Even though it’s been a lovely summer, we Scandis love our darker hues — it’s just in our blood. The brighter side of it all is that there are a lot of conscious choices out there for those who like to don black from head to toe. Eco doesn’t have to mean beige! Case in point: a bag that’ll last for life, a stylish clog, a figure-flattering LBD, black magic tea, silver affirmations to wear around your neck, black polish for your nails and lashes, and a book to get in the right mindset.
Swedish Hasbeens Bag for Life
Handmade by leather artisans, chrome-free and made of genuine natural grained leather, this one is so pretty you’ll want to carry it for life ( I would!). The design is based on an old book carry bag from the 70s and will only look better with age.
$223, swedishhasbeens.com
Moheda Toffeln Victoria Clog
These stylish black nubuck leather clogs are made by a modern Swedish family company with a long history — they’ve been making top-notch clogs in the small village of Moheda for five generations.
$120, mohedatoffeln.com
Priti Nail Polish in Magic Man Iris
Get back in touch with your inner punk/goth girl with some black polish. Priti Polishes do not contain any nasty stuff like Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phathalate (DBP), Toluene, and Camphor. They’re also Cruelty Free and 100% Vegan. Yay!
$12.50, pritinyc.com
Håkansson The Mascara in Pure Black
Put the eyes in focus with this fragrance-free mascara by Swedish make-up artist Katarina Håkansson. It contains beeswax for softness and rice wax for moisture. Like all Håkansson products it has not been tested on animals and comes in biodegradable packaging. It’s also easy to wash off.
$30, hakanssonskin.com
The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg
If you’ve plowed through Stieg Larsson’s trilogy about the girl with the dragon tattoo and feel yourself longing for some more “Scandinavian Noir,” this is the book to pick up from your local bookstore. The Ice Princess, Camilla Läckberg’s haunting US debut, is set in the coastal Swedish town of Fjällbacka and follows heroine Erica Falck’s struggle to make sense of her childhood friend’s apparent suicide.
$9.75, amazon.com
Licorice Root Tea
Scandinavians love their licorice candy, but since we’re trying to stay away from that sweet stuff, try this delicious root in it’s natural form, brewed as tea. It’s jam-packed with antioxidants and possible cancer-fighting compounds. Get the tea pre-made or buy the root in your nearest health food store and make your own.
$11, taooftea
Efva Attling Carpe Diem Pendant
Wear this silver pendant by Swedish jewelry designer (and ex-model) Efva Attling around your neck as a reminder to “seize the day” — something that is so important in these turbulent times. As Attling says: “Why put things off until tomorrow when you can live and enjoy today.”
$149, efvaattlingstockholm.com
Bllack Noir Tiffa Dress
Bllack Noir was established 3 years ago as a sub-brand of Danish conscious fashion label Noir. This LBD has some badass details that will set you apart from the crowd, yet is classic enough to last a lifetime. I think even Lisbeth Salander would approve.
noir.dk
Rowena
August 9, 2011
loved every thing in this roundup — scandis know their sustainable stuff!
tania
March 15, 2012
It’s awesome to find a website that makes eco cool. I have become really engaged in the issues of fashion sustainability but have been finding it hard to find really good websites that cover the subject. All the sites tend to be far too hemp like 🙂 Loved this roundup. Not a fan of the swedishhasbeens shoes but these bags are brilliant.