Ethical & Sustainable Brand Guide
As customers, we have much more power than we think. With every purchase, we support and promote brands that emphasize sustainability as well as empower those brands to change the status quo. More and more brands are emphasizing their sustainability practices and they have access to more and more innovative fabric and material technologies. In short, the fashion industry and its consumers have an unprecedented opportunity to make a positive impact.
According to Forbes and the data collected from more than 100 million searches in 2018, there has been a 47 percent increase in searches for sustainable apparel. At the same time, at the beginning of 2019, only 1 percent of products were labeled as sustainable. So there is also a huge potential for continued growth.
So as you’re cleaning your closet and looking for timeless pieces that are not only durable but also ethically sourced, here are some suggestions:
1.Buy from the pioneers of sustainable fashion
The first brands that were actively researching the problem and witnessed the environment being harmed by overproduction and overconsumption were Patagonia and Eileen Fisher.
Both brands invested in the research of textile production’s impact on the environment as well as how apparel production affects local communities. Patagonia is well known for its political and environmental activism, while Eileen Fisher focuses on women’s empowerment, circular design, and the incorporation of organic fabrics in its products.
Patagonia is our go-to brand for outdoor gear and activewear.
Eileen Fisher is the brand for high-quality, everyday pieces and comfy organic textiles.
2. Discover sustainable apparel, shoes, and activewear
VIEJA
Vieja’s incredible success in recent years is especially noteworthy due to the fact that they chose to give up on advertising spending to build awareness of their brand. They chose to put their advertising dollars towards innovating, developing, and transparently producing lasting, beautiful, and comfy sneakers that are also vegan!
VETTA
Vetta is on a mission to change the way people shop. With its innovative design and vision, this brand offers customers the ability to invest in a “collection capsule” of 5 pieces that can be turned into more than 30 clothing combinations.
Vetta focuses on innovation and quality of its clothing as well as sustainable materials such as Tencel (made from sustainably harvested wood pulp), organic cotton, and deadstock fabric (the leftover fabric that is saved from the landfill and given a new life).
PEOPLE TREE
People Tree is recognized in the fashion industry as one of the first brands to promote environmentally sustainable production and fair trade. In fact, it’s Fair Trade Certified so you know that the brand meets high standards when it comes to good wages and working conditions. The brand also opts for materials such as organic cotton, Tencel, Linen, and wool… even their denim collection uses 87.2% less water in production than conventional denim production.
BRAVE GENTLEMAN
In order not to accidentally neglect male fashion on this list, Brave Gentleman is definitely one NYC brand you should know about. They are committed to slow fashion and all products they make are vegan and made from recycled or organic materials.
MANDUKA
This brand is ideal for people who enjoy yoga and exercise. Manduka makes everything you need - from yoga mats to exercise clothes. The brand’s focus is on the use of sustainable fabrics such as GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic cotton and recycled materials that are also GRS-certified (Global Recycled Standard).
MUD Jeans
MUD Jeans pioneered the sustainable jeans space with their high-quality denim jeans that are made with mainly sustainable materials, including recycled cotton. It is a vegan brand with a transparent supply chain.
PACT
All Pact clothing is made from organic cotton and is certified by GOTS. This means that no toxic chemicals are used in the production of the clothes and the process uses 91% less water than it would with non-organic cotton. Pact is an affordable brand for fashionable, everyday clothing.
TONLé
Tonlé is a great example of a brand that has a zero-waste policy and strives for circularity and climate justice. They create beautiful clothing, accessories, and homewares from reclaimed materials that other manufacturers consider waste. The brand also uses low-impact, non-toxic dyes in all of its products and eco-friendly materials which limit the amount of water used in production.
THREADS 4 THOUGHT
Threads 4 Thought is a sustainable New York City brand that designs clothing for men and women. They have been using sustainable and recycled materials in their clothing since 2006.
3. Don’t buy, rent!
RENT THE RUNWAY
Rent the Runway allows you to do just that - borrow the beautiful clothes you dream of but you can’t justify buying. There are several rental options, including a one-time rental for special occasions or monthly memberships that allow you to constantly change items in your closet. Rent the Runway has everything - from evening dresses to work and sportswear.
WARDROBE
Wardrobe is another eco-friendly platform that allows you to rent luxury and archive vintage clothing. You can also use it to earn money by renting out your own personal collection. There are many, many more brands that are worth looking at. We highly recommend the “Good on You” app to explore more amazing fashion labels. The app rates brands’ credibility based on their actions to care for human rights, the environment, and animal rights. No greenwashing allowed!
Know a brand that should be here? Let us know in the comments!
