Did you know that 300,000 tonnes of clothes are burned or binned in landfill every year and materials like polyester take 200 years to decompose?! Neither did I until recently. I realised that I needed to drastically cut back on the clothes that I was buying from fast fashion brands like ASOS, Misguided and PrettyLittleThing. But where to start?
If you've had the same experience with sustainable fashion brands as I have, it would have gone something like this: you would have searched online, found some that looked promising, realised that they only sell plain T-shirts and the odd floral maxi dress that your Nan would wear, and even worse, they want about £250 for it!
So I thought I'd compile a list of sustainable brands that sell clothes that actually have something about them and that also help the planet and the workers making them.
Lucy and Yak
Known for their use of bright colours and wacky designs, Lucy and Yak began when couple Lucy and Chris moved back to the UK from New Zealand. They bought a van, called it 'Yak' and began to sell vintage clothes from it. They later decided they wanted to design and sell their own dungarees and travelled around China, Thailand and India looking for the right ethical manufacturer. They found Ismail in India and the couple have since become great friends and business partners with him.
At Lucy and Yak find recycled fleeces, dungarees, corduroy jeans, and organic cotton T-shirts. They even sell zero-waste toiletries. With their T-shirts selling for around £18 and fleeces for £40, Lucy and Yak are a lot cheaper than popular brands such as Urban Outfitters and especially cheaper than a lot of other sustainable brands (like Organic Basics who want £50 for a plain long-sleeved top and £120 for a plain jumper). And their designs are so unique! You won't find another brand like them.
Damgaard
Damgaard Swimwear is on the pricier side, however, to support their cause I think that the money is worth it. With bikini tops selling for £54, it is no more than you would spend when treating yourself to some fancy lingerie. All of their pieces are made from ECONYL fabric, which is made from ocean waste such as plastic fishing nets and bottles. With a focus on cleaning the earth's oceans, Damgaard is a great business to support.
Each order comes with a cotton bag for you to store your swimsuit in and all of their packaging is 100% compostable and biodegradable. You can also get 15% off your first purchase! My favourite swim set of theirs is the stormy blue bikini but they also sell one-piece suits and a variety of bikini top styles.
Broken Planet Market
Selling hoodies, T-shirts and tote bags in those neutral tones that are so popular right now, Broken Planet Market raises awareness for the planet with their quirky designs. With dark humour and eye-opening messages, pick up one of their pieces made from organic and recycled cotton as well as polyester made from plastic bottles. All of their clothing and packaging is printed with water instead of animal-based inks.
With hoodies for £65 and T-shirts for £35, Broken Planet Market won't break your bank account. By buying from them you will be contributing to saving the planet and raising awareness for the impact of fast fashion on the environment. BPM also have their workers at the forefront of their ethical code, ensuring that their workers are treated and paid as they should be.
Reformation
One of the brands that you've most likely already heard of, or even bought from, is Reformation. Their tag line 'being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2' demonstrates how dedicated they are to being ethical for their workers and the planet.
Many of Reformation's pieces are made partly from second-hand clothes that could be adding to landfill sites. The sustainable brand also uses TENCEL fabrics (a cotton substitute that is made from Eucalyptus tree fibres). With such a variety of styles to choose from, they are great for anything from tracksuits to dresses for wedding guests.
Before July
Founded by British designer Elisa Jaycott, Before July is a slow-fashion brand that attempts to combat throw-away fashion. Elisa hand makes all the pieces herself and this brand is also amazing for their pops of colour.
With free shipping and beautiful, feminine designs, you can't go wrong. Before July is also quite pricey, but considering that each piece is hand made, you are getting your money's worth. Their website also claims that their pieces 'stand the test of time', so they are sure to serve you well for years.
Wearth London
Wearth's fashion range is only a small part of their amazing brand. On their website find ethical beauty, jewellery, homeware, gifts and zero-waste toiletries and kitchen utensils. An order from them could bag you with anything from a vegan leather backpack to a zero-waste shaving kit.
Check out their zero-waste starter packs, organic cotton tops and vegan leather trainers. All of Wearth's pieces are made to order in the UK, in order to reduce waste, and they also sell some great graphic T-shirts and hoodies in the men's section. With tops and T-shirts selling for around £25 and hoodies and sweatshirts for £60, Wearth has the benefit of all your sustainable shopping done in one place without the usual staggering prices.
