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New year, same goals! I’m not big on new year’s resolutions, but I believe we should keep striving to reach our general goals in life. To continue our journey towards a sustainable fashion industry, one closet at a time, I want to introduce you to some of my favourite sustainable brands out there today.
Reusing, recycling and upcycling are always the most sustainable choices. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to take care of our environment and people. However, if you MUST buy something new, then choose consciously and shop sustainably.
There are plentiful of sustainable, ethical, and eco-friendly brands out there that offer clothes, shoes, and accessories for everyone. Here is a list of sustainable brands to look out for in 2021:
Stay Warm During Sweater Weather
© Photo Paloma Wool
Paloma Wool will give you some Barcelona heat to your wardrobe. This Spanish brand captures the inclusive and joyous culture of its home city with colors and funky prints.
Their products are made out of locally sourced materials and sustainable fiber, their evocative prints are digitally printed using solar energy, and all their leather goods are handcrafted. Paloma Wool puts emphasis on local craftsmanship and manufacturing, and manages to deliver sustainable garments that are fun to wear.
© Photo Tricot Paris
Tricot Paris’s recycled cashmere knitwear uses a combination of recycled fiber and virgin cashmere, while their wool and cotton knitwear uses organically farmed wool and cotton. All of these products are made in Italy.
They also offer hand-knitted products, which are made in family workshops in Peru. Their designs are every-day essentials that can be styled with jeans for a casual look, or a skirt for an evening outfit.
© Photo Soil & Company
This Peruvian knitwear brand uses local natural and organic fabric with long-standing weaving expertise to craft beautiful garments that reflects the rich Peruvian culture.
Soil & Company is the in-house brand by Gyunion Textile, a textile production company. This is an unique brand that was born and developed together with the textile supplier, meaning the manufacturer has an inherently close relationship with the brand.
© Photo Carcel
Seasonless and slow fashion brand, Carcel, sources all its materials locally where they produce their clothes. Carcel knitwear are sleek and super soft, modern with attention to quality fabric. They offer a range of total looks or you can also easily mix and match.
Their truly inspiring story is that all of their products are made by women serving prison sentences in Peru and Thailand, where their productions are located. By providing these women a change to rebuild their future through training and fair wages, is an incredible effort and contribution to society.
(Edit February 8th, 2021: Carcel became one of the many victims of Covid-19 lockdowns and is currently closing down)
© Photo Skall Studio
“Less is more” resonates with Skall Studio’s philosophy. Simplistic and natural scandinavian design is a common thread to their collections. Skall Studio works with local Danish suppliers and creates minimal environmental impact by only using natural non-toxic fiber. They offer free repairs of Skall products and encourage customers to care for their clothes.
Shoes And Sneakers
© Photo Saye
Discover classic and timeless sneakers that can be easily dressed up or down, and for all genders. Saye offers versatile kicks without compromising design.
Saye discloses all materials used on each part of the sneakers, and all their tanneries are audited and certified. They use recycled, upcycled, vegan, and certified sustainable materials to produce their shoes. Saye is based in Barcelona, Spain where the design studio is located, while they produce locally in Europe.
© Photo Ssōne
Ssōne upcycles dead-stock leather and uses recycled materials and organic fabrics to produce their shoes and clothes. Founded in London in 2018, Ssōne has come a long way in their effort to make sustainable fashion and minimize their environmental impact. Although they’re featured for their beautiful upcycled leather boots, they also have a range of sustainable clothing collections worth browsing through.
© Photo Flamingo’s Life
The signature look of Flamingo’s Life sneakers is clean and white with a pop of colour. They have a selection of both low-top and high-top sneakers.
By manufacturing and producing all their products in Spain, where the company is based, Flamingo’s Life significantly reduces carbon footprint while also ensuring an ethical supply chain.
Flamingo’s Life sneakers are not only made out of vegan, but also biodegradable materials. The brand likes to apply new textile innovations into their selection of fabric, including hemp, bamboo, and corn waste. For each sneaker sold, they will donate to NGOs of environmental causes as a cherry on the top.
© Photo Veja
If you haven’t heard of Veja sneakers yet, get ready for a treat. VEJA means “look” in Brazilian, and this brand definitely has the world turning eyes. This French sneaker brand has been a pioneer in making sustainable and ethical sneakers “cool”. Their clean and timeless design is suitable for any outfit and style.
We especially love their uncompromising commitment to sustainability and transparency of their supply chain. Their honest and humble culture is respected among its peers and sneaker fans.
© Photo Premium Basics
Handmade in Italy, Premium Basics blends Italian luxury quality and craftsmanship with universal streetwear. This is a brand that uses eco-friendly and non-toxic materials, such as recycled polyester and vegan PU Leather.
Their first drop, PBD_01 is an unisex sneaker that can easily be paired with loungewear and coat for a casual look or dressed up with a suit for a smart-casual outfit. If you like capsule wardrobes, then Premium Basics would be a perfect addition.
Essentials
© Photo Jan N June
Quality knits, shirts, and other every-day essentials that are perfect for capsule wardrobes, you can use these garments to mix and match for a seasonless collection of outfits.
