Socially Responsible Shopping Guide

A lot of people ask me where I shop and how I shop, both from a "can fashion be sustainable?" sense and a social responsibility side.  I love brands that give back and have a commitment to doing right by the world.  Below are some great brands and shops that I love to look at!

Most of these brands I discovered through CAUSEBOX, a subscription box that sends you a socially responsible products four times a year.

As a fiber science & fashion design management student, I have a background in knowing what goes into fabrics and the realities of the supply chain.  As a general rule when shopping, I only buy items I love.  I like that my personal style is pretty timeless (a lot of nautical stripes & basics) and when I do buy items, I think of them as an investment.

A way that I learned my personal style versus trends I liked was actually accidental.  All throughout high school, I would cut out tops, dresses, accessories, shoes, and outfits from magazines and advertisements and stick them to my closet door.  My whole closet door has been covered for awhile now and looking at what I cut out and seeing what I would still wear today is my personal style!  I liked it then and I like it now.  If you're having trouble nailing your personal style down, maybe try this on a lesser scale!  It might be time consuming now, but it will help you make smarter, more sustainable, purchases in the long run.

I understand that a lot of the brands below are more expensive and also that they may not be the trendiest.  If you're trying to be a more socially conscious consumer, you have to recognize that cutting down consumption is very important.  I find myself online shopping a lot and putting things into my cart, but the only time I buy them is after a few day have gone by if I think I really need them and will wear them.  Recognizing your needs versus your wants can be difficult, but they make all the difference.
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Clothes (& Accessories)

1. Amour Vert - Classic French style womenswear.  I like to shop the sale section and they share codes pretty often if you sign up for emails.
2. Bead & Reel (Vegan) - Good selection of brands, but I personally have never found an item that I really wanted from them at a price I could afford.
​3. Everlane - Very transparent pricing and cool "choose what you pay" sale section.  Good for basics.
4. Eileen Fisher - If you know someone who works for them, ask for the family/friends discount in store (it's 50% off!).  Otherwise I shop their sales or purchase their items from Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack.
​5. Liz Alig - Upcycles clothing!  Pretty cool!
6. PACT Apparel - The founder also has a new start-up called The Renewal Workshop
7. Patagonia - Personal favorite, well known and has been leading the way for sustainable fashion for awhile.
​8. My Social Canvas - Gives back to a non-profit with every purchase and empowers girls.
9. Reformation - Pretty edgy and sexy.  I haven't found any pieces I truly love from them yet.
10. Raven & Lilly - Similar to Bead & Reel it seems.
11. ThredUP - Online thrift/consignment shop.  I find it very difficult to shop.

Here's a rapid fire of my opinions and tips for clothes shopping:

• Don't buy rayon (or bamboo) - the way it is processed to be made into fabric is incredibly toxic and terrible for the environment
• Pay for quality - If you are shopping less you should be able to spend more on individual items and they should last longer.  You could invest in a work uniform or look into committing to a capsule wardrobe.
• Leather and fur - I don't like buying either of these new, and I am so anti-fur that as a child I used to take the faux fur off of my winter coats because the idea of fur grossed me out so much.  However, real leather and fur serve a purpose and last a long time.  My mom has her great aunt's fur coat and the fact that it is still in use means a lot regarding the sustainability of that purchase decades ago.  In the same manner, I use leather purses my mom invested in years ago and I will continue to use them.  My last comment for this is that I recently was shopping for a new pair of riding style boots.  I had a lot of difficulty finding a pair I liked and decided that if there was a pair that was real leather, I would consider purchasing them with the intention of them lasting a very long time.
• Check out Project JUST - Project JUST is a website that profiles fashion brands and their environmental and social impact.  I love to check it out from time to time and also to browse their "JUST Approved" lists!
• Download/Install DoneGood - DoneGood has both an app and Chrome extension that allow you to shop online/on the go and support brands that are socially responsible. Their Chrome extension pops up with alternative sites that have been reviewed by them for inclusion and makes it easy to vote with your dollar.
• Use the shared economy - Going to a black tie wedding or really want something new to wear on your birthday?  I suggest using Rent The Runway to rent something for 4-8 days!  Rent the Runway takes advantage of the shared economy (like AirBnB and Uber) and you let's you rent designer clothing at a small fraction of the price!

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Accessories & Shoes

1. Noonday Collection
2. The Root Collective
3. Tribe Alive
​4. Krochet Kids
​5. Love Your Melon
6. Dogeared Jewelry
7. Branded Collective
8. Esperos Bags
9. The Giving Keys
10. Landmine Design
11. Musana
​12. Pura Vida
13. Sseko Designs
14. Parker Clay International
15. Warby Parker
​16. TOMS
17. Adelante Shoe Co

Beauty

​1. Lauren B Beauty (Vegan)
​2. Love for Humanity Organics
3. Juice Beauty
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Housewares, etc.

1. Urbana Sacs
2. Lucky Iron Fish
3. The Created Co.
5. Bridgewater Candles
6. Solo Hope
7. The Thx Co
8. LSTN Sound Co
9. KeepCup
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Foods

​1. Alter Eco
2. Five North Chocolate (Vegan)
3. FLYJOY
4. Everly
5. The Soulfull Project
6. Greyston Bakery