Eco Winter Fashion

Ecofriendly winter fashion used to mean beige, bulky, and boring. But thanks to new technology and crafty thinking, mainstream and independent designers are creating hip pieces that protect from the elements and look fabulous. This season's sustainable gear will have both you and your man weathering the cold in style.

On Her (from Head to Toe)
Hat
The Crochet Visor Beanie from Prana is 100 percent certified organic. As part of its Natural Power Initiative, the company offsets the electrical energy usage of its 400 retailers, along with its corporate headquarters and employee homes. prana.com

Scarf and Gloves
Members of a women's artisan cooperative in Nepal hand-knit Global Exchange's fair-trade Fingerless Wool Striped Gloves and Scarf. store.gxonlinestore.org

Jacket
The slimming Urbane Jacket from Nau includes a 100 percent recycled -- and 100 percent recyclable -- outer polyester layer. Five percent of each sale goes to one of 10 environmental or humanitarian organizations. nau.com

Vest
Patagonia combines old soda bottles, unusable second-quality fabrics, and worn-out garments to create its lightweight Synchilla Vest. The fleece is also 100 percent recyclable through the company's Common Threads take-back program. patagonia.com

Shirt
Made of superfine 100 percent certified organic cotton, Stewart + Brown's Lace Scoop Long-Sleeve Tee gets its bright pink color from a dye made with a low-impact reactive process. stewartbrown.com

Jeans
A portion of the proceeds from Del Forte's 100 percent Organic Cotton Jeans, including the Calla Noche low-rise, slim-fit style (shown), goes to support the Sustainable Cotton Project, an organization that creates markets for certified organically grown and sustainable cotton. delforte.com

Boots
The footbeds of Harmony Tikuna Boots from Hush Puppies are made from recycled foam and bamboo, the boot linings are 100 percent hemp, and the adhesive cements used are water-based. hushpuppies.com

On Him (from Head to Toe)

Hat
The fair-trade, hand-knit Chullo Hat from Global Exchange features sustainably sheared Alpaca wool. store.gxonline store.org

Jacket
Patagonia sourced 100 percent recycled polyester for this Eco Rain Shell. The company puts 1 percent of its annual sales toward environmental activism. It also helped found 1 Percent for the Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier world. patagonia.com

Sweater
Ekologic's one-of-a-kind Lee Sweater is handmade from recycled cashmere garments. ekologic.com

Shirt
Mission Playground's Floyd Long-Sleeve Plaid Shirt is 100 percent organic cotton and has buttons made from coconut shells. The brand also donates 1 percent of sales to environmental organizations. missionplayground.com

Pants
Included in REI's recently launched eco-sensitive line is the stonewashed OC (organic cotton) Granite Pant. rei.com

Boots
The Vagabond Boot from Patagonia incorporates footbeds made with recycled cork, insoles from recycled polyethylene/polyurethane, and outsoles from up to 30 percent recycled rubber. patagonia.com

Text by Christie Matheson; photos by Johnny Miller