Mark Greene Ethical clothing is at the forefront of many of our minds. With scientific reports about the dangers of climate change being released nearly every day, the effects of the mass production of textiles due to our over-consumption of clothing should be keeping us up at night. There is little wonder that the demand for ethical clothing is on the rise. Customers are forcing brands to respond by demanding that they consider the environmental and commercial implications of the clothing they produce, forcing them to respond. We’ll take a look at three brands who are really leading the way when it comes to producing ethical clothing.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney has always been known as a designer who really cares about sustainability. For her, it’s not just about making sure that the factories producing her goods are environmentally friendly and creating as little impact on the environment as possible. She also ensures that the fabrics she sources are fully sustainable; whether she uses organic cotton or sustainable viscose, only products that are grown in a green manner are used. Stella McCartney also works closely with the Green by Design project, which helps factories in the developing world to reduce their environmental impact and save money at the same time.
ASOS
ASOS are one of the most popular online brands, and a good example of how even a large company can strive to be more ethical. In recent years they have taken massive steps to improve the sustainability of their products. Over 34% of the fibers used in their own brand clothing, for example, comes from sustainable sources. As part of their wider ethical mission they have also teamed up with Anti-Slavery International, helping to eliminate all forms of slavery and ensuring that human rights are protected throughout the whole supply chain. This is the type of effort we should be rewarding with our custom. Maybe just purchase some of their more basic clothing that will last, rather than going for the more fashionable clothing that you might not get as much use out of.
H&M
H&M are another large brand that have been supporting sustainability for a long time. They are on track to produce all of their clothes from sustainable materials by 2020 and they currently have a collection created entirely from sustainable cotton. This collection has been in stores for over 7 years now and, with every season, the number of available pieces increases. It’s an affordable range, giving everyone a chance to buy into sustainable fashion. One of their latest sustainability projects is their Re-Made collection, which is exactly what it sounds like: recycling old garments into stylish new designs for the new season. If you buy recycled clothes such as these you can, at least, be safe in the knowledge that you are minimising your carbon footprint on a planet that needs all the help it can get.
