As advocates for a design-centric lifestyle – from the spaces we curate to the clothes we wear – have an impact on both our personal lives and the world at large. With sustainability becoming a non-negotiable element of conscious living, it’s high time we talk about a sector that’s ripe for a green revolution: fashion. We’re focusing on sustainable fashion brands of 2023 that are not only making waves in the industry but also aligning with our vision for a mindful, design-forward existence.
Grover Rad
Grover Rad was founded in 2022 by LA-based interior design entrepreneur and art collector, Lizzie Grover Rad. The brand’s collections, characterized by graphic prints contrasted against classic silhouettes in luxury fabrics, are informed by a reverence for fine art. Eccentric and sometimes controversial in their messaging, Grover Rad’s prints aim to prove that fine art and fashion can coexist. Each collection is designed to outlast its era, providing a unique medium through which to document our time. All pieces are made with integrity in Los Angeles, adhering to the philosophy that clothing is a form of communication.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney’s fashion brand weaves sustainability into the fabric of its operations, making it a leader in the world of eco-conscious fashion. A champion of innovation, the brand ingeniously uses a blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and even vegan leather made from mushrooms, creating a new narrative in sustainable materials. Stepping away from the traditional use of fur and leather, Stella McCartney’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices is not only visible in the products it creates but also extends into its supply chain. The brand champions transparency, ensuring that every element of its supply chain, from the raw materials to the workers who stitch the final garment, is ethically sourced. But the brand’s sustainability journey doesn’t end when the clothes hit the racks. Stella McCartney has trailblazed programs for the end of a garment’s life cycle, such as take-back initiatives and promoting resale, further deepening its commitment to reducing waste. Through regular sustainability reports, the brand holds itself accountable and sets ambitious goals to continually reduce its environmental impact. However, in the complex world of sustainable fashion, it’s important to remember that even leaders like Stella McCartney are always learning and evolving, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the pursuit of a more sustainable fashion industry.
Loti
The fashion brand Loti distinguishes itself as a beacon of eco-chic style through its unwavering commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. As an upcycling design studio based between Lima, Peru, and Los Angeles, Loti collaborates with a small team of Peruvian artisans to repurpose premium, natural production scraps, leftovers, and even damaged materials into fashionable garments. The brand’s clothing is made from 100% natural fibers such as cotton, alpaca wool, wool, and silk, underscoring Loti’s dedication to using only eco-friendly materials. Further enhancing its sustainability credentials, Loti operates on a pre-order model, which means that production commences only after a purchase is made, thereby eliminating waste from overproduction. This unique blend of mindful material sourcing, ethical labor practices, and waste-minimizing production strategies is what sets Loti apart as a truly sustainable and eco-chic fashion brand.
Mara Hoffman
Mara Hoffman is a pioneering sustainable fashion brand, known for creating durable clothing from eco-friendly materials like hemp, recycled textiles, and regenerated nylon. The brand promotes garment longevity, helping conserve resources and reduce textile waste, and even has a take-back system for used clothing. Producing many clothes in the USA, the brand supports local economies and artisan independence, while avoiding exotic animal-based materials. Mara Hoffman is actively working on eliminating virgin plastic from its packaging by 2022 and removing fibers sourced from endangered forests by 2025. Despite these efforts, the brand acknowledges the need for clear goals regarding water usage, pollution, and emissions.
Soluna Collective
Soluna Collective is a beacon of sustainability in the fashion world, creating beautiful staples for the capsule wardrobe. All their pieces are produced in small batches by hand, abiding by ethical and fair trade standards. The brand is based in Portland, Oregon, and is committed to crafting products using natural fibers and eco-friendly or low-impact dyes. Materials such as linen, certified organic cotton, Tencel, and deadstock fabrics are carefully selected to keep sustainability at the core of their operations. Furthermore, each garment is handwoven by female artisans in India, highlighting the brand’s commitment to empowering women. Notably, Soluna Collective will also recycle or repair their garments once they’ve reached the end of their lifecycle, reinforcing their circular fashion model. As a women-owned company, Soluna Collective ensures that all their artisans are paid a living wage for their work, demonstrating their commitment to fair labor practices.
Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn is a premium American fashion brand known for its sustainable and luxury clothing, designed with longevity in mind. With a vision to lessen the impact of fashion on the planet, the brand uses a high proportion of sustainable materials like organic cotton and linen, but its stand-out practice is the exclusive use of deadstock fabrics. These are textile scraps and leftovers from major fashion houses that would otherwise end up in landfills, thus reducing waste and contributing to a more regenerative approach to clothing production. The company’s commitment to ethical production is also noteworthy. Clothes are made in the United States and India, where talented seamstresses are paid competitive wages and given health benefits. Despite these practices, it’s important to mention that Christy Dawn does not provide clear sustainability goals or measurements of its environmental impact, and it uses some animal-derived materials like leather, wool, and silk in its products.
Aliya Wanek
Aliya Wanek is an eco-chic fashion brand committed to sustainable and ethical practices in the industry. The brand is dedicated to using sustainable technologies and continuously updating its processes to ensure its designs are made in the most eco-friendly manner. Key to its sustainability efforts is the use of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and OEKO-TEX certified textiles, which ensure the organic status of textiles from harvesting to manufacturing while also verifying that they’ve been tested for harmful substances. Striving for zero waste, Aliya Wanek focuses on circular models that limit the need for virgin resources and consider the end-of-life of products, offering options such as repairs or upcycling used garments. The brand also places emphasis on reducing its carbon footprint and supporting fair trade practices, aiming to ensure that all workers involved in production receive a fair share of trade benefits and work under safe and healthy conditions. It is Aliya Wanek’s commitment to these principles that make it a standout example of sustainable and eco-chic fashion.
Bassike
Bassike, a proud B Corporation, is committed to sustainability through a holistic and transparent approach that integrates ethical practices in design, production, and operations. It supports local industries and incorporates organic cotton, among other lower-impact materials, in its production to minimize chemical usage, water consumption, and wastewater generation. The brand also utilizes renewable energy in its supply chain to lessen its climate impact and recycles textile offcuts to reduce waste. Most of Bassike’s final production happens in Australia, a low-risk country for labor abuse, and the company makes regular visits to its suppliers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. However, the brand’s animal welfare practices could be better, with no clear evidence of an animal welfare policy in place and some use of animal-derived materials like leather, wool, and silk. Despite these areas for improvement, buying from Bassike means supporting a design-led, ethical, and sustainable business that values its local community, team, and customers
Maggie Marilyn
Maggie Marilyn, a fashion brand renowned for its sustainability, takes responsibility for the impact of its business operations on people and the planet. The brand’s sustainability initiatives center around responsible chemical use and water management, and the reduction of its carbon footprint. It insists on restricting the use of hazardous chemicals in its supply chain, complying with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) to ensure the zero use of legally banned chemicals and restricted use of potentially harmful substances. All its virgin sourced textiles are certified by at least one reputable chemical management certification body, such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX®, and Bluesign. In terms of water management, Maggie Marilyn prioritizes responsible extraction, usage, and discharge of freshwater in its supply chain, with a goal of restorative impact on freshwater resources. The brand also educates its customers on freshwater issues and how they can conserve water through proper care for their clothes. As of 2021, Maggie Marilyn achieved Carbon Positive status by reducing its carbon emissions by 73%. However, while the brand has made substantial efforts towards sustainability, it is also worth noting that it has areas to improve, such as the public disclosure of its worker audit results and the implementation of living wages across its supply chain.
CALMO
The fashion brand CALMO is sustainable due to its commitment to slow fashion, ethical sourcing, and responsible production practices. The brand closely collaborates with local artisans, preserving traditional craftsmanship while reducing excess stock through capsule collections and one-of-a-kind styles. CALMO places high value on the empowerment of its predominantly female workforce, offering them fair wages and flexible working conditions. Their designs are created from natural materials like Uruguayan Fine Merino wool, pure silk, and linen, sourced ethically and used in conjunction with environmentally-friendly practices like natural dyeing and local production. Furthermore, the brand adopts a zero-waste policy, meticulously designing patterns to use the entirety of a fabric. The brand also packages its products in sustainably-produced, reusable packaging. Finally, CALMO’s commitment to timeless designs that stand apart from transient fashion trends ensures that their products are loved and used for years to come, reducing the need for fast, disposable fashion.
These sustainable fashion brands of 2023 are doing more than just creating beautiful clothes; they’re paving the way for a more mindful, sustainable fashion industry. As we curate our wardrobes and personal style, let’s consider the impact of our choices and opt for brands that align with our values. After all, in the Designhaus ethos, good design is about more than aesthetics – it’s about making choices that enhance our lives and the world we live in.
By consciously choosing sustainable fashion, we’re not just investing in our style but in a healthier, greener planet. Let’s embrace the transformative potential of design in every aspect of our lives, including our fashion choices.
Remember, every purchase is a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. Choose wisely, live beautifully.
