Angela Hamilton

7 Ways To Shop More Sustainably Online

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

It’s encouraging to see more online sites and marketplaces than ever designed to inspire conscious consumers to shop more sustainably and ethically. Having an online shop also allows people to start businesses without the major investments of brick-and-mortar shops, so it’s getting easier to shop small. Of course, serious byproducts of making online purchases include the extreme carbon cost of all that shipping/delivering, the waste involved those billions of packages, or the fact that up to 40% of purchases made online are returned versus only 5-10% of in-store purchases. So while I absolutely appreciate and advocate for the accessibility of online shopping, especially in terms of ethically produced goods, there is obviously room for improvement.

There is still a lot we can control. By shopping mindfully—that is, staying present and conscious of our purchases’ consequences—we can make online shopping a bit more sustainable.

7 Ways To Shop More Sustainably Online

support small

Shopping small isn’t just for your local brick and mortar (although now more than ever, they need our help!). Always check to see if those same shops are online as well, as this may be the only way they can keep running during the pandemic. I also love finding small shops on Instagram by using maker hashtags, like #heytheremaker, #makersandthinkers, #sustainablebrands, and #brandswithpurpose.

search for values, sourcing, or sustainability commitment pages

No, this doesn’t guarantee it won’t be greenwashing, but it still cuts out tons of companies and as you learn more about sustainable shopping you’ll become more aware of the language used by brands who can only talk the talk. You can also make the most of a site’s search bar by searching for words you *don’t* want to see! For example, when I shop for skincare or chocolate, sometimes I search “palm oil” since that’s an ingredient I want to avoid. I always breathe a big sigh of relief when it doesn’t come up!

shipping minimums

Make peace with the fact that online shopping = paying for shipping. The brands themselves have worked the costs of shipping into their business model, whether they’re adding it to your purchase, or pricing their items a little higher so they can advertise the attractive “free shipping” promo. (Why do you think Etsy now prioritizes brands in search if they offer free shipping?) Bottom line, you’re probably paying for it one way or another, so just adding items to your cart to reach minimums is only encouraging you to spend more money on things you don’t need!

request customer service

One of the benefits of shopping small is that when you need help you generally get to speak to a real person! Take advantage of this by asking questions and making requests when you have them. If you’re uncertain about anything regarding materials, size, quantity, quality etc., go ahead and ask before making the purchase. Do the research so you’re less likely to make a return.

offer feedback

Leave reviews and offer feedback whenever you can! Feedback is so important to small businesses, especially ethical/sustainable shops that are competing with cheap, mass-produced goods. The idea of purchasing from an unfamiliar brand, paying more, or having a tougher time returning an item can all be turn-offs to the consumer. Leaving a review might help a customer take the risk and choose the sustainable option!

As far as constructive criticism, it can help small businesses for you to send them a message with suggestions. I work exclusively with small businesses and know how many hats they wear. The feedback can be super helpful for their growth and success, as long as it’s done respectfully!

read the full item description

From a design standpoint, most people don’t want to see a ton of text on a single webpage. For this reason many shops ‘hide’ their full item descriptions, including materials or ingredients in dropdown that you can expand. Make sure you always get the full story behind an item, once again, so you know it’s something you want (and that aligns with your values and doesn’t include materials or ingredients you don’t support) and not something that you’ll return, or worse, will go to waste.

let it sit in your cart

If you’re not 100% sure you need your item, like, yesterday, sit on it. That’s the beauty of online shopping! It sounds simple, but taking the time to fully consider and reflect on what you want is an act of mindfulness. It has saved me from many an impulse buy!

What do you think of these tips? Next time you’re making an online purchase, observe the steps you normally take and consider how you might shop more sustainably. I’d love to hear how it goes!

PHOTO: @charityvictoria

Our Favorite Ethical Fashion Brands To Follow On Instagram

updated on February 16, 2024 by Angela Hamilton

I don’t necessarily make New Years resolutions, but I do a lot of reflecting and planning as the seasons change. One thing I’m determined to do is make sure my time on social media is inspiring and interesting, rather than mindless or too negative. So on all my accounts, including our eco club insta, I’ve been pretty mindful about who lifts us up and motivates us in our own growth and creativity. The ethical fashion brands below are probably my top 10 to follow–their content is meaningful, their editorials are stunning (I’ve been a content creator for pretty much the last decade and seeing small businesses and slow fashion brands nailing their storytelling through photography is one of my biggest inspirations), and of course, their products are dreamy as heck.

