There is always a good time to remember how important it is to take care of our planet. If you are looking for ways to do your part when shopping for yourself or a loved one, here is a list of local brands that create products consciously and sustainably. 🎁🌿
Concalma focuses on raising awareness about fair-trade practices in Puerto Rico, local design and sustainable fashion. Designed by founder Matilsha Marxuach, the bags are made at Cooperativa Industrial Creación de la Montaña in Utuado, a nonprofit that seeks to provide work to those affected by the closure of two garment manufacturing companies in Utuado.
Known for its bags featuring colorful bra straps, Concalma supports the local economy by collaborating with Puerto Rican designers and artists. You can find its products at its store in Santurce or through its website.
"I am excited to build alongside colleagues toward the development of design and sustainable long-term business models within the creative industries," Marxuach told Platea about the opening of her new store with Islañas.
Isleñas is a project dedicated to manufacturing shoes using ethical and sustainable practices in Puerto Rico.
All shoes are handmade in Puerto Rico with high-quality leather, and the brand has carried out several collaborations with nonprofits to provide opportunities to women from all economic backgrounds. You can view its shoes or make a purchase through its website or at its store in Santurce.
Primavera
Primavera is a local brand where you will find handmade bags and aprons. They offer a variety of styles and use fabric discarded from manufacturing, with the goal of being a sustainable brand. You can buy their products through their Instagram account @primaveracasataller, by sending a direct message.
Sally Torres Vega is a brand dedicated to making clothing with an ethical focus. Although most designs are for women, it also makes some styles for men and children. In its online and in-person store you will find blouses, dresses and pants, all made to measure. All clothing is designed and made in Puerto Rico by seamstresses across the Island, using linen and cotton fabrics imported from Japan.
"They are very high-quality fabrics and well suited to our climate. Natural fibers have less impact on the planet… A piece can last years. It is intended to stay in the wardrobe longer," Torres Vega told Platea, after speaking about the opening of her store in Hato Rey, alongside AIDA.
At the store in Hato Rey, in addition to clothing, you will find vintage furniture for sale and books from Puerto Rican publisher Casa Riel. The furniture was designed by Marxz Rosado using Puerto Rican materials, Torres Vega said.
Aragma Swim is a local boutique of swimwear made ethically in Puerto Rico. Its founder, Adriana Soto, designs each piece alongside local artists and ensures that every part of production (from the packaging to the energy used in the studio while the pieces are made) is carried out with sustainable practices that protect the planet. In addition to swimwear, you can find activewear, candles and accessories. Find its products at its online store.
Santos by Mónica
Founded in New York by Puerto Rican designer Mónica Santos Gil, Santos by Mónica creates bags in various sizes with geometric shapes and sustainable materials, such as cactus leather and banana leather. Each piece is produced responsibly and is designed to transcend trends.
The designer has collaborated with artists such as Lorén Aldarondo, the vocalist of the Isabela-based group Chuwi.
AIDA is a store and creative studio in San Juan founded by Maru Aldea, inspired by her Puerto Rican roots and the influence of her grandmother from Yauco. After years in the fashion industry and her return to the Island following Hurricane María, she created a project focused on vintage pieces, the circular economy and creative collaboration.
The brand is known for its focus on sustainable fashion, timeless curation and the strengthening of the Puerto Rican community on and off the Island. It produces unique pieces in small runs or made to order, designed to turn heads wherever you go.
YAYI, a project by Puerto Rican designer Yazmín (Yayi) Pérez, centers on timeless, high-quality garments made in Puerto Rico, with a strong emphasis on tailoring and sustainability. Drawing on her international training, she seeks to revitalize local manufacturing and preserve craft knowledge, promoting a conscious approach to fashion that reduces consumerism and environmental impact.
She has collaborated with Puerto Rican businesses such as El Saque and has also dressed artists including Los Pleneros de la Cresta.
Puerto Rican designer Mariana Vidal Goss, the mind behind Vigo Swim, has made reversible bikinis her signature, combining style, functionality and sustainability. After time in Miami and Costa Rica, she returned to Puerto Rico, where she continues to produce consciously while also driving projects such as Moda Factory.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
