Your Guide to the Best Sustainable Accessories & Brands

The right accessories won’t just complement and elevate your outfit: they’ll make your wardrobe and fashion lifestyle more eco-friendly, too!

Yep, that's true.

After showing you why, we’ll share some tips on how to pick different types of sustainable accessories, including some of our favourite brands to help you get started. 

How the right accessories will make your entire wardrobe more sustainable

Fast fashion has brainwashed us into feeling like we NEED to buy new clothes all the time and must NEVER be seen wearing the same outfit. This comes with a (*cough cough* short-lived) dopamine hit but is unsustainable and terrible for the planet (and your wallet, in the long run!). It contributes to high carbon emissions and 92 million tonnes of waste every year.

If you often think “I have nothing to wear” or “I’ve already worn this top a couple of days ago”, we can’t blame you for feeling tempted to look for new garments. But have you ever thought that, by accessorising your outfits, you get to create different looks using the same clothes?

Adding a large belt to a dress, wearing the same skirt with tights in different colours, making a top look more or less formal with a golden necklace or a colourful upcycled piece… You name it!

Things to keep in mind when buying new sustainable accessories

• Think beyond a single outfit! Look for ethical accessories that complement several of your existing pieces
• Avoid temporary trends. Not only is it unsustainable to chase them: impersonal trends remove your sense of self-expression (no wonder you get tired of fast fashion items so soon)
• Only invest in pieces you LOVE, that match your aesthetic, and that you can see yourself rewearing for years
• Try and support ethical brands to avoid the high hidden cost of cheap fast fashion items (= a terrible environmental footprint and sweatshops)

7 types of sustainable accessories & our favourite ethical brands

1. Hats

These can be winter essentials (in which case, look for colours and designs that go with your jackets and coats) or interesting accessories for summer or all kinds of seasons, from straw hats to caps.

Consider choosing eco-friendly hats made with organic cotton, organic wool, or recycled fabrics.

Some of the best ethical brands for hats:

• Komodo
• Silverstick
• Lanius

2. Scarves

Prioritise designs you can pair up with your coats and jackets but also with a few tops (for example, if most of them are patterned, opt for a monochrome scarf, and vice versa).

Some good fabrics are organic cotton, organic wool, bamboo, hemp, and recycled options.

Some of the best ethical brands for scarves:

• Julahas
• Urban Medley
• Neem London

3. Jewellery

One of the best ways to elevate your outfits and get creative! 

Why not look for sets (like a golden necklace, bracelet, and earrings) so that you can choose to wear each item on its own or together?

Unfortunately, though, because mining isn’t very well regulated, a lot of jewellery comes with environmental and ethical concerns, like child labour and a terrible footprint (on average, a gold ring generates over 20 tonnes of waste).

So, look for transparent jewellery brands, and don’t shy away from recycled and upcycled options.

Some of the best ethical jewellery brands:

• Mejuri
• Julia Otilia 
• Paguro Upcycle

4. Bags

Sustainable handbags, totes, crossbody bags, smaller designs… Practical and stylish, the right bag will complement or even transform your outfit!

You might want to consider the tricky leather vs vegan leather dilemma. In a nutshell, the former is more durable, the latter avoids animal suffering but tends to involve plastic and bad chemicals. If you’re vegan, lower your footprint by avoiding PVC or look for eco-friendly leather alternatives like cork and recycled options.

Some of the best ethical bag brands:

• Souleway
• MADE out of
• Elvis & Kresse

5. Belts

As well as practical and versatile belts for your jeans, trousers, and skirts, consider playing with eye-catching designs that can complement various dresses, too.

The most sustainable belts are made with vegetable-tanned leather, recycled materials, non-PVC vegan leather, or fabric.

Some of the best ethical brands for belts:

• NAE Vegan
• NOAH
• Baukjen

6. Tights  

Not only will they keep you warm: these sustainable accessories will give your dresses and skirts a completely new vibe!

So, look for colours or patterns that go well with most of your existing ones.

From a sustainability perspective, it’s tricky because they’re mostly made with synthetic materials, but you can look for recycled options and more durable tights (not fast fashion items that rip after ONE wear!). 

While it’s rarer, tights can involve organic cotton or wool, too.

Some of the best ethical brands for tights:

• Swedish Stockings
• Lanius

7. Shoes

Another opportunity to get creative or… step up your look!

Sustainable sandals, vegan shoe brands, vegan boots, ethical trainers, sustainable high heels… there are soooooo many options.

You could prioritise shoes that complement various items (especially your trousers, skirts, and dresses) and have a pair that makes a bold statement, like a vibrant colour or pattern.

Once again, the main choice from an ethical perspective is between leather vs vegan leather, but you can find shoes in eco-friendly materials like cork, fabric, and recycled options.

Some of the best ethical brands for shoes:

• Thies
• Alohas
• Rarámuri 

Find the right sustainable accessories on Project Cece

We’d need a whole encyclopedia to cover everything there is to say about sustainable accessories, but we hope this guide gave you some ideas and inspiration.

So, start by experimenting with the accessories you already own (bet there are some combinations you haven’t thought of yet!). 

And if you need more, don’t worry: finding sustainable accessories doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming.

On Project Cece, we brought hundreds of ethical brands in one place and included categories and filters to simplify your choices.

From shoes to handbags and jewellery, it’s now a breeze to focus on sustainable accessories that match your style, existing clothes, and ethical preferences.