Chic, stylish clothing made with sustainable materials is a win-win situation, and one that is hard to find. However, Eco Citizen Boutique off Union Street in San Francisco contains this winning combination – every article of clothing and accessory has minimal impact on the environment yet is extremely stylish. Even the modern interior is eco-friendly as the wood shelving is FSC certified and the flooring is composed of recycled woodchips.

Joslin Van Arsdale opened Eco Citizen after meeting a Brazilian lacemaker who supported several indigenous villages through the sale of her lace. Such ethical work encouraged Van Arsdale to follow a similar path and she specifically chose San Francisco because of its eco-conscious vibe. Van Arsdale requires that everything in her shop be at minimum sweatshop free and fair trade (if not organic) so that consumers know what they are buying into. Additionally, she stocks locally made and certified organic or natural fiber women’s clothing, shoes, bags, belts, jewelry and a couple of knick-knacks for babies. Keep in mind that items can be on the pricier side because they are handmade and/or made on a small scale.

One featured local product are artful reusable bags made by students from the San Francisco Academy of Arts University Textile Program.  The bags are made with organic cotton and the modern print is made-up of water-based ink. The tag even suggests what to do with the bag at the end of its life. You will definitely stand out at the grocery store or mall with a reusable bag from this line because each design is one-of-a-kind, colorful, and flirty.

Radical rings in the jewelry case jumped out at me because they contained a form of bling-bling I’d never seen before. Turns out the flashy pieces are actually salvaged hardware. J Fine Designs in Alameda California makes jewelry from salvaged and reclaimed hardware and wood (left, forefront of jewelry photo). Other unique trinkets you’ll find are made from recycled metals and plastics, like the Kris Nations Pebble Ring and the MALIN Bordeaux Necklace.

Loomstate jeans made with certified organic cotton and Linda Loudermilk natural fiber t-shirts are classic, comfort pieces you’ll always find here. But, what’s ‘in’ right now? Van Arsdale suggests the Sust Disco Top, an asymmetrical tunic, made by a local company with organic cotton. You don’t have to go to Haight Street to find the trendiest green item.

Eco Citizen Boutique puts to rest any lingering images of sustainable clothing as raggedy, brown pieces of hemp. This green boutique proves that fashion forward clothing and accessories can be eco-friendly too.

Eco Citizen Boutique

1488 Vallejo Street

San Francisco, CA

>> Check out "The 50 Most Gorgeous Eco Wedding Dresses: Part 2 of 5" and

"The 50 Most Gorgeous Eco Wedding Dresses: Part 1 of 5"

for gorgeously green wedding dresses!