The EcoMan:
The Gentlemen’s Green
The best of Commerce with a Conscience: Sept. 16-30, 2010
This is the second installment of The Gentlemen’s Green from Brad Bennett, founder of the ethical menswear daily Commerce with a Conscience. Enjoy!
| hessnature Organic Cotton Cardigan: Sometimes, you need a basic that’s just that, basic. One of those dress-up, dress-down, always-looks-good-no-matter-what-the-outfit kind of pieces. Enter the Organic Cotton Cardigan from Germany’s hessnatur. Fair Trade made in Thailand from Turkish organic cotton, the OCC is an as-basic-as-it-gets second layer, equally suited for wear over a t-shirt or button-up. And, at well under $100, it’s not just versatile, it’s also totally affordable. |
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| Sanders Shirt by Knowledge Cotton Apparel: The Sander Shirt from Denmark’s Knowledge Cotton Apparel is ethically made in South America from heavy-weight organic cotton flannel (colored with low-impact dyes, of course). As brawny as it is warm, the shirt works great both on its own and as an over-shirt (would look darn good under a sweater too, and will have you welcoming autumn’s cooler temps with (flannel-clad) wide open arms (EUR 95.00). |
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| Teamwork Drifter Tote: There are two principles that guide the work of Michigan’s Teamwork. 1: sustainable can never mean disposable. And 2: always remember your roots. The brand handcrafts every one of their one-of-a-kind bags in Grand Rapids, MI - hometown of the company’s founders - from used sailcloth and discarded tractor tire tubes (both sourced from within the area). By keeping their production local, and their materials recycled, the team behind Teamwork are not only able to give back to the community that raised them, they are also able to share a small piece of that community with their customers. You gotta respect that. (Drifter bag retails for $45 USD). |
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| People Tree Fairisle Tank: The Fairisle Tank (£68.00) from English brand People Tree is hand-knit from humanely harvested wool by attendees of the Fair Trade certified Kumbeshwar Technical School in Nepal (that’s right, Fair Trade Fair Isle). In addition to earning a fair and equitable wage, the knitters – who, without the school, would otherwise be unemployed – are also provided with full medical coverage, as well as a number of social benefits. They should call it Fairest Isle (sorry). |
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| Taylor Store Organics Custom Shirts: In other eco shirting news, Swedish bespoke clothier The Tailor Store is now offering custom shirts made from 100% organic cotton fabrics. There are six fabrics in total, all exclusive to the brand, and all fully GOTS certified (meaning guaranteed eco and ethical manufacturing, from farm to factory). Despite the new credentials, the shirts still cost less than most of their off-the-rack equivalents, and, because it is the Tailor Store, they can be customized in a seemingly endless number of ways (yes, they make women’s shirts too). Starting at $65 USD. |