This is what you can expect from Jan N June, all while shopping in good conscience knowing they only source from certified sustainable suppliers using certified materials.
© Photo Beaumont Organic
At Beaumont Organic, they move slowly, introducing two collections per year, but along the way, they make sure the environment and people are taken care of. Slow fashion is the way to go.
Beaumont Organic uses GOTS certified cotton, non-mulesing wool from the EU and works with ethical production companies located in Poland and Portugal.
© Photo Organic Basics
Not-So-Boring Underwear And Socks
© Photo Anekdot
You can feel free and comfortable in your own skin wearing Anekdot. The brand fuses upcycled material with certified sustainable fabric to create precious and delicate lingerie that hugs the body.
Anekdot works with ethical manufacturers in Poland and Germany, where the brand is based. This makes it possible for the company to reduce its carbon footprint and closely track their supply chain.
© Photo Swedish Stockings
Swedish Stockings is a leading sustainable hosiery brand that makes stockings, socks, and tights for any personal taste.
You can find endless colours, prints, and textures in their wide range of hosiery. Start to wear your stockings as a statement piece, this is an easy way to make an outfit “pop”. If you prefer more subtle outfits, Swedish Stockings have something for you too.
The sustainability efforts of Swedish Stockings is as great as their hosiery assortment. All of their products are produced using renewable energy, and made from recycled PET bottles and sustainable materials. They even go a step further in contributing to the circular economy by implementing new textile innovations, such as recycling old pantyhose into fiberglass tanks and furnitures used in other industries. You as a consumer can also send in your old pantyhose for recycling and get their -10% discount. Everybody wins.
© Photo Nico Underwear
Feeling comfortable and sexy in your underwear is not enough, Nico Underwear let’s you feel good about your shopping decisions as well, by only using certified sustainable materials.
It doesn’t stop there, this Australian brand works with ethical manufacturers in India and Bangladesh (yes, you read it right). By collaborating with manufacturers that comply with their set of code of conduct and that are protected by Accords that legally bind them to treat their workers ethically, Nico Underwear ensures that their supply chain stays as sustainable as their products.
© Photo Eco Intimates
Another Australian lingerie brand on this list, Eco Intimates, is creating hand-made garments using organic cotton. In partnership with small suppliers and ethical manufacturers located in Bali, Indonesia, they have committed to slow fashion that is made to last.
Eco Intimates have a good range of basic underwear sets and sweet decorated and printed pieces. Apart from their underwear selections, they also make adorable lounge and sleepwear, perfect for gifts.
Layer Up: Outerwear
© Photo Hund Hund
© Photo Attire
© Photo Sonia Carrasco
Lounge In Style
© Photo Laagam
© Photo Kleed Kimonos
Africa is at the heart of Kleed Kimonos. Everything from its aesthetics, spirit, and its dedication to wildlife conservation takes inspiration from “Africa, the Motherland”.
Kleed Kimonos has further widened its creative source to India, where their production is located and where they source their natural materials.
They work with Oeko Tex certified non-toxic fibers in order to create soft and luxe loungewear. In response to their commitment to wildlife conservation, 5% of all their profits are donated to NGO in South Africa to protect rhinos against animal-cruelty. We also like their circular fashion program that allows customers to send in their old Kleed Kimonos in exchange for a reward.
© Photo Djerf Avenue
Not sure about size? Go for accessories!
© Photo Covalent
Using renewable energy and salt water, Covalent turns greenhouse gases into new material that can help replace plastic and leather. This is a carbon-negative company that applies new technology in both their material of choice and in their IBM blockchain-based carbon tracking system. To encourage circular economy, you have the choice to return old or unwanted Covalent products in order for them to recycle it into new products.
We have to say, sometimes, innovation and technology in fashion can leave design behind, but fortunately, not in the case of Covalent. Their products are elegantly designed in California and Italy. The brand has adapted a simple and clean style for everyday use and its products are easy to match outfits. We’re keeping an eye on what else they can do with AirCarbon in the future.
© Photo Esby Apparel
Designed and based in Austin, Texas, Esby Apparel uses organic and natural materials to minimize environmental impact. It produces in factories located in Los Angeles and New York, which keeps each production close to home and ensures ethical working conditions in its supply chain. Esby Apparel offers a large range of accessories for men and women, and also other categories in clothing and home decor.
© Photo Hozen
Let’s Skip To Summer
© Photo Savannah Morrow the Label
Savannah Morrow the Label is giving us some Australian summer vibes for the other colder side of the hemisphere. Each piece of garment let you daydream away to a tropical vacation spot.
All products are ethically made out of sustainable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly fabric such as organic cotton, ahimsa silk, and natural ramie. Most of their collections are hand woven and hand dyed.
© Photo Away That Day
© Photo UND Swim
© Photo Ambìnca
Ambìnca is an Italian swimwear brand that brings Mediterranean vibes to their sexy and sustainable swimwear lines. All garments are made of recycled and eco-friendly materials.
What’s even more impressive is their generous donation program that gives 100% of their profit from the “Animal Collection” towards NGOs dedicated to animal protection.