Circular Fashion: Noteworthy Brands
There are so many brands taking steps in the right direction. Please find below a list of brands which are making a difference and taking steps toward sustainability in the fashion industry, each in their own unique way.
OhSevenDays
OhSevenDays is a mindfully made womenswear label. They create sustainable staples from deadstock fabrics. Being based in one of the textile manufacturing capitals of the world, Istanbul Turkey, they have access to factories and all of their beautiful leftover fabrics. They offer something they call “Monday to Sunday dressing,” meaning that their clothing transitions seamlessly from daytime casual, to weekend fun! They also believe in generating styles made on the concept that they were created from ethical beginnings to sustainable endings. They promote the idea of ‘slow fashion’ and strive to contribute to the concept of Circular Fashion. They also are very transparent, and put all of their sustainability and transparency about their brand on their site. While their clothing is very trendy, they also have a variety of more conservative choices that speak to building a core, capsule wardrobe.
Stella McCartney
https://www.stellamccartney.com/us
Stella McCartney is a luxury brand dedicated and committed to defining future of fashion – by creating it in the here and now. With every decision, they focus on both beauty and sustainability. On their site, they make plain the steps they are taking to participate in the circular fashion movement, through restorative and regenerative design. Their end-goal is that the clothing they love NEVER ends up as waste. Their mission statement is amazing, and their clothing is just as incredible. This brand has many statement pieces and looks that are very elegant but also different than what I have seen from other brands recently. What is also great about the brand is how it has Womens, Mens, Kids Shoes, Bags, and even Unisex, which is something I haven’t seen with other brands! Currently, I am obsessing over this beautiful looped stich coat for my winters in Connecticut.
Ecoalf
What I love about this brand is their mission statement. They say “We are convinced that decisions that are right for the planet will end up being good for the business.” I think that it is almost poetic for this brand to be more focused on the environment and their impact on the planet, than the way it is actually impacting their business. Some of the key things I saw about this brand is how they use a lot of layering, which is something I love. Living in the northeast, I have always valued layering, mostly for keeping warm, but also because I feel I can create better outfits in the winter when layering. My favorite is to put turtle-necks under crew necks, and jackets on top to give a laid back, yet put together look. I believe that Ecoalf offers all of these essential layering pieces that everyone needs in their closet. This brand is more on the minimal side, which is great sustainably, because these pieces are going to be easy to mix and match and wear often, because of their simplicity and easiness. Overall, I think this is a great brand to look at if you are someone just dipping your toes to circular fashion.
Maggie Marilyn
This brand is actually a brand that I have been following for about two years, and they have recently announced that they are no longer following traditional fashion calendars and are aiming their goals more towards circularity and regeneration. The way they are going to achieve this is by focusing more on their customers. They have committed themselves to the difficult task of consistently asking new questions and challenging themselves to be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I think that it an incredible goal that shows industry leadership in this area. I am very impressed with the way this brand is transforming and adapting to get closer in line with the goals of circular fashion. The clothes also so in keeping with how many consumers, including me, are creating their wardrobe collections! They have the best color palettes consisting of core neutrals accented and accompanied with pops of pinks, purples, and blues. Their use of ruffles and the flow in their silhouettes is impeccable and thoughtful both by the way that garments drape on the body, but also in the sense that pieces work well together, but also can easily be paired with things you may already have in your own wardrobe. Their No Turning Back Top is so darling and romantic and I have been looking at for a while now.
Everlane
Everlane is a brand that is working creating an environmentally responsible supply chain. They are focused on the impact that we all play on this earth. They carefully source their materials and do their part to build an ethical supply chain. They are creating high-quality products while also working to reduce the waste, chemicals and plastics which are often byproducts in the creation of clothing and also are all dangers to the earth’s ecosystems. They are focused on creating no new plastics but instead are using recycled materials, organic cotton, and more. This brand is also great because they cater to different kinds of bodies, while providing excellent quality, lovely everyday silhouettes for the working market at a relatively affordable price. I think it is also very important to note the pricing break-down that is on each garment page on their website. Each piece receives transparent pricing which explains how much are the costs for materials, labor, transport, etc. It is really great to be able to know what exactly you are paying for when you buy something, and they are one of very little brands who are this transparent with their customers. This Henley made out of 100% recycled cashmere looks so cozy and so cute!
