Conscious Fashion: Fall Shopping Guide
Forget pumpkin spice: ‘tis the season for oyster roasts, y’all!
The return of fall historically meant the return of oyster season, and though we can now safely polish off our beloved oysters year-round (thanks to the advances in oyster farming!), we still get a little giddy when September rolls around!
Oyster roasts, clam digs, Lowcountry boils, and a chill in the air? Sign us up, and Grit & Grace will even recycle the oyster shells when the party's over.
To celebrate the arrival of autumn and all its fun-filled festivities, we’re highlighting 11 of our favorite fall looks from ethical brands, sustainable fashion companies, and conscious fashion designers.
11 Beautiful Fall Looks from Ethical Brands
Solstice Studio Big Sky Scarf
What better accessory for “leaf season” than a handcrafted silk scarf dyed with foraged leaves? Textile artist Elana Bloom renders gorgeous colors from gathered plant materials by creating natural dyes, so you can enjoy the fruits and hues of nature long after the last leaf has fallen.
Layer the Big Sky Scarf with your favorite cozy sweater for an evening with friends or tie it around your locks as you cruise through the brilliant fall foliage with the top down. Solstice Studio is also a zero-waste design studio, as well as being an ethical brand, so add one of Elana’s tiny moths constructed of fabric scraps to your purchase, if you’re feeling playful. $46
Grit & Grace Studio Edisto Oyster Necklace
Whether you’re heading to a beach bonfire or your neighborhood oyster roast, the Edisto Gilded Oyster Necklace is a striking fall statement necklace. Pair the Edisto Necklace with tailored jeans and booties or a bright fall frock for an elegant autumn look.
This handcrafted conscious fashion accessory features recycled glass beads and is a gift that gives back. As an ethical brand, we recycle 10 oyster shells from Charleston area restaurants back to Lowcountry oyster reef restoration projects for each oyster shell necklace purchased. $86
The Root Collective Thea Flat
Enjoy the crunch of fallen leaves beneath the chic Thea Flats from The Root Collective. These embellished flats are made with handwoven fabric, supple genuine leather, and rubber soles, so they’re stylish and comfortable enough for all your adventures this autumn.
The Thea Flat is handcrafted by artisans in small locally-owned workshops in Guatemala, who receive above fair wage pay. Transparency is an essential part of The Root Collective’s identity as a sustainable fashion company. The Root Collective is committed to supporting local artisans, creating opportunities for Mayan women in rural communities, and ethical fashion. $148
Celtic & Co. Hybrid Aero Waxed Cotton Jacket
Changing weather won’t change your fall plans, thanks to the Celtic & Co. Hybrid Aero Waxed Cotton Jacket! Perfect for misty fall strolls or crisp evening hayrides, this unique waxed cotton fabric repels water for a lightweight, weatherproof jacket that’s built to last.
A pioneer of the slow fashion movement, Celtic & Co. works with natural, sustainable fibers and employs British designers and manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact by keeping their supply chain local and bolstering small businesses. They use detail-oriented, eco-friendly practices, such as reusing return boxes for new products, eliminating single-use plastics, and preventing over-production. $370
St. Roche Sissy Sweater
Celebrate the return of sweater weather with the Sissy Sweater from conscious fashion design house St. Roche. The elegant, flattering lines and sophisticated detail work make this piece perfect for Harvest parties and Thanksgiving alike; pair it with designer jeans or a wool skirt.
Described as the “latest It-knit” by Instyle.com, the Sissy Sweater is a go-to for Olivia Wilde and Liv Tyler. The indigenous women of Puno hand-spun the blended alpaca yarn for this piece; St. Roche partners with family and women-owned small manufacturers near the source of their raw materials. $380
photo credit: St. Roche
You’ll be the apple of everyone’s eye this Thanksgiving in our artisanal Ocean Earrings. Our Ocean Earrings are made in the USA in small batches with an ocean of love. The brilliant hand-cut copper and melted glass are the perfect accent to your favorite slow fashion outfit and are sure to be the bright spot in even the gloomiest of autumn evenings.