1. @omi.na.na is a UK brand behind B E A U T I F U L sustainable statement pieces that surprise every time. I really love how their Instagram shows so many of their designs in different settings so you can really see what it’s like to wear them again & again. This botanical top is what drew me in and I’m glad we stuck around!

2. @habitcosmetics not only shares tons of gorgeous examples of their sustainably made, vegan nail polish and clean makeup, but other inspiring content like quotes, journal prompts, self care ideas, giveaways, and spotlights on other inspiring entrepreneurs. Also, their products are just so darn pretty and I could look at photos of them alllll the day long.

3. @llani.shop is one of our favorite ethical fashion brands to follow on Instagram for the sheer beauty of their products! Their hand-embellished shoes and accessories are seriously works of art. (Heart eyes for these stunning slippers!). Owner Alana Raquel Oates has a such a fabulous eye for fashion.

4. @dynastygeorge is an ethical fashion brand we’re super happy we stumbled across! Like I said, seeing amazing editorials from a small biz is super impressive to me, so naturally I loved all the photos they post from their lifestyle shoots. They totally speak to the romantic in me.

5. @wearproclaim, who makes earth-friendly, inclusive nude underwear, inspires us with their empowering studio photos (everyone looks beautiful in their own perfect hue) and commitment to the fight for racial justice, womens equality, and environmental sustainability.

6. @ayniuniverse features the dreamiest editorial photos of their stunning handmade knitwear on Instagram. (Perhaps it’s because I love all things crochet!) They are honoring, and reinventing, ancient textile traditions with their modern take on sweaters, dresses, and accessories. Obsessed.

7. @theverygoodbra is a fantastic account to follow, and not just because the brand is responsible for “the world’s first zero post-consumer waste bra in 26 sizes” (!!!). On the account you’ll find lots of facts about consumerism and zero waste mixed in with some insightful personal tidbits from founder Stephanie.

8. @ohsevendays, an ethical fashion brand producing garments with upcycled fabrics, mixes in lots of design inspiration with product news + styling ideas, and I love how it all blends to create such a fluid, constantly evolving color story as you scroll.

9. @pansyco is a sustainable basic brand that is anything but basic on Instagram. Their styled shoots are mesmerizing and their models are REAL. Each of their posts feels like a little moodboard to empower your style, your aesthetic, your life.

10. @theconsistencyproject reworks vintage clothing and curates secondhand (through @secondlifemarketplace) — both fabulous accounts to follow for vintage, thrift, and fashion design inspiration and interesting insights on the necessity of secondhand in the fashion space.

Who are your favorite ethical fashion brands to follow on Instagram? Tag them below so we can follow!

AP News Investigates Human + Environmental Cost of Palm Oil in ‘Fruits of Labor’

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

If you love to support your local Girl Scouts, you may be disappointed to learn that they use palm oil (from unsustainable sources) in their cookies. I learned this during my first January boycotting this pervasive ingredient several years ago (RIP processed cookie addiction), but last week I finally heard the full, unsettling story, thanks to a Girl Scout from Tennessee and an AP investigation.

If you have heard about even one of the destructive consequences of the unethical global palm oil industry, it’s probably easy enough for you to assume that it doesn’t end there. Like many other sustainability advocates, I first heard of its catastrophic affects on rain forests and animals (most famously orangutans). But I’ve only learned more horrifying facts from there, such as the use of child labor and the greenwashing tactics many major brands use to assert that their palm oil is actually sustainable.

The incredible mistreatment of humans, animals, and the environment in this industry has now been clearly documented again and again, but I wouldn’t quite consider it a mainstream issue (perhaps it could benefit from its own version of the ‘stop sucking’ campaign). Which is why this investigation feels of particular importance.

Skimming AP News, I saw their article Child labor in palm oil industry tied to Girl Scout cookies. If you give it a read, you’ll find the painfully ironic link between girls selling Girl Scout cookies here in the US and Indonesian girls quitting schools to work on palm oil plantations that support their families… for samoas and thin mints.

You cannot simultaneously empower and exploit girls. That’s not how it works.

I hope you’ll read the article, linked here. It’s unfortunately only the latest in the AP investigation into this $65 billion industry–one that uncovers even more abuse of women and girls. Another terrifying headline:

Cutting it out means cutting out many processed foods (and I swear, 99% of what’s sold at TJ’s), not to mention conventional beauty and household items.

I can’t remember exactly, but I think I first learned about the industry from Elizabeth Stilwell on Selva Beat. So grateful they have kept their archives public! I’ve linked to other resources I’ve saved in the past below:

Friends of the Earth Palm Oil Fact Sheet
Orangutan Conservancy Threats to Orangutans
Associated Press Fruits of Labor
5 Innocent Animals Suffering at the Hands of the Palm Oil Industry
How The World Got Hooked on Palm Oil
Other Names for Palm Oil (look at that list!!!!!!)

