Summary: In this blog post, we look at some sustainable apparel companies that are challenging the status quo. These pioneering brands are demonstrating that fashion can be both stylish and responsible. They’re redefining what it means to be a sustainable fashion company by prioritizing eco-friendly materials, ethical manufacturing processes, and fair labor practices.
Sustainable Apparel Companies: Changing the Way People Dress and Live
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world (it’s second to the oil industry, in fact).
And in a world increasingly conscious of its environmental and social impact, the fashion industry stands at a crossroads. As consumers become more aware of the detrimental effects of fast fashion, they’re seeking alternatives that align with their values of sustainability and ethical practices.
The quest for environmentally friendly and socially responsible apparel has given rise to a new wave of companies dedicated to transforming how we produce, consume, and perceive fashion.
Let’s dive into the world of sustainable fashion and uncover the companies that are inspiring people to make mindful wardrobe choices.
1. Reformation
Reformation is setting the gold standard in sustainable fashion. The brand boldly states that it wants to “ … lose our virginity in the next few years.”
This big picture captures Reformation’s commitment to 100% circularity. It means removing new and virgin materials, making all their stuff recyclable, and becoming climate-positive.
By 2025, Reformation aims to use fabrics that are either recycled or come from renewable sources. The company practices transparency by letting customers see how it’s performing against this objective in its Sustainability Report.
Additionally, the brand meticulously chooses fabrics, weighing factors like water use, carbon footprints, and care requirements.
Eco-friendly Materials and Processes
Reformation is also diligent about ensuring its products are free from harmful substances. By 2025, it wants to exclusively work with suppliers that embrace clean chemistry. Partnering with bluesign® ensures that their dyeing processes are as eco-friendly as they can be. Moreover, their adherence to the OEKO-TEX® 100 standards guarantees that their clothes are free from hazardous chemicals.
One of Reformation’s standout strategies is launching limited collections every week, gauging demand and producing just enough. This approach minimizes waste while keeping designs fresh.
Reformation’s FactoryForward initiative is also remarkable. It’s a collaborative effort with suppliers to enhance practices across the board – from harnessing solar energy to improving water conservation.
Worker Welfare
Worker welfare is paramount to Reformation. The company has an unwavering commitment to making sure its entire team, from LA-based designers to global factory workers, is treated fairly. Reformation also excels at being transparent about its production locales and partners.
Recycling Initiatives
Reformation’s take on circular fashion is all about longevity. The company strives to keep clothes in circulation with the RefRecycling program which rewards those who send back older pieces for recycling or resale.
The brand also periodically releases handpicked vintage collections. These pieces are not only stylish but also emphasize Reformation’s commitment to sustainability.
Reformation beautifully blends style and sustainability, leading the way in responsible fashion.
2. Bastet Noir
Bastet Noir is a forward-thinking clothing label committed to a zero-waste and sustainable fashion approach. The company uses discarded materials with pieces tailored to the client’s measurements.
The brand’s products are crafted by single-parent women and women micro-entrepreneurs in North Macedonia. Profits are reinvested to bolster women-owned businesses and support their children’s education in a country where monthly incomes often fall below $300.
The Women Fund
The Women Fund, established in July 2020, is a crucial component of Bastet Noir’s mission. It was founded to support a small community of single-parent women to navigate the pandemic’s challenges and grow their businesses. Tips left at Bastet Noir’s checkout are funneled directly into this fund, helping to cover essential expenses and business investments. The aim is to provide these women with a fighting chance in a challenging economic landscape.
Clothes for Rent
To extend the lifespan of their garments and, consequently, reduce environmental impact, Bastet Noir partnered with FJONG, a sustainable fashion rental service. This collaboration encourages repeated use of Bastet Noir items while providing an affordable and secure rental option.
Bastet Noir has also collaborated with AirRobe.com, a global marketplace for pre-owned fashion. AirRobe.com facilitates the buying, selling, and recycling of fashion pieces. When a customer purchases a Bastet Noir piece, they can simultaneously list it on AirRobe.com. This enables the customers to repurpose the clothing item once they’ve enjoyed wearing it.
Deadstock Fabric
Deadstock fabric is another facet of Bastet Noir’s sustainability model. These are leftover or unsold fabrics from manufacturers that were traditionally dumped in landfills. Bastet Noir repurposes these fabrics to design custom clothing, extending their lifecycle and supporting a more circular production model.
Carbon Offsets
Bastet Noir calculates estimated shipping emissions for every order. The company dedicates a portion of its revenue to vetted carbon removal companies, thus offsetting the carbon generated by their shipments.
