ethical shopping

12 Sustainable Wrap Jumpsuits for Frolicking in This Summer

published on June 17, 2024 by Angela Hamilton

Hope you like linen. When jumpsuits first came back into fashion a few years ago, I was unabashedly not on board. For one, I am very short. Two, I have to pee all the time. It just seemed complicated. But I’ve since grown a little less apprehensive, especially after seeing how versatile they can be, and that most of the ones I really covet are wrap jumpsuits made of sustainable fabrics like linen and Tencel. I just won’t hydrate those days. (Kidding.)

It’s no surprise that when searching for sustainable wrap jumpsuits you’re bound to come across almost entirely linen options. There are a few others thrown in the mix, but honestly, I think this material lends itself perfectly to the easy breezy style of a wrap. And if you’re gonna have a material that wrinkles, it might as well be something as effortless-looking as linen. Right?

I’m quite enamored with the soft candy stripes in this Rujuta Sheth wrap jumper / $238 / xs-xxl

Such a pretty print on this organic cotton jumpsuit by thought clothing / only $78! / size 6-18

I love the ease (and color) of this raw silk jumpsuit from VanoushLove -the listing says one size but it looks like you can commission your own if needed.

Linen Jumpsuit from Blue Anemone Clothes made with mid-weight European linen / $150 (xs-xl)

Rujuta Sheth offers a unique take on the wrap with the black and white checkered Venus Wrap Jumper available in XS-3X.

Bright Pink Linen Jumpsuit by Ms Wrinkle / $110 / OEKO-TEX certified linen that comes in eco-friendly packaging / available in seriously endless colors, and sizes up to xxl, but you can send measurements for custom fit!

PS: Hello, romper version!!!

Emel Carpenter Jumpsuit by ETICA denim from Made Trade / $248 / is available in xs-l — I hope they extend sizes soon.

Aurora Linen Jumpsuit with belt by LoveAndConfuse / $123 / Linen and made to order, inquire for custom sizing — they’re currently having an offer of 20% off three or more items from their shop

Also love their Aurora linen jumpsuit in dark turquoise with belt.

And I know the LoveAndConfuse’s Dakota yellow jumpsuit isn’t a wrap style, but it’s too perfect for sunny days.

Beachy blue and white striped wrap jumpsuit by State of Georgia

This one has a similar cut to a wrap suit, and I love the terrazzo-like print! By Khara Kapas and available in sizes XXS-5X and custom.

Which wrap jumpsuit would you invest in?

Find more sustainable jumpsuits here!

Eco Studio Tour: Ethical Home Decor Brand Zuahaza’s Bogotá Studio

updated on May 30, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

I know we could all use some inspiration at the moment, so I couldn’t wait to post our first ever studio tour any longer. (We’d originally planned to pair this with a styled shoot of our own—so we look forward to that.) I’ve been dreaming of sharing creative studios for years now but never knew where to start. That is until I got to know talented artist and business owner, Tatiana Ordonez of Zuahaza, who shares these stunning process photos on their brand’s Instagram.

Tatiana’s story is fascinating for those of you who love a deeper look into an artisan brand’s creative process and production, which is why we decided to treat this like a guest post and give you the full scoop in her words. Her brand Zuahaza is an all organic + naturally-dyed textile brand based in Colombia. Tatiana collaborates with women artists in rural communities outside the city to bring their woven home goods to life. This is a two part post, with the next being a tour of Zuahaza’s artisan workshop outside the city.

I can think of nothing more inspiring than pairing Tatiana’s story with the magical images Ali Campbell captured of her creative Colombian studio. Keep reading!

From Tatiana: I am from Colombia and lived abroad for many years before coming back to my home city of Bogotá. Zuahaza launched in November 2019, but it was truly the work and relationship building of over 2 years prior that brought Zuahaza into existence. Zuahaza’s main operation happens in Bogotá. Our artisan partners live 7-8 hours away by car in a lovely town from the region of Santander called Charalá.

In 2018 I made a trip to Charalá to learn about the rich history of organic cotton growing, spinning and weaving in this region. During my trip, I met with an artisan cooperative called Corpolienzo. I loved talking to them and learning from their journey making 100% organic textiles for over 30 years. We shared our stories and found a great opportunity to collaborate in a new project. The artisans had expressed the necessity of connecting to larger markets. Although they could sell at art fairs in larger cities, they found it really difficult to sell handmade, organic products at a fair price in the national market. With my background in textile design and having lived in the US, together with my experience working directly with other artisan groups from Latin America, we saw the opportunity to try out a new model of designing and selling handmade textiles to a different market looking for fair trade and sustainable products.