DIY Natural Avocado Dye with Zuahaza

updated on May 19, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Our friend Tatiana of ethical home decor brand Zuahaza is here today with a DIY natural avocado dye tutorial that is so thorough and easy to follow even novice dyers will be able to pull it off! If you aren’t familiar with Tatiana’s work, be sure to check out their studio tour and behind the scenes of their latest collection of textiles, inspired by Colombian fruits. Now for her tutorial, below…

As a brand dedicated to revitalize the craft of weaving and naturally dyeing, we are invested in learning and teaching the beautiful and ancient art of natural dyeing. Natural dyeing is the practice of using natural ingredients such as plants and food waste to obtain colors to dye fabric with. However, with the invention of synthetic dyes, the entire textile industry has relied heavily on petroleum-base substances to dye our fibers, contaminating our water sources, soils and affecting the health of the people who directly interact with these dyes. Natural dyes on the other hand, are biodegradable and cause minimal environmental impact when used with safe mordants. For our business, using natural dyes instead of chemical ones is a way we can directly minimize our environmental impact, creating products that can be 100% biodegradable at the end of their life cycle.

We also love how fun this craft can be! It makes for a great science and art project for families and kids learning at home during this season of quarantine. You only need to save some of your natural waste material and/or find local plants to dye some old cotton t-shirts or new wool yarn to knit with. We decided to start with a very simple recipe many people can do at home because all you need is your avocado pits and skins! We will be sharing more recipes over the next months, but we though this one was an easy one for those who have never dyed with food waste material before! Let’s get started.

DIY Natural Avocado Dye: What You’ll Need

Avocado skins and pits. I normally collect them over 2 weeks and place them in a bag and put them in the freezer to avoid them collecting mold. Collect enough to make up around the same weight as your fiber goods. For this project I recommend between (100-200g). Also, make sure to wash off the green remnants of avocado well. I recommend using the hass avocados instead of the bigger ones.
100-200g of any natural fiber fabric or yarn. Natural dyeing only works with natural fibers. Make sure that the yarn skein or cloth that you pick is made out of cotton, wool, linen, alpaca, any animal or vegetable fiber. That means no polyester or nylon fabrics.
Alum powder or an aluminium stone. There are some great websites that sell natural dyeing materials. Dharma Trading sells alum powder, you can order online here. If you are using powder, you will need only 1 tablespoon of powder per 100g of fiber. If you are in Colombia or in other countries outside the US and Europe, I recommend buying aluminium stone, which can easily be found in pharmacies or online. They sell small packs of 1 stone in pharmacies and you just need 1 or 2 for this project. (I am using alum stone for this tutorial).
A large staining steel pot.
A pair of heat resisting gloves.
A wooden spoon.
Optional: If you wish to do some shibori (tie-dye) design to your piece then you’ll need rubber bands, cotton rope and/or wood blocks.

DIY Natural Yarn Dyeing: How To

MORDANTING YOUR FIBERS

Firstly we are going to prepare your fibers to soak up and adhere to the color as much as possible. Avocados have a great advantage over other dyestuffs and is that they contain tannins. Tannins are found in wood, bark, leaves and fruit of plants as various as oak, rhubarb, tea, walnut, cranberry, cacao, grapes and wine. The purpose of tannins is to protect the fruit or plant from animals eating them before they are ripe. But most importantly, tannins are natural mordants for dyeing fabric. In other words, avocado dyeing has an advantage and is that it already contains natural mordants to make sure the color won’t wash off. However, I personally prefer to always mordant all my fibers with aluminium prior to dyeing because it makes the colors stronger and even more long lasting. Is a simple easy step that helps you rest asure your color won’t wash off after dyeing.

Boil enough water in a medium size pot. Just enough to cover your fibers.
Introduce 1 aluminium stone or 1-2 teaspoons of aluminium powder (based on the weight of your fibers)
Mix thoroughly until dissolved.
Wet your fibers. Make sure your fibers (t-shirt or yarn skein) are fully wet before introducing.
Introduce your fibers to the hot pot and simmer for 1 hour.
Move your fibers around every once in a while. Do not let the fibers sit. This will avoid having uneven color and help you get nice even results
Remove and wash with cold water.

