The Guide to Eco-Friendly and Ethical Shopping in LA

Ethical and eco-conscious conscious consumers can take comfort in knowing that whether you’re splurging on yourself or shopping for gifts for friends and family back home, there are environmentally friendly retailers galore throughout Los Angeles. Here’s where to find sustainable, eco-friendly and ethical clothing, home items, and gifts in L.A. that will keep your conscience clear.

Located in Los Feliz, Ali Golden (4614 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 90027) began as a one-woman endeavor, with all items designed and produced in Oakland. Today, ethical production of women’s clothing, home accents, and accessories takes place across California, in a woman-owned co-op in Peru, and a fair-trade certified factory in India. Ali Golden has secured a loyal local following, in large part thanks to the company’s focus on ethics and sustainability.

All of the Alternative Apparel (1337 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice 90291) factories adhere to Fair Labor Association guidelines and workplace code of conduct. Even better? Alternative Apparel’s clothing line uses sustainable materials and processes, including organic & recycled materials, low-impact dyes & water-conserving washes. Known for the softness and comfort of their lines of men’s, women’s, and kids’ tees, and hoodies, Alternative Apparel’s brick and mortar storefront in Venice Beach is understandably located on the relentlessly cool Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

Amour Vert (1327 Montana Ave., Santa Monica 90403) literally puts their love of the earth into everything they do, beginning with their name, which means “green love” in French. Dedicated to creating a healthier planet for future generations, Amour Vert focuses on sustainable, versatile, thoughtfully designed clothing for men, women, and babies/toddlers. In fact, their signature modal fabric is made from sustainable harvested beechwood fibers which are free of pesticides and biodegradable. To boot, for every purchase of an Amour Vert tree, the company plants a tree in North America with the label’s trusted partner American Forest®. To date, more than 220,00 trees have been planted.

Operating under a mission to merge style and function with a sustainable approach to design and development, Banks Journal's first brick and mortar - located at The ROW DTLA (1320 E 7th St #114, Los Angeles 90021) - offers menswear featuring organic cotton, PVC and phthalate-free inks. Polyester is made from repurposed soda bottles, and the eco-friendly designers behind the label also use FSC approved paper of all swing tags and catalogs.

For women’s clothing designed and made with love in the City of Angels, a visit to Carol Young | Undesigned (1953 ½ Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles 90027) is a must. Each piece is made from a combination of sustainable organic and recycled blends, which is designed and cut at the studio behind the shop. With staunch support for local artisans and manufacturing, since 2003, Los Angeles native Carol Young has insisted that all pieces be made right here in her hometown.

Using deadstock fabric - leftover fabric from major fashion houses - is one way that Christy Dawn (1930 Lincoln Blvd, Venice 90291) minimizes its environmental footprint. Likewise, instead of producing hundreds or thousands of each design, Christy Dawn’s women’s garments (including sweaters, dresses, jumpsuits, skirts, tops, blouses, denim and maternity wear) are either designed by Christy herself, or other local artists. All items are also handsewn in Los Angeles, with all seamstresses earning competitive wages, and receiving health benefits.

Whether it’s women’s clothing or home décor items, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting at GALERIE.LA (767 S Alameda St #192, The ROW DTLA) thanks to the clearly labeled badge system which indicates items as artisanal, eco-friendly, ethical, and local. Shoppers are encouraged to shop their own values, which the team at GALERIE.LA prioritizes by scouting the globe for designers who use sustainable production methods and employ ethical business practices necessary to benefit people and communities.

At Gingerly Witty’s Echo Park store (1710 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90026), you’ll find a drool-worthy assortment of women’s clothing, baby and infant garments, home items, bath & body treatments, and accessories including sunglasses, belts, and watches, in the carefully curated selection which highlights handmade works of U.S. artists. Gingerly Witty intentionally seeks to create a home for independent artists, and designers who are mindful about ethical production.

Known for absurdly soft shirts for men, women and kids, Marine Layer’s soft clothing is rooted in its signature fabrics, which uses recycled beechwood pulp in all of the brand’s 25 custom fabrics. The pulp production is self-sufficient, resulting in tee-shirts which are sustainable, eco-friendly, and shockingly soft. In addition, Marine Layer boasts its Re-Spun line of 100% recycled tees (no water used, no added dyes, and no new materials), made from more than 70,000 old tee-shirts donated by customers.

• 1144 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
• 300 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach
• 3822 Cross Creek Road #3854C, Malibu

Easily recognizable by their amber-colored and recyclable jars, P.F. Candle Company (2213 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90026) burst onto the scene in 2013, and since then, their collection of cruelty-free, vegan, phthalate-free candles have been designed, produced and shipped out of Southern California, though they are sold by retailers across the nation. Los Angeles is also home to the company’ flagship store in Echo Park, which stocks not only candles, but home items including blankets, coffee table books, kitchenware, houseplants, garden accessories, incense, room sprays, diffusers, and unisex perfume.

With sustainability as its focus, Reformation has been carbon neutral since 2015 and proudly invests in green building infrastructure to minimize waste, water, and energy footprints. In addition to manufacturing sustainably, Reformation also invests in programs which replace resources spent, through partnerships with the Brazilian Rosewood Amazon Conservation Project and the Bonneville Environment Foundation Water Restoration Program. Women’s clothing includes a bridal line, shoes, and jeans on display in four stunning storefronts throughout L.A.

• 8810 Washington Blvd., Culver City
• 8000 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
• 8253 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles
• 2937 Main Street, Santa Monica

Recognizing that fashion is the second-most wasteful industry in the world, generating billions of dollars of waste each year, Sene Studio is doing its part to stop the waste by custom-making every single piece you order. That means that items (suits, pants, outwear, tops, accessories) are only made if there is a person to wear them. In Los Angeles, schedule a private appointment at a Fitting Outpost in WeHo at the Pacific Design Center or at OneCulver in Culver City.

Choosing low impact fabrics including linen, viscose, Tencel, and rayon, Whimsy + Row (12801 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90066) is known for using plenty of deadstock fabric, which would otherwise wind up in landfills. Likewise, eco-conscious shoppers will take comfort in knowing that no water is used in the making of the clothing, and all packaging and shipping supplies are recycled and reused. In addition to women’s clothing and accessories, Whimsy + Row offers home and lifestyle products including notebooks, stationery, candles, kitchenware and rugs, along with bath and body products such as aromatherapy oils, body scrubs, facial cleaners, masks and serums.