At Grit & Grace, we are proud to be an ethical brand that is committed to saving our oceans. In addition to our small-batch, slow fashion accessories, we have had an in-house oyster shell recycling program since day one. To date, we have diverted more than 5,000 gallons of oyster shells from the landfill. $90
Triarchy Denim
Trick or treat? Treat yourself to a new pair of Triarchy jeans and skip the post-purchase guilt. While a normal pair of cotton jeans uses a whopping 2,900 gallons of water to produce, Triarchy’s production process uses 85% recycled water and cotton and TENCEL Lyocell, which is rendered from wood and pulp from sustainable forestry. This sustainable fashion company reimagines every aspect of traditional denim through an eco-friendly lens, from recycled leather tags to hardware crafted from recycled sheet metal.
Snuggle up with a good book, head out to a Lowcountry boil, or rake up those beautiful leaves in your new to-go wardrobe staple: Triarchy jeans are perfect for everyday wear and special occasions alike. From $189
Marine Layer Anne Chevron Pom Crew Sweater
Oh hey there, pumpkin! Be the pick of the patch in Marine Layer’s Anne Chevron Pom Crew Sweater. This adorable, playful 100% cotton sweater is both warm and breathable, so you can easily transition from an afternoon in the decorating with friends to hot cocoa and snuggles by the fireplace.
Marine Layer is an ethical brand focused on sustainable fashion practices and transparency. Their four most utilized and custom-designed fabrics contain recycled water bottles, upcycled cotton, Tencel from eucalyptus wood pulp, and modal from beechwood trees. Marine Layer also encourages their customers to send their tees back for redesign at the end of their current lifespan. $145
Grit & Grace Studio Mala Mantra Necklace
Gratitude is always in style, and we handcraft our Mala Mantra Necklaces in small batches to create an accessory that is as intentional as it is beautiful. Use this necklace as a spiritual tool to calm the mind and focus your intentions, and remember to practice gratitude this autumn. The 108 bead strand features an agate pendant, a Sumeru bead, to remind you of the summit in your practice.
Practicing gratitude is a key part of our identity as an ethical brand. We are honored to support female artisans and women-owned small businesses at Grit & Grace Studio. We also believe in handcrafting gifts that give back: we recycle 10 oyster shells for each oyster product purchased to save our seas and restore fragile marine habitat. $108
Just add pumpkin spice; the Arielle recycled cotton Tilda Dress is your other must-have for fall. The refined, elegant silhouette and warm tone of this striking garment make the Tilda Dress a snap to dress up or dress down.
Made from 80% recycled cotton, the Tilda breathes new life into recycled fibers from unwanted sweaters, blankets, and fabric scraps. Arielle is a sustainable fashion company committed to organic, recycled, and zero-waste fabrics, local manufacturing, fair trade supply chain, and plastic-free packaging and production. Their responsible approach to fashion even extends to the “end of life” of their pieces: resell your previously loved Arielle pieces through their Reborn shop or send them back to recycle the fibers. $220
Grit & Grace Studio Golden Tide Coastal Calm
Shell-ebrate the return of fall by adding our stately Golden Tide Coastal Calm Necklace to your wardrobe. We designed this elegant, handcrafted oyster shell necklace with Imfibinga beads, which are natural seeds from Kenya, to celebrate the beauty of the sea and the power of the land.
This sustainable accessory is also a regenerative fashion piece: the purchase of this beautiful pendant supports Grit & Grace Studio’s in-house oyster shell recycling program, oyster reef restoration, and the replenishing of wild oyster populations. $90
We wish you crisp days, warm cider, a cozy fire, and a soft, sustainable sweater this fall!
Whether you’re in search of the perfect autumn statement necklace, hostess gifts for Thanksgiving, or you’re getting a head start on your holiday shopping, Grit & Grace Studio has you covered. Shop our collection now for heirloom handmade and thoughtfully curated gifts!
We’d love to work with you to customize your oyster shell Christmas ornament or add a calligraphy gift note to your items.
One Love & Blessings,