We developed a new line of textiles born of the artisan’s extensive knowledge of craft, and my desire to share creative, innovative textiles with the global market. We wanted to truly understand what a “collaborative” model would look like, honoring ancestral techniques and innovating in design for the contemporary home. That’s when the name “Zuahaza” came to mind. It means “my sister” in the Muisca language of the people who lived in the Cundiboyancense mountain region of the Colombian Andes.

As a social enterprise our main goal is to embody collective sisterhood between women in Colombia. Following an era of intense conflict, which continues to shape and affect Colombia today, we seek to participate in peacemaking efforts to reunite and heal our country. We believe that by collaboratively creating unique products that reflect our diversity, history and dreams, we can start creating a new future for all Colombian women.

Our main studio/office is in Bogotá for the easy access to ship products, network with clients, and the great connection this city has to other countries. I try to work directly with the artisans every 3—4 months and it’s such a joy to spend a couple weeks working together with my team. Although I love having a creative space to try new textiles, material research and make samples, it gets lonely in the studio! Working as a team is definitely the ideal situation and I hope that as we grow, I get to spend months at a time with our team in Charalá.

We only use natural dyes so we end up with a limited color palette to work with. It is a design challenge, to design with only a natural color scheme. Right now, between working with the artisans from Peru (our yarn suppliers) and the artisans in Charalá, we have a whole team of experts in natural dyeing, which is a privilege. They have recipes that have passed from generation to generation, so I think color is a representation of indigenous knowledge that we get to preserve through only designing with natural dyes. Natural dyeing is not easy, it takes so much research to get colors in cotton to look the way they do in our products. I am very proud of the knowledge of our team in achieving gorgeous hues that are long lasting and color fast.

In terms of design, it comes easily living in such a beautiful country like Colombia. The launch collection was inspired by all the colors, textures, patterns and flora found in colonial towns across the country. Colombia is such a diverse and culturally rich country. Every region is so different in its own way because of the historical events that have taken place. Every town embodies the music, gastronomy and art from the people who live there; that inspires me. We wanted to create textile collections that represented our country’s diverse culture in an abstract, eclectic and sophisticated way. To represent our values even in the way we designed our products aesthetically.

Isn’t Tatiana’s studio so dreamy? In our next post we’ll share how she goes from inspiration and design to handcrafting them with the team in Charalá. In the meantime, head to zuahaza.com/shop to see the products!

{to shop on madetrade: mongui rug / charalá blanket / salento pillow / barichara pillow}

photos: Ali Campbell Photography / studio: Zuahaza

The Only Market Bag You’ll Ever Need Is Also The Most Sustainable Option

updated on November 1, 2021 by Angela Hamilton

Who else is in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to market bags? I prefer to carry all the things, at all times. Especially in the summer, when I’m quite literally going from a coffee shop work session to the gym to the park and topping it all off, a long walk home. If you’re not that extreme, I get it. But oversized market totes are pretty much on every summer wishlist, right? Just imagine the flowers, the beach blanket, the book, the rosé, all in one place, adorably discreet.

At least that’s what came to my mind when I spotted Abacá’s oversized two-toned market bag from sustainable modern goods shop MAAARI. Obviously, if you can thrift yourself a good bag, by all means. But if you choose new, this one is truly sustainable in all ways: the makers, the material, the social impact, the quality, and the versatility.

MAAARI was a happy Insta-discovery which led me to connect with one of their co-founders, Ivy, who shared with me that she and two of her friends (all based in different US cities) created their online marketplace as a space for shoppers to discover and fall in love with sustainable goods that elevate and preserve traditional Filipino craft. Each of the artists they stock design and craft modern goods inspired by indigenous art, and you can learn all about the makers behind the goods right on site.

As its name implies, this market bag is handwoven using abaca, an incredibly strong natural fiber that retains its flexibility, even while resisting salt water damage (hello beach day!). Purchases of this bag in particular contribute to a sustainable livelihood for weavers in Southern Luzon, Philippines.

More about the brand, from MAAARI: Abaca tells age-old stories with a modern aesthetic. Based in Manila, Estela de Jesus and her two daughters, Beatriz and Ina, design quality handmade items and curate thoughtfully found objects. With a belief that every place has a story to tell and every culture has something to offer, Abaca aims to support culturally rich communities and preserve traditional craft. A portion of all their proceeds goes to Right Start Foundation, a non-profit for underprivileged Filipino children. The traditional methods they seek follow a long process—natural materials are hand-picked, washed, sun-dried, naturally dyed, and woven by hand. Due to the labor and scarcity of workers, each piece has limited availability.

