A Look At Current Sustainable Fashion Brands
The production of clothing has not had the best reputation because factories have been known for their pollution and utter waste of natural resources. Sustainability is something that many of us want to see in the fashion world, but how can we obtain such a future? Today we will discuss how some companies are encouraging a greener and more sustainable industry. As you read about what they are doing to reduce waste, consider some of the things you can do to provide a cleaner, greener future for the next generation.
Endless supplies of bottles
Billions of recycled plastic bottles have been transformed into fibres to make clothing. One such company that has recycled over 20 billion single-use water bottles is called Repreve. Several retail brands partnered with Repreve, including Aeropostale, GOLDTOE, Lands’ End, Toms, and Volcom. These fibres have water repellency properties, which make them terrific for wicking away water. Another great thing is that they contain adaptive warming and cooling properties, making them ideal for activewear outfits. The only downside is that recycling plastic doesn’t eliminate plastic use in the food and beverage industry. However, this solution does prove helpful in the goal to reduce waste and natural resources.
Forever Sneaker image: Everlane
Everlane has LEED-certified factories and is very transparent with their customers regarding the production cost for each clothing item. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a green building certification system that recognizes buildings that promote sustainable practices and minimize energy consumption. Everlane is all about ethically sourced materials such as organic cotton, wool, and leather. They seek to establish an environmentally responsible supply chain, a commendable thing in this day and age. They sell clothing, but they also created the “Forever Sneaker” which comprises a natural rubber sole and recycled cotton materials. These trainers are recyclable by dropping them off at one of their store locations or requesting a prepaid shipping label. This could prove to be a game-changer in the coming years and is a revolutionary concept.
The brand Tentree lives up to its name and has vowed to plant ten trees for every item that a customer purchases. Their goal is to plant one billion trees by 2030 with their partnerships with charitable organizations. The materials they use in their clothes include tencel (which is a formula mainly comprised of wood pulp fibre), recycled plastic bottles, organic cotton, and hemp. There are various clothing styles to choose from on their website, and they are a great example of a fashion brand that utilizes alternative fabrics to promote sustainability.
Patagonia are leading the way. image: Patagonia
Patagonia is a brand that sells all sorts of activewear, including swimsuits, base layers, snow pants, hoodies, and more. Over 60% of their clothing line uses recycled materials such as cotton, polyester, cashmere, wool, and nylon. You can find something for everyone in your family if you purchase from Patagonia. If you are not satisfied with any of their products, there is an ironclad guarantee in place, meaning that they will repair, replace, or refund you. They also partner with several environmental programs, including living wage, bluesign, forest stewardship council, material traceability, and fair trade.
Lastly, we wanted to share about one of the top denim brands in the world. Levi’s has a new collection that uses over 90% less water than the normal process it takes to make jeans. They use hemp fibres and note that their WellThread collection is fully recyclable. It is great to see them leading the way towards making environmentally-friendly jeans.
Green Fashion - Sustainable Fashion
It is up to us as consumers to support environmentally-friendly brands. They cannot do it alone because we all can play a part in creating a more sustainable global environment. These are just some of the brands out there that are paving the way towards achieving the goal of sustainability. We encourage you to purchase more sustainable and durable clothes to reduce the amount of waste that is negatively impacting the environment.