The sustainable fashion brands everyone should know about
It’s time to save the world in style. From Nudie Jeans to Patagonia and Nanushka, you need to forgo fast fashion and buy from these sustainable clothing brands instead
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In case you didn’t get the memo, our planet is breaking, and while the words “sustainable fashion” may have a bad reputation for being a snore-fest term that brings visuals of oatmeal-coloured clothing and canvas bags to the forefront of your mind, it’s actually a really important answer to a very real problem.
Dubbed the world’s second most polluting industry after oil, the throwaway nature of fashion has created a business that generates greenhouse emissions of 1.2 billion tonnes a year – that’s larger than international flights and shipping combined. Plus, each year half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres are released from washed clothes (16 times more than plastic micro beads from cosmetics, which have now been banned) and contribute to ocean pollution.
The good news? There is an ever-increasing number of designers looking to change that and many brands are now trying to rectify past damage and create a better future, exploring new and pioneering techniques. Without further ado, below are the best out there right now (and the products you can buy from them).
And remember, sustainable doesn’t mean boring or “lacking in any sort of luxury or beauty, detailing or desirability”, as Stella McCartney says.
1/17CDLP
Swedish underwear and swimwear brand CDLP has made waves in recent years with its stylish approach to sustainable basics. The brand’s pants and boxer shorts are crafted from lyocell, an ecologically friendly wood pulp derivative, while the brand’s swimming trunks – which are incredibly flattering, FYI – are made from Econyl, recycled nylon sourced from fishing nets and nylon waste. Having recently branched out into slow-fashion ready-to-wear and laidback essentials, the label is now more accessible than ever before. Made from a high-quality silk-like breathable lyocell, this short-sleeved shirt channels an elevated elegance that’s so typical of the brand. £175. cdlp.com
- 2/17
Nanushka
Nanushka was launched in 2006 by Sandra Sandor just a year after she graduated. From the beginning she has followed her vision of creating a versatile – and conscious – wardrobe for the modern human. That’s why the brand focuses on bringing sustainable practices to the forefront of the business. The signature vegan leather used throughout Nanushka’s collections is Reach-certified (meaning it doesn’t contain the level of harmful chemicals used in other materials such as PVC). The brand has also joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative to help develop solutions to some of the biggest issues faced by the fashion industry. Following brand tradition, this Hide puffer jacket is made from the signature vegan leather and completed with oversized flap pockets and a convenient hood. Who knew ethical fashion could look this good? £665. nanushka.com
- 3/17
Adidas By Stella McCartney
Since launching her London-born label in 2001, Stella McCartney has proved that it is possible to create ethical, sustainable and trend-led collections without damaging our planet. Later in 2004, McCartney joined forces with titans of both sportswear and sustainability Adidas, to launch a new label, Adidas By Stella McCartney. Using a high proportion of eco-friendly and recycled materials, it also conducts research into the use and impact of micro-plastics. These unisex Stan Smiths have been produced with a limited amount of chemicals and waste water, as well as boasting a totally vegan and cruelty-free fabrication. £235. stellamccartney.com
- 4/17
Bethany Williams
Bethany Williams continues to prove that sustainability and style can coexist by putting community and social responsibility at the centre of everything the brand does. From partnering with charities such as Spires (which supports homeless people) and The Vauxhall Food Bank to producing all her pieces in the UK, the 2019 LVMH Prize finalist accepts the social and environmental responsibilities her generation faces and is acting upon them while presenting beautifully made and highly sought-after pieces. If a relatively small brand such as Bethany Williams can commit to making these kinds of pledges in its work, what could the much bigger names in fashion do? These wide-leg jeans are crafted from upcycled cotton, satisfying both your urge to save the planet and your desire to dress like Harry Styles… right? £795. At Browns Fashion. brownsfashion.com
- 5/17
Rapanui
In 2008 Rapanui started with just £200, located in a garden shed with a mission to redesign the clothing industry to be more sustainable. Now, more than ten years later, its mission remains the same. Its famously soft cotton tees, used by designers Katharine Hamnett, Bella Freud, Henry Holland and more, are created using only organic cotton. Rapanui’s main supplier has its own wind farm and the fields that grow the cotton in the north of India are supplied with almost all the water they need thanks to the monsoon season. Plus, Rapanui’s UK factory is powered entirely by renewable energy. With the belief that the future of fashion is a circular economy, when customers are done with what they’ve bought they can send their old products back and cash in the material for store credit. Plus, you can even scan the QR code inside every product and find out all about its origins. A statement about 99 per cent of T-shirts winding up in our landfills, this T-shirt is, well, rubbish. Crafted from regenerated second-hand materials returned to the label after becoming worn out, Rapanui has made a whole new product out of what would be waste. All organic, zero plastic, Rapanui says, “Welcome to the one per cent.” £20. rapanuiclothing.com