Shop the tote.

PS: Zero wasters, MAAARI now has a zero waste section on their website. Take a look!

First photo by Geric Cruz via Abacá. All others by MAAARI.

A Sustainable Fashion Brand That Embraces Bold Color & Design

updated on April 24, 2019 by Angela Hamilton

We’re excited to list new sustainable fashion brand, Left Edit, as part of our eco club directory. Their bold prints, unique colorways, and structured silhouettes are a direct answer to the question, can sustainable fashion be expressive and aspirational?, offering the more creative conscious consumer a fashion-forward option. To help you get to know them, and why we chose to spread the word of their conscious fashion in our curated guide, we asked Left Edit founders Kestrel (who you might know from sustainable fashion podcast Conscious Chatter) and Holly what makes their brand so special. And, furthering their mission to make “responsibly bold” clothing that’s just as versatile as it is unique, they’ve started a series called Flip The Script, which you’ll see the latest of in the photos by Lucy Eagleson sprinkled throughout this post. (More here.)

When conceptualizing Left Edit, did particular Conscious Chatter conversations inspire you? Did any words from designers come to mind when faced with the challenge of starting a brand?Absolutely! As Holly and I were building out Left Edit, conversations I would have on the podcast would become resources for us, and a bit of a sounding board as well. At times, when we were grappling with what to do and how to make the “right decision” when there are so many directions to go, insight from my guests helped us feel more confident in starting with the best product we could make at the time, and being comfortable with knowing we could iterate along the way.

It’s easy to see how one might think sustainable style equates with minimal, no frills kinds of wardrobes, filled with colorless basics. What led you to pursue fashion less from a minimalist perspective, more from the idea that personal style is an expression, or extension of one’s self?
Both Holly and I come from a stylist perspective. We continued to feel as though we were being put into a box when we shopped our values.

While we definitely appreciate a simplistic approach to our lifestyles, the truth was we wanted more for our wardrobes. On a daily basis, our outfits spark conversation and connection—and that’s how we like it.

We want to encourage people like us to have fun and play with their looks. Providing others with a piece they can relate to and reflects their personality was our ultimate goal. If we can get women feeling more uniquely themselves, then we have completed our mission.

And how did you balance that with the need to keep each piece “essential”—that would maintain quality and its appeal season after season, beyond trends?
We tried to keep in mind our customer throughout the entire journey. She is bold and on the go with little time to plan outfits but wants to step out of the house looking put together. We created garments that had very structured silhouettes that could span many occasions. In addition, we created a color palette that would stand out and be unique to the sustainability space but also cross over seasons and trends. We created original prints that were more an artistic expression than a trendy print. It’s been a learning experience to understand what our customers resonate with and we are excited to iterate on these learnings as we grow.

What did you learn from the process of launching your brand via Kickstarter? It seems like such a high-pressure, yet ultimately empowering, experience.
We didn’t entire realize it until we were in it, but Kickstarter is definitely a high pressure experience. While we most likely wouldn’t do a Kickstarter in the future, the experience allowed us to basically learn from our shoppers in a quick 30-day trial. It allowed us to understand which styles were resonating the most, and we took the process as a massive learning experience.

If you could give one piece of advice or encouragement to someone exploring sustainable fashion for the first time, what would it be?
Ask questions, and don’t compromise your style. There are always ways to find sustainable alternatives to achieve your personal aesthetic.

Whether it’s thrifting, supporting smaller brands or reusing what you have, being sustainable shouldn’t ever mean sacrificing the look that makes you feel the most like you.

Your favorite sustainable fashion brands.
Kestrel: Whimsy + Row, Back Beat Rags, Christy Dawn
Holly: Kotn, Nisolo, Tradlands

Photos by Lucy Eagleson

Thrift First, But Bookmark These Sustainable Basics for Backup

updated on March 27, 2025 by Angela Hamilton

Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s near impossible to rely on thrift stores for your entire wardrobe or every shopping need. Some things are more difficult to secure in general, and your luck often just depends on where you are and when. Sometimes I have better luck with sweaters and fun blouses at thrift shops than with basic tanks and tees. I suppose that’s why over the years I’ve invested in new sustainable basics more often than other pieces of clothing (I’ve always had decent luck with dresses, for example). Buying pre-loved will always be more sustainable than purchasing new, but it’s not always practical. So for those times you find yourself ready to invest in new clothing, I wanted to round up a few ethical alternatives for your shopping list.

