I recently had the pleasure of attending the Capsule menswear trade show in New York City. The unbelievably humid day did not stop many global clothing brands from showcasing what they have in store for spring next year.
Interspersed with the big names are labels that have gone decidedly green—responsibly procuring the raw materials necessary to assemble their clothes—while still keeping their eye on current trends. It’s an encouraging sight, seeing that you can be both stylish and eco-conscious at the same time.
[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”27″ size_format=”px”]Here are four standouts:[/typography]
Trench coats that roll up into a ball and a reflective band that comes out of the back of a jacket may sound like gimmicks at first, but once you give it a moment’s thought, they make sense.
The clean lines and interesting patterns that characterize Portland-based Nau’s offerings do not detract from serious function. The above-mentioned band is for bikers to alert vehicles behind them of their presence, and the trench coat provides an easy way to quickly adapt to whatever weather Mother Nature happens to throw that day. Once it starts to rain, pull the waterproof trench out of your bag. When it stops, give it a shake, and store it back.
Even though it’s only Arbor Collective’s first year at Capsule, the response and interest has been encouraging, says Ryan Turley, the brand’s East Coast sales manager. They started out producing skate and snow gear from their office in sunny California. Seeing the demand for more lifestyle-oriented pieces, they soon expanded their portfolio to include soft-as-butter organic cotton tees, bamboo hoodies and great-fitting woven shirts, and 75 percent of them are produced in the United States.
Robert Jungmann is a man on a mission: He hopes for everyone to own a hemp T-shirt by 2020. Judging by how touchable Jungmaven’s tees are (they’re a blend of viscose hemp and organic cotton), it’s doubtful that he’ll have a hard time achieving this goal.
Oh, and plenty of their basic styles come in a rainbow of colors. No more excuses not to own one (or more).
For a different take on sunglasses, look no further than to Oregon-based Shwood. Their sunnies dispense of plastic and metal, and instead use several types of sustainably sourced wood to create the frames. Available in several styles (my personal pick is the Ashland), the hinges in the temple have some give, so those with wider faces can still wear the sunglasses without feeling like the sides of your face are being pinched.