By Olivia Taylor
Edited by Naomi Gupta
Shopping sustainably can often feel like an impossible paradox. The fashion industry is highly wasteful and often rests on massive power imbalances between brand executives and labourers producing the clothing. Practices of fast-fashion business models contribute to the climate crisis by selling cheap clothing that has been manufactured by exploited workers and designed to be thrown away after a short lifespan.
Some choose to shop secondhand as a means to enjoy fashion without contributing to the problem. Others resign to the fact that there is little that an individual can do to change the nature of the industry; if you can’t beat them, join them.
There is, however, a middle ground in my opinion: it involves the pleasure of buying new clothing, but doing so from brands who are making strides toward sustainability. There is an ever-increasing number of brands on a mission to do this; below I’ve compiled a list of some of my favourite womenswear brands that will meet your need to shop both fashionably and sustainably.
Reformation
Best for: dresses, going out tops, classic silhouettes, shoes
Reformation is well-loved for its elegant designs and its large collection of beautiful dresses. At Reformation, you can find clothing fit for parties, job interviews and everything in between. Instead of a fast-fashion business model focused on over-production, Reformation puts out limited-edition collections with small quantities of each product to meet actual demand. The company is transparent about the materials used in their garments by providing information about each material they work with and ranking them from A to D. Their lowest-ranking materials are silk and leather, which they only use if they meet specific ethical standards. They ensure that their final-stage production workers are paid living wages and they prioritize the maintenance of their workers’ rights.
Shop Reformation
Veja
Best for: sneakers
This sustainable footwear brand has a large collection of cool, comfortable sneakers. It is a certified B Corporation, which means that it has been verified by B Lab, a global non-profit network whose mission it is to verify that specific standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability are being met in business practices. Veja is transparent about their production chain, including their costs of production and their materials used. On their website, they reported that in 2020, 85% of the textiles and leather used in their production were considered environmentally ‘preferred’ raw materials. Despite making many of their shoes with leather, they also produce a vegan collection. All workers at the final stage of production (this includes all workers hired by Veja, but not those working in the early stages of the production chain) are paid living wages and the code of conduct is published on their website.
Shop Veja
Sézane
Best for: chic womenswear, eye-catching details, handbags, shoes
The Parisian brand Sézane is a certified B Corp that offers high-quality clothing, as well as bags, shoes, and accessories. Their products are classic yet imaginative, and do not shy away from bold colours and patterns. 76% of their pieces are made from eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and certified materials. Sézane is measuring and working towards a reduction of their carbon footprint—a mission detailed in their publicly available sustainability report. Sézane’s website promotes their philanthropic program, Demain, which supports “concrete actions in favour of fair access to education, to culture and equal opportunities.” They encourage their consumers to donate to Demain and Sézane donates a portion of its sales to the program on an occasional basis. There is, however, no indication that Sézane ensures payment of living wages to its manufacturing workers. The Demain philanthropic program serves as a convenient distraction for this ethical shortcoming.
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Kotn
Best for: wardrobe stables, comfortable silhouettes
Kotn offers a collection of timeless pieces, perfect for anybody looking to build a capsule wardrobe or to invest in enduring staples. This B Crop has been voted B Corporation’s Best for the World™ in their Community category, an honour awarded to the top 5% of B Corp-certified businesses worldwide. It uses eco-friendly materials and, at some production levels, manufactures locally to reduce their carbon footprint. Kotn traces the practices in place at every step of its supply chain and pays living wages to workers in the final stage of production. Beyond its maintenance of an ethical business model, Kotn is actively working towards the improvement of social conditions in Egyptian cotton communities. The business donates a portion of their proceeds to fund and build primary schools in the Nile Delta and Faiyum, Egypt, to give back to the communities their business relies on.
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Collina Strada
Best for: vibrant pieces, fashion-forward styles, luxury
Collina Strada is the antidote to the plain and neutral products offered by so many sustainable fashion brands. In an interview with Vogue India, creative director Hillary Taymour argues that sustainable fashion “doesn’t need to be so serious and granola”. The brand showcases an eclectic mix of vibrant colours, patterns and unique silhouettes. Collina Strada uses eco-friendly materials like rose sylk, a biodegradable organic cellulose fiber. The brand also makes a significant portion of its garments out of deadstock fabric. This is fabric which is initially commissioned by a designer, but ultimately ends up unwanted or unused. Collina Strada’s use of this fabric saves materials from accumulating in landfills and gives them a new life through imaginative creations. The brand also partners with The OR Foundation to support the circular textiles economy. Most of the brand’s final production happens in the USA, which also reduces its carbon footprint. However, there is no evidence that their workers are provided living wages, nor fair workers’ rights.
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Patagonia
Best for: activewear, outerwear
Patagonia offers technical, enduring clothing that will keep you comfortable during all of your workouts and outdoor activities. Their popular fleeces are versatile, come in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and are built to last a lifetime. Patagonia is a certified B Corporation and aims to counteract the fast fashion industry. Their Repair program encourages and facilitates the reparation of worn Patagonia products, rather than buying new ones. Their 2011 “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign counters consumerist culture and encourages people not to buy what they do not need. Furthermore, Patagonia supports environmental activism through their “1% for the Planet” self-imposed Earth tax, which supports the work of environmental non-profits. On their website, they state, “We give grants to organizations that identify the root causes of environmental problems and approach issues with a commitment to long-term change.” A high proportion of its used materials are recycled fabrics, and they pay living wages to workers in final stages of production.
Shop Patagonia
Fanfare
Best for: upcycled denim, unique pieces
Fanfare’s uniquely upcycled jeans are the focal point of their sophisticated yet playful collection. Bold embroidery appears in many of their pieces—from jeans, to blazers, to sweatshirts. This UK-based brand has a circular production model, meaning that they use low-impact, recycled, and/or deadstock materials and encourage consumers not to view their clothing as disposable. They offer assistance to customers who have a piece in need of repair, or who need help continuing the life cycle of a garment. Their manufacturing takes place in East London, near the Fanfare Label Studio. The proximity of their manufacturing plant to their retailers facilitates a relatively low-carbon footprint. What’s more, factory workers are paid living wages and work under conditions regulated by a code of conduct.
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Stella McCartney
Best for: handbags, luxury
Stella McCartney is a progressive luxury brand which does not use leather, feathers, fur, nor skin in their products. Yet their pseudo-leather goods, like the iconic Falabella, do not skimp on quality or class. On their website, they claim: “we are proof it is possible to create beautiful luxury products that are cruelty free.” Beyond handbags and accessories, their ready-to-wear collections feature a wide range of chic styles. Stella McCartney follows principles of circularity in its production model to reduce the waste that is typically created in a linear model. The brand does not clearly state whether workers in its supply chain are paid living wages.
Shop Stella McCartney
Want to know more?
If you’re looking for more information about the ethics and sustainability practices of fashion brands, check out Good On You. This website, also available as a free, downloadable app, rates thousands of brands based on their treatment of the planet, people, and animals. I used this website to orient my research for this article. My information about brands’ treatment and payment of their workers is from Good On You.
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