sierraclub.org - sierra magazine - may/june 2012 - style with substance
By Avital Binshtock
Fast Food | Trendsetter: David Rockefeller Jr. | Style with Substance
Style With Substance
Think fashion and conservation can't mix? Wrong: Even John Muir was a sharp-dressed man.
HIS
The Kampong shirt by GRAMICCI sits well on the body and, like many of the brand's laid-back pieces, was dyed using a low-impact process. Gramicci incorporates buttons made from recycled materials, as well as hemp, into many of its offerings. $27, gramicci.com
The made-in-the-U.S.A. PET belt from CROAKIES looks simultaneously streamlined and rugged. Its webbing is made from recycled water bottles, and it's got one-size-fits-all versatility—just trim to your waist size. $20, available at rei.com
OUTLIER's 4Season OG pants may not consist of outright eco-materials (they're 80 percent nylon), but if you drive everywhere to avoid the sartorial hassles of a bike commute, these are your solution. They look like a crisp pair of slacks—so you can show up to work in them—but they stretch, wick, and breathe almost like Lycra. $188, outlier.cc
Men's dress shoes with true eco-cred are hard to find, since most office-appropriate foot coverings are leather. Fortunately, the Portuguese company NOVACAS (the name means "no cows") makes the vegan Justin loafer. The 80 percent biodegradable but durable microfibers, cranked out in factories with strict eco-standards, are free of PVC and other toxins. $135, available at mooshoes.com
HERS
A sturdy, comfortable sweatshirt with a flattering fit, PLAYBACK's Zip Hoodie is constructed from 100 percent recycled cotton and polyester. $55, playbackclothing.com
MODO's polarized, retro-modern shades, from its Eco line, have subtle tortoiseshell accenting and the cool factor of throwback Ray-Bans. They're made from melted-down plastic and metal and come in a recycled-paper box that you can use as a mailer via which to donate your old specs. Modo plants a tree for every pair of Eco frames sold. $175 for model 301 (pictured), modoshop.com
Denim is a notoriously water-sucking textile to produce. So LEVI's began supporting more efficient cotton-growing methods and came up with
a new fabric called WaterLess, which, the company claims, has saved more than 40 million gallons since it debuted in late 2010. WaterLess comes in the classic 501s and many other styles, but we like the Modern Demi Curve Straight Jeans for their clean, slim look. $33 to $78 (depending on color), levi.com
OKA-B's Taylor ballet flats are
packaged in an origami-inspired box so pretty it can be reused as a home accent. They'll add polish to any getup and are comfortable, flexible, and durable. After you've kicked them off for the last time, send them to the company's zero-waste facility in Georgia to be made into new shoes. $45, oka-b.com
Photos by Lori Eanes