The coolest sustainable fashion brands to shop now

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Lately, I’ve been giving more thought into how I shop.

As we trudge deeper into the uncertainties and economic slowdown caused by the ongoing pandemic that is Covid-19, I find myself pondering harder on the idea of conservation (call it survivor mentality, if you will); where my money is going, how long will a piece of clothing last me, and why am I really shopping? These ideas corroborate my current appetite for meaningful purchases.

Enter: sustainable fashion brands.

Of course, “sustainable fashion” can mean different things to different people.

A definite interpretation of the term can be defined by the consulting firm Green Strategy – there are seven types of sustainable fashion production and consumption methods: high quality and timeless designs that last, fair and ethical production, environmentally friendly production, custom-made production, selling second-hand or vintage clothing, renting or leasing pre-loved clothing, and upcycling clothing. 

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Brands such as House of Sunny, which employs ecologically-certified technology in order to conserve water, and Wright Le Chapelain, which utilises a transparent supply and production chain, particularly appeals to me.

Which brings me back to one of my original musings: Why am I really shopping? While we live in rather uncertain times, I’m pretty certain that I will be contributing my dollar into a better world.

Ahead, we’ve put together a few brands with sustainable collections that are worth checking out.

Tommy Hilfiger

In line with its sustainability mission to Waste Nothing and Welcome All, Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2021 Tommy Hilfiger Collection will be made using more sustainable methods and materials including 100 per cent organic cotton, as well as recycled polyester, nylon and cotton.

The collection itself is also inspired by Mr. Tommy Hilfiger’s personal love of Miami, so you can expect ready-to-wear pieces for men and women that are elevated and sophisticated that clashes with a modern Miami vibe.

H&M

We have to admit – we go nuts when fashion giants like H&M has something in-store for us — more specifically a collaboration like its recent tie-up with lemlem.

For the unacquainted the latter is a womenswear brand founded by Ethiopian supermodel, actress and women’s empowerment advocate Liya Kebede.

Here, you’ll find relaxed silhouettes made for the summer that include caftans and beachwear pieces with bold stripes and dip-dyed colour-blocking along with swimwear, jewellery and accessories, made with sustainable materials.

The H&M lemlem collection will be available online and in selected stores from April 22, 2021 onwards.

Kipling

What was once a hot air balloon has now become the next must-have carry-on. Enter Kipling’s Hot Air Tote.

Moving towards sustainability, the brand has engaged in a special project that recycles retired hot air balloons — transforming it into a tote.

Each bag is unique and is made from the different parts of the hot air balloon and it even comes with a serial number of its own.

On top of that, it also makes a convenient alternative to other traditional bags as it can be folded inside out to become packable so you can keep your hands free.

Mango

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Spanish clothing brand, Mango, has embarked on its quest towards sustainability.

The brand, continues in its desire to achieve its major goal of a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry in areas such as the product, the reduction of emissions and waste, the circular economy, biodiversity, transparency and traceability.

The brand has also set itself a target of using 100 per cent sustainable cotton and 50 per cent recycled polyester in its collections by 2025 — so you can look forward to more sustainable clothing pieces in the near future.

But that’s not all — Mango will also continuing its project to cease the use of all plastic bags in its supply chain, and replacing it with paper bags to reduce its carbon footprint — hence, allowing Mango to cease using approximately 160 million plastic bags every year.

ROOP

ROOP is known for its Instagrammable “Furoshiki” satin bags which feature a scrunchie handle and a construction inspired by the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to transport goods that they owe their name to.

Using remnant, vintage and deadstock fabrics from places that range from factories, Ebay and secondhand shops to handcraft her bags, founder Natasha Fernandes Anjo forms a one-man team that creates every artisanal bag with love.

Every design is super limited in quantity or one-of-a-kind due to the upcycling of leftover and vintage fabrics.

With a mission to be green, Natasha designs her bags consciously while trying to be as low waste as possible – even the brand’s packaging is kept environmentally-friendly as well.

House of Sunny

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Hackney-based brand House of Sunny is one of those cool Instagram-famous brands to get well-acquainted with.

It’s known for its ‘70s retro nostalgic look, a playful palette of muted colours, and a strong focus on high quality designs “with a feeling that lasts”.

