Sustainability has been the buzzword for fashion brands over the past few years. Due to the highly visible spotlight of global warming, brands and consumers are a buzz to embrace more sustainable habits and processes. But it still leaves a lot of us thinking, what exactly makes a brand sustainable? According to the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, a sustainable brand features “local sourcing and production, transparency across the supply chain, traceability of work processes and raw materials, environmentally friendly raw materials, safe working conditions, and fair wages.”
As you can see, the inefficiencies in the industry not only impact the environment around us, it also influences the culture it employs; with an estimated labor force of 3.3 million people, the impact is substantial.
The fashion industry has many complicated issues that will only balloon in the coming years. With that though, comes a plethora of ways for us to course-correct if we’re willing. A few sustainable buying habits include embracing the rental market with programs like Rent the Runway or Vivrelle or purchasing secondhand clothing over new ones. But as consumers, one of the most impactful steps we can take is ‘conscious fashion.’ It’s the most popular example of sustainability that puts the onus on the consumer to not only avoid fast fashion but to also use sustainable efforts in caring for their garments.
We can all do our part to help the environment. Below are several sustainable brands that are stylish, ethical, and worth it.
1.Local European, a womenswear label based in Los Angeles with a focus on timeless silhouettes with modern touches.
Where to Shop:: https://localeuropean.com/
2.Reformation, a womenswear label with the mission to bring sustainable fashion to everyone.
Where to Shop:: https://www.thereformation.com/
3.Madewell, a denim-focused brand that recently branched out to men’s apparel as well.
Where to Shop:: https://www.madewell.com/
4.Everlane, a brand that sources the finest materials and factories for timeless products.
Where to Shop:: https://www.everlane.com/
5.Girlfriend Collective, an athleisure brand using recycled, biodegradable fibers.
Where to Shop:: https://girlfriend.com/collections/all
6.Megan Renee, a Los Angeles-based unapologetically feminine and bold women's brand.
Where to Shop:: https://shopmeganrenee.com/
7.Quince, high-quality products at radically low prices.
Where to Shop:: https://www.onequince.com/
8.ABLE, an ethical fashion brand that employs and empowers women as a solution to end poverty.
Where to Shop:: https://www.livefashionable.com/
9.Aday, a minimalist capsule brand for maximizing life.
Where to Shop:: https://www.thisisaday.com/
10.Aritzia, a design house with an innovative global platform.
Where to Shop:: https://www.aritzia.com/us/en/home
11.Eileen Fisher, a womenswear brand that effortlessly combines timeless and elegant lines.
Where to Shop:: https://www.eileenfisher.com/
12.Cuyana, a label with timeless collections for the modern woman through carefully selected fabrics, precise silhouettes, and attention to detail.
Where to Shop:: https://www.cuyana.com/shop
13.Amour Vest, womenswear specializing in luxuriously soft-tailored styles.
Where to Shop:: https://amourvert.com/
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