Forget the labels and hot trends this fall: if turning heads is your goal, include a little “green” in your wardrobe.

Though fashion and eco-mindedness once found little common ground, many designers now make chic clothes with the planet (and its people) in mind. From gorgeous fair-trade jewelry to funky bags to comfy tank tops, you can find it all in Central Ohio. CityScene has the scoop on these popular eco-items, what they’re made of and where to find them.

Organic cotton
Eli Whitney’s favorite plant hasn’t lost its edge, but many designers have stepped it up by utilizing organic cotton, which is grown without using toxic or synthetic pesticides and fertilizers or genetically-altered seeds. This makes organic cotton safer to harvest and to manufacture, both for the environment and for workers.

Must haves:
- Down the Garden Path (2066 Arlington Ave., Upper Arlington, 614-487-0081, www.downthegardenpath.net) carries organic cotton apparel for women in various colors and silhouettes, such as Doie’s flirty organic cotton “Melrose” dress.

- Generation Green (6375 Sawmill Rd., Dublin, 614-761-2222, www.generationgreenstore.com) offers the new “Life is Good” organic cotton line, with T-shirts and more for men and women.

- Substance for Fashion Conscious People (783 N. High St., 614-299-2910, www.shopsubstance.com)  carries basic organic cotton T-shirts, long and short-sleeved, in a variety of colors and styles.

- The Peace T-shirt at Global Gallery (three locations: 682 N. High St., 148 Easton Town Center, coffee shop at 3535 N. High St. in Clintonville, www.globalgalleryonline.org) has a peace sign woven into the open back for a creative twist on a classic.

Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable plants on the planet. It’s easily grown and requires fewer resources for harvesting (however, it takes a great deal of chemicals to break bamboo down into textile-ready fibers).

When processed into a fabric, bamboo is cooler to wear in warm weather and feels just as soft and lightweight as cotton. It is also naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic, and is often blended with other textiles, such as a bamboo/organic cotton blend.

Must haves:
- The striped bamboo tank at Down the Garden Path is a sweet and simple top.

 
- The Tory tank from Toggery by Kate D’Arcy at Down the Garden Path is made from an organic cotton/bamboo blend.

Recycled materials
In a previous life, these materials had specific purposes nowhere near the fashion world. But they’ve been re-imagined into purses, satchels, jewelry and more. Re-using materials such as vinyl, plastic and glass prevents them from entering landfills. Some companies also use recycled materials in their fair trade products.

Must haves:
- Doy Bags (Generation Green) are crafted from juice pouches by a women’s co-op in the Philippines, where women receive a fair wage and weekly rice for their families.

 
- Global Gallery features earrings crafted in Kenya from recycled telephone wire.

- Rebagz at Down the Garden Path are made from recycled rice bags.

 
- Generation Green carries the Smartglass line of jewelry made from recycled glass bottles.

 
- Jillery (Down the Garden Path) offers super-cute jewelry, from rings to necklaces, made from recycled aluminum.

Fair Trade
For clothing and accessories to be considered “fair trade,” the producers must be paid a “fair and living” wage for their labor – in other words, the money they make supplements their income or pays enough for laborers to provide for their families. Fair trade also encompasses products that are culturally sustainable (socially relevant products people would want to buy and wear) and environmentally sustainable (products that are better for the planet). Fair trade products come from around the world, including various African countries and the Philippines.

- All the products Global Gallery carries are fair trade items. One standout: jute bags by Freeset are handmade by women in the sex district of Calcutta, India (the wages they make helps them avoid prostitution as a means of income).

- Generation Green carries BeadforLife jewelry: the organization’s handmade recycled paper beads are created by impoverished women in Uganda.

Repurposed fabrics
Bamboo and organic cotton are trendy, but re-using or repurposing fabrics that have already been made is also considered “sustainable.” Repurposing items into new outfits and accessories keeps these materials out of landfills.

Must haves:
- Not only is the “Voile, Voila” dress from Substance’s “Design Lab” series 100-percent repurposed fabric, but it is also incredibly chic. The “Design Lab” series’ Flower Fete dress is also sure to entice.

Solar technology
Did you know solar power can be a fashion statement, too? It might sound crazy, but designers are beginning to incorporate solar panel technology into their designs.

Must have:
- The Cortland by Noon Solar (Generation Green) features a solar panel sewn onto the bag’s side. A cable connects the panel to a lithium ion battery, which can charge your cell phone or iPod. With the exception of the hardware, the bag is also completely compostable. 

Kate Lohnes is assistant editor for CityScene Magazine.