Available in an array of eye-catching colors—and one lovely leaf pattern—Keen’s Maderas is the perfect canvas shoe to take you from boat to street. From the brand’s Vegan collection, these are made with a direct vulcanized process, which means there are no adhesives. $60; keenfootwear.com
Summer style should be all about ease and comfort—no-fuss pieces that work for steamy temperatures, can take you from the outdoors to the office, and pack well for that last-minute weekend getaway. Versatility is key; after all, it’s summertime, and the living is easy. With a few more weeks (at least) of warm weather upon us, here are our eco-picks for enjoying the dog days of summer in comfort, ease and style.
Towel Off
Nomadic Thread Society sources from small producers and artisan collectives around the world, all of them ethical and fair trade. The pieces are unique and colorful, and often pull double-duty: Kenyan Sarong Towels have a stylish sarong-pattern on one side, and a 100 percent cotton-terry towel on the other; lie on the oversized East African Beach Throws, then use them as cover-ups. The Turkish Beach Shawls are a modern riff on the traditional Hammam Towel, which Nomadic also features. Starting at $56; nomadicthreadsociety.com
Nature Time
This eco-friendly Sprout 6500 series LED watch is made from white corn resin (case and bracelet), natural wood (engraved bezel), mineral crystals (lens), and natural mother of pearl (illuminated dial.) It’s also got an outside minute track, an LED-lit face and mercury-free battery. Available in a variety of fun colors. $80; purestylesalesandmktg.com
Sustainable Swim
EcoSwim suits are sustainably made from recycled materials (i.e. post-consumer and industrial waste).There are lots of stylish one-piece and separates options, including this chic bandeau blouson top, which ties at the waist over bottoms of your choice. Prices vary; see ecoswim.com for retailers.
Easy Breezy
Slowcolor’s floaty linen scarves and shawls may look elegantly simple, but there’s more there than meets the eye: the fair-trade eco-textile company has everything made by artisans in India paid a living wage using traditional techniques, pesticide-free fabrics, and soft, natural plant- and mineral-based colors. Starting at $69; purestylesalesandmktg.com
Summer Slip-Ons
Spa-favorite Oka B’s lightweight thongs, slides and ballet flats are hand-crafted in Georgia from recycled materials and can be thrown in the washing machine—so no worry if they end up full of sand. Top summer flip-flops include the Harper, adorned with little pearls, and the Eloise and Lillian, both topped with enamel-and-crystal starfish. Starting at $24; oka-b.com