summer, and with many fashion designers and retailers opting to make them from vegan materials like straw and canvas, you can be sure to protect your head and the environment at the same time.
This straw hat from Mango for just £20 is our top pick.
For men, the bucket hat has returned from the 90s with a vengeance, and as such, we found a durable and stylish product made from organic cotton, with a two-year replacement policy if your hat is lost, stolen or destroyed.
The Tilley Airflo retails at around £70, and is our top pick for eco-friendly men’s bucket hats.
Image: http://www.canvas-factory.co.uk/image/cache/data/DSC_6535-522×522.jpg
Tip: Style is personal, but the materials you choose to use can have a greater effect. Look for hemp, organic cotton, canvas or straw to be sure of a harmless hat.
Dresses
There are so many styles and cuts of dress, that it was impossible to pick just one or two, so we decided to go with a dressmaker who leads the charge on sustainability. If you haven’t heard of Vildnis before, we recommend checking out their collection, with includes maxi dresses and jumpsuits too.
Vildnis are using eco-friendly fabrics, environmentally friendly packaging, and paying extra for carbon neutral couriers to deliver your goods. As well as this, they guarantee a fair living wage throughout their supply chain, and they even look out for animals, avoiding materials like angora, fur and non-certified wool.
As far as our eco-friendly fashion tips for Summer 2018 go, Vildnis are one of the best. See their collection here.
Men’s Shirts
If you’re looking for a classy, classic style for your summer 2018 wardrobe, these eco-friendly men’s shirts are going to do just the trick.
Arthur and Henry
Their organic cotton and fairtrade linen products come packaged in compostable and biodegradable ‘polybags’. In fact, all of their packaging is recycled and recyclable!
This classic blue herringbone is our top pick, made from organic cotton and Azo-free dyes, and it sells for £69. See the full collection here.
Finisterre
Interested in highlighting the damage that microplastics are doing to the oceans? This awesome short-sleeved shirt from Finisterre is printed in their unique microplastics visual design, taking a cool eco-friendly approach to the Hawaiian shirt. What we love most is that 10% of the profits on this shirt’s £65 price tag go to Surfers Against Sewage, an anti-marine plastics charity.
Men’s Shorts
Getting a tan on your legs might not be easy in the British climate this summer, but wearing sustainably-made shorts is.
Monkee Genes
These navy shorts are just £25 from Monkee Genes, one of the most eco-friendly companies on the UK fashion market. Take a look at their ethical code to see just how seriously they take taking the harm out of fashion – it’s impressive!
Thought
Putting thought into what you wear is the core of our eco-friendly fashion tips for summer 2018, and to do that, you should put some Thought in your wardrobe. For just £25, you can get these organic cotton woven grey shorts, which are neutral and effective for matching with the rest of your outfits.
Thought are all about sustainable fabrics, sustainable design, sustainable supply chains, and feeling good and ethical about everything they do and make. Read more here.
Summer Sandals
Women’s
These aren’t cheap, but Bourgeois Boheme’s footwear range are very good for the environment. These artisan-made Portuguese vegan-leather sandals start from £120, but they scream style, without causing harm to the environment. Check out the 8 different styles here.
Men’s
We are sticking with Bourgeois Boheme for the men’s sandals too, as it’s not particularly about these Sandals, but the ideal behind them. Vegan leathers, handmade, durable long-lasting designs and materials, and a thoughtful process. BB offer two gladiator style sandals for £165 each, giving you comfort, strength and style if you head to the Colosseum, or the beach, this summer!
Final words
Our eco-friendly fashion tips for summer 2018 have been less about what to wear, and more about what to think when you stock up your summer wardrobe. Take some time to research organic materials, vegan materials and fair trade options. Consider the damages done by cheap clothing, and how they get it so cheap – who suffers along the chain?