Today, fashion is becoming more than just an expression of personal style—it’s about making a positive environmental impact. More and more, sustainable fashion designers are blazing a trail for an eco-conscious way of designing. These fashion pioneers are crafting beautiful, high-quality pieces that reduce the impact of clothing production on the environment. Let’s take a spotlight look at a few inspiring and sustainable designers.
1. Pioneers of Eco-Conscious Fashion
Fashion and environmental conservation have been at odds with each other for centuries, however, in recent times pioneering eco-conscious fashion has become increasingly popular. Here are some of the individuals that are using their platform and creativity to nurture a more modest and sustainable approach to fashion.
Livia Firth
The founder of the Green Carpet Challenge, Livia Firth is a renowned voice for sustainable fashion. She is a pioneering advocate for eco-friendly fashion, having pushed a movement in the fashion industry to create sustainable clothing materials with a focus on science-based green fabrics. Her mission is to create a global impact and Rigour, her brand created in partnership with Eco-Age encourages transparency and sustainability within the fashion industry.
Liz Miu
Liz Miu is an influencer and sustainable fashion designer. Her mission is to create fashion with respect for both people and the planet. Through her designs, she promotes slow fashion while challenging fast-fashion standards. She also works to empower those working in the fashion industry to rely on quality over quantity in their approach to fashion.
Maya Carlo
Maya Carlo is an eco-conscious stylist and designer. She rejects the ‘throw away’ culture of fast-fashion, and promotes recycling of clothing we already have. Her eco-friendly designs promote using quality materials to create timeless pieces that are delivered with a sense of sustainability and responsibility. She is a strong believer of sustainability in the fashion industry, and provides a much needed voice to the discussion around operating ethically and sustainably.
Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn is an eco-conscious fashion designer working to create dresses out of deadstock fabrics, materials which would otherwise end up in landfill. Her mission is to create beautiful pieces with a focus on not contributing to global waste. She uses sustainable practices in the production including repurposing deadstock fabrics, non-toxic dyes and minimal water consumption. Her efforts to create a slow fashion, ethical industry is appreciated through her unique clothing line.
2. Making Sustainable Style a Statement
With the rising demand for sustainable fashion, fashion brands all over the world are incorporating more eco-friendly practices into their designs. Sustainable style can be a statement – instead of buying fast fashion, fashion-savvy shoppers can choose to support sustainable brands that prioritize ethically made and kinder to the environment pieces. Here’s how:
- Do your research: Before you purchase any item, look into the brand to make sure that they practice sustainability. It’s also important to check the fabrics they use as well as their workers’ wages and working conditions.
- Shop from sustainable fashion brands: There are plenty of fashion brands that focus on sustainability. Choose to support those that create quality, ethical and sustainable clothing. Don’t forget to check out secondhand stores when shopping as well!
- Look for pieces that will last: Avoid buying clothing that will only last for a few wears. Instead, look for timeless pieces in quality fabrics. Durable clothing will stay with you for years and help to reduce your environmental impact.
- Go for natural fibers: When it comes to picking fabrics for your sustainable wardrobe, opt for natural fibers like organic cotton or linen as they’re generally more eco-friendly than synthetic ones.
Making sustainable style a part of your wardrobe is an important step in helping to reduce our fashion-related climate impacts. With the right information, it’s easier than ever to shop for clothes that are kinder to the environment.
By ensuring that our fashion choices are sustainable, we can continue to make a positive impact on the world. Sustainable fashion isn’t just about being fashionable – it’s about making a statement. Choose to be a part of the sustainable fashion revolution!
3. Green Designers on the Radar
From coats to watches, today’s newest designers are making eco-friendly fashion more accessible than ever before. Here’s a look at three of the greenest players in the fashion industry.
- Stella McCartney: Borne out of her work with sustainable cotton, ethically sourced wool, and recycled polyester, Stella McCartney’s designs are often distinguished by their low-environmental-impact materials.
- Tome: Founded by Ryan Lobo and Ramon Martin, Tome’s signature style of simple, modern basics proudly flaunts its commitment to sustainability. All of Tome’s pieces are made with organic and natural fabrics, such as viscose, silk, wool, and linen.
- Reformation: Reformation’s commitment to sustainability has helped make it one of the most recognizable eco-friendly labels. They exclusively use dead-stock fabrics, surplus materials, and reclaimed vintage pieces to design their garments. As a bonus, each item comes with an estimate of how much water, carbon dioxide, and energy was saved in its production.
Other sustainable designers currently gaining traction include Prabal Gurung, Matt & Nat, and BRANDLESS, each aiming to minimize their carbon footprints while bringing eco-friendly designs to their loyal fan bases. From mainstream fashion houses to smaller boutique labels, these green designers are redefining how fashion makes a statement.
New processes, fabrics, and technologies are raising the bar for eco-friendly apparel, giving these green labels the ability to produce some truly stunning pieces. For those looking to tread lightly on the environment, this up-and-coming group of designers is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
4. Sharing an Ethical Aesthetic with the World
The world of fashion has been shifting towards creating ethical and sustainable pieces for years now. Not only are these pieces aesthetically pleasing, they also often carry a special kind of sentimentality and story that can be shared with the world through fashion. Here are 4 ways to share an ethical aesthetic with the world:
- Consumers are now more conscientious about where their purchases come from and how they are made. Feature local artisans and creators for your ethical fashion line. Not only can this help boost the local economy, but it can also serve as a unique story to share with the world.
- From organic materials to vegan goods, investing in environmentally-friendly materials is important for those seeking to create ethical fashion. Not only will this help reduce the environmental impact of the garments, it will also help to ensure that the people producing the items are fairing better with their working conditions.
- Be open and transparent about where your garments come from, what materials were used, and how the pieces were made. Consumers are increasingly looking for this information, and they want to make sure that the ethical pieces they are buying were actually ethically made.
- Try hosting campaigns and events to promote sustainable and ethical fashion. Invite local artisans, designers, and influencers to join you in your mission to spread awareness and to create a supportive community for those interested in ethical fashion.
1. Feature local artisans and makers
2. Invest in environmentally-friendly materials
3. Prioritize corporate transparency
4. Spread awareness through campaigns
By staying true to these four principles, you can start to create and share an ethical aesthetic with the world. Whether it’s through investing in a higher quality product, focusing on corporate transparency, or partnering with other creatives, ethical fashion is the way of the future.
Sustainable fashion is more than a trend – it is here to stay. With the help of pioneering eco-conscious designers, we’re one step closer to green-friendly manufacturing and fashion that doesn’t jeopardize sustainability or the environment. The future of fashion design is indeed an exciting one, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.