Eco-friendly accessories don’t have to scream “planetary excess”. By prioritizing the planet’s wellbeing over plastic-peddling and profit, these ethical accessories brands prove you don’t have to skimp on style to stay sustainable.
Because, let’s face it—from mountain-sized marketplace piles of cheap toxic jewelry and plastic sunglasses, to millions of handbags and wallets made with chemical-soaked leather, there’s a dire need for more environmentally conscious accessories.
To help you wrap, adorn, accessorize, and tie on your way to a fairer, greener world, we’re going to rescan all these sustainable accessories brands using our new Brand Rating System in the next few months. We’ll be looking for their use of green materials, ethical supply chains, planet-minded practices, and performance based on our own personal testing of certain products. BIPOC and women-owned brands get an extra thumbs-up from us, too. See our rating approach for more on our new stylish selection criteria.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Index: Eco-Friendly Accessories & Brands
- Sunski Jump to brand
- Zestt Organics Jump to brand
- Passion Lilie Jump to brand
- Naadam Jump to brand
- Carry Courage Jump to brand
- Pixie Mood Jump to brand
- Matt & Nat Jump to brand
- Bellroy Jump to brand
- KOOSHOO Jump to brand
- tentree Jump to brand
- Will & Bear Jump to brand
Sunski
Price Range: $48–$98
As far as sustainable fashion accessories go, what could be more essential than sustainable sunglasses?
Stop squinting and sprint to Sunski, a Climate Neutral Certified brand whose shades were born from an accidentally and utterly successful Kickstarter over a decade ago. You can trust they know what they’re doing, since they fulfill orders from sunny San Francisco.
The brand uses SuperLight frame resin made of recycled plastic otherwise destined for landfills, so these sunglasses take away plastic waste rather than add to it. A lens replacement service and forever warranty keep the plastic out of landfills even longer and 10% of profits go to charity, far surpassing the requirements of their 1% For The Planet membership.
We love the vintage Australian surfer vibe of their Classics collection, like the Headland, but they also sell eye-catching, cool lifestyle, alpine, sport, low-light, and kids shades. For indoor eye protection, they also have blue light glasses. Or how about seeing everything rose-tinted with a pair of their Originals in Clear Pink?
Zestt Organics
Price Range: $68–$228
Keep your zest for life ethically accessorized with Zestt Organics’ cozy, soft, and socially responsible scarves.
Made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled cashmere, and/or ethical alpaca, the women-founded brand only works with manufacturing partners who support the health and wellbeing of their workers. Each option is supple and soft, with ethically sourced fibers and eco-friendly production methods that save 44 gallons of water, 3 pounds of pesticides, and a 1/2 pound of chemicals.
Their Dreamsoft Organic Cotton Travel Scarf in all kinds of colors and patterns makes up the bulk of their collection—and honestly what more do you need since it doubles as a travel blanket and features a versatile design that works across all seasons, time zones, and cultures. For something lighter, their Wrap Scarf might be your ideal choice.
Passion Lilie
Price Range: $18–$48
Passion Lilie is a passionate fair trade fashion brand based in New Orleans that small-batch ethically handmakes everything in India with artisans dedicated to preserving heritage craft approaches across their range of GOTS-certified organic clothing, kitchen linens, blankets, pillow covers, and more.
Designed in New Orleans and made in India, the brand works closely with local artisans to ensure fair wages, respect, honesty, and thoughtful craftsmanship. They’re members of the Fair Trade Federation and all purchases support projects empowering female tailors through job training and low-to-no interest loans for workers. The brand also publishes a yearly report to support transparency and accountability of sustainable progress.
Whether you choose options made of GOTS-certified organic cotton or plant-based modal, their scarves come in a huge and gorgeous array of colors and patterns, each one block printed by hand using sustainable dyes.
My Personal Review of Passion Lilie’s Raina Modal Scarf:
“I’ve personally worn the Rain Modal Scarf and it’s become a warm weather go-to when O need to snaz up an outfit just a little. Instead of Passion Lilie’s usual mainstay—organic cotton—it’s made of modal, a plant-based sustainable fabric that’s a lightweight silk alterantive, so it’s perfect for adding a little extra drapey elegance to both casual and more dressy outfits.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Naadam
Price Range: $88
Based in the US but working closely with Mongolian goat herders, Naadam does ethical cashmere differently—by paying herders premium prices and veterinary benefits that ensure happy lives for free-range goats. They also provide additional life-bettering funds for their herding communities, donate returned and damaged goods to nonprofits, offset all shipping emissions, and use energy-efficient manufacturing facilities.
