There was a time when eco-friendly clothing only meant hippie styles in unflattering cuts and tie-dyed patterns. Let’s face it — not all of us want to look like we haven’t showered in a few days and celebrate 4/20 like it’s a religious holiday. Fortunately, sustainable style has come a long way and we don’t have to relegate ourselves to either wearing ill fitting boxy t-shirts made out of hemp or take out a loan to purchase exorbitantly expensive designer collections infused with tencel, bamboo and whatever else the latest “it” fabric is. There are now a myriad of established brands and up and comers that are offering reasonably priced, fashionable clothes and accessories no matter what your style is.
One of these newer labels is Civic Duty, a shoe company based in New Jersey that creates classic lace up styles, slip-ons, and high tops for men. What makes Civic Duty eco-friendly are the materials they choose to use. Tyvec is the main material and an ultra durable paper like substance that is used in home building. The material is breathable and lightweight, waterproof, and most importantly durable and recyclable. All of the shoes are priced between $54 and $59, making them within reach for the average person who wants a quality product without breaking the bank.
The coolest thing about Civic Duty is the special New Orleans themed shoe that was designed with a part of the proceeds benefiting Common Ground Relief, a non-profit that provides short term relief for victims of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast Region. Based in the Lower 9th Ward, Common Ground Relief also assists with long term recovery of communities in the New Orleans area.
Even though their collections just launched in November of this past year, New Orleans is lucky to have a place to purchase them locally. Branch Out, a cornerstone of cool in Magazine Street’s “Green Light District” recently started carrying the line and already they are a hit. Go get yourself a pair, and tell them I sent you.
Civic Duty Shoes
http://www.civicdutyshoes.com
Branch Out
http://branchoutshop.com
2022 Magazine, between St. Andrew and Josephine
504-371-5913
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Christy Lorio is a New Orleans area native that literally grew up with a swamp for a backyard. She is a freelance writer, founder of SlowSouthernStyle.com, and a manager of a popular Magazine Street shop. Her work has been featured in New Orleans Magazine, Gift Shop magazine, and numerous online publications. When she’s not spending time discovering new Southern-based fashion designers, she maintains bragging rights about hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon 10 times.