EXTRACTING DYE FROM AVOCADO PITS AND SKINS

After mordanting your fibers, you can leave them inside a bowl or hang them to dry while you work on extracting the dye from the avocado pits and skins. For these next steps you are going to need the avocado skins and pits you stored. Some dyers will use the skins and pits separately and you can also do that. In this case I am using both together to see what shades and depths of colors we get. As a rule, I normally use a 1:1 Ratio. With cotton, colors tend to be less strong, so I would recommend using the same weight of your fibers and dyestuff to get as much depth of color as possible. You will get deeper shades with animals fibers like wool. So, In this case for 150g of fibers I will use 150-200 grams of avocado stones and pits to make sure we get as much color as possible.

In a medium size pot, heat enough water to cover fibers until it’s simmering. It’s very important to NOT boil the water. If you do, you can burn and “brown” the dye and only get brown shades.
Add your avocado skins and pits.
If you decide to add baking soda, add 1/4 to your pot and dissolve.
Stir occasionally and leave simmering for an hour and a half. You will start noticing the water changing color from a light peach to a dark orange and finally to a dark red/purple within the 1st hour.

DYEING THE FIBER

Add the wet mordanted fiber and stir to make sure you get all the fibers evenly dyed.
Leave simmering for another 2 hours and stir occasionally.
Leave your fibers in the pot for 24 to 48 hours. (Colors will get darker the longer you leave your fibers in the pot) Natural dyeing is a SLOW PROCESS! You will notice the dye getting darker the longer tome you leave it to sit.
When you are ready to take your fibers out, wash off until you see clear water running. This will ensure your cloth won’t run anymore dye when you wash it next time.
With a strainer, separate the remaining bits of the avocado stones and skins. You can dry them and try extracting more dye out of them a second time. You can also store your liquid dye and try to use it for another dye bath. It will probably be good to use one more time but you might get lighter shades.

DIY NATURAL AVOCADO DYE: THE RESULTS

1. The peach cotton yarn skein from my first experiment. I left it in the dye for 48 hours. No baking soda was used in this dye.

2. The one in the middle is a lighter pink shade I got from non-dyed cotton yarn skein and was left for 24 hours in the dye bath.

3. The t-shirt from the bottom and the darker dusty pink yarn skein were both pre-dyed with a peach dye bath first (from the first experiment) and then re-dyed for 48 hours with the redder dye bath. There were the deeper results because they were technically dyed twice and longer.

Notice the the difference in color of the peach yarn which came from the dye bath with no baking soda and the depth of color that came from the extra 24 hours of the pre-dyed peach t-shirt and yarn skein. This can help us understand that avocado dyeing can give us many results, from very light peach shades to deep burgundy colors. It all depends on the amount of time you leave your fibers to soak dye and playing with changing your ph (acidic or alkali) from your water by adding baking soda.

Thank you, Tatiana!!! Be sure to stop by Zuahaza’s blog for the full DIY avocado dye tutorial, including even more tips + tricks for a successful batch of avocado dyed yarn! And if you can’t get enough, she also has a DIY natural dye with red cabbage tutorial here!

25 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Fashion Lovers

updated on April 12, 2025 by Angela Hamilton

Happy Thanksgiving week! We have one more mega list of sustainable gift ideas before we reveal our ultimate guide to shopping small in 2020! If you are anything like us you love expressing yourself through fashion but want to do so in a way that doesn’t have negative social and environmental consequences, and bonus, would love to support independent designers in the process. The pieces and shops below are ones we feel that, if you have the means, are definitely worth investing in for gift giving or simply building a sustainable closet. Take a peek!

Fuzzy organic unisex sweater from Object Apparel, made with plant dyes!

Lace up sneaker in pink from Thousand Fell

HUDSON FARMERS MARKET TOTE – MUSTARD

Organic poppy pullover sweatshirt from Object Apparel, silk screen printed with water based dye.

I have this Sustainable Shit Only fanny pack from Grant Blvd — yes pls.

Lou Cord jumpsuit from Outerknown

Botanical hoodie by California Cloth Foundry (since sold out) at Made Trade

Made by Minga Carmen knotted crossbody bag

Do The Sustainable Thing Tee by Grant Blvd

High on Nature Tee from backbeat.co

Organic cotton undies and sleepwear from Brook There

Guadalupe bag by Magda Made

https://consciousstep.com/

Symbology wrap dress made of modal via Made Trade

Lana Tote in Natural from MAAARI

Organic cotton cami and matching skirt from Little Tienda.

No Thanks womens t-shirt from Femfetti via Bonfemmes

All SO good, right?! For even more sustainable fashion gift ideas, check out these accessories.