The fabric is also closed-loop dyed, which gives their cashmere goods their standout array of eleven different colors. Nadaam’s goats are also raised in an area resilient to desertification and ranged over a Manhattan-sized chunk of land to minimize the grazing impact typical in the cashmere industry.
We especially go for their Signature Cashmere Gloves, timelessly designed and available in either full finger or ‘pop-top’ styles, for fellow convertible glove lovers like ourselves. Both super soft 100% cashmere designs make for the perfect elevated “basic” accessory.
Carry Courage
Price Range: $20–$75
With the current environmental crisis, we could all do well to Carry Courage. The aptly-named sustainable wallet and handbag brand are all produced in small batches and shipped from their Portland, Oregon fair labor studio. Everything from clutch bags to cosmetics bags, cross-body bags, essential oil bags, tablet bags, tote bags, wallets, wristlets, zipper pouches, and more are available and 100% PETA-approved.
The eco-friendly fashion accessories brand makes use of two of nature’s most kind materials. The first is cork—harvested from trees that benefit from bark removal, which regenerates every 8-10 years. Once harvested, the tree absorbs 5x the CO2, meaning that cork bark harvesting helps reduce GHGs! The second material is 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton that undergoes a strict approval process. Both materials are typically combined, with a cork exterior and organic cotton lining.
In their minimalist, pocket-sized wallets, however, you’ll find just pure cork, paired with snap hardware that’s consciously sourced from a woman-owned company in the US. if the wallet wears out, remove the hardware to recycle and compost the cork.
Pixie Mood
Price Range: $40–$100
Since 2010, USA-based Pixie Mood has provided cruelty-free, vegan, recycled fashion accessories. They also give back to Humane Society International and One Tree Planted to maximize their positive impact, plus they have 1% For The Planet and Terrapass memberships.
Pixie Mood’s PETA-approved vegan accessories include shoulder bags, wallets, clutches, belt bags, and travel organizers with radio frequency identification (RFID) blocking technology to protect your identity and bank account, all from GRS-certified recycled materials such as recycled canvas, cork, solvent-free vegan leather, recycled wool, and linings made from recycled plastic bottles.
My Personal Review of Pixie Mood’s Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody Bag:
“I personally own the ever-versatile Jane 2-in-1 Crossbody Wallet and there’s a reason it’s my go-to everyday purse. Half wallet clutch, half mini purse, if you only need the wallet, just unclip it and go, but when the wallet is attached to the purse, the magnet component keeps it all together. True to its moniker, it’s giving “pixie mood” for the Tik-Tok girlies.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Matt & Nat
Price Range: $55–$300
For those eco-friendly accessories you always have with you (unless you leave it on the restaurant table), Matt & Nat and their wallets and handbags come in mighty handy (or pocket-y?).
The Canadian ethical accessories brand sells sustainable bags in all shapes and sizes, wallets, shoes, belts, jewelry, and more—all vegan and mostly crafted from eco materials like cork, rubber, and recycled nylon. They’re cruelty-free for animals and humans: both vegan and made in an SA8000-certified factory, which Matt & Nat is expanding to all its factories to ensure the best working conditions universally, and donate profits from certain products to charity.
Not all of their handbags are sustainable, as some still utilize virgin plastics and PVC-leather, but they’re quickly transitioning away from this in favor of natural rubber, fruit skin fibers, and more prominently, PVB (polyvinyl butyral) made from 100% recycled windshield glass resin. Options like the Sam Vegan Crossbody Bag are made from such fully recycled materials except for the hardware. All linings are made of about 21 recycled plastic bottles.
Bellroy
Price Range: $35–$330
Bellroy is an Aussie Certified B Corp, which began around a kitchen table in Bells Beach in 2010. The brand uses recycled materials, gold rated-LWG leather, and biobased leather alternatives to create conscious fashion accessories, bags, wallets, and travel and tech gear, which they now ship globally using fulfillment centers in both the USA and Australia to cut emissions.
