ECO FASHION

What to Look for
• Shop for your dress and accessories at a local consignment shop. Prices are usually cheaper and chances are you won’t find anyone else wearing your dress at prom.

• If you do decide to buy a new dress, make sure the dress is made with organic, sustainable materials, such as hemp, hemp silk, wool, organic cotton, soy silk, bamboo, or recycled materials. Do not buy anything made with synthetic materials, such as nylon. They are made from petroleum (think oil), a non-renewable resource.

• Look online for stores near you that sell recycled or sustainably made goods. Try gengreenlife.com or greenyour.com to findstores in your area.

Shopping Locally
• Decreases fuel costs for shipping, especially if you walk to your favorite eco-boutique

• Supports the community, providing jobs for local businesses

• Provides an opportunity to meet the designer and ask them questions about how their products are made

When All Else Fails
• If you can’t find the style you like, buy sustainably grown fabrics and find a dressmaker that shares your vision for your ideal prom dress. A custom-made dress is sure to flatter your body and steal the spotlight at prom

Accessories
• There are a plethora of cute eco-chic purses and hangbags online. Check out ecoist.com for purses and clutches made from recycled plastic packaging and newspaper, or, for a tropical feel, ecochicpurses.com .

• Eco-jewelry is popping up just about everywhere! Shop online to minimize your carbon footprint. Better yet, get your friends together for a jewelry party and order your items together! Check out palmacollection.com forsome affordable finds inspired by South American culture.

• Keep your eye out for the new line of eco-shoes debuting at Payless this April. The new line is designed by eco-chic model turned activist Summer Rayne Oakes, and is promised to be stylish without breaking your bank!