- Frankie Smith
10 Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop This Summer
Swim
Malou Swim is a sustainable swimwear brand created by Alexandra Eve. They use Econyl, which is a 100% regenerated nylon fiber, sourced from Italy. The pieces are manufactured in China in an ethical factory where workers are compensated and treated fairly. All of the packaging, down to the shipping label and panty liner, is completely compostable and can be put in the green bin!!
Sustainability is a core value of September the Line. They have worked to make every aspect of their brand sustainable, including the fabric, packaging, production, design, and even brand location. Their sustainably sourced material is made from 78% Econyl, which comes from pre and post industrial activity waste such as fishing nets or carpet fluff. All products are made in a small, female-run production factory in Bali.
Active
The Girlfriend Collective specializes in active wear made from recycled materials. Their material is made from recycled water bottles! It is sustainably produced by a Thaiwanese family, who is certified and aided by the government. They have SA8000 status, given by the Social Accountability International, which protects the integrity of workers wages and conditions. Details regarding their sustainability can be found on their website.
Tala is a sustainable activewear brand with a ton of unique features, most notably thier plantable tags! Their tags are compostable and filled with seeds that just need a little bit of water and sunlight. They also manufacture their clothes responsibly. Every factory is checked and held to certain ethical standards regarding fair wages, overtime, and anti-discrimination policies. Their overall mission is to create sustainable activewear without the hefty price tag.
Casual
This line, founded by Chloe Neu, is a sustainable clothing brand based in New York. The brand has so many beautiful pieces including corset tops and miniskirts all with dreamy prints. The pieces are made to order, which means no over-estimates regarding stock. The pieces are made by a team of seamstresses that are paid an ethical wage.
Founded in 2020 by Mallory Quisenberry, Mal thrifts is a brand committed to making old things new. They have also committed to reducing textile waste, which constitutes large amounts of landfill every year. The fabrics are mostly thrifted and upcycled into fashionable pieces. In just 2 years, they have saved over 3,000 garments from landfill.
If you are looking for a sustainable alternative to Urban Outfitters, Lucy and Yak is perfect! They are committed to sustainability, specifically circularity. All of their clothing is made from organic, recycled materials and they are constantly buying back pieces off of facebook groups and depop to recycle the materials into something new. On their website, you can read more about the positive changes they are making in their community including giving back, donating, and supporting LGBTQ+ organizations.
If you love the boho aesthetic or are looking for something flowy for the summer, Spell is your one stop shop. In 2020, they became an official signatory of the UN Global Compact, which lays out specific sustainability goals to create peace and prosperity on our planet. On their website, they have laid out specific sustainability goals to be reached by 2025. They also consistently donate to new organizations including the LA Fire department and for Australian Brush Fire Relief.
Looking for new jeans? Warp + Weft has you covered. This size-inclusive denim company is committed to fair wages, reasonable hours, and overall positive working conditions for all of its employees. A typical pair of jeans takes 1,500 gallons of water to produce, but their jeans use less than 10. In compliance with International Social and Environmental & Quality Standards, they skip the harmful bleaching process by using Dry Ozone technology.
Arlo and Olive's sustainability starts with their fabrics. They use mostly organic cotton, which is way less water and energy intensive, and linen, which is actually fully biodegradable because it is made from all parts of the flax plant! Not to mention, all of their packaging, from sticker labels to shipping bags, are completely compostable. The clothes are manufactured in a small, family run factory in Indonesia where workers are paid above average wages, receive healthcare insurance, and paid sick leave.