House of Sunny
Say goodbye to dull and boring sustainable clothing with House of Sunny. Probably one of my favourite sustainable brands, House of Sunny sells clothes that are bursting with patterns and colour. With their retro, 1970's vibes, House of Sunny harkens back to days of home-knitted sweaters, flares and golf vests. I love their 'Day Dreamer' cardi and their 'Reef Jessie' jeans (both below).
With a goal for their brand to become completely zero-waste, House of Sunny produce all of their clothing with biodegradable or recyclable fabrics and recycle or donate any unwanted scraps of fabric. With them producing just two seasonal collections a year, you will be waiting in anticipation for the release dates. They do this in order to give themselves time to ensure that they are sourcing sustainable materials and using ethical manufacturing methods.
Maggie Marilyn
A sustainable fashion brand based in New Zealand, Maggie Marilyn are big on transparency. Their 'A Better World' section on their website contains information about how they value 'People', the 'Planet' and 'Prosperity'. Maggie (the founder that the brand is named after) 'saw it as her mission to build a brand that championed transparency, empowered people and ensured the health of our planet was at the forefront of every decision. Maggie Marilyn was founded to make a difference in an industry that needed change'.
They have extensive information that is widely accessible regarding their suppliers, their suppliers' code of conduct and their inclusion policy, so you know exactly what your money will be contributing towards. Check out Maggie Marilyn for stylish monochrome flares and halter tops, dresses out of a fairytale and pops of colour in tailored blazers, trousers and jeans. The only downside to Maggie Marilyn is their prices. Perfect for those who love to save up and splash out on statement pieces, not so great for the majority of us. However, if you can't buy from Maggie Marilyn, make sure you support their cause by following them on social media and sharing their posts.
JA Clothing
Although the extent of JA Clothing's range is restricted to T-shirts, I had to include them because of their amazing contribution to the world of slow fashion. Their new T-shirt collection 'Earth' contains a T-shirt representing a different environmental issue. In an attempt to tackle deforestation, with every purchase from their 'Earth' collection, JA plant a tree and send you a photograph and the GPS coordinates.
All of those clothes that you're struggling to sell on Depop or that simply are taking up space in your drawers, JA will take off your hands. With the worrying increase in impulse buying and the average lifespan of a piece of clothing, before it is disposed of, being 2.2 years, JA are attempting to prolong the life of clothes. They receive clothes from ANY brand in ANY condition and they are either re-homed, repaired and up-cycled, or turned into wash rags or insulation. You also get 40% off your next purchase from JA once they receive your clothes! Simply go onto the 'Recycle' section of their website to download a print label.
Noah
Not only are Noah a sustainable brand that use recycled materials and minimise production to avoid textile waste, but they also support many charities with a percentage of their profits. They are tackling unsustainable fishing, the slaughtering of sharks as well as funding marine research and the cleaning of toxic waste from beaches.
Take a look at their recycled cotton T-shirts, colourful hoodies and bold statement pieces (like their Noah x Adidas trainers). I love the designs and photography that went into creating the Noah x Earth, Wind & Fire collection. What can't you love about shopping for everything from sunglasses to wetsuits whilst you're supporting such amazing causes.
I hope you've enjoyed having a browse through this list of sustainable fashion brands that go against the generic plain and boring brands selling clothes that only appeal to the older generations. I wanted to provide those of us who are on a budget with a way to shop for clothes sustainably.
I also wanted to mention that, for those of us on a budget i.e. students, the best option to shop sustainably is on places like Depop, Ebay and in charity shops. I now get around 90% of my clothes from Depop and every now and then treat myself to a new piece. If you get anything from this article, next time you see something on ASOS or PrettyLittleThing that you fancy, have a look on Depop first to see if anyone has ordered it and just doesn't want to keep it. Or if there is anything similar on there from another brand. One of the best purchases I ever made is a skirt from Princess Polly that, instead of paying the high prices for shipping from America and giving my money to a fast fashion brand, I found on Depop. It's always worth a look.
Comments