There’s no better time than now to switch from fast fashion to mindful labels that are sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly. Here are five amazing sustainable fashion brands to get you started!
Gen Woo
This local brand is known for its casual basics for girls aged zero to 14 years, which are made from excess fabric in ethical, Fair Trade-certified, family-run factories in Bangladesh and Mauritius. Led by head designer Gen Woo, the namesake label aims to tackle the waste issues created by the mass manufacturing garment industry, by introducing eco-friendly solutions.
The collections are released in small volumes, which leads to less waste and better sustainability. On top of that, no additional washing is used in the production process, and embroideries are made from leftover thread. The team also combines the patterns during the cutting stage to minimise further fabric wastage.
Truth&All
Make a bold statement with sustainable sunnies from online store Truth&All! Featuring Italian bio-acetate, a natural material made from renewable sources of cotton and wood, the eco-friendly frames are fully recyclable and biodegradable (under compost conditions). The lenses are UV400, offering 100 percent UVA and UVB protection with a scratch-resistant coating. Each pair comes in recycle packaging – a recycled felt and leather case, recycled microfibre cloth and recycled box.
Founder Gemma Vincent also believes that sustainable fashion products should be ethically made. Each pair is handmade in Greece by a socially responsible, family-run company, which supports fair wages and ethical working conditions. The manufacturing process involves over 48 individual steps and 36 quality checkpoints, before the products reach you.
Boheme Style Nomads
Founded by two volunteers, this social enterprise supports single mums who are the sole breadwinners of their family. First, the materials are sourced from artisans. They’re then passed on to the group of mums, who hand-assemble each item using 14K to 24K gold-plated brass and semi-precious stones like garnet, coral, and mother of pearl. The jewellery is nspired by cultures across the globe, and is perfect for those who love a boho style!
All profits go back into the company, and 40 percent of the proceeds go direct to the ladies who make the jewellery. The materials are ethically and sustainably sourced as much as possible, as is the production process.
Psst… Want to be a part of this cool initiative? They’re looking for volunteers – email hello@designupasia.com to find out more!
Baliza
This Singapore-based label creates stylish, summer-friendly and ethical fashion for women. Think unique artisan prints and organic fabrics. The pieces are ethically handcrafted with love by artisans in Jaipur, India, and feature intricate block printing, traditional beading and stunning embroidery on organic cotton fabrics. As the brand creates only a few pieces per style, limited quantities are available with each collection. This helps to avoid over-production, reduce textile waste and minimise the carbon footprint.
Baliza has partnered with Ladli, the vocational centre of the NGO i-india in Jaipur, to conserve traditional fabric creating skills and support families of over 300 artisans in Gudri. Each artisan is fairly paid and their children receive education. In fact, their salaries are three times higher than the average factory workers in India!
Zerrin
This socially conscious online retailer sources and curates a collective of ethical and sustainable fashion and beauty brands from the region. From cute boho styles from Hong Kong-based fashion label Aanya to handmade earrings by Talee, you can get your whole outfit sorted here. Not sure where to start? Check out The Better Brand Directory, a handy and informative list put together by the team!
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