When you buy something new—a new piece of apparel, some home decor, a set of speakers for your desk—you're making several decisions at once about what your needs are and how the purchase is going to meet them.
One thing that you're hopefully thinking about more these days is what your purchase is doing to meet the needs of the environment—or more accurately, how it's already affecting it. Every consumer good has already amassed a carbon footprint just by being available to buy, racking up ecological debt as the raw materials are harvested, the item is manufactured, and the finished product is shipped.
The items showcased here have been designed to reduce that impact as much as possible as they make their way to the store. Through the use of recycled materials, environmentally mindful manufacturing, waste-reducing designs, and enhanced durability, these covetable objects already tread more lightly than most.
Coat Check
COURTESY OF Montane Montane Men’s Kamen XT Hooded Down Jacket £420 Montane
Waterproofing down typically involves treating it with nasty chemicals. ExpeDRY infuses the feathers with gold particles to create an electrostatic shield that keeps water droplets from being absorbed by the fibers. This recycled nylon zip-up is stuffed with the quick-drying fluffy stuff, giving you an eco-friendlier alternative for water-repellent warmth.
Tread Lightly
Established in 2015 by Keisuke Ota and Yang Chao, Flower Mountain sneakers incorporate traditional Japanese craftsmanship—such as intricate decorative details—with a stylish and practical outdoor aesthetic. The Kaiso collection (“seaweed” in Japanese) features a midsole made from blending seaweed with recycled and bio-based materials. The sneakers also incorporate elements derived from corn, synthetic suede, and recycled PET bottles.
Feeling Blue
Shopping ethically almost always comes at a premium. Organic cotton and fair trade practices inevitably push up pricing, but by batch-buying pieces and selling direct to consumers, Yes Friends is bucking this trend. Its range of denim, which is colored with nontoxic dyes, is just as ethical as the competition at only half the price. Set an alert, however, as batches sell out fast.
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