Awakened Aesthetic has started to come up in conversation – you know, in that “what do you do” sort of way – and I’ve found myself having to explain just what conscious shopping is.  The problem is that when I try to explain it using words like organic and recycled, people assume that equals patched, faded, and dirty hippie. While I’ve got nothing against modern-day hippies (even dirty ones) I also don’t get why people think that just because something’s recycled it has to be old-looking, worn down or patched-together.

Like this little bug: he’s bright, shiny, and looks almost too delicate to be recycled, but he is, from broken electronics and machine parts.  Etsy seller Burrow Burrow sells them for only $25, when I have to admit that they look much more expensive.  Check her stuff out before she gets too famous – her sculptures are already sold in galleries throughout the country!

She also makes birds and frogs, and even sells postcards with images of her sculptures on the front.

“Once bitten by love, twice burned by desire.”

Who would have thought that this shirt (Neena Creates, 24$) is made of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and naturally occurring rayon?  Lots of Etsy sellers are like Neena, and choose to screenprint their designs on Alternative Apparel.  Try to stick to those designers as opposed to ones that use American Apparel, which is a company that tows the US-economy-friendly and eco-conscious line, but has had numerous employment issues, including shady dealings in high-cost lawsuits.  (I also hear their clothes fall apart way too quickly.)

And also: I adore this shirt.

“Auspicious” (MK Wind, 40$) is made with brushed sterling and repurposed resin. From what I can see, all of her pieces use repurposed (“found”) items, and her style is really modernized and minimilistic.  And if you’re into brooches, right now they’re seventy percent off.

I admit that sometimes I wish I was a bike messenger – they kind of have a right to be eco-elitist with their lack of car and daredevil riding – but until then I can hang this on my wall (1.by.liz, 36$) and pretend I have some idea of where on a bike it’s supposed to go.  Yep – this turquoise clock is made out of a bicycle chain ring and re-claimed textile.  So, even if you still drive to the office, you’re still a little eco-conscious.

Okay, how is this anything other than beautiful and unique?  It’s made by tomate d’epingles, who uses photo negatives and other found items to make some seriously stunning recycled jewelry.  A lot of it is delicate – think fur, fabric and feathers – but if you’re as hard on your jewelry as I am, you can still find something interesting, like this graffiti art and poetry necklace.

Okay, so this one isn’t as funky-modern as the others, but it’s still totally cute.  These flats, made by Hydra Heart, are custom sized and, even better, they’re totally vegan. They’re a bit more costly than I’m used to (48$) but I get why, being that they’re handmade at the time of your order from organic cotton and vinyl soles.  You get what you pay for.

So, as much as I want to nab pretty much everything I just mentioned (especially that photo negative necklace) I’ve been buying way too much stuff lately and my boyfriend’s ever-important birthday is just around the corner.  Instead, I’ll live vicariously through all of you.  What’s your favorite re-purposed, recycled or otherwise eco-conscious Etsy product on this list?  Are there any other totally modern, totally green Etsy sellers I should know about?

Tags: all natural, Awakened Options: Organic, Awakened Options: Recycled, etsy, Fashion, handmade, housewares, Jewelry