In (Sustainable) Style

You may be surprised to discover there are a number of budding ecologically sensible fashion designers. Bay Bertea, founder and designer of the Form & Fauna shoe line, says her line started as a selfish endeavor: “I could not find any attractive, eco-friendly, and vegan shoes that met my style criteria. They were either too casual, too hippy-ish or [they were] vegan shoes that utilized cheap polyurethane and did not concern themselves with true eco-friendliness” she says. Her line, Form & Fauna, resolved all these issues. The stylish shoes have an original look that will have trendsetters stopping you in your tracks to find out where you got those adorable turquoise peacock kicks.

“Form & Fauna is [one of the brands] pioneering a new form of eco-luxe, meaning high-end looks [that don’t compromise] the environment,” Bertea says. The shoes are fashioned from high-quality Italian synthetics, which are biodegradable and free of noxious substances and toxic gases. They incorporate other alternative materials too, like hemp, bamboo and water-based glue. Talk about erasing your carbon footprint.

Now, any fashionista knows that her shoes should match her bag. Enter Vegan Queen handbags, the perfect complement to your eco-friendly soles. This classic line is designed with the keen attention to detail and well-conceived silhouette typical of high-end bags. But the best part about VQ purses is that you don’t have to feel any of the guilt that might come with your typical leather carryall--these bags are sustainable, eco-friendly and functional to boot. Best of all, they’re made in the United States from organic, nontoxic and recyclable materials.

Finally, your repertoire of eco-friendly accessories wouldn’t be complete without a few pieces of jewelry. The pieces from Nügaard Designs sport delicate details and bold designs. But it's the environmentally friendly concept behind the line that really sets it apart. From Brazilian founders and designers Alessandra Feio and Erica Pacey, the innovative line consists of four collections, each with a specific appeal. The Nügaard Camp collection features pieces made from golden grass from northern Brazil, while pieces in the Elemento series are made from seeds from a native Brazilian tree. Our favorite though is the Flora collection, which boasts jewelry formed from real leaves dipped in precious metals. The company also gives consumers an opportunity to give back through its alliance with “Trees for the Future,” whereby it has a tree planted for every piece sold from the Flora collection.