The best eco-friendly boutiques online.

Eco-boutiques are popping up all over the web thanks to visionary retailers willing to take risks. While the debate over green consumption asks tough questions (is marketing lots of green stuff the answer to our consumerism woes?), it is clear that when it comes to eco fashion, the mantra is quality over quantity.

While some sites carry tried and true lines we’ve been following for years, others are peddling cutting edge sustainable fashion – making conscious consumption more provocative than ever.

Here’s an updated list of what we consider the top online eco boutiques going.

Start your shopping engines…

Annie Novotny, the designer behind Frei, opened Workshop in 2009 in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Her boutique’s 100 year old building houses her own line as well as lines like Brooklyn’s Loup Charmant, Shades of Gray vintage jewelry, D.S. & Durga perfume and a great selection of vintage leather handbags and belts for accessorizing.

Novotny’s shop also serves as a gallery and an actual workshop space for sewing classes.

In Roman mythology, Juno and Jove ruled as the divine queen and king of all gods, online they rule as a fantastic source for shopping over 70 designers. This online boutique (and store based in Sarasota, Florida), is massive but never overwhelming. Owner and buyer Olivia Bono has done well balancing high fashion with wardrobe staples including clothing, shoes, body care, home and even a nice section for men.

Whenever I want something totally different and inspiring, I click on over to Beklina. Not only is owner/buyer Lina Rennell one of the best online site curators, she designs an eponymous (eye candy) line featured on her site. Here is where you find architecturally and artistically pleasing clothes infused with all the glamor and femininity a site can offer. An additional bonus is Rennell selling fabric yardage from her own line and sustainable sweetheart, Caitlin Mociun’s of you guessed it, Mociun.

Joslin Van Arsdale’s Eco Citizen is a San Francisco staple for lines including The Podolls, Stewart+Brown, Feral Childe and more. Van Arsdale caters to women more than men but still has some fun organic pieces for your significant other you can quickly purchase before checking out with a cart full of your own new duds. We love the Jade Tribe and Collina Strada bags.

Everything at Olivine is special, (their tag line of “Atelier” says it all). With plenty of beautiful clothing, trendy beauty products and the healthiest dose of Swedish Hasbeens and Prairie Underground around, Olivine is a source of sustainable inspiration. Did I mention there’s cute baby gear too?

Three core passions inspired founder, Shana Yansen to start Jute and Jackfruit and now tie into the company’s core mission: to be smart, sustainable and chic. She accomplishes all three in her Boston based online shop filled with flattering Kelly Lane dresses, Turk+Taylor tops and Indigenous’ Fair Trade clothing.

Super girl Kate McGregor of Kaight is always on trend with her role as buyer and owner of New York City’s premier brick and mortar shops as well as having a major online presence via her blog and Facebook. McGregor can often be found working with leading sustainable designers, housing shops within her shop (Melissa shoes and a vintage section), as well as hosting fun store events. Kaight is the complete package.

In 2008, a conference speaker told Future:Standard owner/buyer Jessica Althoff  “You do not have to choose between your passions. If you want to combine them, you should.” Two years later Future:Standard was born from Althoff’s desire to support the environment, promote fair labor practices, and spend her days looking at (and wearing), beautiful clothes. We love all her indie lines that aren’t so frequently seen in other online boutiques.

Cow Jones Industrials’ owner Donna Oakes runs her vegan boutique from upstate New York as well as online with an eye for the pretty and playful: Think Popomomo tunics and dresses, Feral Childe frocks and a wide array of vegan shoes and hand bags by top designers. Vegan paradise fulfilled.

Label Gazer gives you a snapshot of socially responsible, ethical and eco-friendly fashion, then links you to where you can immediately buy it. Thieves, Elroy, The Uniform Project, Studio Jux and more, all presented so stylishly and clean with additional links to sales, sites and a designer database.

