For years, whenever the terms “eco-friendly” or “sustainable” were used to describe a fashion brand, one would think of bland, neutral-toned clothing that came at a hefty price. But with more people beginning to gain awareness of their carbon footprint, many brands have followed suit, choosing to develop their clothing and accessories brands with ethical means in mind, while still remaining affordable and stylish.
With that in mind, we asked Stephanie Dickson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Green Is The New Black to curate a list of her favourite eco-friendly and sustainable fashion brands. The best part? All the items are $200 or less. Scroll through to see her picks.
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“If you’re looking for slow fashion with designs that are timeless, look no further than Qlothe. The brand uses sustainable fabrics like TENCEL that has a much lower environmental footprint as well as recycled, organic cotton.”
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“Sui is a brand that creates modern classics with a twist for the conscious wearer. Upcycled from waste fabrics, Sui gives fabrics a second life and crafts sustainably. Its clothing is made from hemp, GOTS certified cotton and other sustainable fabric blends, using azo-free (which is the second-best alternative to fabric dyes) and natural dyes.”
“I love them for making handmade sustainable sunglasses out of bio-based acetate that is oil-free, eco-friendly and biodegradable. FYI, every piece is also handmade with socially responsible partners.”
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“Tove and Libra use the highest-quality yarns and textiles, with a keen focus on natural materials. Designed to ensure quality, its pieces will not lose shape nor clog up landfills. The collection also makes use of deadstock yarns and fabrics, redirecting what would have otherwise been tossed. Ultra-stylish upcycling!”
“Indosole is a vegan footwear brand that creates shoes that are durable and sustainable. Its slides and thongs are ethically made from upcycled tyres in Bali. They are on a quest to save one million tyres from landfills and the brand looks give these recycled tyres new life as the soles of its everyday footwear.”
“Timeless designs that are subtly eye-catching, each piece from UBU Swimwear is sustainable, ethically-made, and created using 100% recycled fabric. The colours and prints are rich and vibrant. The fabrics are luxuriously soft and extremely durable with amazing support & coverage.”
“Just Gaya’s is a jewellery brand that preserves the age-old art of hand-weaving and hand-printed materials. Just Gaya’s supports artisan communities around Asia by curating a distinctive collection and giving access to a regional market. By supporting these makers, it is able to preserve traditional craftsmanship while maintaining income to these communities. The products are also environmentally conscious through the use of natural plant-based dyes and handmade weaving techniques.”
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“Green Gaea provides fair ethical working conditions to all people around the globe. I love its effortless tassel earrings that pep up any outfit. Each piece is handcrafted and each purchase supports a hopeful future for the artisans of Penh Lenh.”
“Perus is a shoe brand (with a small assortment of backpacks and sweaters) that features traditional Peruvian fabrication and designs made by skilled artisans in Peru. The artisans are all paid between two and three times the Peruvian minimum wage and don’t work more than 44 hours per week—fewer than the legal working hours in Peru.”
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