It’s not always easy to be an eco-fashionista!
Although I am committed to living as sustainably as possible, it is not always easy to
find suitable eco-friendly or sustainable apparel to buy when I am out shopping.
On top of that, green fashion hasn’t always been considered the most stylish.
And to some extent, that had to do with the limited funds available to those looking to
supply a small subset of society with sustainably grown, harvested, and manufactured
textiles.
What is sustainability and how does it translate to fashion?
Basically, sustainable fashion is about considering people, planet and progress along
with style.
In the past, ethical, Fair Trade, organic, sustainable were not words people thought of as
fashionable, but that is changing.
Fortunately, there is increasing evidence that sustainable-fashion is becoming more
mainstream.
“More and more brands like Modavanti,
have a three-pronged framework for
sustainability: environmentally friendly,
ethical sourcing and social good.”
There are even some big name designers who have answered the call to create
environmentally-sound clothing that is not only good for our health and the health of
the planet, but is also extremely stylish.
“Brands like People Tree,
Stella McCartney
and Amour Vert have
transformed ethical fashion
into something that is
desirable and glamorous.”
Green fashion shows are now featured during the New York, London, Paris and Milan
Spring/Summer Fashion Weeks.
Six celebrities wore eco-fashion to the 2012 Oscars, including Meryl Streep who wore a
gold-lame gown by Lanvin.
They were participating in the Green Carpet Challenge by Livia Firth, wife of Oscar
winner Colin Firth.
At the 2013 Golden Globes, Bradley Cooper wore a two piece suit by Tom Ford,
designed exclusively for the Green Carpet Challenge.
The British high street fashion label Jigsaw London has launched an eco-friendly
Green Label line in America where they transform leftover fabrics into new fashion.
This environmentally-friendly line adds no additional chemicals to the environment
and allows customers to own a much more exclusive design than buying a mass produced
item in a department store.
With more people embracing an eco-friendly lifestyle and demanding products to suit
their parameters, new styles and processes have emerged.
Eco-Conscious Fashion Finds
Here are a few other eco-conscious fashion firms and designers to explore:
1. People Tree
For over twenty years, People Tree has partnered with Fair Trade artisans and farmers in
the developing world to produce a collection of ethical and eco fashion.
When you wear People Tree, you look good and feel good knowing your unique garment
was made with respect for people and the planet.
People Tree is recognized by customers and the fashion industry as a pioneer in Fair Trade
and environmentally sustainable fashion.
They also work hard to ensure that they pioneer sustainable methods of production to minimize
environmental impact.
Not only is most of their cotton certified organic and Fairtrade, all their clothes are dyed using
safe and natural dyes.
They source as many products as they can locally, choosing natural and recycled products over
toxic, synthetic and non-biodegradable materials.
People Tree ships their products by sea instead of air and weave fabric by hand, reducing our
impact on global warming.
2. Modavanti
Modavanti believes in the power of our generation to change the world through
sustainable fashion.
Modavanti is the destination for the new generation of socially conscious consumers,
like ourselves, who are looking to find stylish and sustainable fashion that fits our
values without compromising on quality or design.
At Modavanti they believe sustainable fashion is personal.
It’s about finding your style.
Whether it’s a certain designer, a specific look or a sustainability characteristic, at
Modavanti you can search for what matters most to you.
To them, sustainable fashion can be sexy, comfy and luxurious.
It’s a mindset, not a trend; a lifestyle rather than an experience.
No longer do you have to choose between looking good and being environmentally
and socially aware.
They are committed to social enterprise and believe passionately that profit and
progress should go hand-in-hand.
3. EDUN
EDUN embraces both sustainable and ethical sensibilities, with clothing options
that are manufactured with the Earth and its inhabitants in mind.
Items like tees, jeans, skirts and sweaters are bound to appeal to just about everyone,
but there are also some sexy little dresses for the woman who wants something for a
special night out.
And they also offer a line of menswear.
Although these designers are certainly top tier when it comes to green fashion, they are just
the tip of the iceberg.
4. Amour Vert
To Amour Vert, sustainable fashion is smart business.
Amour Vert’s core message is: Every garment for a cleaner world.
Amour Vert markets themselves as the engineers of a new paradigm in fashion.
Born of an elevated global awareness and passion for quality they lead with their heads
and hearts to create beautiful products, sustainable practices and supply chain integrity.
They believe that they are pioneering a considered and sustainable future through
their “smart fashion”.
By 2015 Amour Vert will plant 100,000 trees through the sales of their just-right tees.
Their luxurious fabrics and flattering cuts are sensuous against bare skin.
They believe that conscious fashion is a transformative experience, and they create
products that are clean, pure and desirable.
5. Stella McCartney
Daughter of an internationally renowned musician and a lifelong vegetarian,
Stella McCartney set out to design clothing that was not only beautiful and wearable,
but also free of fur and leather.
Further, her designs are on the cutting edge of eco-fabrics.
From clothing and lingerie to purses and other accessories, you can plan your
entire green wardrobe with pieces from McCartney’s line.
Raven + Lily
Raven + Lily is committed to providing products that are made by hand, follow fair
trade standards, and honor their eco-friendly commitment.
Founded by Kirsten Dickerson and Sophia Lin who share a close friendship and passion
for fashion and ethical design, Raven + Lily was created as a platform to utilize those
passions to alleviate poverty among women.
Raven + Lily currently helps employ marginalized women in India, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Cambodia, Pakistan, and the USA at fair trade wages to give them access to a safe job,
sustainable income, health care, education, and a real chance to to break the cycle of
poverty for themselves and their families.
Etsy, Pinterest and More…
It is important to note that Etsy has more than 23,000 eco clothing listings and
Pinterest has over 6,000 pages dedicated to “eco-fashion”.
There are lots of fashion labels–especially online–making all kinds of eco-friendly
clothing and accessories to satisfy those who want to look good while reducing their
impact on the planet.
A quick Google or Instagram search will net you hundreds of results to assess and
explore.
“If you’re looking to make less of a
fashion statement while leaving a
smaller carbon footprint,
consider making an effort to wear
eco-fashion as a way to do just that.”
Is Eco-Fashion Becoming More Mainstream?
The infographic below highlights key aspects of this eco-friendly fashion growth trend.
This is a great post. I have honestly not given much thought to eco-friendly fashion beyond shopping for second hand clothes at local thrift shops. I am surprised by how stylish the clothes you feature here are, and just when I thought I couldn’t love Bradley Cooper any more he goes and does this…
Hi there,
This is a great list but with only 6 brands you a just scratching the surfice. I am currently running a kickstarter campaign for my sustainable fashion line of versatile day to evening dress made with organic materilas and luxury craftsmanship. Please help us get the word out.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/150545687/wabi-sabi-eco-fashion-concept-stylish-and-organic
Hi Michele,
I am delighted that you connected with me. I am happy to help get the word out on your sustainable fashion line. I will follow up with you.
Great article! This is really something I’d like to get more into doing. I find that sustainable tends to cost quite a bit more, but how can I justify buying cheaper things when they cost more in the long run.
Thanks Deborah =)
Deborah, this is a treasure trove of information for a complete scoop of all environmentally conscious apparel brands. Would recommend my friend abroad to this. I happen to come from Asia, so could you give me a rundown of similar brands that sell here? Appreciate your response!!
Hi Surela,
I will try to find some ecofashion brands available internationally for you. Most of them are online so it will be easy to access their websites.
Great list, but I find it very difficult to find eco fashion brands that are gentle on the pocket. The other thing is quality. Not all are equal, unfortunately.
This is an amazing list 🙂