The long, hot days of summer are definitely here. Whether you’re lounging poolside, enjoying a late night concert at the park, or just going about your workweek trying not to be jealous of other people on vacation, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t look cool, collected, and consummately accessorized.
We’ve pulled together some of our top choices for stylish and environmentally responsible summer accessories, so go forth and shop and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Bikinis for Greenies by a Home Grown Surfer Boy (www.aaronchang.com)
For Carlsbad, Calif.-based Aaron Chang, a world-renowned sports photographer and an avid surfer, it was a natural evolution to take the plunge into cool eco-friendly swimwear. All Chang’s swimwear is made from recycled polyester spun from materials such as plastic soda bottles. The bright and lively California surf-inspired designs may illicit thoughts of big waves and hot sun, but know that just by wearing one, you’re saving at least a few bottles from the landfill! Best of all, these greenie bikinis are reasonably priced!
Shades for the Sustainable Fashionista (www.iwoodecodesign.com)
Protect your peekers from the bright summer sun with a pair of iWood’s sexy shades. Using high-tech machinery mixed with Old World craftsmanship, this eyewear is definitely for the 21st century sustainable fashionista. Each pair of sunglasses is designed with the environment in mind, using the highest quality, eco-sustainable, exotic wood veneer. They’re light, gorgeous, and nature-inspired.
This Felt Good (www.branchhome.com)
Branch Home Product: Tote by Josh Jakus $115
Color Me California
For the pasty among us who don’t have the time or the necessary levels of melanin to soak up rays at the beach, have no fear—Hard Candy has the perfect solution. Known for its impressive selection of vegan and non-animal tested cosmetics products, this Los Angeles-based company’s natural bronzer will make you smell sweet and be seen. The delicious coconut-scented powder is made from a magical confection of vitamin E, jojoba, and aloe. It’s free of talc, and when brushed over your face and body, it gives you a natural SoCal sun-kissed glow. It even comes in a nifty copper compact emblazoned with a SoCal map and landmarks.
Slip Your Feet Into Something Good (www.ecosandals.com)
The most essential part of your summer wardrobe is the indispensable pair of flip-flops. Perfect for poolside or running around on those hot summer nights, a good pair of sandals is your best friend. But rather than grabbing a disposable pair for the season, why not add something simple but meaningful to your wardrobe? Nairobi-based nonprofit EcoSandal offers a selection of sandals made from recycled tires and materials that would otherwise be discarded. Each pair you buy directly helps workers in a particularly rough Nairobi neighborhood. It’s nice to see that buying globally can help locally, if it’s done right.
EcoSandals $29.00
Built to Eat (www.builtny.com)
Not all of us will get away this summer, but with Built NY’s versatile tortoise-shaped and eponymous lunch bag, the mid-day break becomes a private picnic! The Tortuga is light, perfectly sized, and comes in several different vibrant patterns. Built NY makes its products out of neoprene, an abrasion-resistant and insulating material normally reserved for the wetsuits used coral reef divers. If you can’t be out diving in a wetsuit this summer, at least you can eat out of one!
A Fedora to Adore (http://store.headchange.com)
Go green up top with this adorable eco-fedora by D&Y Hats. Made from 100 percent natural woven bamboo—a sustainably harvested and renewable material—this lovely little number is perfect for the golf course, the beach, or a night out on the town. It is distributed locally in California by Headchange, and you can have your very own eco-fedora to adore within a few days.
Summer Beach Trilby Lightweight Eco-Friendly Fedora $24
Midnight Summer Night’s Bloomers (www.loupcharmant.com)
At the end of a long summer day, slip into something soft and wonderful. Our personal favorite summer indulgence is Loup Charmant’s modern take on the traditional bloomers. They’re poofy, short, and just lovely. Loup Charmant also offers an eco-bikini and a number of other elegant pieces, all crafted from organic cotton and made in New York City.
