1. Get a Man-Made Shirt
You heard that right. Plastic synthetic fabrics like nylon have (rightfully) gained a poor reputation since their invention last century for their tendency to pollute the environment, not only during their creation, but also after their use has ended, clogging up landfills where they will fester for centuries before degrading (if at all). Thankfully, a new generation of synthetic fabrics created from natural sources, such as lyocell and tencel, and sustainably managed natural fibres are being adopted more and more by designers – and they’re coming to a shirt near you this summer.
Frescobol Carioca “Thomas Shirt” in Green Bay
Invented in Australia, tencel is made from cellulose that’s found in wood pulp. Now I know what you’re thinking: fabric made from trees? Sounds scratchy. Far from it. The result is a supremely silky, slinky material that falls beautifully and looks totally badass – as seen with this new 100% tencel shirt by Brazilian beach brand Frescobol Carioca.
£175, available at Frescobol Carioca.
NN07 Miyagi Camp-Collar Polka-Dot Lyocell & Linen-Blend Shirt
We’ve already talked about the benefits of Tencel (botanical origin, biodegradability, low ecological impact during manufacture), but linen is another fabric you should get familiar with as it takes far less water to produce than other natural fibres. Combine the two and you’ve got a shirt that’s a bit of a sustainability superduo. This Tencel-linen mix shirt from Japanese label NN07 really hits the spot.
£110, available at Mr Porter.
Arket Fluid Lyocell Shirt
Think of Tencel as the ‘Hoover’ to lyocell’s ‘vacuum cleaner’ – both are essentially the same thing, it’s just that Tencel’s a brand name for this eucalyptus-derived fabric. Whichever you go for, another of the firbe’s advantages is that it ages wonderfully, getting softer and softer with each wash while retaining crisp colours. It’s the sort of fabric that really makes patterns and stripes pop, so go wild – this black and white bar-stripe lyocell shirt from Swedish brand Arket will only get better with age.
£69, available at Arket.
SIRPLUS Cream Striped Mandarin Kaftan
Cotton’s a classic shirting fabric, but it can be produced in a way that’s not only a bad deal for the planet, but also a bad deal for the people making it. Look out for companies who are part of the The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) – a certification that covers issues such as crop protection, water stewardship, soil health, biodiversity and fair employment principles in the fabric’s manufacture. London-based menswear label SIRPLUS is one such brand – and they’ve just launched this killer BCI Cotton kaftan for summer.
£110, available at SIRPLUS.
2. Get Some Ethically-Minded Underwear
Sometimes the concept of sustainability feels very distant from our everyday lives – but your underwear is about as close as it can get. As something you (probably) slip on every day and replace relatively often, make a commitment to phasing in more sustainable fabrics as your old kecks head off to the great recycling plant in the sky. Not only are there plenty of new wave sustainable fabrics out there, but there’s also a style to suit every under-trouser preference.
Finisterre Bora Bamboo Boxer
Another pair of wood-based wonderpants, this time created by British adventure brand Finisterre. They’re made from a bamboo-derived fabric, designed to regulate temperature, wick moisture away from the skin and keep you feeling fresh all day long.
£25, available at Finisterre.
Everest Isles Seaweed Brief in Black
American eco-beach brand Everest Isles has just launched a line of underwear made from a mix of seaweed fibre and lyocell. Better yet, it’s coloured using natural dyes and comes in fully water-soluble packaging.
$28, available at Everest Isles.
CDLP Boxer Short
Now skinny jeans are dead once and for all, I predict a comeback for the boxer short. However, rather than the baggy, bunched-up ones you remember, this new boxer will combine slinky stretch fabric with a relaxed-yet-fitted cut, as well as the trademark button fly, so they slip nicely under a pair of slim-not-skintight trousers. These Tencel boxers from CDLP are a perfect example.
£33, available at CDLP.
A Day’s March Tencel Boxer Briefs
Crafted from Tencel, these boxer-briefs from Swedish brand A Day’s March are as soft as they are sturdy. Also, a polite reminder that Tencel is naturally antibacterial and sweat wicking because, well, you know.
£15, available at A Day’s March.
3. Go Au Naturel in the Bathroom
There’s a whole lot of single use plastic in our homes, and especially in our bathrooms. From bottles to wrappers, many of the things we use to clean ourselves do the planet dirty. So next time you need a new shampoo, skip the one-time plastic receptacle and go for something that can be reused, refilled or properly recycled altogether. Here are a few suggestions…
AKT Deodorant Deodorant Balms
Traditional deodorant is full of chemicals and metals that we’re unwittingly pumping into our pores on a daily basis. The sooner you switch to something more natural the better, and I’ve found nothing that works as well as AKT. Founded by West End actors Ed Currie and Andy Coxon, these deodorant balms come in cream form. Made from soothing shea butter and calendula oil and infused with natural botanicals, one pea sized application in the morning gives you 24 hours of protection. Better yet it comes in fully recyclable metal packaging (even the cap) and you can order your tubes on a subscription basis, so your armoury stays stocked all year long.
£18, available at AKT London.
Neal’s Yard Hand Sanitiser Natural Defence Hand Spray Refill
After a year of using hand sprays constantly, I feel I’ve become a bit of a sanitiser sommelier – and, trust me, Neal’s Yard’s Natural Defence is the Dom Perignon of its genre. Light and refreshing with zero stickiness, this citrus and witch hazel infused liquid also comes in a recyclable glass bottle that you can use to fill any spray vessel you wish, meaning no more little plastic bottles heading off to landfill.
