As every eco-conscious fashionista knows, April is traditionally the month in which the whole world says “thank you” to Mother Nature in celebration of Earth Day.
An annual, global event dating back to April 22nd 1970, the 2020 edition marks 50 whole years of concerted efforts to raise awareness of the ways in which we can live in harmony with the natural world around us.
Now celebrated by over 1 billion people across 190 countries, Earth Day acts as an important reminder of how we can all play a role in protecting and healing our planet. Last year’s theme was ‘protect our species’, and hundreds of global brands from across different industries got involved and played their part. In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘climate action’, here are four fantastic independent fashion brands to check out, who see every day as Earth Day.
Svala
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Founded by Australian-born fashion and design entrepreneur, Helga Douglas, Svala is a luxury brand with a difference. Focused on ethically produced, animal-friendly clothing and accessories, this LA-based brand’s key message is sustainability in fashion, and it is currently the Best Vegan Brand of the Year.
Aside from the gorgeous accessories, like vegan leather totes and clutches that wouldn’t look out of place on the red carpet, what makes Svala such an interesting brand to support is its focus on slow fashion. The complete opposite of fast fashion, the slow fashion movement is a thoughtful approach to manufacturing, which decreases greenhouse gas emissions and ensures that products have a longer lifespan via the use of high quality, locally sourced materials.
Outerknown
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Proving that everyone really does have a part to play when it comes to tackling climate change, Outerknown is the ethical fashion brand from 11-time world champion surfer, Kelly Salter, which has recently expanded to include a womenswear line. The focus of the brand is on creating long-lasting garments from recycled or sustainably sourced materials.
As the third-highest cause of methane gas emissions in North America alone, landfill is a direct contributor to climate change, and so much of fast fashion produce ends up there one way or another. With Outerknown, Slater is aiming to reduce fashion contributions to landfill by producing garments with the longest lifespan possible, as well as using mostly recycled materials to create the super-comfy collection pieces, such as ECONYL – reclaimed ocean and marine debris.
Alice + Whittles
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Founded by former UN workers Sofi and Nick, Alice + Whittles is a quirky footwear and accessories brand, focused on using sustainable materials and following responsible, ethical business practices.
Alice + Whittles is not an exclusively vegan brand. However any leather, plastic or rubber that is used by the brand has been sourced from organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council or is repurposed, such as the recycled car set leather and ocean plastics used in its current collections. The brand also sources natural materials like cotton from small scale organic farmers; and with a direct to consumer business model Alice + Whittles is fighting the good fight from all angles.
Dorsu
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Producing exquisitely tailored, timeless pieces and workwear basics from its workshop in Cambodia, Dorsu is a truly special clothing brand that has its roots in sustainability and philanthropy. Originally started by Kunthear Mov and Hanna Guyto as a way to raise funds for a local educational organization in Cambodia, the business soon became an “approachable, progressive clothing company” that acts as a voice of change for the fashion industry.
Vehemently against mass production and mass consumerism, Dorsu only produces exclusive collections that are released in small batches of 2-3 pieces every eight weeks. Wherever possible, reclaimed or recycled materials are used – such as fabric remnants from nearby clothing factories in Cambodia – and any other material used by the brand is responsibly sourced, with a full disclosure about where, when, and who it was purchased from provided to customers.
There are, of course, many other ethical and environmentally conscious clothing and accessories brands out there that are worth checking out. Choosing to purchase your wardrobe from brands like Alice + Whittles or Dorsu means that you won’t just get your hands on unique pieces that have been made with care for the environment, you’ll also be supporting small, independent business owners, ensuring that they can continue to do their thing for many more seasons to come.