Eco Tees
A tee is an absolute daily must-have. To the gym, at home, on an errand, to a party - a tee is one of the most versatile closet staples. These days I even switch tees up to 3 times a day! (I have a newborn so there’s the inevitable spit-up mishap.) It’s trendy to wear tees that rep designer brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana, etc. (this is an especially big trend where I live, in Miami). No hate on those who do this. I’m guilty of being a logo-whore at times myself. But, I say, if you’re going to make a statement with your tee, why not make it a meaningful one? Rep a forward-thinking brand like Ganni or Stella McCartney, that uses sustainable materials and is animal-friendly. Make a fashion statement in some of my favorite eco-friendly tees…
This is the tee. Ganni is one of the coolest brands around (if not the coolest). And this is their signature tee. I own it and wear it regularly. The fine print under the smiley reads, “Have a nice day! Please recycle.”
Ganni is doing amazing things for the fashion industry and the planet. The company holds themselves to such a high standard of sustainability and responsibility that they don’t even meet their own standards, stating: “We don't identify as a sustainable brand, because at its core fashion thrives off newness and consumption, which is a major contradiction to the concept of sustainability. That’s the honest truth. Instead, we're focused on becoming the most responsible version of ourselves.” Pretty damn noble and honest, if you ask me.
Is it chic to wear a shirt that boasts a designer brand emblazoned across the chest to look like you have money? No. Is it chic to wear a shirt that reps a designer brand that’s doing amazing things for the fashion industry and the planet? YES! Let’s redefine what’s chic. One t-shirt at a time. Read on for more eco tee recs…
éliou Large Logo Tee, $58
éliou is the $#!%. They’re known mostly for their funky-chic pearl jewelry worn by the likes of Harry Styles and Justin & Hailey Bieber. Nab their namesake tee for $58 and low-key brag about how you’re in the know. The brand makes all their jewelry by hand and this tee was made with cotton grown using naturally occurring rainwater.
CHNGE STFP Tee, $35
CHNGE is quite the brand. Their garments are produced at a Fairtrade Factory, ensuring all workers are paid living wages and provided safe and humane working conditions. The company also takes numerous measures to ensure sustainability, starting with using sustainable fabrics, such as 100% GOTS certified organic cotton for this shirt. And their graphic tees rep important causes such as Black Lives Matter, abortion, and women’s rights. Find a tee for your cause on chnge.com.
Step up your jeans-and-tee game with this Farm Rio beaut. This cute tee is made in partnership with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit that - you guessed it - plants trees. Made from 100% organic cotton, this tee doesn’t just talk the talk, it walks the walk. Get it and wear it all summer long (I know I will).
P.E Nation is a conscious atleisure clothing brand. Their clothing is recycled, sustainable, low-impact, conscious and compostable. Represent the best with this sporty chic tee that can take you anywhere from the gym to a night out. It’s enough with the Nike and Lululemon. They represent sweatshops and everything that’s wrong with the world (unless you get it secondhand). Time to invest in a brand that’s actually doing some good.
Get into eco-chic brand Manola. Built for the yoga studio, chic enough for the streets. Their “For the Planet” line partners with NGO Tree-Nation to fight deforestation and fund reforestation projects in Madagascar and Tanzania. Manola vows to plant one tree for every product sold from this collection. Turn heads and while doing some good for the planet.
Maurie and Eve is an Australian brand that makes simplistic essentials with minimal environmental impact. This particular tee states, “Mother Nature will thank you for it.” Made out of eco-friendly organic cotton and hemp, she certainly will. Wear this elegant oversized tee tucked into shorts or as a beach coverup.
Here’s another Maurie and Eve tee because they’re just too chic not to share! This lovely t-shirt is made entirely out of organic cotton, which will give it a lighter feel than the hemp/cotton blend.
Don’t let the fact that this is a “kids” tee fool you. The biggest two sizes will fit like an adult’s Small and Extra Small (get a size 12 for XS, a size 14+ for S). I prefer the Stella kids line for tees because they’re more fun and not so serious. Stella McCartney is one of the pioneers of eco-chic fashion. Raised a vegan by her rockstar dad Paul McCartney, her fashion line has been vegan since day one. And she’s been one of the biggest advocates for scientific innovations with fashion (sourcing eco materials and animal-free leathers). A rockstar in her own right, if you ask me.
Back Beat Co. is a low-impact, WOC-owned clothing company that makes a point to prioritize ethical working conditions for the people making their garments. They partnered with Cleancult to curate an impact-focused capsule collection to create sustainable change. Cleancult’s “greenprint” for a sustainable life is Reduce, Reuse, Refill, Recycle. The fingerprint design represents that while each of us may be unique, we all have the earth in common.
This “Everybody” tee is made with organic cotton and hemp. And BBCo even makes a point to use eco-friendly packing materials, so the entire process is ethically and socially responsible from beginning to end.