Until recently, sustainable fashion didn't necessarily mean fashion-forward. Sure, there were a handful of labels that put the planet – and people – first, but most kind of forgot about the fashion part… Now, as everyone tries to live a greener life (and if not, why not?) we’re thrilled to share our guide to sustainable fashion brands that we love to wear.
As new technology, processes and production methods emerge, sharing sustainability knowledge is key for brands and designers to produce sustainable fashion that is desirable and even affordable.
An item's longevity in our closet is also an important concern when it comes to sustainability. As a result, most brands early on tended to focus on timelessness, classics and basics that won’t flip out of fashion before the month is out, because uber-trendy garments will never be sustainable. However, as technology progresses and more and more creatives are putting sustainability at the the core of their processes, designers no longer need to compromise on style to achieve sustainable credentials.
Copenhagen Fashion Week, for instance, has strict sustainability prerequisites a brand needs to fulfil in order to show on calendar and its homegrown brand Ganni has become its proudest export leading the charge. And at London Fashion Week, cult labels by younger designers like Chopova Lowena and Tolu Coker are just some of the talents making the city proud with their innovative, sustainable designs.
With greater awareness and technological advancements, we are also seeing sustainable offerings become more affordable. While affordability is, of course, relative, we're beginning to see prices compete with high street fashion and shoppers being more conscious of buying less but buying better, heavily considering the cost-per-wear.
These are the 19 brands that we rate for sustainability, ethics and aesthetics…
Nobody’s Child
Recycled yarns, responsible packaging and far more fashionable than you’d imagine a sustainable item could be, Nobody’s Child is doing it right. Listing all their factories, and what they make, focuses on transparency. It’s a major step for consumers to understand that people are involved in their garment’s creation – something that often gets forgotten in other retailers' race to the bottom.
Butter Yellow Tailored Blazer, £149
Ninety Percent
Named after friends and founders Para Hamilton and Shafiq Hassan's promise to share 90% of their profits with charity, Ninety Percent is one of only a few pioneers in ethical manufacturing in Bangladesh. The designers' commitment to preserving wildlife, championing anti-poverty, and uplifting disappearing tribesmen and crafts birthed a brand now beloved for their beautifully draped dresses and ultra-comfy staples.
Priam Draped Dress in Bracken, £80
Hershkind
Danish brand Hershkind by Birgitte Herskind and her daughter, Andrea has become known for their crisp tailoring and ethereal, minimalist dresses that use mulesing-free wool, organic cotton, recycled polyester, and FSC-certified viscose. Their commitment to minimising overproduction in order to reduce their environmental impact goes hand-in-hand with their choice of muted colours and timeless silhouettes.
Chopova Lowena
The perfect marriage of folklore-meets-rock'n'roll, London-based designer Chopova Lowena has made a name for her pleated skirts and heavily-studded looks made from upcycled and recycled fabrics sourced from the designer's home country, Bulgaria.
Brown Afterclap Leather Jacket, £1725
Tolu Coker
Nigerian-British designer Tolu Coker has become one of London's fastest rising fashion stars. Often referencing vintage or retro styles, Tolu uses deadstock and recycled materials for her creations that will soon be available on Net-A-Porter.
Connor Ives
You've likely already seen the London-based designer's looks on the likes of Rihanna or Hailey Bieber. Conner Ives has been one of the coolest kids on the block thanks to his recognisable designs that use upcycled piano shawls or vintage tees to make fashion-forward pieces appealing to A-listers and fashionistas alike.
Conner Ives Fleece with Duck Zip
Bite Studios
Bite Studios, which stands for By Independent Thinkers for Environmental progress, was founded by Swedish creatives keen to transform timeless yet fashionable pieces using ethical materials. While mostly in a monochromatic palette, the pieces are anything but boring, featuring asymmetrical hemlines or ruffled details.
Radieux organic silk evening dress, £845
Pangaia
Not just a fashion label, Pangaia is a ‘materials science company.’ They concentrate on innovations that will make the fashion process less impactful on the planet and the people who make their clothes. Their recycled cashmere is made from a mix of pre and post-consumer recycled cashmere. It gives fibres a second life and repurposes unused garment waste.
Womens 365 Midweight Hoodie, £165
Reformation
Properly desirable and appearing on the chicest influencers in your feed, Reformation has hit the sweet spot of the aesthetic and ethics. Since 2015 they’ve tracked the ecological impact of every item produced and push for transparency in all areas of production.
Irisa Floral-Pattern Crepe Midi Dress, £300
Everlane
One of the key elements of sustainable fashion is eschewing trends for classics. Everlane say, “we’re not big on trends. We want you to wear our pieces for years, even decades, to come.” Sourcing quality fabrics and producing in regularly audited “ethical factories” is key to their longevity.
E.L.V. Denim
Fashion stylist Anna Foster founded E.L.V. Denim with a mission to save vintage jeans from landfill. Each pair is transformed into a brand new style by using carefully sourced recycled pieces. The jeans are created in East London to reduce fashion miles – using existing fabrics reduces water energy and chemical use as well.
GANNI
A global brand for good reason, Danish label Ganni is not only a leader in its covetable designs from graphic tees to frothy frocks but also a pioneer in their sustainability initiatives. Ganni is committed to cutting its total greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2027 and is tirelessly investing in material science to create new sustainable fabrics such as bacteria-grown leather.
White Relaxed Jersey Kitty T-shirt, £115
CITIZENS OF HUMANITY
One of the most sustainable denim labels in the industry, Citizens of Humanity is constantly innovating to create the most responsible denim, from using Eco-Indigo, a bio indigo dye, to its investment in an extensive regenerative cotton programme which provides tools and support to farmers.
Miro mid-rise barrel-leg recycled jeans, £340
Aligne
As well as creating their cute designs from organic fabrics, deadstock, recycled materials and low emission viscose, Aligne sweats the small stuff. Labels are made from recycled polyester, swing tags are created from recycle paper and organic cotton cords while orders are sent in biodegradable poly-bags and printed with water-based ink.
Daphne Scoop Neck Linen Blazer, £175
OMNES
A Living Wage employer, Omnes push for trend-led pieces that feel now but also will work far into the future. Pieces are made from Ecovero viscose mono-material so it will be easy to recycle at it’s eventual end of life. The labels are made from recycled plastic bottles too.
Aurelia Lace Trim Maxi Dress in Green, £89
MOTHER DENIM
“MOTHER believes in local craftsmanship. Over 95% of our denim and over 90% of our overall manufacturing is made locally in Los Angeles utilising fine imported materials. Each piece is a testament to our commitment to quality and responsibility, reflecting the vibrant spirit and creativity of L.A. By keeping our production close to home, we ensure that every step of the process meets our high standards while supporting the local community. From the first stitch to the final product, our denim is truly made with love in L.A.”
