Now that basic clothing has been covered, it's time to look at rounding out the perfect eco-friendly ensemble. There are innovative ways to help the environment and look stylish at the same time.

What's on Your Feet?

Just as you have choices in buying clothing, you face similar decisions when it comes to purchasing shoes. Shoe manufacturing is heavily dependent on dyes, glues, chemically tanned leather, and rubber. The industry as a whole has been slow to incorporate more sustainable practices and improve environmental welfare.

In 1993, Nike developed the Re-Use a Shoe program, which collects used athletic shoes and defective products. The shoes are accepted all over the world (locations are posted on their Web site at www.nike.com) and processed at recycling centers in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Shoes are separated into components and ground up to make what's called Nike Grind. The upper fabric is used for padding underneath hardwood basket-ball courts. The midsole foam is turned into tennis courts and playground surfaces. The outside sole is used to make running tracks and weight-room flooring. However, the transportation costs can slightly reduce the “green” factor for these efforts.

Hemp is used to make a variety of shoes from sandals and clogs to dress shoes and sneakers. It's durable and it breathes, giving feet fresh air. Recycled rubber is also used to make flip-flops and soles for sneakers.

While cotton and other natural fibers can be grown organically, rubber can be obtained from sustainable practices. To produce rubber, tree sap is turned into solid latex that's strong and water resistant. Under routine conditions, the process includes a step known as vulcanization, which was patented by Charles Goodyear in 1844. Processing rubber is extensive and includes compounding and mixing, milling and calendering, extruding, coating, cooling and cutting, building, vulcanizing, and grinding. Each step in the process generates emissions, wastewater, and solid waste material. Heavy metals are a primary chemical component and waste product of making rubber. Sustainable practices take into account healthy harvesting of the trees and proper handling of wastes. As efficient processing methods expand, using recycled or reprocessed rubber is also becoming more common.

Leather is largely garnered from factory farming of cows and pigs. The process used to transform the animals' skin into the leather seen in the stores depends largely on a mix of harmful chemicals. After cows are slaughtered, salt is used to cure and preserve the skin. This is usually done at the meat-processing facility, and then the cured skin is shipped out for tanning. Any remaining flesh and hair are removed using a lime solution. The liming chemicals are then removed by neutralizing them with an acidic rinse. The process use to tan the leather depends on the leather's end use. Softer leather for purses and shoes uses a mineral or chrome tanning wash. Stiffer leather for luggage or furniture uses a vegetable tanning process. Shoppers looking to purchase leather products can consider fair trade organizations that rely on free-range cattle and good working conditions for those processing the hides. The life of shoes can be extended by having them repaired rather than replaced. Not only does this support a local business, it saves natural resources.

The Final Touch

The purse, the wallet, the belt, the jewelry — all of these can help make your outfit. As with other leather items, take advantage of leather's longevity. Many purses incorporate organic and recycled materials. Take into consideration the fact that big-name manufacturers generally control much of the market without encouraging sustainable practices.

While diamonds may be a girl's best friend, they are no friend to the environment that is damaged in the process. In order to mine diamonds, the land surface is scraped clean and a pit is dug to access the diamond deposits. Waste is generated as trees and cover materials are hoisted aside, dirt and rocks are excavated, and mine tailings are generated. Depending on the environmental laws in the area, the mine may be reclaimed after the diamonds are gone, but it is impossible to restore it to natural conditions.

Consider purchasing eco-friendly jewelry. Organizations like Global Exchange carry jewelry made of silver and other bright gemstones made by small organizations in an effort to promote sustainability. Another group, greenKarat, promotes the use of recycled gold.