- 6/17
Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans has approached sustainability very cleverly by centering around denim. As the brand puts it: no fabric ages quite as beautifully as denim. The longer you wear your jeans, the more character and attitude they acquire. Nudie Jeans has made it super easy to extend the life of your jeans by setting up repair shops, mobile repairs and repair partners, where it will repair your Nudie Jeans as many times as you need. And if you can’t get your jeans to a Nudie repair spot, the brand will send you a free repair kit so you can do it yourself. Since 2012 all Nudie Jeans denim has been made from 100 per cent organic cotton, which makes a difference considering conventional cotton production accounts for 25 per cent of the global use of artificial pesticides. These are the Steady Eddie jeans, made from 13.2oz denim in a dark wash and straight cut and, of course, organic cotton. £110. nudiejeans.com
- 7/17
Greg Lauren
Greg Lauren, nephew of Ralph Lauren, produces one-of-a-kind pieces from deconstructed elements and deadstock fabric, such as hybrid forms with smart blazers offset by panels from denim and utility jackets. Everything is sustainably and locally made in Lauren’s LA-based studio with zero waste. Channelling an almost post-apocalyptic preppy feel, the label reimagines clothing pieces and disregards structure and expectation. In a relaxed but utilitarian cut, these cargo trousers are defined by their oversized pockets and comfortable drawstring waist. £775. At matchesfashion.com
- 8/17
Filippa K
Another Swedish brand on the list, Filippa K prioritises sustainability all the way from sourcing its wool from mulesing-free (mulesing is the process of removing strips of skin from around the buttocks of a sheep to prevent flystrike) wool suppliers to recycling old garments into new textiles to be transformed into new clothes. The brand focuses on a Circular Fashion framework, with the aim to keep textiles in a cycle of reuse as much as possible and reduce the amount of virgin products that are being produced. All its outerwear linings are made from recycled polyester (which uses 75 per cent less CO2 emissions than virgin polyester). The most compelling thing about Filippa K is its commitment to transparency, which it demonstrates through the publication of its Sustainability Reports and Fair Wear Foundation Brand Performance Checks on its website. You can also see a detailed product origin for each piece online, showing details of the manufacturers used. This Louis gabardine jacket not only has every detail of its production process outlined, but also makes a valuable addition to your wardrobe essentials with its clean cut and use of sustainable materials. Follow Filippa K for chic and minimalist silhouettes that make an impact. £235. filippa-k.com
- 9/17
Pangaia
Defining itself as a “a materials science company on a mission to save our environment”, Pangaia – so named after the giant landmass from which the continents as we know them today split apart – produces items from bio-based, recycled fibres and materials made from recycled plastic bottles. What’s more, each piece is dyed with plant derivatives and, better still, the pieces are bang on the money trend-wise. Case in point: these super-soft track shorts in cobalt blue. £55. thepangaia.com
- 10/17
Brioni
When it comes to sustainable suiting, it can be slim pickings. Cue Brioni, endorsed by Mr Brad Pitt himself, this label celebrates “slow luxury”. With each garment designed to be ageless and timeless, Brioni waves off the pressures of the fashion and trend cycles, instead focusing on the purest form of fashion – style. Having set a science-based target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, Brioni also has a CanopyStyle-approved policy in place to prevent the deforestation of endangered forests within its supply chain. Not just about our surroundings, the label also invests care into its people, paying fair wages and protecting its suppliers from the impacts of Covid-19. In the sleekest silhouette offered by the label, this suit offers a contemporary feel in a deep grey hue. £2,780. brioni.com
- 11/17
Yatay
Everything Yatay does takes into consideration how the environment will be affected. Manufacturing anything creates carbon emissions, which is why it has always been Yatay’s mission to do what is within its power to both reduce and offset the emissions produced in the production of its shoes. Part of its promise is that for every pair of shoes sold, a tree will be planted in a specific area in Bore, Kenya. Inspired by the tone of birch trees, these Irori white trainers are 100 per cent vegan and have been constructed with durability and longevity in mind. But they’re easy on the eyes too. £240. yatayatay.com
- 12/17
The Level Collective
