STREET SAVY

Home

STREET SAVY

Written by Abigail Doan - Monday, 03 May 2010

It’s one thing to claim to be street smart, but to be sustainably street savvy is an even bolder fashion statement. Some of these NYC brands really walk the talk with their eco-hipster appeal and recycled material resourcefulness. And the good thing is: you can create an entire outfit with these funky clothes and accessories!

Start with a Holstee‘ idea’ tee featuring zip-up holster pockets for smart functionality and playful detailing. The Holstee brand is made for today’s recycling renegade as their eco-jersey t-shirts and edgy urban accessories are ethically crafted in the USA from recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles and pre-consumer scrap polyester destined for the landfill. Combine your tee with a Loomstate perfect fit denim and you will have the basics in place.

Next step is footwear and what better way to roam the streets than on Green Soul shoes? Inspired by local shoemakers in Manila, Green Soul creates shoes out of reclaimed tires providing thousands of kids with proper footwear. The company uses a model of market based restoration: by sponsoring local artisans to make the shoes, they help them not lose touch with their native skills and to provide additional markets for their consumer goods.

When looking for accessories, try out Wrecordsbymonkey, a Brooklyn based company that makes bracelets and other accessories out of recycled records. They surprise with their heritage, native and off the train collections of unique pieces that give an edge to every outfit.

If you want to top of your look, throw a Holstee multi-functional ‘fin bandana’ around your neck. With an added mission of ‘humanitarian sustainability’ and micro-lending initiatives via a partnership with the non-profit organization KIVA, Holstee’s proceeds are all about giving budding entrepreneurs a boost in pockets of extreme poverty globally.

Complete your urban cowboy outfit with a bag from First World of Trash. This 'Bucket' was originally conceived after one of too many frustrating trips to the grocery on a bicycle where everything just didn’t fit. It is the perfect bikers grocery bag or just a great alternative from the conventional messenger.

Not convinced yet about these street savy styles? Consider that all these companies mean “good” business on the mean streets of fashion. They will have you more than covered like any good kid on the block.