Producing only two seasonal collections a year instead of four (or even a monthly drop), House of Sunny allocates more time to thoughtfully source sustainable fabrics and practices to craft pieces that are meant to be bought for posterity.

The brand abstains from using fur, leather, silk or skins, and the wool they use is sourced from producers with good animal husbandry.

Making accessories using leftover materials, House of Sunny’s commitment to low-waste and environmentally-conscious practices renders it one of my favourite brands to seek right now.

Mother of Pearl

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Based in East London, Mother of Pearl crafts clothing and shoes that are contemporary, boasting minimalist cuts but always sprinkled with a little extra thoughtfulness in design: a relaxed tiered dress in coppery hammered satin viscose made interesting with cold shoulder balloon sleeves; a denim jacket made from organic cotton fitted with seemingly deconstructed sleeves “pinned on” by faux pearls.

The brand minimises use of synthetic fabrics (when washed, synthetic fibres shed tiny particles of plastic which pollute our oceans) and remains committed to using organic, virgin or recycled natural fibres in order to help protect the environment.

Mother of Pearl also traces and is transparent on their supply chain, connecting you with the story of every garment’s creation process and informing you of a clothing’s sustainable attributes such as low carbon footprint.

BITE Studios

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Everything you need to know about BITE Studios can be summed up by its name: BITE, being an abbreviation for By Independent Thinkers for Environmental Progress.

Committed to conserving the environment by focusing on durability and quality, the brand creates thoughtful designs that were created with high attention to detail.

From exceptionally constructed tailoring to pared down shirt dresses we can see ourselves wearing even ten years from now, the Stockholm and London-based label creates every piece of clothing with the minimal carbon footprint, and 95 per cent of the materials used in their collections are organic, recycled or low-impact.

Wright Le Chapelain

French-British brand co-founded by Central Saint Martins’ graduates Imogen Wright and Vincent Le Chapelain, Wright Le Chapelain, was launched in 2017 with sustainability and ethics at the heart of the brand.

Sourcing fabrics from British Heritage Mills and Italy, fostering integrity with a transparent production chain in order to trace where their fabrics come from, and crafting every piece locally in London to reduce their environmental footprint, the power duo aims to help the modern woman build a smart season-defying wardrobe while reimagining suiting and shirts by reinventing timeless classics in fresh eccentric cuts.

ELLISS

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Using organic and recycled natural fabrics that range from cotton and hemp to bamboo, London-based label ELLISS’s brand ethos centers around using conscious design methods that avoid waste and crafting soft, high quality swimwear, lingerie and fleeces with low impact on both animals and the earth.

ELLISS uses GOTs-certified non-toxic dyes on organic cotton to create its signature eye-catching prints.

Phoebe English

Phoebe English’s collections are made in small “made to order” batches to avoid overproduction and wastage.

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Crafted locally in London using fabrics sourced within the UK or within Europe as close to London as possible to reduce carbon footprint, the brand’s pieces are crafted from surplus or deadstock fabrics that are given new life in the form of limited edition items.

The English designer’s line of clothing features unique, conversational pieces that are wearable yet beaming with interesting details.

Using planet-friendly fabrics like Oeko-Tex certified bamboo silks, Phoebe English avoids using plastic even when it comes to her finishes (her buttons are made from palm nuts and milk protein) and applies a zero-waste pattern cutting approach to her designs.

Mara Hoffman

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Enriching the dialogue surrounding mindful shopping, Mara Hoffman’s clothing is designed with a focus on sustainable materials and responsible production methods in order to reduce environmental impact as well as encourage ongoing conversation regarding ethical and environmentally-friendly fashion.

Opting for recycled and organic materials as much as possible, the brand also engages with women and small producers in developing countries to create artisanal handcrafted pieces. Not to mention, its vibrant, summer-ready dresses and swimwear are perfect vacation pieces.

Untitled Co.

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Indie brand Untitled Co. aims to create wearable art.

Committed to eradicating exploitation of labour, the India-based brand works with Indian artisans to create timeless made-to-order garments designed consciously with close attention to detail.

Mixing traditional embroidery techniques with modern silhouettes (like a balloon sleeved blouse or a pair of lavender silk bermuda shorts that feels very current and Instagrammable), Untitled Co.’s clothing have a precious, hand-crafted feel to all of them that makes them feel like treasured tokens of love.

This article was first published in Her World Online.