As always, my focus is on ethical luxury. So everything on this ethical luxury guide is vegan and uses some form of conscious-manufacturing or design. All of the following items are either created locally, made from organic materials, created from repurposed materials and/or are manufactured in an ethical way. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a little summary about each item so you’ll know what’s organic, what’s recycled, which companies are female-led, and what’s fair trade!
This post contains links to shops that I regularly support and am affiliated with. Read my Disclaimer for more information.
O = Organic fabric materials used
R = Recycled fabric materials used
L = Locally* and Ethically-made (*in relation to the designer/brand)
W = Female-led company
S = Sustainable initiatives in either fabric, manufacturing, or packaging
B-C = B Corporation Certified
Turtlenecks are a fall/winter staple and a must for any capsule wardrobe. And of course, any fashionista worth her/his salt needs one or five in their closet. A fitted turtleneck can be worn solo, or layered under dresses, button-downs, or chunky sweaters. This gives you versatility x 4 from a single garment investment! Talk about bang-for-your-buck while also supporting the core concepts of a capsule wardrobe.
I suppose after a few bad first impressions of trying to wriggle into itchy wool-blend turtlenecks as a child, I’ve avoided this practical style of top for years. If you fall into that category, please know the following: they make turtlenecks different now and cotton, Tencel, or bamboo is way more comfortable than wool! We’re talking infinitely more comfortable than wool. Also if you or the person you’re buying for lusts after cashmere, I have got that covered too! Keep on’ reading.
Here are some ethically-made, organic cotton ‘turtles’ that I’m swooning over from Canadian-made Thief and Bandit:
O, L, W, S
And, of course, the cashmere-alternative sustainable and super-cozy turtlenecks from American-made Bleusalt:
O, L, W, S
Who doesn’t love pieces that effortlessly combine comfort with style? Plus, all Encircled clothing is made right here in Toronto!
The Comfy Blouse from Encircled is a no-brainer. It looks fabulous on everyone, they just launched several new colours, and I can 100% vouch for its comfy-ness:
O, L, W, S
And here are some matching micro-waffle lounge sets from Encircled. These are also made from organic cotton and sewn in Toronto. (Tre chic!):
O, L, W, S
This year has been a time of very-local exploration for me. And I’m sure many others confined to local destinations only will also find the following thought resonates with them: When it comes to exploring nature or the city, a chic backpack is more convenient than a purse.
These backpacks from JORD appeal to the fashionista who’s always on the go. And they are super affordable:
S
And if backpacks aren’t on-the-mark, take a peek at the latest sustainable-focused collection of luxury vegan handbags from Alexandra K.:
R, L, W, S
After many years of searching, I’ve come up with a short-list of vegan footwear brands that I swear by. Veerah, Taylor + Thomas, VEJA, Rothy’s, and Ecoalf all make ridiculously high-quality sustainable-focused vegan footwear.
These sleek vegan boots from VEERAH have my name all over them (erm, but they would also appeal to the shoe lover in your life!) The ankle straps are reversible and fully detachable, for ultimate aesthetic flexibility:
O, W, S
PS: Use the code NATALIEMILAKARA for 10% off your Veerah vegan boots or shoes!
These versatile, luxurious vegan boots from Ecoalf are very New-York in the winter. Basically, they should appeal to the fashion-forward person who also wants to be comfortable in the snow or wet rain (I have them in black and love them!):
R, S, B-C
If your fashionist prefers things fitted and flattering, she will absolutely love these organic cotton, made-in-Halifax, bodysuits by Thief and Bandit. (You’ve seen me wear the celestial-print ones so many times, and that’s because I genuinely feel like a hot little galaxy seal every time I slip it on.):
O, L, W, S
This recycled fibre coat from Ecoalf is a show stopper! And practical too. Wear this 3-in-one design together or as separates. To see a demo of this amazing coat, you can check out my Vegan Vlogmas episode 5 on YouTube.
R, B-C, S
Stay tuned for my annual sustainable vegan sweater and sustainable vegan coat guides for even more ethical luxury winter ideas!