25 Sustainable Gift Ideas for Zero Waste Enthusiasts

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Hope you are enjoying our sustainable gift ideas this holiday season so far! Don’t forget to read our self care gift guide and our ideas for sustainable home gifts! Today’s guide is full of zero waste gift ideas, whether for the seasoned zero waster or newbie. Doesn’t a zero waste stocking seem like a ton of fun to fill? Just sayin.

The Etsy shop inOILS, out of Portland, OR, offers zero waste bars of soap in small and travel sizes, and you can even just order the “shreds” (which are surprisingly beautiful!).

As a lover of glitter I was pretty bummed to find out that it is NOT a sustainable product… but then I learned about eco friendly glitter, YAY! Problem solved. This biodegradable glitter is from Package Free Shop.

Eco Collective has these breath mints made from plants that would make a cute addition to any zero waste care package.

Sustainable AND colorful is always a win in our books. How about some eco-friendly bath bombs by Earths Thanks?

IMO, all scrunchies should be of the zero waste variety. They’re so small and the world has fabric scraps aplenty! Love the print on this oversized scrunchie from LunAndMo, who uses secondhand fabric.

If your recipient is already well into the zero waste lifestyle, surprise them with an Alum stone, which is a deodorant CRYSTAL made of mineral salt. It’s a pretty neat (and very unique) idea. Learn more here.

Hate that we gotta stuff protective masks into our loved ones’ stocking, but love that we can support small biz in the process. These are Ikat Linen Face Masks by LEIF.

If your zero waste living friends are super committed, they probably don’t buy a lot of formal tabletop or entertaining wares. But if they love artisan textiles, they’ll appreciate having a well-crafted set of hand-dyed placemats from Arles Studios, or other goodies for those special occasions, at the ready.

Bestseller starter set from Humankind including deodorant, mouth wash, floss, and hand sanitizer containers that they’ll compost, and order refills when needed.

These zero waste face masks from Lykke Wullf come in a 6 pack so you can spread the protective joy.

Am I recommending eco friendly toilet paper as a holiday gift this year? Why yes, yes I am. If you have a pal who is just getting into a low waste / zero waste lifestyle, I’m certain that they’d love to have this subscription! You can order the first couple months as a test or as big a supply as you’d like! They also sell bamboo paper towels.

This copper scrub pad from Housework would make a cute lil’ stocking stuffer too, yeah?

100% believe that reusable bags can be like, really fun. No plain canvas here! This is a leopardo Tote Bag from Korissa.

Love these Found Paper Mache Bowls from LEIF for the seasoned zero waster. They’d look lovely in a minimalist home, and will be an absolute surprise!

Paper lovers rejoice because Package Free Shop offers cards made from 100% recycled paper and plastic free packaging!

Every low waste newbie needs a No Tox Life dishwashing block for their zero waste kitchen!

Help them stock up on colorful bamboo toothbrushes from Good Intent… These are more durable than other bamboo toothbrushes because their non-toxic paint tips prevent decay (since the bamboo interacts with water so often). Also, each color represents a different cause, with 5% of the purchase donated to whichever you choose!

Another gorgeous take on the sustainable market bag from Mano Made.

Haven’t purchased dryer sheets since I ordered these Wool dryer balls by coliandme from Etsy–a great zero waste swap for those just starting out!

Produce bags, but make it fun… colorful drawstring reusable bags from DarlingSavage.

Zero waste shampoo bars from Eco Roots are good gifts for those already living a pretty low-waste lifestyle, that might want to up their commitment in 2021.

So I’m obsessed with Axiology’s Lip to Lid Balmies, which come in singles or trios, in lots of shades, all in an amazing zero waste package. There are very few beauty products I’ll shell out the big bucks for and this is truly one of them! It’s an all-over highlighter that I personally use for lips, eyes, and cheeks. Because they’re not in the lipstick tube, the crayons appear super small, but that’s actually what a “full size” stick looks like, just without all that plastic wrapped around it! I keep it in the little paper box and smile inside every time I slide the lid off. If you’re looking for a beauty gift for a sustainable-living friend (or not, still good!) this one is 100% #ecoclubapproved.

Do you dry brush? It’s another skincare/beauty ritual you can maintain while going zero waste. These are Japanese Body Scrub Brushes from member Territory.

For a similar effect to the scrub brushes, there’s this gently exfoliating Sisal Wash Cloth from LEIF, made from one of the strongest natural renewable materials (kind of like jute!).

Do you have any zero waste gift ideas to add to this collection? If you’re not so sure about the practicality of zero waste gifting during a pandemic (I get it), read our take here!