Best Chicago ecofriendly shops

When eco-minded retailer Nau closed all five of its U.S. shops (including a Lincoln Park outpost) in May, we thought it’d be the last we’d see of its original, environmentally friendly designs. And while the store isn’t back in business, its clothes are. The company’s former regional marketing manager, Jonathan Shaun, has opened a new shop/event space—one of only two stores in the world stocking Nau’s relaunched collection. Other items in stock include Holden outerwear, Noon Solar bags and sustainable furniture made by local artists. There are two ways to get the goods: Shop at the store and walk out the door with your purchases, or order through Connect’s in-house interactive showroom, where you’ll get a ten percent discount and then have the clothes delivered (within city limits) via bike couriers that week. Promising to give back to the community, Connect also plans to host monthly socially conscious fund-raising events, where nonprofits can build awareness and raise money.

Before Jean Taylor opened this eco-friendly accessories boutique in Bucktown, she noticed many local shops carried “green” products but didn’t always let consumers know why a particular purchase is a better choice for the environment. “If the shopper’s not aware, they don’t always know about the environmental benefits of the product,” she says. That’s not the case at Grasshopper 510. Every item, including handblown recycled glass wine carafes ($180) and Touch bags made from banned Brazilian billboards ($85), is truly green—and Taylor makes sure her customers know it.

If you’ve ever vacationed in Ibiza, Spain, and noticed the green heart stickers all over the island, you’ll encounter a case of déjà vu. The stickers are sold in the über–eco-friendly GreenHeart Shop. The group behind this Old Town store is the Center for Cultural Interchange, a nonprofit that offers environmental volunteer and education programs throughout the world. In addition to stocking the typical gifts and home accessories that are safe for the environment (you know, made from bamboo or other sustainable materials), the shop also sells handmade and fairly traded items by artists from all over the globe. There’s women’s jewelry ($10–$50) from India, Indonesia and Nepal; ceramic mugs, bowls and umbrella stands from Vietnam ($9–$70); and exclusive green heart-shaped bath soaps produced locally ($3). It recently moved from its Wicker Park location to Old Town, but you can expect simillar merchandise in the new store with only a slight change in store hours.