Perfect Linen Top

Etsy seller Love and Confuse crafts the dreamiest 100% linen apparel, like June Linen Wrap Top. They also offer button ups, crop tops, long sleeves, and more.

Whether it’s a slouchy v-neck like this terracotta top, boxy t-shirt, dress, or even trousers, Linen Fox has tons of ethical basics in a variety of colors and sizes.

Cozy Long-Sleeve

You may have heard of Pact Apparel, as they are known for their earth-friendly wardrobe staples for men, women, baby, and kids. Their Rib crop long sleeve would get endless uses here in the PNW.

Offered in a similar colorway, LA Relaxed’s ribbed funnel top is cozy and light.

High Neck Tank

LA Relaxed also has a mock neck tank (made of organic cotton with 8% Spandex), which has a slight crop and slim fit.

A Relaxed Short Sleeve Tee

Los Angeles ethical fashion brand Mate is all about clean basics, whether it’s tees and tanks, lounge or activewear for adults and kids. BTW, I own several joggers from Mate and love them all, too.

Denim

Amour Vert sources their denim from AGOLDE (like the high waist jeans above) and Citizens of Humanity because they cut to order and let demand drive production.

There’s always RE/DONE, if you have the funds. How I live for a good black skinny jean. Since they began partnering with Levi’s, they’ve diverted 158,000 pairs from landfills by reconstructing vintage denim.

I’m pretty pro at the secondhand denim hunt by now, so out of every pair I own, only two were purchased new and they were from Just Black Denim, via Eco Vibe Apparel. If I remember correctly Just Black does make jeans that contain polyester + rayon. So it’s worth noting that they’re not the most sustainable option. It’s SO hard (and so important) to find a pair of jeans you really love, and their skinnies are it for me and one of the only ethical denim brands under $100, so I’m posting with that caveat.

Looking for more sustainable denim options? Check out our guide to sustainable jeans brands here!

Easy Day Dress

Dreaming of warmer days, thanks to the Olivia Linen Dress from Two Days Off, which comes in three shades.

Handmade linen clothing brand OffOn offers 100% linen dresses in airy feminine cuts (like this tiered linen dress) with the ability to customize size.

The Perfect Crewneck Sweatshirt

I could wear the Ami Sweatshirt in Canyon (or Dusty Rose!), from, Aliya Wanek allll the livelong day. Made and dyed in Oakland, and an organic hemp/cotton blend.

When I originally wrote this post, I linked to a dreamy white crewneck from Amour Vert. They no longer sell it, so I recommend this organic terry raglan sweatshirt from Mate.

Object Apparel is one of my favorite sources for eco friendly, organic basics. They offer handmade unisex sweats, underwear, and other essentials. This cloud crewneck is on my wishlist, and they have several other sweatshirt designs that are just as cute! I also love that they ship plastic-free.

Looking for more sustainable basics? Check out our post on the top eco conscious underwear brands!

Ethically Made Overalls Do Exist, Here’s 9 Worth Saving Your Pennies For

updated on May 1, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Edit: We wrote this list of ethically made overalls back in 2019 and have updated it a couple times over the years with more finds. I’m so happy to see that this article is still getting some love–that means more and more of you are looking for ethical alternatives to your favorite wardrobe staples. Yay! As you can imagine many of our picks have long since sold out, so I’ve gone ahead and found more to choose from in 2023! I’ll leave the others at the bottom of the post (a few are still available!) so you can still find the image credits, but first, here are 9 new overalls to check out now:

Voyage Overalls by Outerknown $168

Loose Linen Jumpsuit from Not Perfect Linen, $136 / available in literally every color!

Casey Classic Denim Overalls Dark Indigo from Universal Standard $148

Organic Corduroy Dungarees from Lucy & Yak that come in so many incredible hues! $83 / Be sure to check out their full overalls collection for more fabrics and prints, from classic denim to linen and everything in between.

Organic Stretch Dungarees from Baukjen $190

Washed Linen Overall from Not Perfect Linen, $123 / BTW, this shop has pretty limited sizing on their dropdown menu, but in the description you’ll see they also do custom sizing!

The 2001 Full-Length Womens Overall by Uskees from Wolf & Badger

The Miner Overalls in Natural Canvas from Hey Gang (unisex) $295

Indigo Stripe Organic Stretch Overalls from Baukjen $203

From original post: Crafting an ethical closet is about replacing many little would-be purchases with a few quality, responsibly-made, necessities. If you’re the type to breathe versatility into a two-item outfit, you’ll quickly recognize the endless fashion opportunities that the coveted overall provides. Find 9 of our current fave ethically made overalls—in irresistible hues from candy colors to warm earth tones—below.