Summer days calls for summer dresses. But it’s important for them to be not just sustainable, but also comfortable. And that means choosing natural fabrics – cotton, hemp or linen.
Avoid Indian ‘lightweight loose weave’ summer dresses, as they are fire hazards. Most are made from a thin fabric that burns easily, especially when blended with acrylic (made with oil).
Most natural sunscreens contain pet-toxic zinc or titanium dioxide, so shower off before letting them kiss you!
All are soft on the skin, and let your skin breathe, keeping you cooler in hot weather. And all can safely be laundered, without releasing microplastics from washing machines, into the sea.
Organic Cotton Summer Dresses
Normal cotton is also breathable, but organic cotton is better for the planet, as it’s grown without pesticides. It won’t make you feel sticky in warm weather, as it absorbs sweat btu dries quickly, so you won’t feel ‘clammy’.
Hemp Summer Dresses
Hemp grows organically naturally (and can also unlike cotton, be grown in England). It’s only a distant cousin of cannabis, so won’t make you high!
Hemp feel a bit rougher than cotton at first, but the fabric softens over time. Again, it has good airflow, so keeps you cool in summer (and also warm in winter).
Linen Summer Dresses
This comes from the flax plant, and again is more local than cotton (most linen dresses are made in Europe). Again it absorbs moisture fast, to leave you dry. It has a beautifully natural texture, but does wrinkle easily. So be aware of this, if you don’t like ironing!
This pretty linen summer dress is made from eco-friendly linen. And made to order (time around 2 weeks) to avoid fabric waste.
Unlike cotton, linen also needs less water to grow, so is more sustainable.
What to Wear with Sustainable Summer Dresses
Of course, a sustainable summer dress looks nice on its own, whether it’s for a garden party, a picnic or the beach. Some other ideas include:
- Wear with a vegan belt, for shape and style.
- Pair with chunky vegan sandals or comfy espradilles.
- Wear with an open shirt or jacket, for summer evenings.
- Pair with a straw hat and sustainable sunglasses.
Where to Buy Sustainable Summer Dresses
Here are some good choices. The stores may sell other clothes with synthetic fibres, so launder these in a microfiber filter, if bought.
Seasalt
Seasalt is a Cornish brand, which has several retail stores and an extensive online shop. These are available in several pretty prints and styles.
Nomads Clothing
Nomads Clothing is another brand that focuses on pretty sustainable summer dresses. You can buy these online, or may sometimes find them on sale in M & S on the high street.
