And contrary to the fast-fashion ethos, many of these responsible brands are creating classic clothes and encouraging customers to wear them season after season. But things are beginning to change. These brands are growing and building larger consumer bases, which will allow them to start reducing the cost of manufacturing. Carr makes all her products in the L. Garment District where she can keep an eye on workers, to make sure they are treated well.
And she only uses certified organic cotton that is durable enough to wear for years. But she hopes to bring prices down over time, as her orders go up and she can take advantage of economies of scale. But over time, as the brand grows, I want to find ways to bring the prices down, to be even more accessible.
And until more consumers feel they can afford to buy clothes from values-driven socially conscious brands, it is hard to fundamentally change the problems in the fashion industry. American Giant , a San Francisco-based startup, wants to make indestructible clothes. While none of the products are as cheap as fast fashion, they are meant to provide good value given how durable they are.
And on top of all of this, Everlane is known for its incredibly ethical and sustainable supply chain. Its factories, which are all over the world, have been carefully selected based on how workers are treated as well as how eco-friendly they are. Some brands have gone into poor communities around the world and built factory jobs to create employment opportunities. Take Known Supply , for instance. Workers are paid a living wage, and the person who made the product signs their name on a tag, to create a real connection between the maker of the product and the buyer.
Another tip: Seek out brands that can verify they treat their workers well. Take shoes and accessories brand Nisolo , which employs people in Peru, Mexico, and Kenya. Not only do these artisans get paid significantly more than the national average, but Nisolo also provides important benefits, like healthcare, financial planning training, and English classes.
And importantly, the company ensures that products are well-made, durable, and affordable. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of innovation around polyester, a fabric widely used in moisture-wicking clothes. Even its mail packaging is made from recycled plastic. Aday creates athleisure clothes that can be worn at the gym and in the office using sustainably sourced polyester. Rumi X makes yoga outfits made from recycled materials of all kinds, including plastic bottles, coffee grounds, and crab shells.
The problem with polyester is that every time you wash it, tiny pieces of it—called microplastic—end up getting washed away and polluting the ocean. We are also consuming these micro plastics through the food we eat, and scientists still do not fully understand the impact of these materials on our bodies.
In fact, every meal you eat may have up to piece of plastic in it. Cotton, for instance, is a heavily water-intensive plant, and in many countries toxic pesticides are used in the growing process. All you can do is be aware of the impact of the materials you are using, and try to make the best decisions you can.
But the good news is that there are some innovative brands on the market now creating sustainable shoes using the most cutting-edge methods.
And if your Nudie jeans need mending you can pop into their London shop for a free repair service. These include projects around improving child health through proper sanitation, and female empowerment through skills training and education. Outsider Clothing makes beautiful, timeless clothes ethically made by this ethical clothing brand using sustainable materials, such as hemp, hemp silk, organic cotton, naturally coloured cotton, peace silk, and more.
These seriously beautiful ethical clothes are high up on my wishlist! Keep your eye out for sample sales. Their website also gives advice on how to repair all Patagonia items , which is seriously useful. They often work in collaboration with designers, such as Orla Kiely and Zandra Rhodes, to produce some original prints. As such this ethical clothing brand is one of my first stops when looking for ethical clothing.
All of these are designed in the UK and made in a fair-wage, sustainable atelier in Bulgaria. Through their Locally Made project, they are actively increasing the number of products they manufacture locally in the South West, Guernsey, and across the UK. In particular, look out for GOTS-certified organic cotton products and waterproof fabrics made from organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles. Keep your eye out for regular sales. In particular, they specialise in eco-friendly organic and ethically sourced and produced politically-conscious streetwear.
Edinburgh-based Totty Rocks produce stylish retro-inspired clothing, all of which are designed and made in Scotland. I also have a handy guide on what to look for when shopping for ethical clothing. It covers topics such as what fabrics to look for and explains what all the different eco-labels mean if the ethical fashion jargon bamboozles you. To help make ethical fashion more affordable, things that you can do to help engender change include asking High St brands who make their clothes see Fashion Revolution for their great resources.
This will help press for transparency and sustainability on the High Street, making ethical clothing much more accessible for all. Big brands cancelled all orders placed before the crisis — some of which had already been shipped. This financially devastated factories since they had already had to pay for fabric and other production costs for these orders.
Here are also some other ideas on how to support the ethical fashion movement from the bottom up. Sustainable fashion also lacks diverse representation. However, there is also a lack of a range of sizes which leaves a large swath of potential would-be customers behind.
Asking brands to use more diverse models, beyond a size 8 able-bodied 20 something white woman is another way to help broaden the appeal of ethical fashion. Have I missed any brands? Do let me know! Then why not pin it for later?
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Fast fashion companies can boast big vague statements or have impressive goals… for … but, what are they doing now? Below we share how to research brands, what questions you can ask of brands and what the Ethical Clothing Australia ECA trademark means.
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