Each collection of products that The Level Collective puts out is handmade in the UK and beyond in small batches in collaboration with artists and makers, and each product is made in a way that is respectful and fair to the skilled person who made it; it prides itself on partnering with collaborators rather than suppliers. The brand uses sustainable fabrics, such as a cotton from a Global Organic Textile Standard-approved cotton farm in India where there is no use of harmful chemicals or pesticides, while T-shirts such as this one are ethically made in Bangladesh in a factory which has been approved by the FairWear Foundation, a nonprofit organisation which assesses fair and proper working conditions and living wages for employees. The T-shirt’s impassioned and eye-catching graphic print doesn’t hurt either. £32. thelevelcollective.com
- 13/17
Asket
Founded in 2015 by August Bard Bringéus and Jakob Dworsky, Asket is a Swedish menswear brand that is approaching sustainability with well-designed and carefully made seasonless clothing that lasts. By sidestepping the traditional fashion cycle of seasons in favour of a “Permanent Collection”, it takes its time in perfecting each key piece before releasing it. The impact of bigger brands being expected to drop new lines more and more often means that the work behind the pieces is rushed and quality suffers. Unwanted, leftover stock then often ends up in landfill, or worse, being burned, releasing harmful pollutants into our air. Asket is on a mission to end overconsumption and restore value to the apparel industry. With its Permanent Collection it has built a new business model, avoiding overproduction and discounting, and formed a long-standing supply chain that can be traced and accounted for. Made from 97 per cent recycled cashmere, this jumper is dense and soft, a perfect layer for year-round ensembles. £155. asket.com
- 14/17
Brothers We Stand
Brothers We Stand aims to stand out against mainstream fashion brands and dedicates itself to having a positive social or environmental impact. This can be through the creation of T-shirts made in a wind-powered factory with a carbon footprint 90 per cent lower than that of conventional products or underwear made in Fairtrade factories in India. Brothers We Stand founder Jonathan Mitchell started the brand after he found a small band of designers with the same ethical and sustainable visions. He decided to bring them together and now all designers and brands that manufacture products in BWS collections are required to provide him (and customers) with a full breakdown of its supply chains. This Drivers jacket epitomises the easy elegance of the brand itself, and in a warm rusty-brown tone and button-down silhouette, this piece is sure to live happily in your wardrobe for seasons (if not years) to come. £160. brotherswestand.com
- 15/17
Veja
Thanks to its distinctive and stylish “V”, you’ve probably already come across these trainers, but did you know Veja is also one of the most sustainable brands in fashion right now? Since 2005, Veja has been making trainers differently, infusing each stage of production with a positive impact. The cotton comes from an organic farm in Brazil where workers don’t have to worry about harmful pesticides poisoning their villages, while the rubber is natural and sustainable, tapped by people in the Amazon using traditional techniques. Another key to the Italian brand’s sustainable success lies in its approach to advertising. Veja doesn’t. At all. The money Veja saves in advertising costs (which it says typically takes up about 70 per cent of a big trainer brand’s expenditure) it puts back into buying environmentally friendly materials that are purchased according to Fairtrade principles. The trainer brand now has 30 pairs of vegan shoes available online, including this pair, which have been constructed from natural materials, specifically an organic cotton coated with resin made from corn and castor oil to mimic leather. £120. veja-store.com
- 16/17
Patagonia
One of the world’s most famous and respected outdoor brands, Patagonia is now working hard to put right what it may have gotten wrong in the past. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that it creates products using fossil fuels and emit carbon into the air, but its mission statement reads “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis” and so has revised its supply chain to reduce the environmental impact of production. In 2011 the brand tackled the issue of consumerism head on with its “Don’t Buy This Jacket” ad in the New York Times, and, thanks to its Worn Wear programme, Patagonia is discouraging customers from buying more. Extending the life of its already very durable gear, the programme restores Patagonia pieces to good as new, meaning you can get more out of the stuff you already own. In fact, keeping clothing in use just nine extra months can reduce the related carbon, water and waste footprints by 20 to 30 per cent and this simple and wearable logo tee is no exception. £70. patagonia.com
- Arket17/17
Arket
Everyone’s favourite Nordic high street brand Arket promotes sustainability in its long-lasting design and by informing customers about how to care for products to prolong their lifespan, as well as offering an in-store textiles recycling service. The label also operates with a heightened sense of honesty and transparency, publishing open and detailed information regarding suppliers and manufacturing. This dark green shirt is sewn from organic cotton (the kind that comes from non-genetically modified planets and grown without chemical interference) into a versatile button-down silhouette. £45. arket.com
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