In early 2008, Mission Savvy founder Jennifer Miller picked up her journal and began writing, documenting careless acts of
animal neglect. From this introspection, Miller realized a way she could fuse both her love of clothing and animals was to open a vegan boutique (online and brick and mortar in Charleston, West Virginia). Not so strange a jump seeing as each collection of clothing is based on themed animal rights or “Missions.” Her clothing, footwear and accessories highlight not only a raised consciousness in fashion but of our furry friends.

Kate Morison and Andrea Barrett, founders of Arboretum hail from Sonoma’s wine country where the living is easy and the clothing, organic perfume and shoes coming out of this brick and mortar (as well as online eco-boutique), is refreshing. We love that they offer staple capsule collections for both men and women and only wish we lived in the same town to shop and see more!

Enjoy the pretty sounds of chirping birds as you shop. Not kidding.

Did you know that Tobi had a whole Eco Tobi section? A great selection of Matt and Nat handbags, wallets and clutches, tons of Melissa shoes, Prairie Underground and Alternative Apparel, make Tobi a perfect destination spot for those stylish staple pieces that never grow old.

Another great online boutique, Embodies also has a shop based in Larkspur, California. Owner Kenlynn Wilson bases her criteria on a few things: What fabrics are used in the clothing, where the items are manufactured (and under what conditions), what types of dyes are used in the clothing as well as the packaging the clothes are being shipped in. Curating with a careful eye, Wilson’s due diligence yields a great stable of fashion-forward eco-designers. Look for Alabama Chanin, Calleen Cordero cuff bracelets and select Linda Loudermilk.

In 2007, inspired by the fashionable direction green and ethical designers were taking, A Green Wardrobe decided to launch promoting all the organic, sustainable, or recycled and repurposed material clothing they could find from top designers. Look for Juleselin, Kris Nations jewelry, Numanu and Les Fees de Bengale.

UPDATEd 4.27.11: This post has been updated with more amazing boutiques since the original publish date.

BTC Elements combines smart style with sustainability, hand-selecting each item in their boutique’s collection of clothing, gifts, and accessories with an eye to the environment and social justice. The result: fresh, inspiring designs that are both earth friendly and ethically sourced.

Look for lines including Raw Earth & Wild Sky, Kelly B and Feral Childe.

Kathleen Rowan and Deana Bracken, run Green With Glamour from both Los Angeles and Chicago, building and curating the Green with Glamour® collection. Founded in 2007, the duo has always operated sustainably whether it’s buying for the shop or running the site on a certified carbon neutral webhost. GwG reaches eco-chic shoppers worldwide and continues to promote the concept of living with style while passionately caring for our beautiful planet.

We love that they carry Dallas based Koch, as well as a lot of L.A. based Popomomo and EcoSkin.

Equita, (Italian for fairness), is a design-conscious shop showcasing the finest in green, sweatshop-free and Fair Trade essentials for the body and home. Each item is hand-selected and thoughtfully edited to ensure a mix that is design-conscious, functional, eco-friendly, and socially conscious. In addition to ethical fashion and footwear, Equita carries green home decor, sustainable furniture, fair trade handbags and jewelry, organic and fair trade body care, ethical baby clothing, fair trade sport and wellness gear, and specialty gourmet treats.

Is that it?

Top image: Annie Novotny of Workshop, from Chicago Magazine

The post Top 15 Online Eco-Boutiques appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ah, fashion. Just when you’ve sorted out what trends to ride for the current season, it’s time to look forward and incorporate a whole new wave. Luckily, there are some key accessories this spring that will help smooth out your transition.

Moving into spring provokes a sense of fresh intrigue and a renewed energy to be daring and perhaps a little bold and bright.

1. One of the biggest trends for S/S11 is to politely retire the black bag and put into play a colorful counterpart, like a blue bag from Matt & Nat.

2. Geisha Gem Dangle Earrings made with eco-friendly Argentium sterling silver add just a hint of color.

3. A multi-colored scarf from Edun is perfect to introduce color and warmth.

4. Stella McCartney’s Eco Cotton Multi Botancical Print Wallet with exaggerated chain trim is a little something special.