Reformation
https://www.thereformation.com
Reformation is a very trendy brand that is focused on an ever-evolving plan and definition of what sustainability means in regards to how they do business. They are influenced by product, people, planet and progress and they share their goals and programs working within a sustainable framework for 2019-2023. I love Reformation because the clothes are perfect for my demographic and generation (College Student, Millennial). There are really cute dresses, cool two-piece jogger sets, fun prints, and plenty of basic styles. Personally, when buying clothes there are a few things that I like to keep in mind: how often I think I am going to wear something, how much of a statement or a value will it hold in my wardrobe, and how much am I willing to spend on something. I think that when scrolling through Reformation, it checks all of those boxes for me. Their basics line I can see myself wearing every single day from online class to running my errands around Philly. Their dresses are so beautiful, and I have been eyeing their Cameron Dress for a wedding I am hoping to attend in 2021. Sustainable brands tend to land on the pricier side of the margin, but I think Reformation does a pretty good job in keeping their clothing affordable, especially for the quality and longevity they provide.
For Love and Lemons
For Love and Lemons is another super trendy and sustainable brand. The co-founders are two strong independent women (girl power!). Through their creativity and love for the planet, they have created an adorable brand filled with plenty of beautiful prints, lovely lingerie and trendy silhouettes. They also have Mommy and Me options which are adorable for trendy moms and their cute mini-me’s. They are not 100% sustainable yet, but have been making big changes to be a more sustainable brand and have a pledge for their goals for 2020 and beyond. This is an important call out, because they understand as a brand that they want to take their customers along on the journey as they work toward sustainability. They also have a line called “Sustainability is Beautiful,” which are pieces designed with up to 100% recycled materials. I am in love with this beautiful ruffle print dress!
Salvatore Ferragamo
https://www.ferragamo.com/shop/us/en
Salvatore Ferragamo is a luxurious Italian brand which has always been environmentally and sustainably cautious and has applied polices to protect the environment. The company aims to participate and promote the development of business models based on collaboration, extending the life of products, and the reusing energy, as well as renewable resources. Personally, I had the pleasure to go to The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, when I was studying abroad in Italy, and it is absolutely incredible. One of the most interesting things I saw at the museum was their development of textiles from citrus fruit scraps (so cool!). Significantly, this is Italy’s first Green corporate museum. The company is very invested in various Green initiatives in Italy. The museum is absolutely stunning and very informative in the positive changes this brand has brought not only to the brand itself, but to the fashion industry and Italian culture. Ferragamo is of course, very luxurious and so elegant in the construction and fit of each garment. The Nappa Bomber with Quilted Stitching is absolutely stunning and has a sporty vibe while also being extremely luxurious in its overall design. It is the perfect embodiment of Elevated Active and I am completely obsessed.
Hugo Boss
https://www.hugoboss.com/us/men/
At Hugo Boss, they have the concept of “Today. Tomorrow. Always.” Today representing the milestones, they have achieved so far. Tomorrow containing the goals that Hugo Boss has set for itself for the future. Always, holding their overall sustainability principles and main goals and activities within the concept. The brand is focused mostly on menswear, which has both elegant looks and silhouettes, but also more casual weekend looks. I think that the menswear in this brand is very strong in conjunction with the brands goals in regards to sustainability. I think this is a fantastic place for the working men who want to dress sustainably, but also want to be fashionable. When I was looking on their site, I found a basic mock neck slim-fit sweater which they paired with a plaid virgin wool suit, which I thought was so fashion forward!
Allmade
Allmade is a sustainable blank T-Shirt and wholesale apparel brand which was founded with one common goal in mind, which was to create a better T-shirt, while also reducing out carbon footprint, saving water, and reducing waste. Garments are made from polyester from recycled plastic bottles, TENCEL Modal from renewable beech trees, and organic cotton sourced in the United States. Something I think is amazing about Allmade is their transparency. Each t-shit comes with a QR code, which you can scan and see where your shirt was cut and sewn! They have a variety of colors, and they sell unisex, women, and youth t-shirts in both short and long sleeves. As someone who loves basics, if you are looking for your next favorite t-shirts, Allmade is the place for fantastic sustainable and ethically made T-shirts.
