London-based fashion brand Riley Studio has been centred around sustainability long before it was trendy. In fact, their ethos has always been to help sustainability go from a convenient buzzword to the norm. How are they doing this, you may be wondering? Riley Studio breaks its ethos down into five categories: planet, product, people, pricing, and policy.
First, when it comes to the planet, Riley Studio says that everything they do is with the planet in mind. “We are on a mission to change mindsets and make conscious consumerism the norm. So we have set out to create a wardrobe of gender-neutral staples that are kind on the planet. We believe in a circular future, where people and the planet work together at equilibrium. That’s why we have put eco-innovation and sustainability at the core of everything we do,” reads Riley Studio’s website. Their focus on sustainability and the planet is not one-note. They have taken several steps to ensure that every aspect of their brand is kind to the environment.
For example, all of the pieces they create are eco-friendly, created using a variety of innovative recycled materials. These materials include Lyocell, Waxed Cotton, Recot, Organic Cotton, Econyl, Recycled Polyester, and Q-Nova. Riley Studio promises to first and foremost use as many recycled materials as possible. When this isn’t possible, the brand uses responsibly sourced natural fibres instead, ensuring that the fibres chosen are easily recyclable.
Moving on to products. Each Riley Studio piece is designed to last. We’re not just talking about a shelf life of a few years. We’re talking about being built for life. The brand only produces small batches of versatile, durable pieces with the idea being that the consumer will hold onto the piece for decades to come. Over 11 million items of clothing are sent to landfills every week in the United Kingdom. Riley Studio intends to combat this problem by being the antidote to fast fashion.
This is part of the reason why they chose to take a genderless approach to their brand. By creating garments that don’t prescribe to any particular gender, Riley Studio’s hope is that the pieces will be seen for what they are – closet staples to last a lifetime.
Further, in terms of people, Riley Studio promises that every person they work with will be treated with respect. They are able to ensure this because they only work with certified materials and audited factories.
Second to last is pricing. Riley Studio pricing strikes the perfect balance between affordability and fairness. They aim to offer sustainable wardrobe solutions at the most affordable price possible while ensuring the prices set are fair. Most Riley Studio pieces range between £45 and £150.
The last category in Riley Studio’s ethos is policy. Any fashion brand in the 21st century that is dedicated to sustainability must have clear policies and standards in place, and Riley Studio has just that. They have several policies in place to ensure their sustainability standard is met across all parts of the supply chain.
Although not part of their official Ethos, the following is worth mentioning. Riley Studio has committed itself to be a fully circular brand. That is why they have a Repair & Recycle program in place. The repair part of the program is Riley Studio’s lifetime guarantee for all of their pieces. In essence, should any Riley Studio product be in need of repair, the customer can send them an email and they will get in touch with the instructions. When it comes to recycling, Riley Studio encourages anyone who is finished with their item of clothing to donate it to charity or swap it with a family member or friend. But if this isn’t possible, you can also send them an email and they will collect the item(s) from you and recycle them back into their system.
What is the impact of Riley Studio’s eco-friendly approach to fashion? To date, the London-based brand has upcycled over 5,000 plastic bottles from the ocean and saved over 3,000 litres of oil and 2 million litres of water through their use of recycled materials. Sounds pretty impressive!
Down below are some of the best from Riley Studio’s current offerings.
