Boost your buying power by shopping local with these fashion and beauty companies that make sustainability their brand.
Ardently
Through its selection of neutral maxis, flowy floral dresses, breezy linen pants, layering basics, comfy jumpsuits and other goods, Ardently aims to inspire you to live a more sustainable life by what you wear, what it’s made from and how it functions. Eighty-five percent of the Cherokee Street shop’s offerings are made with natural or recycled fiber (the other 15 percent are “long-lasting by design”), and because the timeless, high-quality staples in neutral palettes can build a wardrobe that crosses seasons and reasons, you can buy pieces that will have you covered (literally) no matter when or where you go.
Ardently, 2001 Cherokee St., St. Louis, ardentlystl.com
Sara Patino Jewelry
The timeless pieces in the Sara Patino Jewelry collection take a three-pronged approach to minimizing environmental impact: recycled metals, ethical gemstones and a traditional handmade process. Its earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets avoid mining the earth’s natural resources by using 100 percent recycled gold, silver or brass. From there, 90 percent of those materials are locally sourced. The gems – brilliant mother-of-pearl and dreamy white topaz in delicate, graceful shapes and minimalist settings – are supplied and cut in factories with documented authentication of fair-trade practices and compliance with local pollution laws. Finally, the small-batch designs are hand-fabricated in St. Louis to avoid excessive waste and pollution associated with mass production. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from each purchase goes to Women’s Earth Alliance, a nonprofit that empowers women's leadership to protect the environment. The pieces are meant and made to last forever.
Sara Patino Jewelry, 314-680-2330, sarapatinojewelry.com
i.e.
The name behind this handmade, washable textile bags company stands for id est, a Latin phrase that provides further clarification (“that is”) for what comes before. Stacie Kane grew up providing clarification on how she spells her name (“ends with ‘-ie’”) and started i.e. in St. Louis in 2018 as an online shop (though she moved to Columbia, Missouri, six months ago). Kane designs, sews and sells i.e.’s eco-friendly, biodegradable, highly durable and washable paper goods. The reusable beachy totes, preppy crossbodies, sporty clutches and classic shopping and market bags are made from natural wood pulp cellulose fiber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council; the material looks and feels like leather but washes like fabric. The hardware is all solid brass, an environmentally friendly metal that won’t rust when washed.
i.e., 314-973-7008, iethatis.com
Zee Bee Market, various artists
Zee Bee Market, a fair-trade haven with locations in St. Louis’ Tower Grove South neighborhood and Maplewood, has plenty of carefully curated fashion pieces that should sit well on your conscience as much as they do in your closet. Every piece sold is handmade by fair-trade artists in nations across the world who are treated with dignity, receive fair compensation and work in safe environments. These producers promote reducing, reusing, reclaiming and recycling materials wherever possible and encourage sustainable practices across the entire trading chain. The boutique's spring dress collection was made by artisans in Ghana, India and Nepal, with a focus on gender equity and empowering women, and featured trendy prints, patterns and cuts that evoke cultural and traditional elements alike.
Zee Bee Market; 7270 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314-370-4111; 3211 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314-932-1000; zeebeemarket.com
Not Makeup
Not Makeup is all about changing the way we think; the St. Louis small-batch makeup line seeks to fundamentally transform how we view makeup as altering our appearance and also aims to change the beauty industry’s impact on the environment. The zero-waste products range from cheek and lip tints, glosses, balms and scents, and use paper-based packaging and natural waxes, butters and oils to moisturize and add subtle, plant-derived color. Owner Jenny Murphy sources materials from suppliers that use organic, ethically and sustainably harvested ingredients and “answers to our biggest boss – Mother Nature.”
Not Makeup, notmakeup.square.site
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