5. A vibrant statement necklace from Lizzie Fortunato gives you a uniqueness that is admired and coveted.

If the cold has got you down, or if you are just ready to move your wardrobe forward into spring fashion, incorporating these accessories is a great way to keep you feeling inspired and on trend.

The post 5 Accessories to Warm You Up for Spring appeared first on EcoSalon.

Cool temperatures request even cooler accessories to accent bundled layers. This fall it is all about the bag! We’ve got you covered with eco-alternatives for every shape and size of the go-to handbag making its fall debut.

1. Oversized upcycled leather hobo from The Sway NYC.

2. Tote around town with Evolve 45’s vegetable tanned leather.

3. An upcycled jacket lined with organic cotton becomes the new ‘It’ satchel from ReMade USA.

4. Matt & Nat deliver yet another trend setter with their bucket style bag and chain handle detail.

5. The carry all companion from Sonya Kashmiri is perfect for an overnight expedition or some extra room for your gym clothes.

Sustainably focused and stylishly designed – who wouldn’t want to flaunt a bit of arm candy this fall?

The post Bags o’ Plenty: 5 Trendy Bags to Carry This Fall appeared first on EcoSalon.

New York Fashion Week is one of the major fashion events of the year, and the city hasn’t disappointed thanks to fabulous venues (like the new NYFW host, Lincoln Center) as well as beautiful and stylish people jetting from show to show. Outside Catherine Malandrino, I was street shooting alongside the likes of Bill Cunningham (fashion columnist for the New York Times). One trend that came up again and again is the working girl layered look of blouses tucked into skirts, balanced by big bags and grounding booties.

So, how does an eco-fashionista get this trend setting look? Check off the pieces from our list below and build your own look!

– Blouse: Josh Podoll. This blouse is a classic with designer details at the sleeve to set it apart!

– Skirt: Bibico. Tiered layers add interest and a feminine touch.

– Jacket: Feral Childe. Print on print is still a hot trend to try. Create contrast with a print jacket and bottom.

– Open-toed Booties: Olsen Haus. Vegan booties with a stacked wooden heel- one word, divine!

– Bag: Matt & Nat. Neutral colors are key for fall with a practical air in size as well.

Finish off the look with hair tied in a messy ballerina bun on top of the head and a swipe of bright pink lipstick!

The post Trends from NYFW 2010: Skirts, Jackets and Booties appeared first on EcoSalon.

‘It’ bags are so passé, but stocking your closet with a few good shapes and sizes is not. One bag you may want to add to your collection is the bucket bag. Relaxed and luxe at the same time, this drawstring topper is the perfect accomplice to summertime dressing. Pair it with a tank dress and flats or leggings and a long layered vest.

You know it is a classic when you can buy a vintage version from Chanel. Or, if you want a more updated bag take a look at Matt & Nat or Imitation and Disguise – both advocate natural dying processes.

Have some fun updating your summer wardrobe with a bag that not everyone will have.

The post The Drawstring Bucket Bag Is a Must Have Staple appeared first on EcoSalon.

Don’t fret about being pinched if you don’t wear green on Earth Day, but dressing appropriately for the day in which we celebrate Mother Earth is certainly in order. What’s more invigorating than toasting our beloved planet in style? The best way to dress for Earth Day – this coming Thursday – is to take cues from the planet herself, and keep the colors neutral and the materials organic.

Whether you are off to a charity fundraiser or meeting some friends for a BBQ in the park, earth tones are the way to go. Seashell beige and cloud white accented with mineral gold and silver, and a hint of lagoon blue capture the essence of the sea and sky. Organic cotton and bamboo sourced brands The Battalion and Brigid Catiis supply the essentials to build a beautiful outfit, while Cri de Coeur and Matt & Nat provide eye-catching accessories.

Go straight for the Earth Day inspired jacket from Stella McCartney for an easy layer that will keep any outfit stylish during E-Day festivities. Whatever you decide to wear – make your Mother proud and source eco for fashion that is focused on ensuring there are many Earth Days to come.

The post What to Wear on Earth Day appeared first on EcoSalon.