Top 10 sustainable fashion brands

Have you wondered how sustainable is your wardrobe? The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It is responsible for producing 8-10% of global carbon emissions, around 20% of wastewater, and is the second most water-intensive industry after agriculture. Furthermore, it consumes nearly 70 million barrels of oil every year only to make polyester fibres in our clothes. Over 85% of the recyclable clothing ends up in landfills every year in the U.S, contributing to the enormous amount of GHG emissions.

Furthermore, the majority of the production lines are based on fossil fuel power plants and these production lines contribute to as high as 1.2 billion tons of CO2 emissions every year. To get a better idea, this is higher than the emissions from international flights and the maritime industry combined.

The fashion industry’s effect on the world’s climate is twofold. Firstly, the production of clothing emits large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Secondly, the way we consume fashion is also contributing to climate change. The way we buy, use, and dispose of our clothes has a major impact on the environment.

In a world where fast fashion is the norm, it’s refreshing to see some brands taking a stand against wastefulness and environmental degradation. Here are 10 of the best sustainable fashion brands that are making a difference:

1. Looptworks

Looptworks is yet another fashion brand with products ranging from bags and apparel to gifts that are made from 100% recycled material diverted from landfills. On their webpage, they provide an estimate of water saved in creating every product – thus giving their customers a choice to track the climatic impact of what they buy.

2. Adidas

Adidas is a fashion brand that is committed to environmental sustainability and has been extensively investing in recycling ocean plastic waste to create its products. They have partnered with brands like Parley, Bolt Threads, Allbirds, and Fashion For Good to achieve the mission of 100% sustainable production lines. They have a membership program where customers gain rewards for giving away their used footwear of any brand and in any condition – which are then recycled and resold.

3. Nike

Nike is another fashion brand that is committed to environmental sustainability. They too have a program where customers can give away their used sporting footwear and apparel of any brand which are still of a gently worn quality and have no metal attached.

4. H&M

H&M is a fashion brand that offers stylish, affordable clothing. They have partnered with organizations like Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Cotton Made in Africa, and Fair Trade Cotton to support the employment of millions around the globe while ensuring the sustainability of their production lines. Furthermore, H&M claims to have recycled 500 tons of material in 2021 and has been promoting to encourage women’s leadership in Bangladesh. H&M is also a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition where the customers can see the environmental impact score of the product’s material.

5. Patagonia

Patagonia is a sustainable fashion brand that has been around for decades. They are well-known for their quality outdoor gear and also have a great selection of sustainable clothing for both men and women. They have been constantly investing in Regenerative Organic practices to improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Patagonia has claimed to move towards a 100% transition to renewable and recycled clothing materials. 69% of their current raw material is recycled material.

6. RE/DONE

RE/DONE is a luxury denim brand that uses only recycled denim to create its one-of-a-kind pieces. Each piece is unique, as the denim is sourced from vintage Levi’s jeans that are carefully deconstructed and then reconstructed into new styles. Since its launch in 2014, RE/DONE has upcycled 225,850 garments from landfills into luxurious clothing pieces. In 2016, RE/DONE partnered with Hanes to re-create a vintage experience of clothing lines based on recycled cotton.

7. Puma

Puma is a sportswear brand that has also started to incorporate sustainable practices into its business. They now offer a range of sportswear made from recycled materials, such as recycled polyester and recycled nylon. 80% of the cotton used in the production lines originated from sustainable sources as of 2019. The company claims to reach 100% sustainability in cotton, polyester, and leather usage by 2025. They have partnered with Better Cotton Initiative to encourage organic cotton farming.

8. Reformation

This sustainable fashion brand is all about style with a conscience. Reformation designs beautiful, modern clothing made from sustainable materials like Tencel, linen, and deadstock fabrics. They claim to have 45% CO2 savings, 46% water savings, and 6% waste savings in their production lines when compared to a conventional footprint.

9. Everlane

Everlane is a fashion brand that is focused on quality, transparency, and sustainability. They have claimed to reduce their product carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. They use sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled cashmere. They are one of the few brands that disclose the true cost of their clothing so that customers can make informed choices.

10. Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney is a fashion brand that designs modern stylish clothing and accessories. The entire production line has never used any animal-based material in their products. Additionally, they have been investing in using recycled nylon and polyester in their production lines. 73% of the cotton used in their production lines is organic.

There are several things that can be done to reduce the fashion industry’s impact on climate change.

• Buying fewer and sustainable materials is the easiest way to control the fashion industry’s harmful effects on the world
• Proper disposal is another way to ensure that the after effects of discarded clothes have minimum environmental impacts. The used clothes can either be sent for recycling or be donated to charities.
• Brands and retailers need to start investing in sustainable practices, such as using more sustainable materials, reducing their water and energy use, and cutting down on waste.
• Consumers have the power to use their wallet vote to support sustainable businesses.

While there are businesses taking steps to achieve sustainability in their process and products, there are several things that can be done on individual levels.