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Below are my favorite sustainable fashion items from 2022 – everything from cactus leather accessories to secondhand Gucci watches. Check out my favorite sustainable personal care swaps from this year and stay tuned for a round up of my favorite home products.
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Arq Wide Strap Bra & Misha Undies ($32 / $28) XXS-4X – A repeat favorite in my closet this year. Arq underwear is an investment but nothing makes me feel more put together than wearing a matching Arq set. They are such high quality and love that they are size inclusive.
Subset (formerly Knickey) Triangle Bra & High Rise Brief ($62 / $20) 2XS-4XL – Knickey underwear and bras (and now socks!) are made with fair trade organic cotton and the underwear especially is super reasonably priced. Learn about their underwear recycling program here, too! Use code ACTEEVISM10 for 10% off.
Hara The Label High Cut Leo Bra ($55) XS-4XL – This is another item I have a few of in my underwear drawer. These are the most comfortable bralettes with supportive yet minimal design. Hara The Label is an Australian-based brand so shipping is quite a process, but Hara items can also be found secondhand on apps like Depop / Poshmark and on some retailers.
Kent Compostable Underwear ($24) XS-3XL – Kent makes GOTS certified organic cotton underwear and tee shirts that are designed to be fully composted at the end of their useful life. I have a pair of their high rise briefs and a thong and I love them both. They are stiffer/less stretchy than some other underwear I own but I think that’s worth it for the compostability at the end.
Mate The Label Socks ($38 for a three-pack) – I officially became a sock girl this year and these are my favorites. Not too tight around the ankle, still fit comfortably in sneakers and loafers, and are sustainably and ethically made. Use code 15MEGAN for 15% off.
Organic Basics Socks ($17 for a two-pack) – Great basic socks made sustainably and ethically. They also hold up super well through the wash – I’ve had these for a few years and there are no signs of pilling!
Boody Eco Wear Sleep Socks ($18) – I’ve had these socks for a few years and not only are they my favorite cozy socks but they also have been the key to heatless sock curls for my hair.
Arq Sal Ribbed Tank ($48) XXS-6X – This ribbed cotton tank is tagless around the neck so it can be worn both ways for a higher or lower neckline!
LACAUSA Quincy Tee ($48) XS-XL – I have this tee in white, black, and blue. It is by far my favorite simple tee. It’s soft, stretchy, and has a micro-rib texture to it. The white is a little bit see through, but it pairs very well with my beige bralette from Hara The Label.
Kent Compostable Crop Tee Shirt ($46) XS-3XL – Kent makes GOTS certified organic cotton underwear and tee shirts that are designed to be fully composted at the end of their useful life. This crop top is oversized and cropped, so keep that in mind with sizing.
Crap Eyewear Supa Phreek Sunglasses in color Kiwi Bio ($89) – These are the funkiest sunglasses I’ve ever had but they’ve become staples in my wardrobe. I find myself reaching for them constantly. They are made from biodegradable bioacetate and built to last.
Ana Luisa Lo Small Slim Endless Hoop Earrings ($75) – These are my daily earrings in my first piercing and I wear very similar but smaller Ana Luisa hoops in my second and third piercings 24/7! I love the endless hoops vs. stud hoops because they are less irritating to my ears. These earrings are recycled sterling silver dipped in 14k gold and have stayed perfectly in tact with my everyday wear for the past year.
Hyer Goods Mini Bucket Bag ($195) – If you’re looking for a leather bag, Hyer Goods should be the first place you look. They use deadstock leather and offcuts from leather goods manufacturing for their accessories. See my post about the complexities of “sustainable” leathers here.
Everlane Cactus Leather Hobo Bag ($150) – This bag is made with Desserto plant-based leather alternative made from the Prickly Pear Cactus plant. It’s a perfect sized bag *and* I love that non-plastic leather alternatives are becoming more commonplace and accessible in the fashion industry. The green “Pepper” color I have is no longer available but I’m sure there are secondhand options!
Whimsy + Row Valentina Convertible Top ($84 but currently on sale) – This linen tank has been an absolute staple in my wardrobe since I got this top. It can be worn a bunch of different ways (see my video here on 4 ways to wear it) and I’ve worn it for many different occasions: date nights, concerts, casual days out, and even more professional business events. It’s a fun but classic item in my closet and I’ve gotten so much good wear out of it already.
Pangaia Unisex Hemp Denim Jacket ($275) – Pangaia has been on my radar for a while as an interesting and innovative sustainable brand, but I didn’t know their products went beyond basic tees and sweatsuits until this year. This jacket is made with a blend of organic cotton and rain-fed hemp and is one of the highest quality denim jackets I’ve come across in my hunt for a THE denim jacket over the past few years. I wear it all the time and am considering getting the darker wash from Pangaia as well. In terms of sizing, I sized up for a more relaxed fit (and so I could roll up the sleeves comfortably). The size charts are very accurate so purchase accordingly!
Girlfriend Collective Compressive Flare Leggings ($78) – The term “flare leggings” cracks me up, as I grew up calling these pants “yoga pants”, but nonetheless I love that they’re back and that GFC has a style. These are perfectly high waisted and are the perfect length for me (I’m 5’5″ ish) and compressive in all the right places. Big fan.
Girlfriend Collective Skort ($62) – I now have this skort in three colors – white, black, and grey/blue. I wear the black one consistently, and even for more formal events. I have no interest in wearing regular skirts anymore since these skorts are so comfortable.
Allbirds Canvas Pacer Sneakers ($110) – I’ve been a fan of Allbirds as a brand for some time but these canvas sneakers are what officially sold me. They are surprisingly sturdy for canvas sneakers and are supportive at the same time. They also don’t require any breaking in!!!!! The Pacers also comes in a vegan leather style.
ThredUp – I found a great Vera Bradley duffel bag as well as my favorite sweater vest on ThredUp. ThredUp can take a LOT of digging, but if you utilize the filters on the side to narrow down to your size, categories, brands, materials, style, etc. you’ll have much better luck searching. Get $10 toward your first order here.
The Real Real – I purchased something from The Real Real for the first time this year! I got an incredible Reformation pink corduroy suit for a really good price. The Real Real is a great option if you’re searching for luxury items and higher quality brands (Reformation, All Saints, etc.). I also like that you can set alerts on items or styles for when they get in stock.
Poshmark – I’ve been buying and selling on Poshmark for years now but this year two of my best secondhand finds happened to be from Poshmark: Levi’s jeans and Reformation loafers. It’s great for looking for specific brand name items (I like to think Mall Brands like Abercrombie, Levi’s, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Free People, etc.) and there are tons of brand new with tags items looking for new homes. Make offers!
Ebay – I made my first clothing purchase on eBay this year and I will definitely be perusing it more often in 2023. It’s great for vintage items – I found a vintage military jacket liner for like $30. Vintage shops can sell them for upwards of $200+! Make sure you toggle the search bar and filters for pre-loved / used items if you’re looking for something truly secondhand.
And don’t sleep on your local secondhand shops and estate sales! I found a Gucci watch at my favorite hometown thrift store 🙂
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