September is officially fashion season. The catwalks are firing, magazines are bulging and shops are overflowing with the autumn’s newest looks.

But how can you cut through the clothes rails and find the greenest way to dress? From the best online shopping to recycling tips, eco-fashion labels to ethical accessories, we help you give your wardrobe a makeover that won’t cost the planet.

Selfless shoes
Jojo, an ethical Belgian shoe brand, is a great example of how eco-fashion can live up to the hype. When you buy a pair of their shoes, you ‘choose, act, check’ – picking your favourite shoe design, deciding whether to plant a tree or help build water pumps in Africa and following the progress of your project online.

Knit from the heart
UK-based Grannies Inc. seeks to “reignite the nation’s passion for handmade, ethically produced fashion” by working with experienced ‘granny’ knitters from all over the country and using 100% British-spun yarns. You can even design your own accessories to be lovingly made to order.

High fashion, low impact
We know online eco-fashion is nothing new – in fact Fairtrade fashion pioneer People Tree celebrated its 10th anniversary earlier this year. But there’s an ever-growing crop of sites bringing up-to-the-minute trends to customers with a conscience. Here are a few we’ve spotted:
- wearunique – Italy
- Marron Rouge - France
- Wear Aware – Germany
- Eco Fashion World – search for eco-fashion by country

What’s mine is yours
Swapping, swishing or clothes exchange – whatever you call it, giving and receiving clothes without any money changing hands is the latest trend for the truly eco fashionista. By passing your clothes onto others instead of chucking them, you can refresh your wardrobe time and again without waste. Try these sites for tips and events listings:
- Swap in the City – Germany
- Swishing.com – UK
- Swapstyle – worldwide

Self-made style
Whether you want to embellish a top with a few beads and ribbons or turn an old t-shirt into a mini skirt, taking up the scissors, needle and thread is the perfect way to find your own eco-fashion style. There are loads of step-by-step guides online, but these YouTube tutorials are a good place to start.

September 7, 2011 | Filed under English, Environment, We've been inspired by.