Sustainable fashion brands are the future and there are lots of companies already paving the way in this sector. In fact, the industry continues to grow every year and has enjoyed immense growth since 2020.
The Covid-19 pandemic saw a huge leap in sustainable fashion purchasing habits around the world. Having more time to think about the purchasing decisions they were making, consumers became less reliant on fast fashion and started to seek out sustainable brands. This meant that more sustainability-focused brands emerged, as well as more ethical lines appearing in well-known clothing stores.
This immense growth in the sector has made it a very desirable space for consumers and investors alike, which has seen an increase in the number of people engaging with ESG investing.
In this handy guide, we’ll discover five of the best sustainable fashion brands – each engaging with practices and creating products that better protect our planet. But before that, let’s delve into exactly what sustainable fashion is.
What is sustainable fashion?
Very few brands are entirely sustainable but there are certain things we can look out for when making decisions about what we buy. Sustainable fashion refers to the products a company makes and the processes they use to make those items.
Sustainable fashion brands use ethical manufacturing processes. For example, they might have carbon-neutral processing facilities or at least offset the carbon they produce. Packaging-wise, they’ll use recycled materials that can be recycled again, or biodegradable and compostable bags. The most sustainable brands will use paper packaging only and biodegradable inks that won’t damage oceanic ecosystems.
For items of clothing to be sustainable, they should be made of climate-friendly materials and fibres, and should be free of animal-derived products such as leather and wool.
As outlined, very few fashion brands can proclaim to be entirely sustainable, but what’s important for consumers is to identify where lots of effort is being made in that direction.
5 sustainable brands you should know about
Buying sustainable clothing is good for you, the animals we live alongside and the health of the planet. Just as wellness tea can improve our mental health, so too can becoming more ethical and sustainable, knowing that you’re contributing to a better world for all.
The five brands listed here are industry leaders in sustainable fashion. By buying from them, you can guarantee that you’re engaging with companies that are passionate about sustainability and are always striving to go further.
ELK
67% of people consider the use of sustainable materials to be an important factor when they’re deciding which clothes to buy. At ELK, 45% of all the materials they use are better for the environment than traditional fabrics. They also use organic cotton, which is grown more sustainability than cotton that isn’t organic, in a lot of their products.
99% of their packaging is either recyclable or compostable, meaning it won’t end up trapped in landfill where it causes pollution and takes up valuable space for hundreds of years.
KITX
This high-fashion brand uses man-made fibres, ethical factories and natural dyes, which each contribute to their sustainability credentials. They also source materials that minimise harm to the planet’s precious resources, ensuring that ecosystems aren’t damaged in the production of their clothing lines.
Outland Denim
This Australian brand was founded with social justice and the environment at the core of its operations. The company employs women who have been victims of sex trafficking, and 94% of their supply chain is traceable, which is a great example of sustainability in action.
Their clothes are designed to last a long time, meaning that you can wear them over and over again. This reduces your reliance on fast fashion and prevents you from needing to buy new items of clothing too regularly.
Par Moi
Par Moi is unique in the Australian fashion space because they only produce the exact number of garments that are needed. Each item of clothing here is made to order, so waste is kept to a minimum.
They also refuse to engage with seasonal lines, noting that this leads to customers throwing clothes out frequently. Instead, the items on sale at Par Moi are designed to be suitable throughout the year. They’re very stylish, so will never go out of fashion.
Boden
Boden is taking steps towards sustainability – and it shows. They pride themselves in choosing the best materials, giving to eco-charities, and making high-quality clothing.
Boden’s swimwear line even uses nylon from discarded fishing nets and other ocean trash, meaning that they aren’t merely preventing further environmental damage but are actively cleaning up too.
