I have had a few requests from friends to research and write about more sustainable clothing brands. I love this topic and it is something that I am passionate about really since college and having more of an understanding of what sustainable clothing is as well as the fashion industries impact on our sweet earth.
So first let me explain what is happening to our earth within the fashion industry because it's probably a new topic to a lot of people.I didn't start thinking about it till college and when I started pursuing a degree in apparel and textile marketing.
Really just within the last 20ish years fast fashion and e-commerce have really taken off. My generation has all grown up with having fast fashion ( your Forever21, however many other brands names can be placed here as well) as well as making transactions online through our computers and phones. This is normal for us, and so is fast fashion.
Fast Fashion Definitions:
Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends (Dictionary).
Fast fashion is a contemporary term used by fashion retailers to express that designs move from catwalk quickly to capture current fashion trends. A second, critical definition adds that fast fashion is not only about quickly moving from runway to store to consumer, but also to the garbage (Wikipedia).
Now that you have a basic understanding of what fast fashion is you can also see how we can so easily implement through the use of technology. We truly have everything at the tips of our fingers in the United States because we are all so privileged with smartphones and it's crazy we can communicate with people all around the world, as well as purchasing things from all around the world just with touching a few buttons on this magic glass box. (I don't really understand clearly how my iPhone works...haha!)
So with fast fashion, you could stay that there are a few positives such as:
1. The clothing is cheap in cost.
2. There are always new styles coming out.
Although, there are many more negatives, which outweigh the cost of fast fashion:
1. Huge amounts of water waste and pollution are caused in making the clothing.
2. The life of the clothing is reduced. we wear clothing for a very short amount of time before they just sit in our closets unused.
3. The majority of people making our clothing are women and children are in impoverished countries, with lack of basic rights.
4. People feel that they are out of style quickly and feel bad about themselves because the clothing and trends are produced so quickly that it is impossible to keep up. we used to have 4 seasons of clothing, now we have 52 micro seasons, which means that about every week new clothing is coming into the stores.
5. Our clothing is made at extremely low costs and is of much lower quality then it used to be.
6. Increasing our carbon footprint, just in the US 11 million tons of clothing is simply thrown away each year.
Although thankfully, we don't have to shop like everyone else. There is a rise of people speaking out and a movement of understanding what is going on in the fashion industry and a progression to people supporting slow fashion again. Fashion that is more ethical and sustainably made.
Sustainable Clothing Definition:
More sustainable fashion can be defined as clothing, shoes and accessories that are manufactured, marketed and used in the most sustainable manner possible, taking into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects. In practice, this implies continuous work to improve all stages of the product's life cycle, from design, raw material production, manufacturing, transport, storage, marketing and final sale, to use, reuse, repair, remake and recycling of the product and its components. From an environmental perspective, the aim should be to minimize any undesirable environmental effect of the product's life cycle by: (a) ensuring efficient and careful use of natural resources (water, energy, land, soil, animals, plants, biodiversity, ecosystems, etc); (b) selecting renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc) at every stage, and (c) maximizing repair, remake, reuse, and recycling of the product and its components. From a socio-economic perspective, all stakeholders should work to improve present working conditions for workers on the field, in the factories, transportation chain, and stores, by aligning with good ethics, best practice and international codes of conduct. In addition, fashion companies should contribute to encourage more sustainable consumption patterns, caring and washing practices, and overall attitudes to fashion (Green Strategy, June 2014).
Today we have this option. There are many brands that are making the conscious effort to slow down and to practice better labor policies that actually protect their employees even if they are overseas, choose to use better quality products or more natural materials, and aren't as concerned with keeping up with the pace of the fast fashion's micro seasons. You as well can choose to partake in efforts to slow down and better support our earth and the people making our garments.
Through research I wanted to provide a list of companies you may have or maybe not heard of that are doing a better job than some of their competitors being sustainable.
Sustainable Fashion Brands:
(Just a few are mentioned, but there are so many out there if you just look for it). Click on the brands below to follow the link to their website and to see what they do in regards to sustainability.
For Days
Tees For Days. A membership of insanely great life choices.
Threads 4 Thought | Sustainable Clothing for Women and Men
Threads 4 Thought is a full lifestyle brand of everyday basics, workout wear, and other fashion that is produced responsibly & supports sustainable initiatives.
SiiZU-Luxury Quality, Ethical Fashion, Exceptionally Priced-Womenswear
SiiZU focuses on offering high-quality and eco-friendly apparel made with sustainable manufacturing practices directly to you at an affordable price point.
Stylesaint
Girlfriend Collective; more than clothes for women who care.
Apparel that looks good, feels good, and does good.
Alternative Apparel
Clothing, apparel, & accessories by Alternative Apparel for men and women. Buy clothing and apparel in our exclusive soft eco-fabric, organic, Pima, and many other unique fabrics and styles. Free shipping and free returns on all domestic orders. We ship worldwide. Shop now for tops, t-shirts, hoodies, henleys, dresses, sweats, bottoms, outerwear, accessories, and unique partner brands.
Reformation | Sustainable Women's Clothing and Accessories - Reformation
Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. Reformation is #2. We make sustainable women's clothing and accessories. Free US shipping and returns.
Everlane
Shop Everlane now for modern essentials. We make the most beautiful essentials, at the best factories, without traditional markups. Free shipping on 2+ items.
époque évolution | essential style, for everything & everywhere
Essential style, for everything & everywhere.
Manduka | Yoga Mats, Yoga Towels and Clothing
Manduka makes the world's finest athletic performance products, including yoga mats, towels, bags, props, and men's & women's fitness apparel. Shop our collection of best-in-class yoga mats, yoga clothing, towels, props, and accessories today.
Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear
Patagonia is a designer of outdoor clothing and gear for the silent sports: climbing, surfing, skiing and snowboarding, fly fishing, and trail running.
Cuyana - Fewer, Better Things
Fewer, Better Things. Timeless apparel and accessories for the modern woman made with the most premium materials and finest craftsmanship. Shop for wardrobe-essentials.
Amour Vert is sustainable fashion made in the USA.
Amour Vert is a sustainable fashion brand that makes classic staples like striped t-shirts in classic colors like navy, white, black, heather gray, and more.
Jeans, Denim Jackets & Clothing | Levi's® Official Site
The official Levi's® US website has the best selection of Levi's jeans, jackets, and clothing for men, women, and kids. Shop the entire collection today.
Free Standard Shipping and Free Returns on all US Orders - Casual & Elegant Clothes | EILEEN FISHER
Free standard shipping on all Continental US orders. Wardrobe essentials. Shop women's casual clothing that effortlessly combines timeless, elegant lines with eco-friendly fabrics from EILEEN FISHER.
Citations
Bucker, Drew. "50 Recycling & Trash Statistics That Will Make You Think Twice About Your Trash." Commercial Garbage & Waste Management Company | Rubicon Global, 5 June 2019, www.rubiconglobal.com/blog-statistics-trash-recycl....
Sachs, Lexie, and Good Housekeeping Institute. "The Best Sustainable Fashion Brands to Look Good While Doing Good." Good Housekeeping, Good Housekeeping, 28 May 2019, www.goodhousekeeping.com/clothing/g27154605/sustai....
Stanton, Audrey. "What Is Fast Fashion, Anyway?" The Good Trade, The Good Trade, 8 Oct. 2018, www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-fast-fashion.
"WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FASHION?" Green Strategy Sustainable and Circular Fashion Consulting, www.greenstrategy.se/sustainable-fashion/what-is-s....