Supporting Social Causes
In addition to its sustainability efforts, Bastet Noir actively supports various causes and charities, such as Wires, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organization. Bastet Noir donated a percentage of their profits to Wires following the devastating wildfires in 2019.
Bastet Noir appears to be on a mission to create a positive impact on society and the environment, one woman, and one garment at a time.
3. People Tree
People Tree, founded in 1991, is a pioneer in sustainable Fair Trade fashion. For over 30 years, the brand has maintained a commitment to creating stylish, innovative, and affordable fashion while respecting people and the planet. With a mission to …
- support producer partners towards economic independence,
- protect the environment, and
- promote fair trade and environmentally sustainable solutions
… People Tree has become a leader in ethical and environmental standards.
People Tree was the first fashion company to receive the World Fair Trade Organization product label and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification by the Soil Association. These certifications guarantee the company’s dedication to fair wages, good working conditions, transparency, environmental best practices, and gender equality.
Environmental Responsibility and Policy
People Tree’s environmental policy outlines its commitment to using natural fibers, promoting organic farming, avoiding polluting substances, protecting water supplies, and supporting environmentally responsible initiatives.
In 2018, 93% of People Tree’s cotton was GOTS-certified. This means it’s traceable from seed to finished product, organic, and produced without harmful chemicals. This organic farming approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and soil erosion while promoting water conservation and soil health.
Fabrics and Suppliers
People Tree uses innovative fabrics like organic cotton brushed velvet, TENCEL™Lyocell, and structured organic cotton denim. These are all sourced from suppliers who prioritize environmental protection.
The brand uses Lenzing-certified TENCEL™, a sustainable fiber made from wood pulp in a closed-loop process that recycles water and reuses solvent. On the other hand, its denim supplier, Sarp Jeans, collaborates with Jeanologia to reduce water and energy consumption, eliminate emissions and waste, and guarantee zero contamination.
Fair Trade and Organic Cotton
People Tree is committed to using Fairtrade-certified cotton and organic cotton. Fairtrade International (FLO) certification ensures farmers receive a fair trade minimum price and a premium for community development projects. Organic cotton production, on the other hand, avoids harmful synthetic chemicals, maintains soil fertility, reduces pesticide and fertilizer use, and builds biologically diverse agriculture.
Supporting Artisans and Reviving Traditional Skills
People Tree works closely with small producer groups in Bangladesh and Nepal, providing knowledge and financial assistance to build viable businesses that sustain communities. By promoting hand skills and reviving traditional crafts, such as …
- hand weaving,
- hand knitting,
- hand embroidery, and
- hand block printing
… People Tree helps artisans keep their craft traditions and communities alive.
This approach also helps reduce the environmental impact, as handloom fabric production saves one tonne of CO2 per loom, per year.
WFTO Certification
People Tree is certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the gold standard in ethical fashion. This certification verifies their commitment to fair trade through peer reviews and independent audits, based on the “10 Fair Trade Principles“ that People Tree has followed since its inception.
People Tree is not just a fashion brand. It’s akin to a movement that champions economic independence for producer partners, environmental protection, and fair trade and sustainable solutions. By choosing People Tree, consumers support a brighter, more sustainable future for both people and the planet.
4. Kathy C Vang (KCV)
Kathy C Vang, the founder and designer behind her eponymous brand, created the company to marry style and environmental stewardship, shaping an innovative and eco-conscious brand.
Eco-friendly Materials
Embracing a made-to-order model, KCV mitigates waste while promoting ethical practices. The brand uses a variety of eco-friendly materials, including natural fibers, recycled synthetics, and deadstock fabrics, natural fibers. Individual garment details outline specific sustainability credentials such as GOTS certification, biodegradability, or organic origin.
KCV’s commitment to sustainability is comprehensive. The brand incorporates everything from care labels made from organic cotton to threads certified by Oeko-Tex, ensuring they’re free from harmful chemicals. Even the dyes are chosen with the environment in mind, using natural, non-toxic dyes with mordants such as myrobalan, oils, and minerals.
Moreover, every detail, including naturally-occurring buttons made from nutshells and wood, and zippers with organic cotton tapes and brass teeth, reflects KCV’s conscious effort to tread lightly on the planet. The brand is also researching more sustainable zipper options suitable for various fabric weights.
Packaging and Recycling
KCV’s packaging is intentionally minimal, with soy-based inks, water-activated tape, recycled compostable shipping boxes, recycled paper/tissue paper, and FSC-certified & acid-free stickers.
And when a garment reaches its end of life, customers can return it to KCV, where Kathy and her team recycle, upcycle, repair, or donate it.
