When Sustainability Meets Fashion

Who says sustainability and fashion cannot mix? Here are the top brands and designers who have brought forth the best practices of longevity perfectly blending with fashion.

Do the words luxury or designer create doubt in your mind, when it comes to following ethical practices, while manufacturing your favorite clothing? Or do you ever ask yourself who makes the clothing’s you wear each day, and what toll does it take on environment? Documentaries like ‘Alex James: Slowing Down Fast Fashion’ shed some light at the fashion industry and its enormous human and environmental cost. However, there are fashion brands and designers who are changing this trend and are known for producing sustainable apparel products. But, before we move on to that, here is what sustainability in fashion looks like.

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What is sustainable fashion?

The term emerged in the early 90s, almost intertwined with the environmental movement. Terms like ‘green issues’ and ‘green consumers’ started appearing in the textile industry. The designers as well as the consumers became aware of their accountability towards the social responsibilities they had for the environment. By now, many of the conscientious designers are already aware that apparel is a fundamental global necessity for humankind, but at the same time it has enormous impact on the environment. The trends that reflected the need for a paradigm shift were observed as the most significant sustainable fashion trends.

The sustainable fashion buyers believe in holding brands responsible for their clothes’ impact on the planet, as they view brands akin to their values and identity, whereas sustainable fashion designers believe in responsible manufacturing of their products and protecting welfare of their human resources. The eco-friendly fashion brands offer value to the small farmers by providing them fundamental source of income. They use natural and heritage materials like silk, alpaca, cashmere, camel, wool and cotton produced by them. Also, they have faith in giving close attention to fit and details, sustainable yet high-end packaging and inclusivity. So, if you think that investing in sustainable clothes is a smart choice, in order to ensure your social responsibility towards mother earth, here are some of the best luxury brands which offer sustainable fashion.

Stella McCartney

When it comes to sustainable clothing Stella McCartney is the front runner, in the fashion industry. For her, sustainability is a prerequisite when it comes to her designs, since the launch of her first collection in the early 90’s. Her range of ready-to-wear fashion for men and women, bags, swimwear and sunglasses are popular among fashion lovers for being produced ethically. “We consider our environmental footprint at every point of our design process, even after our products have been sold. Clevercare reminds us all to consider Mother Earth when washing, drying and taking care of our clothes,” she said while introducing her collection ‘Clevercare’ at Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2014. Stella McCartney’s products are cruelty-free; no fur or leather is used in them.

Another Tomorrow

The New York based brand claims to realign the impact on Earth and its inhabitants. “Every decision has been guided by a value system based on three pillars –human, animal, and environmental welfare”, says the brand. The brand advocates using fashion as a pathway to activism. The company champions in creating truly sustainable and compassionate products, with a three-pronged approach of providing a foundational wardrobe of ethically and responsibly made clothing. It creates high quality modern products, with only organic natural materials that support soil health, ecosystems, and communities.

Another Tomorrow uses forest-based fibers from sensibly managed forests having zero net contribution to deforestation.

Gabriela Hearst

Uruguayan accessories designer, Gabriela, launched her luxury brand Gabriela Hearst back in 2015; based on the philosophy of timelessness, uncompromising quality and sustainability. Since then the designer has won several awards and nominations like Pratt Institute Fashion Visionary Award, CFDA Fashion Awards — the 2017 Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent and the 2018 Womenswear Designer of the Year Award.

Her brand is primarily involved in manufacturing luxury women’s and men’s ready-to-wear clothing range and accessories collection. Every garment of this brand is constructed with meticulous materials like cashmere, linen, silk wool and so on. Gabriela uses biodegradable packaging in her products. The brand claims to be committed for being plastic-free.

Lauren Manoogian

This Brooklyn-based fashion brand is a true fashion pioneer in manufacturing eco-friendly products. All its accessories and ready-to-wear clothing line are organic. Manoogian never fails to give an artistic twist to her sustainable designs which are all about the luxury of craft and the strength of minimalism. The brand’s knitwear collections are ethically crafted. Lauren Manoogian largely focuses on hand-loomed wool, cashmere, and organic cotton knits to vegetable-tanned leather accessories.

In the end, a sustainable as well as luxury item is worth giving a try. The fast fashion may come cheap, but it takes a huge cost on the environment in the future. When you switch to sustainability, you save the coming generation from damage. •

From the April 2021 issue of L’Officiel India.