A Sustainable Fall Guide: 15 Must-Have Fashion, Beauty, and Home Items I Love

I know I'm not alone when I say that I'm dedicated to becoming a more educated and thoughtful shopper. The brands I support and the things I buy all have some impact on the environment, so I want to feel good about every purchase I make. Traditional fast fashion has massive environmental costs: It accounts for 10% of the world's carbon emissions; the industry is the second-largest consumer of water; and 85% of all textiles end up in a landfill each year.

The good news? There have never been more brands committed to reducing their carbon footprint, and Avocado Green Brands is one of them. (You may know it for its mindful mattress brand, Avocado Mattress, which has recently expanded its offering to include other home furnishings.) Avocado has just launched two additional sister brands, Hass and Reed + Gwen, which bring the company's sustainable ethos into the fashion and beauty space. Just about everything is made in the U.S., and each brand uses natural ingredients or organic materials. And of course, everything looks damn good. So naturally, I'm already eyeing tons of pieces. Keep scrolling to learn more about why I love each brand, what they're doing for the environment, and the products you can feel good about buying.  

I like to invest in timeless pieces that I know will last for years to come. I'd rather pay more for high-quality, durable materials ($48 for a t-shirt you can feel great about wearing is kind of a steal) because I know I'll get more use out of them, and that's one of the many reasons why I love Hass and its mission. Hass makes responsible fashion by harnessing natural, organic, materials like organic cotton, wool, and alpaca, all of which are biodegradable and renewable. What exactly does that mean? Natural and organic materials have a smaller environmental footprint than synthetic fabrics because they are produced without toxins and with less energy and water. Plus, everything is made in Los Angeles (except their alpaca collection, which is ethically and sustainably sourced from a high-elevation regenerative farm in the Peruvian Andes and stitched right there in Peru), which might not seem like a big deal, but considering that 95% of clothing is imported, it's actually a huge accomplishment.

What stands out about Reed + Gwen to me is its commitment to the fusion of science and nature, which means its products are both performance-driven and natural. The brand avoids more than 6,500 ingredients that are suspected to harm people or ecosystems, and its products are formulated with little to no water. Its ingredients are sourced from all over the world, but everything is made in the U.S. The brand has launched with three hero products, starting with the Grounding Body Oil, a lightweight, fast-absorbing body oil that's packed with powerful ingredients like chamomile flower and moringa oil to lock in moisture and avocado oil to feed the skin. The body oil is also made with essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, D, and E for a lit-from-within glow. The second hero product is the Supercharged Reishi Body Melt, which transforms from a soft balm into a silky oil upon application. It combines adaptogenic reishi mushrooms, hyaluronic acid, and vegan ceramides to seriously moisturize your skin and make it feel velvety smooth. Finally, the Snoozy Bath Soak with Magnesium Flakes is formulated with an aromatherapeutic blend of lavender and rosewood essential oils, Himalayan sea salts, and magnesium flakes to help soothe worn-out muscles and relieve stress and tension. What's not to love?

Avocado Green Mattress's bedding and mattresses are made with GOTS (the global organic textile standard) organic certified cotton and wool and GOLS organic certified latex—all sustainably sourced from farms in India. But the brand has started to branch out into sustainably-made furniture, too. For example, its side tables, dressers, and other wood pieces are handcrafted in its FSC®-certified Los Angeles woodshop and are always made using non-toxic varnishes and sealants. Let's not forget that the company looms its organic linen duvet covers with 100% GOTS organic certified linen and even stitches its silk pillowcases from 100% pure 22-momme mulberry silk. Nothing is as satisfying as having a home full of pieces that are not only stylish but also good for the planet.