So, what does "sustainable fashion" actually entail? What we commonly refer to as "sustainable fashion" refers to environmentally responsible practices employed within the fashion industry, including the creation, distribution, and disposal of garments that minimize their impact on Earth. Here, we take a more nuanced approach to the term "sustainable fashion," defining it as the industry's practice of sustaining the healthy lives of the people who make our clothes through living wages, safe working conditions, and maker well-being.
The most environmentally responsible option is to wear what you already own or to purchase items secondhand rather than researching clothing brands for their eco-friendly practices. Before you go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, try thrifting, borrowing from a friend, or browsing a consignment shop.
If you've looked into all of those options and are still set on buying new, you'll be happy to know that many companies are making efforts to produce clothing that is less harmful to the environment. Some brands may claim to be environmentally friendly, but you shouldn't take their word for it. While many consumers would like to make more ethical purchases, fashion industry marketing chiefs resort to deceptive "greenwashing" strategies instead of putting in the effort required to actually operate a sustainable business.
Outerknown
Outerknown is a fantastic brand that is highly recommended by us for purchasing simple clothing essentials such as shirts, shorts, sweaters, jeans, and other items. The brand obtains organic, recycled, or regenerated fibres for ninety percent of its products, and it uses only recycled or renewable fibres for one hundred percent of its trunks.
Nudie Jeans
Another brand that has our stamp of approval is Nudie Jeans. They only use cotton that is either organic, fair trade, or recycled, and this material makes up 93.8% of all the fibres that go into their clothing. Depending on the country of origin and the supplier, the organic cotton that Nudie Jeans uses has also been certified as meeting the requirements of GOTS, the Organic Content Standard 100, or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective is an excellent choice for activewear, bras, and underwear, in addition to a few select pieces of outerwear, and we highly recommend it. The company manufactures all of its clothing with eco-friendly materials, including fabric made from recycled water bottles and fishing nets as well as fibre made from waste products generated by the cotton industry. Additionally, all of the company's packaging is made entirely of recyclable materials. In the past, we put some of Girlfriend Collective's leggings to the test, and we found that we were completely in love with them.
Everlane
Everlane is perhaps one of the most well-known names in the field of sustainable and responsible fashion, and for good reason. The commitment of the brand to transparency enables customers to do their own research and discover information such as the following: 100% of Everlane's virgin plastic shipping bags are now made from either 100% recycled plastic or FSC-certified paper; 97% of Everlane's apparel materials containing polyester and nylon are now made from certified recycled fibres; Everlane's jeans are made in a LEED-certified factory that recycles 98% of its water.
Organic Basics
If you are looking for essentials such as shirts, sweaters, underwear, bras, and other items, we suggest that you check out Organic Basics. The manufacturer places a significant amount of importance on working with certified factory partners, and you are even able to investigate each individual factory with which it collaborates. In addition to this, it exclusively makes use of natural, renewable, recycled, biodegradable, and/or low-impact textiles.