£12.50, for 200ml, Neals Yard Remedies.
Hawkins & Brimble Refillable Essentials
British grooming brand Hawkins & Brimble wants to ditch 95% of its plastic usage by the end of this year. To help achieve this, the company has just introduced a new range of refillable grooming essentials from shampoo to hair spray. Launching this month, these five products come in refillable aluminium packaging, and can be topped up using recyclable refill pouches.
Refillable bottles, £12, refill pouches, £7, available at Hawkins & Brimble.
Jones & Modha No.1 Eau De Parfum
Frustrated by the amount of synthetic ingredients in commercial fragrances, friends Catrin MacDonnell and Hemali Modha decided to make a scent that went back to perfume’s botanical roots. Made in small batches by the pair in Somerset, Jones & Modha No.1 uses only naturally derived notes to create a crisp woody-citrusy juice that works for both men and women. Better yet, it reacts to the oils in your skin as it develops, meaning you’ll never smell the same as anyone else.
£69, available at Jones & Modha.
4. Some Futureproof New Releases…
From futuristic fabrics to environmentally-conscious workout shirts, here are a few extra pieces worth considering that will keep your wardrobe feeling fresh for many seasons to come.
Lululemon’s 5 Year Basic Tee Earth Dye in “Earth Dye Clay”
I’ve been a longtime fan of the quality and superb comfort of Lululemon’s workout kit, but this new collection takes it to a whole new level. Cut from fabric that mixes pima cotton with lyocell, every piece in this new tie-dye-tastic Earth Dye capsule has been coloured using a variety of plant-based dyes that use waste from agricultural and herbal industries. They’ve introduced this across a number of their best-loved items, so whether you want to go head-to-toe or simply fancy bringing a pop of something to your gear now you’re returning to the gym, there’s will be something for you.
£48, available at Lululemon.
Flax London Patch Pocket Trousers Garçon Green
What makes Flax London’s products great – and they are truly great – is that sustainability is baked into everything they make. Formerly a shirt-only brand, this month they launch their first trousers, cut from linen (which takes less water to produce) grown in Belgium and woven in Portugal (so fewer air miles) and including zero plastic packaging from the workshop to your door. Featuring patch pockets and a higher-cut waist, go for the green iteration for a truly breezy summer trouser.
£160, available at Flax London.
Serengeti Shades in “AMBOY”
Sometimes the most successful designs are those that combine respect for the past with the technology of the future. Take these shades from Serengeti. Sure, the frame’s got that throwback mid-century vibe, but the lens is so advanced that it feels like it’s from mid-next-century.
Crafted from borosilicate optical glass (that’s 20% thinner and lighter than any other on the market), these photochromic mineral lenses are fired in a hydrogen-fueled lehr furnace, which activates the company’s patented Spectral Control technology (which filters blue light, both protecting your eyes and adding definition to whatever you are looking through the glasses at). Plus, they’re also chemically tempered to ensure scratch and impact resistance – so it’s an investment that’ll last way into the future – provided you don’t lose them sometime before the next century.
£375, available at Serengeti.
Baracuta X By Borre Recycled Polyester Vest
Need a little extra insulation on summer nights? British outerwear brand Baracuta has teamed up with Dutch textile design company Byborre on a new collaboration featuring bold tartan prints and futuristic technical fabric. This vest is cut from Sinterama Newlife, a superior quality, recycled polyester fabric created from post-consumer plastic obtained from plastic bottles collected in northern Italy. If you need to justify purchasing it, you’ll be pleased to hear this vest is also reversible – so it’s basically two items for the price of one. Ish.
£425, available at Baracuta.
Vivvant Urban Peach Leather Sneakers
British design meets Florentine craftsmanship; what’s more timeless than that? These pale peach sneakers from dual citizenship brand Vivvant are a perfect summer essential, ready to be paired with a smart casual linen blazer or something a touch more casual. They’re a versatile classic in the making with a colour just unusual enough for a touch of warm weather flair, combined with the level of quality you’d expect from Italian leather artisans.
£248, available at Vivvant.
Geoff Stocker The Sultan Gown
With the new normal now working from home, it’s about time we upped our game when it comes to loungewear and the collection of silk dressing gowns from Geoff Stocker is essentially the final level of sartorial grandeur. Inspired by the designer’s travels across the world, the gowns come in a series of exquisite patterns printed onto lightweight twill silk, pairing exotic colours and motifs with the traditional luxury of the lord of a manor. The Sultan, with its echoes of the Kasbah is the kind of loungewear you don’t want to hide, video call or no. Nor should you.
£495, available at Geoff Stocker.
Mr Marvis The Sunsets Original Shorts
We might only be able to make the most of them half the year – if we’re being meteorologically generous – but a good pair of tailored shorts will never go out of style. Fortunately, Mr Marvis Original Shorts don’t just make the most of the elegant cut that put the brand on the map, but come in over 40 shades to match your wardrobe, the season or your general mood. For us, the Sunsets with their bright coral stretch cotton make for a timeless taste of sunshine and sangria, the kind you come back to year after year.
£79, available at Mr Marvis.