Ethical Labor
The majority of KCV garments are crafted in a factory located in the Manhattan garment district. Kathy believes in supporting local, ethical labor, even if it comes with a higher price tag. This approach ensures fair paychecks for employees and results in high-quality garments crafted by seasoned professionals.
5. Patagonia
Patagonia demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability by utilizing a high proportion of lower-impact and recycled materials. This helps to limit chemicals, water, and wastewater in its supply chain. Additionally, the brand addresses the issue of end-of-life textile waste by offering clothing recycling to consumers. It also uses a medium proportion of bluesign-certified fabrics, signifying environmentally friendly production processes.
Workers’ Rights
Patagonia places considerable emphasis on workers’ rights, as evidenced by its policies and practices. The company implemented a social auditing program, accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), which covers its entire final production stage. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company disclosed policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus, showcasing a proactive approach to worker welfare.
Animal Welfare
Patagonia established a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare. The company utilizes leather and recycled exotic animal hair, as well as recycled wool in some of its wool products, and some recycled down in its products. The brand does not appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin. It also traces most animal-derived materials to the first production stage, indicating a commitment to responsible sourcing.
Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its use of lower-impact and recycled materials, its policies and practices regarding workers’ rights, and its animal welfare policies.
6. Porter Blue
Porter Blue is redefining denim production with the environment at its core. Acknowledging the traditionally large negative footprint of denim, the brand employs inventive and eco-friendly processes to produce guilt-free denim.
From utilizing sustainable raw materials to recycled hardware, energy and water-saving practices, and ethical manufacturing, Porter Blue appears to be dedicated to reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to keep products out of landfills.
Sustainable Raw Materials
Porter Blue’s collection exclusively uses Better Cotton denim fabric, a sustainable alternative to traditional cotton production which consumes high amounts of water, fertilizer, and pesticides.
The conventional production method degrades soil quality and requires up to 25,000 liters of water per pound of cotton produced. Better Cotton, however, employs alternative farming methods that …
- maintain soil health,
- reduce water consumption by up to 40%, and
- improve the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of cotton production.
Moreover, the Better Cotton Initiative empowers farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to adopt more sustainable practices.
Recycled Materials
Porter Blue utilizes post-consumer recycled hardware for all metal parts, ensuring that only metal parts that have already lived a full life are used. This involves removing metal hardware from garments or items at the end of their lifecycle, melting them down, and reissuing them into another form.
Additionally, all Porter Blue’s packaging materials are composed of 100% recycled content, 90% of which are post-consumer fibers. The brand uses biodegradable hang tags, recyclable poly bags, and compostable shipping mailers. This encourages consumers to recycle or compost the packaging after opening their new pair of jeans.
Energy and Water-Saving Practices
Traditional denim manufacturing is notoriously harmful and toxic. To combat this, Porter Blue has partnered with a manufacturing facility that shares its commitment to cleaner clothing production.
The brand employs waterless washing techniques such as laser finishing technology and ozone (O3) & e-flow machines to finish its garments. These techniques reduce …
- energy consumption by up to 65%,
- water consumption by 75%, and
- chemical usage by 80%,
… while also minimizing the manual labor required by traditional dry processing methods.
Moreover, as of 2020, Porter Blue’s factory has complied with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC). This means that no dangerous chemicals are emitted from the plant.
The factory also features a wastewater treatment plant that repurposes water through many cycles of distilling and filtering, ultimately returning it to its original, clean, and drinkable state. This is a crucial step in a region where 70% of rivers and lakes are contaminated by the 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by the textile industry.
Ethical Manufacturing
Lastly, Porter Blue states that its factory has a zero-tolerance policy for unethical practices. All general labor practices are publicly displayed for factory employees, and the factory provides free meals, transportation, housing, and training incentive programs to those in need. This not only supports the well-being of its employees but also fosters skill development and upward mobility within the factory.
Porter Blue is a pioneering denim brand that has integrated sustainability into every facet of its operations, from the materials sourced to the manufacturing processes employed and the welfare of its factory workers. The brand seems to be dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact while producing stylish and sustainable denim.
Conclusion: Support Sustainable Apparel Companies for a Better World
From innovative fabrics made from recycled materials to fair-trade practices that empower local communities, sustainable apparel companies are leading the charge toward a more planet-friendly and compassionate fashion industry. They are making a positive impact on the environment and contributing to a brighter, more sustainable future for fashion enthusiasts and our planet as a whole.
These trailblazers remind us that every purchase is an opportunity to support a better world, proving that being fashionable can also be responsible.