Lyon ethical guide
Un design et une conception de baskets écoresponsables et françaises !
Welcome to the city of Lyon, a city full of historical and cultural treasures. With its magnificent Fourvière Basilica, its famous Place Bellecour and its old town with picturesque alleys, Lyon is undoubtedly a city full of history, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Founded by the Romans in 43 BC, Capital of Gaul, City of Resistance, important commercial crossroads in the 18th century... The historical importance of this city is undeniable.
But the Cité des Canuts is not content with its glorious past, it is also an innovative and forward-looking city. More and more Lyon brands are seeking to reconcile fashion and ethics, by offering products that respect the environment and the working conditions of their employees.
These ethical brands, in addition to promoting responsible fashion, contribute to the local economy by creating jobs and supporting local artisans and producers.
So, let’s discover together ethical and eco-responsible brands, made in 69!
A little story
The city, with its 9 districts with different charms, has a significant historical past.
Honored with the title of Capital of Gaul for nearly 300 years in Roman times, it was an important city in the Roman Empire, with Gallic and Celtic influences. This is evidenced by grandiose amphitheaters and ruins, most of which have been preserved to this day.
From the Middle Ages until the beginning of industrialization in the 19th century, Lyon was recognized as a thriving trading city thanks to silk. Proud of its Canuts, the silk workers, the city experienced great economic and cultural growth during the Renaissance thanks to this global trade.
It is also considered the Capital of the Resistance, both during the French Revolution and during the Second World War.
Today, Lyon is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, proud of its historical and cultural heritage. Roman ruins, Renaissance buildings and medieval traboules bear witness to its rich and fascinating past. The city also continues to grow, with a diverse economy and vibrant cultural scene, attracting visitors from all over the world.
A myth surrounds the statue on Place Bellecour. According to legend, the sculptor Lemot committed suicide after realizing that he had forgotten the king's stirrups. But in fact, this oversight was deliberate because Louis XIV rode "Roman style", i.e. without stirrups! We'll let you check it out in the photo... 👀
Opposite, Louis XIV putting on our model Raven in white and blue.
If you are looking for must-see places to visit in Lyon, the city is full of interesting options. Among them, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, the Ancient Gallo-Roman Theater and the Vieux-Lyon district bear witness to the city's historical heritage and offer picturesque walks through narrow cobbled streets, medieval houses and typical traboules.
For art lovers, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, one of the largest museums in France, houses an impressive collection of works from Antiquity to the present day, including masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance and modern art. The Musée des Confluences, halfway between a spaceship and a crumpled ball of paper, located between the Rhône and the Saône, offers an exploration of the major issues of our time in relation to science and society.
Also don't miss the city's two giants, the Parc de la Tête d'Or, one of the largest urban parks in France, with its French gardens, lakes, greenhouses and zoo, as well as the famous Place Bellecour, one of the largest squares in Europe, connected to the Rue de la République, a major shopping street lined with luxury boutiques and department stores.
In Lyon, the Canuts carry the importance of the quality of clothing in the Lyon region. However, while this cultural heritage is important, we remind you that silk is not vegan. As alternatives, consider nylon satin or 100% cotton viscose!
The city is full of small, ethical brands that will make everyone happy! Among the local and ethical companies in the clothing industry, there are Alory, an ethical fashion brand for everyone with eco-responsible clothing, organic and recycled fabrics, ethical manufacturing, and all this in a circular economy. We can also note Suny, which offers organic cotton clothing that is both timeless and made with respect for people and the environment.
At the bend in a street in the Cordeliers district, don't hesitate to visit The Curious Team in their eco-friendly boutique. You can discover this hybrid place mixing ready-to-wear boutique, barber and meeting place, and try on your models COG favorites.
You can also opt for second-hand goods in many thrift stores in Lyon, including the various Emmaüs, Fripes Ketchup, Ding Fring, etc.
On the cosmetics side, the city with two hills also offers beauty product stores. To take care of yourself, it is better to favor natural and healthy products, such as those from Bubble of the Golden Mountains: this is an artisanal factory of solid, natural and zero waste cosmetics, from plant-based raw materials. And for fans of scents and perfume, the zero waste essences of 100 Good will delight your senses.
A little delicacy
A wolf's hunger or rather a bird's appetite? You've come to the right place, since Lyon is a reference in terms of gastronomy and has 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, including the famous Paul Bocuse restaurant, as well as many typical traditional restaurants called "bouchons lyonnais". But since the cuisine of these restaurants is not really vegan, we suggest a few others:
Imagine yourself one summer evening, after a stroll in Croix-Rousse, sitting at the table of Like an Elephant and enjoy delicious vegan and seasonal dishes: it's a waking dream. For lovers of good food, let yourself be seduced by the vegetarian gourmet cuisine of Culina Hortus, in the Hôtel de Ville district. And for burger fans, we offer you 100% vegan alternatives from Hank Burger 🙂
If you prefer to play chef at home, it is possible and it is quite accessible, even for Sunday cooks. We take our shopping bag and we go to Zucchini House, a grocery store in the heart of Croix-Rousse, which offers organic, local products in a short circuit. To relax with a tea, think of the Chabiothe and its organic and local herbs! And for a snack, a slice of bread with a spoonful of Go Nuts, the super organic spread, all made in Lyon.
Speaking of snacks, how about having a picnic at the Parc de la tête d'or with vegan pastries from Zoi, or sit down with an organic ice cream from Land Adelice on the banks of the Saône?
To your sneakers!
And there you have it, together we have gone through our ethical guide to eco-responsible addresses in Lyon! The city of gones is a city full of surprises and we hope you enjoyed this little non-exhaustive guide to the ethical and vegan addresses that we love at COG!
By adopting more responsible consumption, we can all contribute to preserving our beautiful planet and supporting ethical and local initiatives. So, why not continue to explore the city of Lyon and find new eco-responsible addresses to share with your loved ones?
Buying local means reducing your carbon footprint and supporting the local economy. Together, we can build a fairer world that is more respectful of our environment. So, see you soon for new ethical and sustainable adventures!
