Top Sustainable Fashion Brands
When summarising sustainable fashion, it’s important to remember ethical fashion. This is the way clothing and accessory manufacturers source, manufacturing and designing clothes while minimising its impact on the environment.
These two concepts are intwined with ideology, however, they each raise separate concerns which are both equally critical to the future of fashion industry.
Fashion plays an intricate part in all of our daily lives. Whether it’s dressing for work or leisure, to styling our look for more important occasions. This includes the way we accessorise ourselves. From footwear to clothing, our fashion look is important to all of us.
Consider The Impact On The Environment
While we think about our next clothing or accessory piece, we should also be conscious of the way it is constructed. After all, our choices can have a devastating environmental impact while contributing to human rights abuses for the people responsible for making our fashion goods.
In a nutshell, the fashion industry is a lot more complexed than we can imagine. With lots of fashion brands responsible for “Greenwashing” it’s important to know what brands actually produce sustainable fashion goods. Apposed to those who don’t.
What Is Greenwashing?
Greenwashing, also referred to as “green sheen”, is marketing spin formulated by companies with an aim at making the consumer believe their products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly.
This is becoming more common in the fashion industry with lots of fast fashion brands claiming their goods are actually sustainable.
How to Spot Fashion Greenwashing?
There are some ways to look out for to spot if a company is really eco- and sustainably conscious in their approach to sustainable fashion.
Given the way that some companies put spin on the way they market their brands and products it can be sometimes tricky.
However, there are ways you can start to be more sustainably aware. Here are some things to watch out for when considering your next fashion purchase.
Be aware of popular sustainable buzzwords brands use when promoting their products. Just because they claim they claim to be sustainably conscious in the way they produce their goods, doesn’t mean they are.
Go online and research the brand and their sustainable and ethical claims. The internet is a great source of finding out just how green a company is.
Look for comments and articles written about the fashion brand by people in the industry and consumers. See what they say as it provides for up to date research.
Look for certifications. Any fashion brand worth their salt today will ensure that their products are certified by recognised sustainable institutions or organisations. Take note of each companies “sustainability policies.” Which they publish on their website.
Sustainable Goods Don’t Come Cheap
Unlike fast fashion, sustainable fashion goods are a little more expensive than fast fashion items. This is down to a number of factors.
Brands who produce both sustainably sourced ethically manufactured fashion goods have higher costs.
They ensure that the people who make our goods are properly paid. They also ensure the material they use in the production of our goods are sustainable.
Cheap clothing or goods produced on mass in sweat shops around the world are a lot cheaper to produce. Profit becomes more important than environmental impact.
How To Change Our Approach To Fast Fashion?
Believe it or not, there are simple ways in which we can change our approach to become more fashion sustainable.
This does not mean we have to wear the same piece of clothing, day in day out. Fashion brands aren’t anything without the buy in of the consumer.
If we choose to ignore fast fashion brands it then forces fashion houses to change their approach to the way the source and produce fashion goods.
Support Ethical Brands
Again, it’s important to watch out for “Greenwashing” from brands who claim their products are sustainable and ethically produced. Do your research and know your brand.
Thankfully, there are lots of accredited ethical fashion brands out there who tick all the boxes when it comes to sustainable fashion.
Unlike years ago, lots of these brands today offer quality modern day designs that compete with most of the fast fashion houses.
However, you will notice a slight price variation in the cost of each product. The fast fashion products more often being cheaper.
This is because they are less expensive to produce and have a higher negative impact on the environment.
It’s important that the only reason that the fast fashion business survives is because people support it by buying fast fashion products.
See our related article “Sustainable Fashion Tips For Starters” This will provide you with a great understanding on how you can become more fashion sustainable.
International Sustainable Fashion Brands Worth Knowing
Recently, we touched on great Irish sustainable fashion brands who design and manufacture clothing and accessories here in all Ireland.
Now let’s take a look at some of the leading international fashion brands that are leading the way in the fields of both ethical and sustainable fashion.
These trusted brands are just some that are leading the way in which they produce sustainable fashion goods today.
Allbirds
Founded back in 2014, this New Zealand-American company produce footwear and fashion goods in an environmentally and ethical manner.
Allbirds ship worldwide and are also a certified B Corporation. Certainly one of world leaders in sustainable footwear.
Plant Faced Clothing
This UK fashion house are responsible for producing 100% vegan clothing. This sustainable fashion house are totally committed to ensuring all their items are created in a sustainable and ethical manner.
This company uses preloved sustainable clothing along with their packing using 100% recycled paper.
Patagonia
This US sustainable fashion house produce outdoor apparel. According to the company 87% of their clothing is constructed using sustainable material. The company also use 100% organic cotton in their products.
Adidas
This German sports and fashion retailer have upped their drive towards sustainability in recent years.
By the year 2024 they have committed to only use recycled polyester in their production of their products.
Adidas are also working towards reducing water consumption in production of their good along with ensuring fair labour practices to their producers.
Zara
This Spanish global fashion house aim to make fifty percent of their products part of their Join Life range by the end of this year.
Join Life items are constructed using raw materials. This reduces the impact on the environment.
Zara are also recycling and reusing all boxes, bags, hangers and aim to only use sustainable textiles and materials by year end 2025.
Stella McCartney
London born Stella McCartney is daughter of The Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney. Stella’s fashion label is probably the famous sustainable fashion brands in the world today.
Her commitment towards ethical and sustainable fashion production is evident in all of her clothing and accessory ranges. Stella is known for her sustainable fashion collaborations with major celebrities and fashion houses These include partnerships with adidas and Taylor Swift.
Levi’s
This international US fashion house are committed to producing sustainable denim wear. Founded back in 1853, Levi’s are reducing their water usage by up to 80%. This is achieved by using the water.
