Even it can be unbelievable, textile industry is the most contaminant in the world, only below the oil company. This is because the 20% of the sewage and the 10% of carbon emissions in all over the world come from that industry. Creating just a pair of jeans requires between 2.130 and 3.078 litters of water, moreover the water destined for cotton crops is about the 3% and the 4% of the water consumed in a global way. Also, the pesticides that are used in these crops damage the environment and the farmer’s health, that is why they represent an impact in the world.
This contamination is mostly caused by the ‘Fast Fashion’, this is the new model in the fashion industry based on producing in high speed, which makes trends change constantly and people buy more garments each year than a not too long time ago. As a result of this way of producing new garments, about 80.000 million of clothes are manufactured in the world each year.
About 80.000 million of clothes are manufactured in the world each year
However, young fashion designers and different brands are reinventing the fashion industry for stopping this detrimental way of producing clothes. As a result of this revolution, a new concept has been born: ‘Sustainable clothing’. This concept is making our wardrobes planet-friendly thanks to different initiatives like vintage shops.
Although, if you want to invest in new pieces and be planet-friendly at the same time you can find numerous brand and fashion designers which are taking steps to minimise the industry’s carbon footprint and, as a result, contaminating much less than other brands. Here we will tell you about seven sustainable brands that you should know.
PRADA RE-NYLON
Luxury Italian Brand, Prada (founded in 1913 by Mario Prada) @prada, launched in 2019 for the first time a new sustainable line of accessories and bags. All of them were made of recycled plastic which was collected from oceans and fishing nets, and also of discarded fabrics. These components form a material usually called as ECONYL.
The last collection of Prada Re-Nylon was shown on 17 August in an immersive installation at the Selfridges Corner Shop, in London. The experience for the clients will be based on National Geographic’s clips, animations and video wallpaper. The purpose of this is that clients could know more about how Prada Re-Nylon is producing these collections and the benefits and importance that lie behind ECONYL.
As it appears on Prada’s web, “the project reflects the focus of the Prada Group on promoting a corporate culture that aspires to increasingly sustainable balances, incorporating into its daily work the idea of a return of value to society”.
CHOPOVA LOWENA
Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena are both forging an exciting phenomenon that embodies the young fashion energy through a sustainable system. The brand (@chopovalowena), which is one of this year’s LVMH Prize winners, has quickly gained a reputation since its launch in 2017. You might probably have seen its unique skirts: multiple-pleated patchworks, suspended by mountaineering carabiners.
The contribution of this brand to the sustainable model in the fashion industry lies behind the material that these designers usually use: unique recycled and dead stock fabrics for making their unmistakable skirts, as well as vintage fabrics that come from Bulgaria and UK. Moreover, the brand also offers different dresses and necklaces for making your wardrobe more planet-friendly.
MARINE SERRE
Marine Serre (1991, France) @marineserre_official, who also won the 2017 LVMH Prize for young fashion designers, launched her own brand in 2016. She also takes part of the generation of fashion designers that have tried to make fashion sustainably. Marine Serre is recognised for seeming to be a fashion designer from the future in every sense. This is because she tries to include new materials in her designs to incorporate sustainability into her work, and also because of her futuristic style.
“A completely new, radically independent brand has emerged -with a hybrid mixture of classic French couture shapes, sportswear references and fabrics, and a decisive ecofuturist thematic and vision”, it says on Marine Serre’s web.
“A completely new, radically independent brand has emerged”
Moreover, you might probably have seen some of her designs on different celebrities, especially her signature crescent moon print: from Kendall Jenner to Beyonce -like in ‘Already’ video-, as well as Cardi B and Cate Blanchet are known for having a complete runway look.
BASERANGE
Baserange (@baserange) is a brand founded in 2012 which focus its designs on sustainable basics like underwear, swimwear, and loungewear. “Baserange is a line of modern basics with an emphasis on clean lines and easy silhouettes. The company works closely with innovative vendors to develop high quality textiles from both natural fibers and recycled content”, it says on its web.
“Baserange believes that a commitment to clean production will minimize environmental impact and benefit both the producer and the user”. That is why if you are looking for basics to include in your planet-friendly wardrobe, Baserange can be the key.
“Baserange believes that a commitment to clean production will minimize environmental impact“
BITE STUDIOS
Bite Studios (@bitestudios), which was founded in 2016, is a brand focused on luxury Womenswear with sustainability as a priority. The brand was founded by a team of four, that is why they usually refer to themselves as ‘Thinkers’. They were united by their shared interest in the environment. “We aim to use our collective resources and experience to redesign the way we make and wear our clothes”, they said on the brand’s web.
“We aim to use our collective resources and experience to redesign the way we make and wear our clothes”
They use natural fibres and material that are 100% ecologically certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard Certification. Moreover, the brand ensures all staff are on a living wage. These are probably the main reasons why BITE Studios is a role model fashion brand for the future of the industry.
WRIGHT LE CHAPELAIN
French-British fashion brand Wright Le Chapelain (@wrightlechapelain) was founded in 2017 by Imogen Wright and Vincent Le Chapelain. The first studied Womenswear and the second Menswear, both at Central Saint Martins, and as a result, they combined their own experience and studies to create Wright Le Chapelain.
Their clothes are designed for being timeless, this is that their designs could be worn even when trends change. That comes from Wright’s experience at Céline, and Burberry. Moreover, the sustainability of the brand lies in the fact that they use fabrics sourced from UK-mills. “Sustainability and ethics are at the core of the brand”, they said on the brand’s web.
“Sustainability and ethics are at the core of the brand”
MOTHER OF PEARL
Mother of Pearl (@motherofpearl) was founded by British designer Amy Powney (@amy_powney). The brand is focused on luxury Womenswear and accessories, all of them made in a sustainable way. Into the brand’s designs you can find from bold jewellery to everyday T-shirts or ready to wear dresses that could be combined with different types of shoes depending on your own style. “Creativity and ethics sit equally in our brand philosophy. We believe in delivering beautiful clothes without compromising on integrity”, this can be found on the brand’s web. Moreover, the slogan of Mother of Pearl is “We create without compromise”.
“We create without compromise”
If you realise, most of these sustainable fashion brands were founded recently. This shows that young designers are increasingly aware about climate change and the consequences of the ‘Fast Fashion’. Probably, this sustainable way of producing clothes will be more diffused in the fashion industry. Also, these designers make the rest of the world have faith in that model.