The BusinessGreen.com guide to green business fashion

Everyone knows the old workplace maxim that you should dress for the job you want, not the one you have; but for years it has not been quite that simple for ambitious green executives.

Anyone attempting to demonstrate their environmental credentials through their sartorial choices ran the risk of looking like a refugee from a sixties commune, forced to choose between cliche-ridden sandals, sack-like scratchy hemp clothing, and ill-fitting offcasts from the local charity shop. It was not exactly a recipe for career progression, and as such it was unsurprising that many chose to shun the embryonic green clothing market.

But thanks to a now-flourishing market for eco-friendly fashion, the old cliches about green fashion are fast-becoming a thing of the past, and it is now possible to wear ethically and ecologically produced clothing to the office, whether you have to turn up suited and booted each morning or have a more casual approach every day.

At first glance, modern eco fashion may seem either edgy and young, or outdoorsy and casual. But there is also a burgeoning selection for the green businessman or woman, ranging from environmentally friendly shirts and suits to laptop bags and cuff links.

"There is a great range of options out there if you know where to look," says Sarah Woodhead, editor and founder of Greenmystyle.com, a daily online glossy for urban professionals who want to make greener choices.

She points to a growing number of top green labels that now offer office attire, such as Fin, Noir, Doucette Duvall, Camilla Norrback, People Tree, Anatomy and Linda Loudermilk, while there are also plenty of green fashion retailers that have emerged in recent years (see below for Woodhead's favourites).

Many of these sites tend to target women and could leave some men feeling a bit left out. But while men's eco fashion trails that on offer for women, Woodhead maintains that the market is not exceptional in this respect. "I don't think it is that men are being short-changed specifically with ethical clothing and accessories," she argues. "The ratio of items available is probably fairly close to that between mainstream men's and womenswear. It's just that there is more choice in both for women."

However, she insists that despite there being fewer items available for green businessmen, there are still plenty of options and the market is evolving quickly. "There is still a fair amount out there for men but, come on chaps, you need to shop more and get more ethically minded," she urges. "Once the demand is there, the brands will follow."

Check the labels

As with any form of green procurement, the secret lies in asking the right questions and identifying the correct labels and standards. Clothing made from cotton that has been certified as organic should be clearly labelled, while any product carrying the Fair Trade label has to meet certain environmental standards.

More generally, environmentally conscious fashionistas should ask questions such as how hard wearing a garment is and how long it will last, how far it has been transported, and whether materials have been or can be recycled.

Price premium?

While most environmentally friendly clothes – be they made from organic cotton, recycled material or in adherence to fair trade principles – come at a price premium, there are also signs that greener clothes are entering the mainstream and are now available at competitive prices. Specialists such as People Tree and Adili.com now offer a widening range of well-priced eco pieces, while those high street brands that offer organic clothes, such as American Apparel and M&S, have to compete with their conventional rivals on price.

Of course, dyed-in-the-wool environmentalists will always argue that there is something inherently wasteful about a fashion industry that relies on people updating their wardrobes each season, regardless of how sustainable those new clothes are.

But the sector is addressing these concerns through the high-profile reinvention of second-hand clothes as vintage pieces.

Many charity shops have become much more picky about the type of clothes they sell and it is often possible to find a fashionable bargain, while specialist vintage clothing stores often stock businesswear – and one of the bonuses of buying vintage is that many old suits will be better made than cheap, modern versions.

Similarly, eBay has helped to reinvigorate the market for second-hand clothes and the auction web site offers a fantastic selection of beautiful vintage suits and second-hand steals.

The old cliches about tie-dyed hemp simply do not apply any more. You can look sharp and live sustainably while helping a huge industry with a giant environmental footprint become more responsible.

BusinessGreen.com's top green fashion sites

To jump-start your sustainable style search, check out the following green fashion sites, each with a recommended piece for the office from green fashion guru Sarah Woodhead:

Fashion-Conscience.com – A UK-based company that sources ethical cutting-edge fashion for women, including lines made from recycled and Fairtrade materials.
Recommended: Camilla Norrback's organic cotton bow neck shirt

People Tree – A relative veteran in the eco fashion game, this line produces garments and accessories by forming sustainable partnerships with Fairtrade and organic producers in developing countries. Its clothes are available online and in shops around the UK.
Recommended: Men's poplin organic cotton shirt and Fairtrade hand-woven cotton chinos

DeviDoll.com – An online boutique that offers chic, up-to-the minute fashion; pure, organic products for the body and exquisite soft furnishings for the home.
Recommended: Fin trench coat

Equaclothing.com – A womenswear boutique and online shop offering products that have been produced under conditions and from materials that meet recognised ethical standards, and facilitate improvements in quality of life throughout the supply chain.
Recommended: Alchemist's boiled wool tailored dress

Adili.com – An online ethical shop offering a wide range of men's and women's clothing, as well as accessories and products for the home. It also sells a range of men's and women's ethical footwear, including Terra Plana, which uses chrome-free leather, and Beyond Skin, a vegan footwear range.
Recommended: Men's button-down white shirt in organic fairly traded cotton

Izzy Lane – An ethical fashion line produced in Britain that uses wool from its own flock of sheep.
Recommended: Shetland three-button jacket and skirt

Marks & Spencer – Fairtrade and organic cotton items are increasingly available at M&S, ideal for less -formal offices and dress-down Fridays.
Recommended: Men's organic cotton jumper