By Lucy Burton

Once upon a time, eco-fashion was associated with sackcloths, sandals and people who ate lentils. But that was before we realised how fashion was, quite literally, costing the earth. As consumers put their conscience ahead of price, fashion labels are cottoning on to the fact that the items they sell must lead to a  cleaner planet.

Puma recently released biodegradable shopping bags, and in January this year H&M used leftover fabrics from its Lanvin collaboration to produce an eco-friendly line called Waste. Even hot air balloon’s are getting a revamp, being turned into corporate jackets, bags and accessories thanks to innovative company Worn Again.

With half a million tonnes of clothing added to British landfill sites every year, and seven tablespoons of chemicals used to make one cotton T-shirt, going green is more than just recession-chic fashion. So grab your bowl of lentils and do a bit of eco-surfing, here are some of the best:

Photo: Faye wedge by Beyond Skin, £106.

Beyond skin – veggie footwear company serving up cruelty-free, environmentally friendly shoes. Expect bang on trend pumps, heels and sandals that pop (see pictured).

Shoes that bloom

Photo: Oats shoes, blue high top €149,00

Oats Shoes - A personal favourite, these are sexy sneakers with a heart. The shoes are 100% biodegradable, meaning they don’t end up in a landfill site once you’ve finished with them. Early collections even contained a bag of seeds in the tongue. Genius.

High-Fashion with a conscious

Photo: Tuck Vest Top, £36, Goodone Shop

Goodone Shop - If you thought eco wasn’t cool, think again. Goodone creates high-end fashion pieces using reclaimed fabrics, re-inventing the potential for up-cycling.

Statement tees

Photo: Yoox.com, Katherine Hamnett T-shirt, £40

Katharine Hamnett. Referred to by Vogue as ‘The Queen of Green’, Katharine Hamnett has been campaigning for ethical fashion since 1979. Her ‘Choose Life’ T-shirts brought her worldwide fame in the eighties and is now back in 100% organic cotton.

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