With more and more brands heeding the call to become sustainable and environmentally responsible, the term isn’t just a buzz word or fad these days.
Cartier marked Earth Day which fell on 22 April this year by announcing that it is joining the CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge. The call to action was first issued by Gucci president and chief executive Marco Bizzarri to companies to draw a robust action plans to tackle climate crisis such as taking full responsibility and accountability for the total greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, Valentino has inked an agreement with Air France and KLM to support the airline group’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel programme which is focused on the research, development and production of sustainable fuels as alternative energy sources for flying – a choice that can see CO2 emissions reduced by up to 80 per cent.
Through the SAF programme, Valentino, which is a corporate client of these airlines, can make an estimate of the carbon dioxide emissions associated with its corporate travel, and successively determine the annual contribution it would like to give to the programme.
On the retail front, fast fashion brands which used to be notorious for wastage, have pledged to go green. H&M has announced its commitment to have 100 per cent of materials and products sustainably sourced by 2023. Back in 2019, Asos pledged to train design and product teams about circular design by 2020, and launch recycling programs in the UK and Germany.
Sustainability seems to be the next frontier for luxury brands as well. In 2021, Loewe launched The Surplus Project, where scrap leather was used to create the label’s signature woven basket bag.
Chloe also plans on increasing the use of lower-impact materials (organic, recycled and deadstock) and fair trade sourcing across all categories by 2025. In its Fall/Winter 2021 collection, more than half of the silk used was organic and 80 per cent of the cashmere yarn recycled.
The brand has also teamed up with Ocean Sole, a social enterprise that upcycles rubber flip-flops, which have been found washed-up along the beaches and waterways in Kenya. These discarded shoes, are given a makeover and turned in to materials for a range of multi-coloured Lou platform sandals accented with crochet trimmings.
While tackling the climate crisis should also be approached from the standpoint of consumers reassessing their relationship with overconsumption and disposal, the prevalence of lower-impact materials and eco-friendly items today do provide us an opportunity to recalibrate our shopping habits.
Scroll on for a taste of how you can sustainable shopping a part of your everyday choices beyond Earth Day.
This sneaker made its debut in Chloe’s Spring 2022 collection, and reflects the Maison’s ongoing commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. Forty percent of the sneaker’s weight is made up of recycled materials and components. The shoe sole is also assembled using water-based glue, which uses fewer chemicals than solvent base- glue. According to Chloe’s calculations, the shoes comprise 35 per cent less greenhouse gases and consumes 80 per cent less water than its predecessor – the Sonnie sneaker. We also like that it comes in numerous colour combinations, including black, white, biscotti beige, blue, yellow and green.
Nama embroidered suede and recycled mesh sneaker, $ 1,830, Chloe
For its 50th anniversary, homegrown luxury watch retailer Cortina Watch has teamed up with Chopard to create a trio of timepieces based on the latter’s playful Happy Sport models. The three variations of these timepieces (in rose, white and yellow gold) are made of ethical gold, which Chopard has been committed to using since July 2018. The brand even has its own gold foundry which enables them to ensure the gold is responsibly sourced. To complete the night-sky appearance of these limited-edition watches (only five pieces are produced per style), Chopard has dotted them with gold studs and threads tracing the outlines of the most famous constellations in the Northern hemisphere and a beautiful moon phase display. Meanwhile, the case back is stamped with a commemorative “Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary Since 1972” tagline.
Chopard x Cortina Happy Moon 18K ethical gold watches on alligator skin strap, $76,100 each, Cortina
This compact and casual summer interpretation of the Ferragamo Studio bag is made from strips of leather, recovered from existing materials and refashioned into new materials. Its zipper tape is also constructed from certified post-consumer recycled polyester, and sewing thread is made from 100% certified recycled PET. The hand-woven colourful raffia creates an elegant geometric design as well−inspired by the Sicilian coffa bag.
Studio recycled leather-blend bag, $3,590, Salvatore Ferragamo
These eye-catching ballet flats are a modern interpretation of the vintage Rainbow shoe from the ’40s. We’re also digging the stylish golden-plated bow. The patchwork slip-on is made of woven fabric consisting of a blend of cotton and responsibly sourced viscose. Soles are made from leather produced in compliance with strict environmental requirements, and sewing thread is made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester.
Patchwork Varina cotton-blend flats, $1,150, Salvatore Ferragamo
The Speed 2.0 recycled trainers uses recycled technical 3D knit, allowing it to be extra flexible, sturdy and lightweight for all your long-distance runs. As 92 per cent of the shoe’s composition is made from certified recycled materials, waste and energy consumption is reduced during the production phase, resulting in less CO2 emissions. The all-over logo in multiple colours gives the trainers a stylish spin as well.
