Ethical Edit: Get Spooky This Season With These 7 Sustainable Goth Pieces

Black Is Back

As seen during the Spring 2020 runway shows, black is back. Former and current goths, rejoice! If you are an OG goth or a teen who spent way too much time at Hot Topic, you’ll be happy to hear that the trend is back in action.

Centered around the mysterious and dark, the goth style has evolved over the decades. We’re looking to icons like Morticia Addams and Vampira to see how these leading ladies use goth pieces to inform their characters. Touches of historic Victorian influence, as well as religious motifs, inform old-school goth, but if you’re more into 90s goth, cybergoth, or a newer branch of the trendy E-girl, throw on some black lipstick and you’ll be good-to-go.

We’ve taken note of the trend, and gathered the perfect goth fashion staples that extend beyond the Halloween season. Whether you are a goth newbie, or you’re looking to add more dramatic items to your closet, here are some of our favorite sustainable goth-inspired pieces.

1. The Leatherette Skirt | Vetta Capsule

Leather is a popular addition to any goth kid’s closet. We’ve found the more sustainable option from Vetta Capsule: this skirt looks like leather, but it’s really waxed organic denim. Vetta’s clothes are made in a family-run factory in New York City.

Shop | $139

2. Snake Choker | altar pDX

Most products from this US-based brand are perfect for the sustainable goth gal. Altar PDX’s snake choker is mysterious and edgy, making it the perfect accessory for any goth outfit. Handmade by local artists in Oregon.

Shop | $68

3. The Josephine Blouse | Christy Dawn

Christy Dawn has the romantic aspects of goth fashion down. The Thelma Tank can be used for layering under or on top of any clothing piece of your choice. The brand makes garments from deadstock fabric, so you can add another layer to your look by letting people know that your blouse was dead before.

Shop | $88

4. Black Bishop-Sleeve Sweater Dress | Altar PDX

Harkening to the religious inspiration from goth culture, this dress from Altar PDX is stylish, edgy, and perfect for fall. Altar PDX handcrafts garments, candles, jewelry, and apothecary in small batches in Portland, Oregon.

Shop | $67

5. Vivianne Dress | Reformation

This vampire cloak-style dress from Reformation is one of our favorites. The red roses add drama and color, and it pairs well with your favorite black eyeliner and Doc Martens. Sustainably made in Los Angeles, this Vivianne dress is 100 percent Viscose (rayon)—a sustainable fiber made from wood pulp.

Shop | $248

6. Anufred Scarf | Bloom & Give

Layering is a big part of the goth style. Grabbing a scarf you love will not only keep you warm through the cold winter, but it’s also a versatile look. Bloom & Give donates ten percent of every purchase to girls’ education programs around the world.

Shop | $90

7. Evolution Dad Hat | Outerknown

Outerknown’s Evolution Dad Hat is the perfect melding of sustainability and gothic style. We especially love that it’s made eco-conscious, and made with patented ECONYL yarn, fishing nets, and other nylon waste.

Shop | $30