12 Brands Stepping Up the Chic in Eco Fashion

Eco-friendly clothes don't always have to mean basic tees or itchy fabrics. Environmentally minded designers and brands are stepping up their game and creating fashionable clothes without sacrificing efforts to make the planet a cleaner place.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we rounded up 12 of the chicest eco pieces available right now, from jumpsuits to dresses.

H&M's newest Conscious Collection, in collaboration with Olivia Wilde's (pictured, top) new conscious shopping website Conscious Commerce, proves that style and sustainability can happily co-exist. “Much like runway’s focus this season, our new Conscious Collection re-imagines the versatility of 'the dress' gathering distinct global influences," says H&M spokeswoman Marybett Schmitt of the new line. "An organic linen-and-silk sleeveless gown with a hand-drawn bird print and a black Tencel beaded cocktail dress embraces Asian and African influences, reminds us that great style and sustainability can go hand-in-hand."

H&M Conscious Exclusive dress, $70; hm.com

"We make gorgeous product at A Peace Treaty—and our globally conscious philosophy only enhances the beauty of this new handmade luxury," says Dana Arbib, the creative director of the eco-friendly, fair-trade organization. "We design for the cultured, intelligent woman who values being part of the journey of artisan-made work." Handmade in India, this colorful scarf can be used year-round as a scarf or as a sarong.

A Peace Treaty Scarf, $198; apeacetreaty.com

This menswear-inspired dress by Amour Vert, which in French translates to "Green Love," is made with sustainable fibers and creates zero waste. "Not only do Amour Vert products feel and look great, they’re good for you," says Lily Kwong, director of brand strategy. "They use only non-toxic dyes and maintain a zero-waste design philosophy that minimizes their carbon footprint."

Amour Vert, $201; farfetch.com

A mini dress with a modern twist—literally! This leaf-print frock is made of organic fabric and recycled yarn.

Atelier Delphine, $228; atelierdelphine.com

Made from recycled sterling silver, these triangle drop earrings are on-trend. Mix and match these earrings with your favorite stud for a super-cool look.

EA Burns drop earrings in gold, $180; eaburns.com

Made in Madagascar, this flattering knit dress promotes long-term sustainable growth in Africa. The majority of Edun's products are produced in sub-Saharan Africa as a way to increase trade in the region.

Edun dress, $495; shopbop.com

This is luxe eco-fashion at its best. These elegant Stella McCartney sandals are made of faux leather and biodegradable soles that will degrade when placed in mature compost. And to top it off, the brand's stores are all powered by wind energy.

Stella McCartney sandals, $415; stellamccartney.com

This flirty dress is as Earth-friendly as it gets—it's locally made in N.Y.C. from organic fabrics via a digital printing process (which creates very little waste).

Svilu dress, $435; svilu.com

"I love that Freedom of Animals is a part of a conscious consumption movement and we aren't only supporting sustainability within fashion, but we are supporting ethical and humane production," says Morgan Bogle, founder and designer of Freedom of Animals. "It's exciting to see the changes that are happening in the industry, and to be involved is a beautiful thing." This sophisticated and modern tote boasts the highest quality of faux leather. Not only will this bag hold all your daily needs, but it's lined with organic cotton produced from recycled water bottles.

Freedom of Animals tote, $400; freedomofanimals.com

This fun red top has a classic silhouette and was created from 100-percent premium certified organic fair-trade crisp cotton.

Kowtow top, $165; kowtowclothing.com

This artsy cotton jumpsuit is made with recycled fabrics and colored with vegetable dyes.

Zero + Maria Cornejo jumpsuit, $895; zeromariacornejo.com

Made of lenzing viscose (a natural biodegradable fiber) this Reformation skirt is a great (not to mention on-trend) work piece. "This Earth Day we are launching RefScale, a tool that let’s us report exactly what cost each garment has on the environment in terms of CO2 and water," says Yael Aflalo, founder and CEO of the brand. "We are counting the resources used by every Reformation purchase and investing in the environment through offsets—planting forests to naturally capture CO2 from the air, and supporting water restoration projects."

Reformation skirt, $138, thereformation.com