9 Fashion Brands Committed to Environmental Impact That You Should Know

Climate change is a phenomenon that cannot be ignored any longer, which is why the need to analyze and recognize the impact that each of our actions has on the planet has become an immediate priority. Currently, the fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of global pollution, given that its supply chain is long and complex, starting in agriculture and petrochemical manufacturing, continuing with manufacturing, and then culminating in logistics that finally place us in retail.

The fashion sector has experienced enormous growth in recent years with the immediacy of social networks reflected in advertising and fashion production, instilling a new culture of excessive consumption. Fast fashion offers consumers constant changes, when previously four main seasons were used to demonstrate brand new designs, now they work with approximately 50 micro-seasons a year.

In recent years the largest brands in the world have come together in treaties and NGOs committing themselves to reduce the emissions and waste of the microfibers they produce. In the European Union, the goal is to achieve zero emissions by 2050. The fashion pact has been signed by major brands such as Adidas, Versace, Chanel, H&M, Gap, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Nike, Prada, and Stella McCartney, to name a few. 

Ahluwalia is a menswear brand that was founded in 2018 by English designer Priya Ahluwalia, who has demonstrated her commitment to sustainable raw material sourcing and manufacturing techniques, as well as giving a voice to the communities she collaborates with.

Her style and design are an amalgamation of thoughts, cultures, and ideas, motivated by her Indian and Nigerian descent. Honoring her origins, the brand uses recycling techniques inspired by the second-hand culture of Lagos, giving a new life to vintage garments by incorporating them into the collections as a patchwork. The creative is a leader in the manufacture of sustainable clothing for men, located at the crossroads of urban and designer fashion, representing the past and the present.

Bethany Williams is an English designer who has established herself as a leading figure in the fashion industry, setting sustainability standards and combining environmentally friendly practices with social initiatives. Through an alternative production system, based on local labor and the value of social capital, the brand maintains a unique aesthetic and manufacturing approach, following an agender line and using book waste, second-hand denim, and woven textiles to create 100 percent sustainable garments.

Bode is a luxury menswear brand that uses vintage and recycled textiles, revitalizing a new masculinity. Through the art of storytelling, and her passion for handcrafting and antiques, designer Emily Bode has dedicated herself to giving worn-out garments and materials that have been thrown away a second life.

Driven by the sustainable vision regarding textile materials, her work draws on fabrics taken from markets, garage sales, and second-hand shops, resulting in the creation of truly unique pieces. Bode is a brand that cares about keeping traditions and stories alive while reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to the generation of fair jobs.

Created with the goal of keeping African design traditions alive and creating sustainable craftsmanship, Brother Vellies offers a selection of internationally created luxury garments. The brand celebrates cultural stories and timeless design with a commitment to honoring the people who create each garment and the places that see its birth. Every step of the making is done keeping in mind the care of the artisans, the clients, and the planet.

The Grieve brand was born in celebration of talent and dedication to design. With an ecological and conscious approach, the label was created using natural fiber pillars and the deadstock fabric technique. This technique centers around using discontinued fabrics or non-salable inventory to breathe new life into materials that would normally be discarded. The Mexican brand's focus on approaching circular fashion together with the use of natural materials enhances contemporary Mexican design.

The British designer and director of her eponymous brand has spent much of her career rejecting fast fashion and mass production. Her brand comprises a small production chain located in London and its main objective is sustainability, applying it from its sketches to the presentation of its collections. Since 2019, the label has only appeared in two Fashion Weeks, thus reducing its four participations per year. 

Phoebe English is dedicated to creating pieces with the utmost attention to detail and quality. As a result of her vision of zero waste throughout her collections, garments such as a padded coat and elements such as ribbons have emerged, originating from an aesthetic pattern cut without waste, confirming the designer's commitment to sustainable fashion.

Designs inspired by art, architecture, and random discovery was the recipe for Working Title. Combining striking aesthetics with exemplary sustainability, the brand designs with a focus on ensuring the least possible impact on the environment. By producing only the necessary garments, it avoids the problem of overproduction and highlights artisan excellence in durable 100 percent biodegradable garments.