Designers Making A Splash In Sustainable Fashion
Sustainable is challenging the means of fast fashion. Sustainable brands are not standing by the negative impacts cause by the fashion industry, instead they stand and fight for the positive changes for the environment and people throughout the entire production and supply chain.
Sustainability is a slowly but surely a trend to stay in fashion. To be sustainable in fashion, brands and designers take a look in the human rights, supply chain, production, and how the aftermath affects the environment. Many brands look for ethically sourced fabrics, environmental benefits, and the regenerative properties of fibers and fabrics. Sustainable fashion takes a jab at fast fashion, promoting the longevity of clothes instead of cheaply making clothes for the current hot trends. Sustainability takes part in all aspects of the brand to the consumer.
Stella McCartney: Brand and designer, Stella McCartney is a pioneer in high end sustainable luxury fashion. Materials the label uses include organic cotton, ethically sourced wool, and recycled textiles/ fabrics. The brand’s 4 main pillar of sustainability includes: Respect for nature: ethically sourced materials and using as many sustainable materials as possible. Respect for people: ensures a positive impact on people involved in the production and supply chain. Respect for animals: promotes cruelty free methods and treats animals and their homes with respect. Circular solutions: using restorative production methods to create new products.
CHNGE: CHNGE is ethically produced, using sustainable fabrics, and produces carbon neutral clothing. The brand sells colorful t-shirts with impactful messages on current issues. On their website, they mention factories they work with and where they are located. Their tees are made with 100% organic cotton, and they listed the environmental benefits of their production.
Kotn: Kotn centers around essential clothes made from Egyptian cotton. Kotn provides all information regarding their ultra soft products on their website, including where it was sourced and made. After years of fast fashion and cheaper alternative to cotton, Egyptian cotton was on a decline. Grown only in the Nile Delta, the cotton is finer, softerm and more breathable than the alternatives. As Kotn came to be, they made it a point to work with the farmers and factory workers to create a respectable environment for all. Kotn also believes in traceability, where the customer can see the process of creation.
Reformation: Reformation clothes are effortlessly chic and modern, made for the on the go women. Reformation designs include silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure, using beautiful and sustainable fabrics. The brand had created their own standards of fibers and fabrics, taking in consideration of water input, energy input, land use, eco- toxicity, greenhouse gas emission, human rights, availability and price. Some of their products are made from recycled fabrics, such as cashmere and cotton, organic cotton, ECONYL regenerated nylon, linen, and such much more.
Eileen Fisher: Eileen Fisher is another pioneer introducing sustainable fashion way back when. Amy Hall, VP of Eileen Fisher introduced the idea of “Social Consciousness” as a department. It’s role was to raise awareness about 3 fundamental values: Practice business responsible with regards for human rights Guiding products and practice towards sustaining the environment Supporting women to be full participants in society. The Social Consciousness department was designed to target negative impacts and make positive change. To do so, they take into consideration material, chemistry, carbon, and water involved in the creation of the products.
Report: Katie Mok
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.