Building a Sustainable Wardrobe as a College and University Student

ISTO. carries classic styles with a young twist. The brand’s mandate is simple: create clothes to transcend the seasons and work as staple items in your wardrobe all year round. This classic men’s sweatshirt is made to last, featuring beautiful organic cotton loopback fleece.

The range is offered in XS-XL.

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The Valentina Top by Whimsy + Row is a classic, sexy staple that will surely be with you for years to come. Find it in a variety of shades—from a deep orchid to sheer white—to satisfy all of your ‘nice top’ needs. Whimsy + Row is a conscious lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and sustainable practices. It utilises deadstock fabric, and by limiting each garment to short runs, the brand also reduces packaging waste and takes care of precious water resources. Find most products in XS-XL. Love!

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Love Levi’s, but hate their fast fashion business model? Boyish has all the quality, fit, and authentic washes that you could want without the harmful practices. The Cody is the cutest light wash, cut-off jean short without all the nasties. These sustainable shorts include OCS-certified organic cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell, a natural raw material from eucalyptus trees that is responsibly produced to minimize environmental impact. Find sizes 2XS-XL.

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Chunky sneaks, low top sneaks, vegan sneaks, and more. The ‘vegan concept’ is the brand’s historic and iconic model that has accompanied the brand virtually from its launch. Concept is a classic sneaker that is perfect for countless occasions with its subtle platform-style sole. The simple and clean design is elevated with a layering of contrasting materials and colours. Even better, the sneak is certified PETA-approved vegan. Find most styles in EU sizes 35-42.

Not in your price range? Check out Womsh’s online outlet store for the best prices and deals.

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Need a heel for your next formal? NAE has got you covered. The Margot Heels are a vegan, mid-height block heel lined with OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified microfibres, manufactured in a system free of carbon emissions. NAE is a Portuguese footwear, bags, and accessories brand using innovative materials to create goods with “No Animal Exploitation”. Find most of the shoes in sizes 36 to 46.

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Shop NAE @ Staiy.

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For my sneaker buffs, these retro kicks are seriously sick. Made from corn waste (yes, corn waste) and bamboo, they’re also 100% vegan. Flamingos’ Life works directly with its suppliers located in Elche, Spain, which is located approximately 40km from the brand’s headquarters, ensuring a smaller carbon footprint.

Find the range in sizes 36-46.

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The perfect, classic white sneaker to pair with any outfit. These lovelies were created with vegan Italian leather made from plants using bio oil sourced from organic cereal crops grown in Northern Europe in a carbon neutral process. Along with its more sustainable ethos, Will’s Vegan Store offers products at affordable prices! Neat.

Find the women’s shoes in US sizes 5-10, and men’s in 7.5-14.

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Shop Will’s Vegan Store @ Immaculate Vegan.

Like converse, but ethical and better for the environment. You can find these bad boys in white, red, black, and navy blue. Etiko is an Australian designer of organic, lower-impact, and fair trade clothing and shoes. The brand constantly sets the bar for upholding and campaigning the human rights of people working in traditionally exploitative industry supply chains.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

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Just WOW! Frankie is bringing us all the unquestionable uniqueness of up-cycled streetwear with ease. This reworked floral shoulder bag with pleated front detail is gorgeously crafted from an up-cycled, vintage windbreaker jacket. Like its other pieces, Frankie takes inspiration from ‘90s staples and reworks vintage garments to push the boundaries of contemporary style.

Find most items in sizes XS to 2XL.

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The sustainable alternative to Ray Bans. POLITE WORLDWIDE is an eyewear brand that believes in being polite to our planet and ourselves with positive vibes only. The TERRA collection is unisex and comes in a variety of colours, including this stunning black, and is biodegradable and recyclable. So cool.

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BEEN London is a London-based brand turning waste into timeless accessories you’d want to use every day. The brand’s sleek laptop case is the perfect accessory for your next job, internship, or school year. All its products are made of materials that have been something else in a previous life, including recycled leather offcuts and plastic bottles.

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Shop BEEN London @ Cerqular.

If you’re looking to invest in a more sustainable going-out purse, stop right here. Structured to hold all your essentials, the Luxe Mini Shoulder Bag is crafted from luxury leftover leather and recycled materials. HYER GOODS is an NY-based, leather goods label that curates handmade products including handbags, wallets, and accessories.

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Don’t we all love a good shopping tote. GROUNDTRUTH’s totes (1.1 and 2.1) are durable and sustainable. Aside from being totally functional, they are also directly removing plastic waste from our planet’s ecosystem. Neat!

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Handcrafted from luxurious Italian vegan leather, the Mia card case has four standard credit card slots and a pocket in the center for folded cash bills. This mini wallet slips easily into your pocket or into your purse. Travel light and use it as a daily wallet or use it as an organizer for your evening purse or mini bag! Svala handcrafts pieces sustainably and ethically in LA with high-quality, premium vegan leather PU, cork, and Piñatex.

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Unrecorded is an independent clothing brand from the Netherlands that represents a new wave of unisex brands that are rebelling against the nature of fast fashion. This unisex bucket hat is epitomizing this fresh ethos, bringing the best of minimal, organic designs. Unrecorded is passionate about style, and produces apparel using lower-impact materials. Its range includes items that are all year round essentials suitable for any wardrobe. Love!

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

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