High eco-uture: L.A. designers take Earth-friendly recycled rags uptown.

A handful of top Los Angeles fashion designers and increasingly eco-conscious consumers are taking recycled clothing uptown.

We're not talking faded jeans here. Reused cashmere is one material of choice, and shoppers find the clothes at trendy boutiques like Planet Blue and Fred Segal, as well as high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. They're not cheap, either; sweaters sell for between $200 and $500.

Nearly all involved agree that while high-style designs are driving the phenomenon more than buyers' desire to save the planet, being…