What makes a fashion brand truly sustainable? Is it the label’s eco-conscious philosophy? The fair wages paid to garment workers? Or is it the eco-friendly fabric that the clothes are made out of?
At its essence, sustainable fashion propagates a belief of protecting the planet for our future generation, while judiciously using available resources to design garments that are good for the environment, and ultimately, good for us. The most important aspect, however, is empowering shoppers with knowledge about how their favourite brands are producing those clothes.
Here are five brands that are scoring high on their sustainability.
1. Mother of Pearl
Founded by Amy Powney, Mother of Pearl aims to challenge the status quo of fast fashion with a transparent supply chain and the use of organic and natural materials in its luxurious collections. In 2018, Powney launched No Frills, a fully sustainable fashion line dedicated to core classics for everyday wear made using eco-friendly fabrics. Browse through the brand’s offering to gauge a deeper understanding about the sustainable attributes that every garment is designed with.
2. Ecoalf
Ecoalf was birthed 10 years ago in Spain by Javier Goyeneche with a vision to create a truly sustainable fashion brand. And today, the brand is synonymous with responsibly-designed timeless creations with a low environmental impact. From using fabrics like recycled cotton and wool to recovering nylon waste from plastic found in the ocean, every step that Ecoalf takes is ridden with responsibility and accountability. Their tagline best defines their motto: Because There Is No Planet B.
3. Maggie Marilyn
Maggie Marilyn’s eponymous conscious clothing label is the epitome of a brand hoping to fix the broken fashion system. Growing up in a coastal region of New Zealand helped Marilyn understand early on that climate change was adversely affecting our planet. To do her bit, she decided to create a social and environmentally-friendly fashion house that championed transparency and circularity in the industry.
All the textiles she uses are ethically sourced or recycled. What’s more, her sustainable strategies for 2020 are well aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, fostering a cooperative and collaborative environment that every fast fashion brand can learn a thing or two from.
4. Greg Lauren
The familiar last name is an easy clue to figure out who this American designer is. That’s right, Greg Lauren is Ralph Lauren’s nephew! His collection, however, takes an alternative approach than his uncle’s widely-popular and globalized label.
Focussing on upcycling post-consumer waste, Lauren approaches his work from the lens of an American investigating leftovers from the military. Think: military tents, naval uniforms and the like being dismantled and repurposed into preppy, one-of-a-kind garments. This year, Lauren is launching GL Scraps, with the intention to reuse sacks of scraps and upcycle them into beautiful clothing that will last you a lifetime.
5. By Walid
This British-Iraqi designer, Walid Damirji, utilizes sustainable antique textiles like rococo silks and ancient cashmere to craft tailored pieces for men and women. Equal parts unique and covetable, these modern garments are replete with historical stories and follow his ‘luxury of zero waste’ philosophy.
What’s more, Damirji also creates eclectic décor for home: hand-embroidered cushions, 18th-century quilts and sculptured heads that will not only serve as family heirlooms but also perfectly double up as conversation starters.
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