What You Can Do
The following list consists of Some ways you as a consumer can help sustainability in fashion too. And for your convenience, I have included a shop-able list for specific essential items. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions.
Buy less. Shop in your closet first. You’ll be surprised what a good tailor can work with.
Shop second hand. Not a fan of your local second-hand shops? Then check out more premium services like Poshmark and The Real Real.
Help change the stigma of purchasing and wearing used clothing. – You know that great feeling you get when someone asks where you got what you’re wearing? Well what would be better than spreading the word that you brought a recycled piece back up to its current compliment-worthy glory?
Bring your own bags when you go shopping and don’t take the store hangers or a receipt if offered.
Set up an Arcadia account to see what clean energy options are available in your area (with this you get a Reformation gift card). – https://www.arcadia.com/
Pay attention to the packaging brands you purchase from use. It’s usually a good indicator of who cares about sustainability.
If ordering online, see if you can request limited packaging.
Here is a recycling breakdown courtesy of Goop. – https://goop.com/wellness/environmental-health-civics/the-ultimate-recycling-chart/
Look for the above listed certifications on a brands website or promotional material.
Stop asking influencers for “hauls”. – This supports the culture of Fast Fashion, period.
Figure out local ways to donate and the most convenient method of textile recycling your tattered clothing (see list with links under the company section).
Hold brands accountable. – It starts with the consumer. At the base level, Fast Fashion developed to get a current trend in your hands faster. If society only buys from sustainable brands, I promised you your favorite labels will quickly change their wasteful ways. We can already see a shift in the fashion industry compared to five years ago due to consumers being more eco-conscious (mostly because of noticing the signs of climate change).
Looking for new clothes but don’t know where to go for sustainable options? I’m here for you. See my sustainable shopping menu below:
Let me be your personal shopper.
I have always believed in quality over labels. However my first introduction to sustainable clothing was a shirt that could not stay de-wrinkled despite my best efforts. I was worried that that was what sustainable meant, better for the planet but not better than it’s unsustainable competition.
Thankfully the slow fashion initiatives in the industry have elevated what it means to be sustainable. Now I build my wardrobe with long-lasting beautiful creations from the following brands.
Patagonia - california
One of the sustainable fashion leaders. You can pretty much find any well-made basic here along with athleisure and equipment.
T-Shirts, button-ups, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Underwear, Accessories, Swimwear, Shoes, AThleisure
Womens, Mens, Kids
Avg Price point - $$
Reformation - california
Feminine sustainable designer clothing.
T-Shirts, blouses, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, bodysuits, Jumpsuits, Swimwear, Underwear, Shoes, Accessories, Wedding
Womens
Avg Price point - $$$
REI - washington
REI is a major outdoor athleisure retailer that holds a variety of brands. They are also one of the best examples of holding your partners accountable. They have sustainable and ethically made standards to which their partners have to meet.
T-Shirts, button-ups, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Underwear, Accessories, Swimwear, Shoes, socks, AThleisure, sunglasses
Womens, Mens, Kids
Avg Price point - $
Eileen fisher - New York
Earth day, every day – and they mean it. Classic, clean, essentials pieces. Timeless for a reason and ethically/sustainably made.
T-Shirts, blouses, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Jumpsuits, Shoes, Accessories, bags Extended sizes, petites
Womens
Avg Price point - $$$
Cuyana - california
In their words, “We need fewer, better things.” Made-to-last quality pieces. A case for cost-per-wear pricing.
t-shirts, Blouses, Sweaters, blazers, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, sleepwear, Underwear, bags
Womens
Avg Price point - $$$
everlane - california
Modern basics, radical transparency – “Timeless Pieces Made with High Quality Materials Designed to Last for Years.”
T-Shirts, blouses, button-ups, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Underwear, Accessories, Shoes, bags
Womens, Mens
Avg Price point - $
slunks - california
Slunks brings modern comfort to retro designed apparel. Highly energetic swimwear with an instagram that resembles a Hot-Tub Time Machine.
T-Shirts, Swimwear, Accessories
Womens, Mens
Avg Price point - $
SUAVS - texas
Leveraging digitally knitting and recycled materials, SUAVS gives you footwear for any occasion and every adventure.
SHoes
Womens, Mens
Avg Price point - $
Ninety percent - England
Soft and luxe sustainable womenswear label sharing 90% of profits.
T-Shirts, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, bodysuits, longuewear, jumpsuits
Womens
Avg Price point - $$$
Stella Mccartney - england
High-end sustainable designer clothing.
t-shirts, Blouses, button-ups, Sweaters, blazers, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, sleepwear, swimwear, Underwear, bags, shoes
Womens, Mens, Kids
Avg Price point - $$$$
athleta - california
Over the last few years Athleta has started using sustainable materials and was certified as a B Corporation in 2018.
They make high-quality athleisure and they are trying (even though Gap is their parent). I have high-hopes for this far-reaching brand. For now, you can search for sustainable items on their site.
T-Shirts, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Underwear, Accessories, Swimwear, Shoes, socks, AThleisure
Womens
Avg Price point - $$
Faherty Brand - New York
“Promise comfort without compromising quality. To make more with less. To hold ourselves to a higher standard with a lower impact on the environment. Because the most sustainable clothes are the ones made to last.”
T-Shirts, button-ups, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Accessories, Swimwear, AThleisure
Womens, Mens, Kids
Avg Price point - $$
PACT - Colorado
PACT believes; the best ingredients make the best clothes and products, the people who make the clothes are as important as the people who wear them, and style & sustainability can coexist.
T-Shirts, button-ups, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Underwear, sleepwear, Accessories, Maternity
Womens, Mens, Kids
Avg Price point - $
AMOUR vert - california
Effortlessly sustainable – “Our sustainable practices address all aspects of our business operations and the full lifecycle of a garment— the fibers and production processes used, how workers are treated, how it gets to the consumer and finally, whether it can be recycled or is forced into landfill.”
T-Shirts, blouses, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Jumpsuits, Accessories, jewelry, bags
Womens
Avg Price point - $$
people tree - London & Tokyo
“Contemporary, versatile designs and playful, exclusive prints inspired by the V&A archives create stylish, innovative and affordable fashion while respecting people and the planet. “
T-Shirts, blouses, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, Underwear, AThleisure, Accessories, jewelry, Swimwear, sleepwear, Shoes, socks
Womens
Avg Price point - $$
Mara Hoffman - california
Mara Hoffman pieces are clean, straight forward, and elegant just like their goal of designing and manufacturing clothing that reduces impact and creates awareness.
T-Shirts, blouses, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, shorts, pants, Jeans, bodysuits, Jumpsuits, Swimwear, Underwear, extended sizes
Womens
Avg Price point - $$$$
Lucy and yak - New Zealand
Hand-made with suppliers in Northern India. #sustainable #ethical #recycledmaterials
T-Shirts, Sweaters, outerwear, Dresses, skirts, socks, shorts, pants, Dungarees, Underwear, Accessories
Womens
Avg Price point - $
Sassyspud - Ireland
Adorable fully vegan hand-made sweaters and t-shirts. #organiccotton #wellmade #handmade
T-Shirts, Sweaters
Womens, Kids
Avg Price point - $
Just remember, there are way more brands than just these. If you’re looking for something in particular reach out and maybe I can help. As you start looking into these brands though, more will pop up along the way and hopefully soon, shopping sustainably won’t take research skills.