It’s getting to be coat time in many places – here’s a great eco-friendly alternative available in plus-sizes from Eileen Fisher:

The coat is made from organic wool/alpaca/merino and is available in up to size 3X. I love the longer length, the color, the classic styling, and the slight a-line shape.

I was just checking out eco-boutique Juno and Jove and discovered that all the Diane Kennedy clothing (available in up to sizes 2X) is on sale, many pieces are 50% off. All of Diane’s pieces are made ethically in Canada using Bamboo and/or Tencel. My favorite of the lot is this scoop tee, which as you’ll see, has multiple “scoops!”

I recently made a personal decision that I was going to feature more clothing/accessories made with hemp, and more plus-size eco-friendly options. And look what I found? both in one piece!!

This tunic, by etsy seller Indigoinspired goes up to an XL and is made from organic cotton and hemp. And what’s not to love about it? Hood, kangaroo pocket, and tunic style – all things that make me happy in a garment.

If you haven’t seen, I have a long list of boutiques and designers who sell eco-friendly clothing in sizes XL and up – and I’m always trying to add to it. I got a nice note yesterday from a doctor/clothing designer, SelenaEon, who makes hip, casual clothing in all sizes, but focuses on XL and up (for both men & women). Everything is handmade – many items to order (you send her your measurements, she makes the piece to fit YOU), and most items are made from recycled fabrics and some from organic cotton.

How awesome is this woven hoodie??

I’ve been meaning to put this list of plus-size eco-friendly fashion online together for a very long time, but thanks to a comment/question by a wonderful visitor, I moved it back to the top of my to-do list. Although it is getting easier to find eco-friendly fashion online, PLUS-SIZE eco-fashion is few and far between. Maybe there’s not enough demand out there yet, or maybe it’s just been neglected. I’d like to think the latter is not the case, but this is the fashion industry we’re talking about here…

For smaller, independent designers, it’s very difficult and sometimes cost prohibitive to add an extra size to their collection, but many are doing it and are making most of their pieces available in XL’s. Hopefully, the day will come when more designers will create plus-size eco-friendly collections, and by this I mean not just upsizing their “regular” collections, but really designing clothing for the larger sized woman. I did find two designers who do exclusively plus-sized eco-friendly fashion: Diane Kennedy and Mewv (more details below) and more that include up to 3x or 4x in their size offerings. Sadly, most of the big-box plus-sized online outlets offer very limited selections with organic cotton or bamboo, or none at all. And still, a lot of the designs are seriously lacking in originality and are reminiscent of the hippy/crunchy/granola clothing that we USED to associate with earth-friendly fashion. Come on, really? Plus-sized fashion has evolved so much recently, why is there such a serious lack of eco-friendly plus-sized designers actually creating new and exciting styles and collections?

It’s truly up to the consumer to demand more sizes and original designs from designers and boutiques. But the money does have to follow…so, support the designers and boutiques below who are making an effort to offer more sizes, and word will get around that there is indeed a market for plus-sized eco-fashion.

(This list is just a beginning, it’s not meant to be exhaustive, although I feel like it’s a very good representation of what’s currently available online. These are mostly designers, please check my list of Eco-Friendly and Ethical Boutiques as well, many of them offer these designers and others who offer XL’s. Oh, and if you’re a designer who’s currently doing or considering doing a plus-sized eco-friendly line, TELL ME about it!! I’ll add you to the list and help get the word out!!)

Coldwater Creek (basic organic cotton tees, up to size 3x)

Acacia organic cotton and bamboo casual wear, up to XL)

Peacefull Disorder (basic basics…in sizes up to XL)

Lola & Gigi (carries diane kennedy’s plus size eco-fashion)

Bodyworks apparel (no online shopping yet; activewear created specifically for curvy women – organic cotton and bamboo collections)

SPUN (affordable organic cotton line – just added XL’s for Fall ‘08 – online shopping available soon!!)

Gaiam (has many organic cotton/bamboo pieces in XL’s)

HT Naturals (organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, soy clothing available in XL’s)

Indigenous Designs (fashionable fair trade and organic clothing available in XL)

Nixxi (Canadian eco-friendly designer – some pieces available in XL)

Positivitee (clothing with meaning: organic cotton tees, tanks, henley’s & more in XL’s)

Sharka Chakra (organic denim, in sizes up to 33/34)

Peligrosa Knits (fashion forward knits/cashmere in sizes up to XL – but I have found that their pieces tend to run a bit small…so…)

Rawganique (hemp, organic cotton clothing in true plus sizes, up to 3x)

Torrid (a few organic cotton tees and underwear in plus sizes)

j jill (a few classic organic cotton pieces – button down blouses, etc., in up to 4x)

Nordstrom (several organic cotton pieces by Eileen Fisher – up to 3x)

Saks FORGANifth Avenue (also eileen fisher organic cotton plus sizes)

Mewv (organic cotton, bamboo, etc., in up to size 26 – designed specificaly for plus-sizes, NOT just sized up)

Diane Kennedy (Canadial plus-size eco-friendly designer – cannot buy directly through site, but some pieces are at Juno and Jove)

Chloe Angus (Canadian eco-friendly designer – also designs in plus-sizes. available in Canada and some online at Juno and Jove)

Juno and Jove (eco-friendly boutique carrying plus-size designer Diane Kennedy and Chloe Angus among others)

One Stop Plus (organic cotton plus-size selections from Roaman’s and Woman Within)

Soul Flower (eco-friendly clothing/hemp/organic cotton – some styles available in XL’s)

Blue Fish (honestly, these are very “hippy” and too over the top for me…but…all styles are available in sizes up to 22)

Athleta (bamboo/organic cotton clothing available in XL’s – athletic/lounge gear)

Avenue (disappointing…only have bamboo sleepwear available)

Tranquilit (some yoga/lounge styles available in up to XL)

Of the Earth (original organic clothing, mostly casual, in sizes up to XL)

Horny Toad (all pieces available in XL)

sameunderneath (fashionable bamboo/spandex pieces, all available in XL)

Jonano (bamboo ecoKashmere, Eco Scrubs & more eco-friendly styles available in XL)

Under the Canopy (earth wise, style conscious clothing in XL – very casual, mostly lounge clothing)

Bamboosa (bamboo tops/sleepwear in sizes up to XL)

Spiegel (their eco-luxe bamboo/spandex collection is available in XL’s)

Mountains of the Moon (hemp and organic clothing in sizes up to XL)

Team Estrogen (eco-friendly plus-size cycling & outdoor wear)

Etsy (honestly, this is my favorite option for plus-sized organic/bamboo/hemp clothing. most of the designers will take your measurements and design your piece around those, instead of based on a “size.” My favorite etsy sellers in this category are: Gaia Conceptions – I have one of her dresses that I LOVE LOVE LOVE, Sandmaiden, 2Enju, and Desirapesta.)

Ulla Popken (organic/bamboo clothing in sizes 12 and up)