Sustainable fashion - 10 brands that will change the world

In today's article we look at ten clothing brands that are building the foundation for more sustainable fashion globally, or at least working towards more sustainable fashion, a kinder environment and fairer working conditions.

The fashion industry is responsible for much of the world's carbon emissions, water use and textile waste. Fast fashion in particular has the greatest negative impact on the environment and on social sustainability.

The garments created in this industry are usually poorly made with inappropriate materials, use too many resources, have a short life in our wardrobes, flood landfills around the world, pollute the environment and are created by people who receive pennies for their work.

In opposition to fast fashion, there is a wave of sustainable fashion and brands that have a much more responsible attitude to the production of the items they offer. Here are 10 popular fashion brands that strive for environmental and social sustainability and are pushing to offer great sustainable fashion options in our wardrobes.

Zara

Perhaps this is a rather surprising name to feature on a list of sustainable fashion brands given that Zara, along with the rest of the Inditex corporation's subsidiary brands, usually fit the definition of fast fashion, but hear us out before you judge Zara too harshly.

Zara aims to make 50% of its products part of its Join Life range by 2022. This line of products is produced using processes and raw materials that have less impact on the environment. The company now recycles and reuses all boxes, packages, hangers and alarms.

Zara also aims to use only sustainable textiles and materials by 2025. We can definitely congratulate the company for these initiatives that are slowly but surely moving it from the fast fashion category to the sustainable fashion category.

TOMS

TOMS is a footwear brand that is known for its one-to-one campaign. For every pair of shoes purchased by a customer, another pair is sent to a child in need around the world.

The company is currently working on ways to reduce their environmental impact, and they currently use 100% sustainable cotton and packaging. They also aim to use a total of 80% recycled materials.

Levi's

Levi's commitment to sustainable denim clothing is not just from today or yesterday. The brand has largely become a byword for sustainable fashion ahead of recent decades.

The brand creates products that last a lifetime. Their most popular item 501 Jeans was first created over 150 years ago. Levi's plans to reduce water consumption by 80% using the Water<Less technique, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25%.

Patagonia

Patagonia is an American company that manufactures outerwear such as jackets. The brand has used 87% recycled cotton for its latest clothing line, and all cotton used is 100% organically grown.

More than 64,000 workers are part of Patagonias fair trade program. Patagonia is not part of the fast fashion industry, they create timeless designs and long-lasting products that maintain their excellent condition and versatile look for decades and even longer.

Adidas

Adidas are constantly and tirelessly working towards increasing and improving their sustainability and use of recycled materials. The brand aims to use only recycled polyester from 2024 onwards to reduce the environmental impact.

Adidas also aims to reduce water consumption in production, 20% of the energy used by the company is renewable, the company is also committed to fair labour practices.

Everlane

Everlane produces clothing, footwear and accessories that are built to last for years and always look current. The company says it is committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement by reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

It is also aiming to eliminate all virgin plastic from its supply chain by the end of 2021. As of April 2021, 97% of the clothing produced by the company containing polyester and nylon is made from certified recycled fibres.

45% of polyester footwear produced is made from recycled materials. 100% of their shipping packaging is made from recycled plastic or FSC-certified paper. Everlane is also a GOTS certified company, which means they meet certain ethical and environmental standards.

Reformation

Since 2009, Reformation has put sustainability at the forefront of its business. It all started with selling vintage clothes from a small shop, which quickly expanded to producing its own clothes.

Everything is made from low-impact materials, such as salvaged fabric from discarded goods and repurposed vintage clothing.

They grade the different usable fabrics from A (renewable materials) to D (don't use unless certified) and aim to make 75% of products with A and B fibres. Reformation is a 100% carbon, water and waste neutral company.

They incorporate eco-friendly measures into every aspect of the business, from their Los Angeles factory to their fabrics, packaging and retail stores. They are committed to organizing the company Climate Positive in 2025 by investing in renewable energy directly in their supply chain.

Plant Faced Clothing

Founded in 2015, Plant Faced Clothing aims to raise the level of awareness for vegan and ethical fashion and preserve our planet through great streetwear designs.

The brand uses organic or recycled materials.

Their production chain has received the most stringent environmental certifications and labels on the market - more than 75% of their garments are made from eco-friendly fabrics, including organic cotton and recycled water bottles.

The entire screen-printed range is created using eco-friendly water-based inks. They also have a Buy 1 Plant 1 scheme where they will plant a tree on your behalf for every purchase worldwide.

Afends

Having spent years researching, Afends prefer hemp as an eco-friendly fabric alternative. As a renewable resource, hemp only takes 90 days to cultivate, requiring 80% less water than cotton and producing significantly more fibre per acre.

It also doesn't need toxic chemicals, pesticides or insecticides to grow. In addition, the brand strives to produce 100% of its products with environmentally friendly and fiber.

Their clothes are now certified with The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which means they contain at least 70% certified organic natural fibers, and The Organic Content Standard (OCS), which means their products are made from between 95-100% organic materials.

Stella McCartney's

Stella McCartney's

Last on our list of most sustainable fashion brands is Stella McCartney, a company that advocates sustainable and ethical fashion, which in turn has made it one of the most eco-friendly luxury brands on the market. The fashion label has long used eco-friendly materials, non-toxic dyes and polyester recycled from plastic bottles.

It's about to replace nylon with eco-nylon made from recycled fishing nets. Stella McCartney uses organic cotton, which comes from farms developed by social entrepreneurs, farmers and NGOs that deny the use of toxic chemicals.

They also reduce the use of oil-based synthetics and only work with suppliers that meet the brand's quality and sustainability standards.

The overuse of leather and silk in traditional luxury brands can have a severe impact on the environment.

As environmentally conscious consumers, we should pay extra attention to the materials used and the manufacturing process when shopping high-end. We hope that this list of sustainable fashion brands will help you in your search for more ethical but quality clothing.