To ensure their continued support of people, animals, and the planet, Bellroy stays transparent about their sustainability progress, publishes their codes of conducts and reports, develops regenerative farming practices, and donates significant funds to Farm Forward and science-based research such as Project Drawdown.
Their bags make for the perfect accessories for an active lifestyle, as they include hyper-functional and versatile designs like backpacks, totes, and sling bags in various sizes. Each one is made of proprietary bluesign®-approved Dura Lite Nylon and Dura Lite Ripstop, both are 100% recycled nylon fabrics that use a ‘broken’ ripstop weave to give impressive performance, subtle texture, and a unique look.
My Personal Review of Bellroy’s Lite Sling:
“I’ve personally had the chance to test-run their Lite Sling bag, which comes as 4L or 7L (which is the size I went with) and in four different colorways to maintain function and style while on the go. And maintain function it does, thanks to an extremely innovative design that packs down flat yet still manages to fit all our daily essentials, like a wallet, phone, earbuds, and even a full water bottle!
“Plus, I love the feel of the recycled outer and the fact that it’s super easy to wipe clean with a damp rag if it gets a little dirty—as any great adventure pack should!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
KOOSHOO
Price Range: $11–$25
Husband and wife yoga teachers Rachel and Jesse first started KOOSHOO in 2012, naming it after Rachel’s native Norfuk language’s word for “feeling good”. Their HQ remains on Norfolk Island, which they acknowledge as once belonging to the Lekwungen peoples.
With their adorable biodegradable hair ties sure have us feeling good thanks to their organic cotton construction dyed with AZO-free, low-impact dyes in a solar-powered L.A. dyehouse. They partner with a Fair Trade manufacturer/social enterprise in India that supports community programs and pays a living wage.
Their product line of sustainable hair accessories now includes several different colors of hair ties, scrunchies, and headbands in a rainbow of colors. Classic Hair Ties are made of 75% GOTS and Fair Trade organic cotton and 25% natural rubber.
tentree
Price Range: $25–$55
To top-off their sustainable outdoor clothing, try a stylish eco hat from the Canadian tentree. True to their name, they plant ten trees for every order placed, aiming to plant one billion by 2030.
Not to mention the fact that they’re a Certified B Corp and that their manufacturing partners hold certifications like WRAP, BSCI, SA8000, and Fair Trade and adhere to a Code of Conduct based on ILO high standards.
Their range of bucket hats, festival hats, wool hats, beanies, and baseball caps are made for men, women, and kids. They utilize various eco materials like TENCEL™ lyocell, REPREVE polyester (AKA recycled plastic bottles), organic cotton, hemp fabric, and recycled wool.
My Personal Review of tentree’s Harlow Boater Hat:
“I’ve practically been living in the Harlow Boater Hat all summer, because its wide full circle brim has been the perfect way to keep the scorching summer sun off my face, ears, and neck. And thanks to its cream color that helps reflect the sun, even its wool construction can be worn on warm summer days, while also being warm and temperature regulating enough for cooler temps, too.
“Unfortunately, this specific model is no longer in circulation, but the Taylor Felt Rancher Hat is its protegee, featuring a very similar design and almost identical materials.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Will & Bear
Price Range: $29–$179
Australia’s first Certified B Corp hat brand Will & Bear plants a tree for every hat sold and has given more than 40% of their profits to environmental charities since 2016, proving both their wool hats and their business practices strike a balance of style and substance.
The brand designs, develops, and crafts their hats using traditional techniques and naturally regenerative materials like short-fiber wool the fashion industry doesn’t use. They also support Australian regenerative farms where their non-mulesed wool comes from to support farmers to boost their land health and biodiversity.
In addition to their classic wide brimmed wool hats, the brand also sells straw hats, baseball caps, beanies, sailors hats, bucket hats, fedoras, and floppy hats. We suggest the brand’s iconic Andy hat in Oak or Cream to unleash your inner explorer and get lost in the wild in sustainable style.
Thank you for including tinysparklestudio in your article. I am honored to create everyday and wedding jewelry from recycled silver and gold.