Sustainable fashion has been on the rise in recent years. While brands have moved to more ethical and eco-friendly practices, there are some super cute companies out there that are completely devoted to environmentally-conscious production. After recently learning that the fashion industry is a major contributor to damaging the planet (I mean, most textiles end up in landfills and dumps), I think there is a huge need to ditch fast-fashion for something more sustainable. With so many amazing brands on the market, being an eco-friendly shopper does not mean you have to sacrifice your signature style. I have rounded up some of my favorite sustainable clothing brands.
Just a disclaimer: some of these brands are on the pricier side. The fact is, with more sustainable and ethical practices comes a higher production cost. When businesses cut corners in order to make cheaper clothing, it often comes at the sacrifice of environmentally friendly materials and moral production practices. There are plenty of sustainable brands and thrift stores out there, and these are just a few of the many!
1. Sifted
Sifted is a secondhand store that offers so many unique and colorful pieces, as well as handmade pieces from reused fabric (hint hint: patched face masks!) Aside from their online store, their physical location is in Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem! Whenever I am taking a walk on the Reynolda trails, I have to kick my self-control into high gear to avoid spending all my grocery money on some of their pieces. If you are looking for some distinctive and unique pieces, this store is a must!
2. Everlane
One of Everlane’s main focuses is its ethical production practices. They only partner with factories of the highest rating in terms of wages and working conditions. My favorite part, though, is their “Radical Transparency” promise, in which they break down the exact cost of every step of production: materials, transport, labor, etc. They are the one-stop-shop for modern, yet timeless basics.
On the front page of the Threads 4 Thought website is the “Our Total Impact” section, which outlines the environmental impact that the company has made (in terms of metrics like how many miles of driving emissions have been avoided). I think what really sets Threads 4 Thought apart from these other brands is their active and casual-wear, which are made from organic cotton, recycled bottles, and even regenerated beach trees!
4. Reformation
I have been following Reformation for some time now, and I think it is safe to say that they are a leader in sustainable fashion. The brand is constantly being promoted by supermodels and fashion influencers alike, and for good reason. This LA-based brand has a wide variety of pieces (and goes so far as to have a “Wedding” section on their website), while also sourcing only the best in environmentally sustainable fabrics and production. Revolve also carries Reformation (if you’re impatient like me and love Revolve’s two-day free shipping)!
5. Boyish Jeans
As the name suggests, this company is devoted exclusively to ethically-and-sustainably produced denim. I didn’t know this but producing denim requires an incredible amount of water and energy, which ultimately contributes to a lot of pollution! Another LA-based company, Boyish Jeans has all the styles and fits of your favorite denim brand.
The bottom line: It is so easy to shop sustainably now with so many high-fashion brands that are devoted to eco-friendly, cruelty-free practices. We are all going to shop and revamp our wardrobe anyway, so it might as well be in a way that reduces our impact on the planet!