Get ready for Rio+20 by dressing in these picks from some of Brazil’s top eco-designers.

As Rio+20 – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – kicks off this week, thousands of game changers in the sustainability world will flock to Brazil. We do hope that good things come out of it. The one thing we know for sure is that we want to look the part while discussing how to create the future we all want. What better way to do that than by wearing these picks from some of Brazil’s foremost eco-designers.

Osklen Calca Fem Colour Shine Casual Jeans
These light blue jeans will look great with everything this summer. Pair them with bright colors fun a fun summery vibe or add a flowy white top for a more toned-down look. Oskar Metsavaht, designer of Osklen is one of the most influential voices of Brazilian design and a pioneer of the country’s new luxury movement, using the most innovative high-tech eco-fabrics in his collections. As a long-term environmental thinker, Metsavaht is also the founder of the non-profit e-Institute, dedicated to raising awareness for sustainable human development.
Approx. $194, Osklen

Thin Coconut Bangles by Wild Berry
Handmade by artisans in Brazil, from scrap materials generated in the processing of juices from fruits in the Amazon, these carved coconut bangles are a great addition to your summer wardrobe. Wear them to the beach with a colorful bikini or pair them with a formal dress for one of those summer parties.
$7.99 for a set of three, Wild Berry

Bikini by G Dias Swim
We can’t talk about Brazil and not include a bikini, can we? Local girls seems to live in them and the country does have a high rate of swimsuit models per capita. It seems only fitting that one of them – Gabriela Dias has created her own line, which celebrates the female figure and has both bikinis and one-pieces in vibrant colors with unexpected details. Dias is committed to ecological and social responsibility, and carefully hand-selects all fabrics, and all suits are handmade in Brazil by skilled local artisans in certified facilities.
The Perfect Cup & The Low Riser, G Dias Swim

Osklen Psychedelic Backpack
The backpack is hotter than ever, and what better carry-all to bring with you when exploring all that Rio has to offer (besides high-level UN-discussions). Designed by Oskar Metsavaht of Osklen, this one has a practical, utilitarian shape and a colorful psychedelic pattern that is sure to turn heads.
Approx. $487, Osklen

Melissa + Campana Papel Flats
This latest collaboration between the Campana Brothers and Melissa has double Brazilian appeal as both the famous designer duo and the shoe brand hail from there. The model is inspired by the Campana brothers’ paper creations (“papel” means paper). The bronzy color works with almost everything and looks really great against tan summer skin. Melissa shoes are sustainably crafted in Brazil from MELFLEX, a technologically advanced injected thermoplastic that easily molds to feet for the most comfortable fit around, and they’re totally hypoallergenic, water-resistant and recyclable.
$88, Kaight

Ecotece Butterfly T-shirt
This hand-embroidered T-shirt is made from 50% recycled PET and 50% cotton and features a butterfly patchwork print that is unique for each tee. The Ecotece institute was founded by São Paulo-based journalist Ana Candida Zanesco in an effort to inspire people to dress more consciously. The butterfly represents transformation, the cycles of life and the constant new beginnings. How fitting for a summit on sustainable development.
$47, Ecotece

Ecotece Paste Retece Necklace
Also by Ecotece, this colorful necklace would look great worn to the beach along with a bikini. But, of course, you could also use it to spice of a simple outfit. Made from scrap materials by female artisans who are part of Projecto Retece, a cooperative that provides a safe, sustainable source of income for these women. 100% of proceeds from the sale of this piece goes toward supporting Projecto Retece.
$21, Ecotece

Escama Studio Chica Rosa Pop Top Mini Clutch
This fun mini clutch now comes in a range of new colors, including a delicious bright orange. It’s hand crocheted with over 200 post-consumer recycled pop tops and each piece comes with a hang tag bearing the signature of the person who made it (you can also read more about them on the website). If you would like to send a thank you note, click the email icon and they will translate your message into Portuguese and forward it on. The artists work in co-ops outside of Brasília, Brazil. which offers women and men in the community a means to earn a living wage through handicrafts and provide a setting where friends are made and self-esteem is regained.
$46, Escama Studio

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Shopping is big in Sao Paulo. With a population of almost twenty million, it’s Brazil’s largest city. It is said when Paulistanos aren’t working they’re clubbing, and when they’re not clubbing they’re shopping at a samba-driven pace.

And no wonder. My time spent shopping along Rua Oscar Freire in the chic Jardin’s neighborhood (it’s among the ten most luxurious street’s in the world), was a heady experience. Not the least because my visit coincided with Sao Paulo’s Fashion Night Out and an appearance by super-supermodel, Gisele Bündchen. Brazilian bodaciousness aside (one of my purchases included a kiss from a beautiful sales assistant upon the success of my credit card approval), sustainable fashion and beauty appear firmly entrenched in the consumer mindset here.

I’ve discovered cool cutting-edge design aesthetics from Brazilian designer brand Osklen, jeweler Mana Bernardes, and the booming natural beauty brand, Natura – all renowned for their smart, eco-friendly stance.

The atrium entrance’s artwork illustrates Jason Wu’s recent lace work detailing.

Leather goods are the typical recommendation for wares to bring back from Sao Paulo, but carting home dead animal skins doesn’t hold much appeal for me. What I am interested in packing in my suitcase home is a pair of the hip, brightly colored jelly shoes that can be found at the impressive Galeria Melissa.

The flagship Melissa shoe store has the world’s largest selection of the high design footwear made from a recyclable and non-toxic type of plastic. The Brazilian shoemaker also practices fair trade and zero waste in production.

Are plastic shoes the future of footwear? 

There’s something universally appealing about the tactile, pop art-esque shoes that inspires passion from collectors and celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Leona Lewis and both Katies (Perry and Holmes). It’s unlikely that these shoes are ever thrown in the recycling bin (even though you could).

Metamorphosis: Changing our idea of what shoes can be.

Seeing the entire collection together at once is a true visual feast. A dizzying array of gladiator sandals, flats, platform and four inch heels adorned with plastic hearts, butterfly wings and feathers are on display alongside full lines from collaborations with acclaimed designers such as the Campana Brothers, Karim Rashid and Vivienne Westwood.

The entire collection of Vivienne Westwood’s collaboration with Melissa Shoes.

The heart-quickening, near psychedelic shopping experience is aided muito by the futuristic looking bubble-shaped stands and the rave-enhanced interior and atrium artwork, which is updated with new graphics from guest artists every three months. Not to mention being helped along by the overwhelmingly intoxicating aroma of tutti-frutti, which the shoes are known for.

Chic, cruelty-free (and I can attest), incredibly comfortable shoes – what more can you ask for? 

The  psychedelic retail experience is aided by futuristic looking bubble-shaped stands.

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