Speed 2.0 recycled technical knit trainers, $1,450, Balenciaga
One of our favourites from H&M’s Cherish Waste collection. The devotion knitted dress is crafted from 78 per cent Repreve Our Ocean − a recycled polyester fibre made from ocean-bound plastic bottles. The dress is also made from 22 per cent post-consumer recycled polyester, and is certainly a perfect piece to relive the bubble shirt trend from the late ’90s.
Repreve-blend dress, $84.95, H&M
Also part of the Cherish Waste collection, this dress is crafted wholly from Renu recycled polyester. Unlike conventional polyester recycling, the fabric is made using a unique textile-to-textile process that enables closing the loop. Clothes and textiles that might otherwise have been thrown away are taken and turned into new fabric.
Renu recycled polyester dress, $249, H&M
With a quilted finish and polished pyramid studs, the Stirling tote is a chic bag that’s constructed from 100 per cent recycled materials. Its spacious interior will easily hold your daily essentials – plus a laptop and a change of shoes. We like its versatility and how easily it transitions from the gym to the office to post-work drinks. The bag also comes in two sizes, as well as two colours (black & heather grey).
Michael Kors Stirling fabric tote, $340, www.farfetch.com
The Valentino Garavani Open For A Change sneakers are the maison’s first sustainable product. The iconic Open sneaker has been re-designed with a more conscious-driven ethos. Created from the maison’s desire to explore innovative materials and techniques for the future, the latest version of the sneaker has been created with recycled and bio-based materials, while continuing to reflect the aesthetic and trademark motifs of Valentino.
Valentino Garavani Open For A Change bio-based material sneakers, $1,230, Valentino
Why we love it: This eye-catching shirt jacket is part of Stone Island’s SS22 Cupro Nylon- TC Collection. The piece is made of a special nylon weft fabric with Cupro warp – an artificial fibre by-product of the cotton industry. The garment-dyeing process, with the addition of an anti-drop agent, enhances the colour rendering of the fabric. Stone Island employs conscious packaging of materials as well. The box used for shipping is made from recycled cardboard, and garments are packaged in re-usable R-PET fabric bags.
Cupro nylon-blend shirt jacket, $1,140, Stone Island
First introduced in Bottega Veneta’s Fall 2020 collection, the Puddle is an elevated interpretation of the classic rain boots made from a biodegradable polymer. The signature bulky Bottega Veneta toe is also realised in the sleek one-piece mould. An expert mix of comfort and style, the boots are ultra-lightweight and waterproof, and are available in gentle earthly tones and vivid pops of colour.
Puddle biodegradable polymer boots, $900, Bottega Veneta
This hat is made of Re-Nylon: regenerated nylon yarn (Econyl), produced from recycled, purified plastic trash collected in the ocean, fishing nets and textile waste fibre. It comes in various colours, and is decorated with the brand’s emblematic metal triangle logo which completes the sleek and modern design.
Re-Nylon bucket hat, $880, Prada
Similar to Prada’s Bucket Hat, the bag is constructed of regenerated nylon. It is also lightweight and comes in various colours like pink, yellow and mint green, with the iconic matelasse motif and a modern design. A removable mini pouch is part of the bag as well.
Miu Wander Matelasse regenerated nylon bag, $2,880, Miu Miu
Mulberry’s Sadie Bag comes with sustainability credentials.The quintessentially British satchel is crafted from smooth leather sourced exclusively from European tanneries with a gold standard rating. As for the gold typography lock, it was created in honour of the brand’s 50th anniversary. The combination of the bag’s curved shape and crossbody strap also make it the perfect satchel bag for both retro lovers and modernists alike.
Sadie leather bag, $2,360, Mulberry
This trainer is made sustainable through the use of vegan, recycled and plant-based materials. With the concept of circularity in mind, its lining is crafted from Econyl regenerated nylon – with some styles including a recycled polyester upper. All versions also have a tractor sole made using bio-based, renewable materials and vegan leather. The design itself explores a play on textures and clashing prints, so you’re sure to stand out when donning the shoes.
Reclypse Econyl regenerated nylon sneaker, $1,130, Stella McCartney
Longchamp’s most iconic product – the world-famous foldable bag introduced in 1993 − has gotten an eco-friendly spin. The body of the Le Pliage Green is composed of recycled polyamide (nylon) canvas from a range of sources, including fishing nets, carpets and pre-consumer waste from the textile production process. Ninety per cent of the leather used for the bag also comes from tanneries holding the LWG’s highest Gold certification. The brand has launched new colours this season as well, such as corn (yellow) and flowers (pink).
Le Pliage recycled polyamide canvas bag, $225, Longchamp
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TEXT: Rebecca Rachel Wong/FEMALE