Here are a few brands that have caught (or continue to catch) our eye. The most sustainable fashion choice we can make is simply not purchasing another item we don’t need. We’re addicted to consuming and the fast-fashion sector has emerged in part to feed that beast.
When it’s time to update your wardrobe (or you just feel like it!) spending your money on brands doing things a little more consciously will help shift the market towards a lower impact, more ethical model. Enjoy!
Cagey’s Planet
What: Ethical Streetwear
Where: Melbourne
Why they're on our radar: They are 100% sweatshop and child labour free, working with WRAP certified manufacturers. Tees are locally printed using non-toxic dyes. They also advocate for mental health awareness and donate a portion of their sales to Black Dog Institute.
Tigre et Tigre
What: Ethically made clothing, vegan, “10-free” nail polishes
Where: Los Angeles
Why they‘re on our radar: Tigre et Tigre are inspired by Princess Diana’s effortless tomboy style. All of their pieces are made in Los Angeles. They told us that while usually LA garment workers are paid by the garment, Tiger et Tigre pay by the hour which is better for the workers.
They also have a cute range of vegan and “10-free” nail polishes, meaning they’re made without animal products or the ten common gross ingredients found in most nail polish brands (including Dibutyl phthalate, Formaldehyde and Xylene).
Lucy and Yak
What: Independent, handmade, sustainable dungarees and boilersuits
Where: United Kingdom
Why they're on our radar: Lucy and Yaks signature oversized dungarees are made in Britain with a mix of organic hemp and cotton. They have full transparency back to their Northern Indian fabric mills (which is pretty amazing) where their tailor pays his employees four times the state minimum wage. All of their dyes are non-toxic and low impact.
Carlie Ballard
What: Artisanal made modern apparel
Where: Sydney
Why she’s on our radar: Carlie is a sustainable fashion advocate and a founding director of Clean Cut Fashion Association, Australia's Ethical and Sustainable Fashion Association. Garments are constructed primarily using certified GOTS organic cotton in a small workshop in Lucknow India, where workers are paid fairly. Collections are made in small runs, and excess fabric is used to make drawstring bags, which helps to minimise waste and alleviate any dead stock.
Beaton Linen
What: Linen basics in seasonless silhouettes
Where: Vancouver
Why they're on our radar: All products are made using eco-hero fabric linen, which is produced in Europe, dyed with eco-friendly dyes in the U.S and manufactured in Vancouver, Canada.
Elizabeth Suzann
What: Thoughtful, well designed garments in natural fibres
Where: Nashville (but FREE worldwide shipping)
Why she’s on our radar: Elizabeth Suzann believes in mindful, careful consumption. She creates long-lasting garments that serve many needs so you can buy fewer of them. Garments are cut and sewn locally in their Nashville design studio using high quality, natural fiber cloth (cottons, linens, silks and wool).
She creates seasonless pieces that can be worn a myriad of ways, to discourage the disposable culture of clothing. Her range is size inclusive too - from XXS to 4XL. Yas hunny.
Annie Hamilton
What: Minimalist styles with maximalist prints inspired by the natural world
Where: Sydney
Why she’s on our radar: All garments are made in Sydney, small production runs in order to minimise waste. Annie hand designs all of her prints then uses digital printing which uses less water than conventional dyeing and helps to reduce waste. All dyes are non-toxic. She uses natural, low impact fabrics such as silk (Chinese) hemp (northern Chinese) and linen (Lithuanian)
Hara The Label
What: Ethically produced plant dyed comfy intimates
Where: Melbourne
Why they're on our radar: Hara’s mission “is to use the label as a platform to bring change, awareness and education to the issues within the fashion industry”. Ethically and sustainably produced using fair trade practices and environmentally conscious production methods and materials.
We also really love their branding, their social media sites are full of gorgeous bodies in all shapes and sizes. SO here for that.
Patagonia
What: The activist company producing outerwear and activewear
Where: US / global
Why they’re on our radar: Honestly, these guys are just all over everything in terms of flipping the unsustainable apparel sector on its head. They’re legit.
They have supported grass-roots environmental activists for decades and publicly advocate for environmental protection, fair trade and stricter labor standards. Patagonia were super early adopters of using recycled materials and switching to organic cotton.
They recently sued Donal Trump (yass) in a bid to protect national parks under threat and donated a $10 million tax break they received to environmental groups. Patagonia also has a cult following amongst the streetwear/norm-core scene.
BOYISH Jeans
What: Women’s denim centred around vintage silhouettes with a modern update
Where: Los Angeles
Why they’re on our radar: BOYISH jeans are produced with sustainable fabrics through an environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free process. Their yarn, fabric and manufacturing facilities are all within fifty kilometers of each other, increasing manufacturing transparency and reducing carbon emissions. They also use deadstock and vintage/recycled fabrics to make their jeans. For every item purchased, BOYISH plants a tree.
