Living in 2019 where we face environmental and human rights issues resulting from global extreme industrial development, competition, and growth over the past decades, I believe many of us wouldn't feel right about purchasing 'stuff' or feel obligated to find better brands that speak for us and humanity with responsibilities and consciousness. Some say we, consumers, vote with our dollars and it's not simply 'capitalism' but 'stakeholders capitalism' - I cannot agree more with these statements in the millennial generation. Now we all know the real expense of a pair of jeans is not the $50 we spend but the consumption of gallons of water and natural resources, young female and family labor exploitation, their risky and unhealthy life, air and water pollution, wastes, etc.
“I don't think you can be sustainable when you are producing something, so it was really about making sure that it had a positive impact on other people's lives.” - Tina Lutz at Vogue interview (www.lutzmoriss.com)
For those who seek less guilty options of shopping for holidays while still enjoying and supporting different brands, I wanted to introduce 10 sustainable and ethical brands that I like and recently found. Keep that in mind being ethical and sustainable is neither being non-fashionable nor extravagant.
#1 Everlane During my visit to NYC last summer, my local friend highly recommended I to check out one of the rising and hip clothing brands in Soho, Everlane. The neat and sleek store space and minimalist clothing style were certainly my type but not that surprising. Rather, what caught my attention and fascinated me were two things, the 'know your factories' (#KnowYourFactories) map and storytelling on the wall & water in milk cartons on sale. Everlane proves the its high level of transparency and ethicalness well by disclosing manufacture, labor, to cost breakdown information. I still enjoy the two pairs of shoes I bought at the store.
#2 People Tree People Tree is one of the pioneers in sustainable and fair trade women's fashion since 1991. They keep their ethical and environmental standards by choosing raw materials of organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell and responsible wool, and using traditional artisan skills by all hands and maintaining fair wages, a safe working environment, and gender equality. Practical and sustainable tips on how to care for fair trade clothing also educate global consumers about how to respect people and the planet with further caring action and knowledge.
#3 Good Krama Three Rs is a key motto of Good Krama, another ethical casual fashion brand based in Cambodia; reduce, reuse, recycle. Among +500 garment factories in Cambodia, Good Krama beware of the massive amount of waste in the fashion industry so they buy old, leftover, and over-ordered fabrics from local warehouses and reuse them, moreover, try to integrate biodegradable and recyclable materials into production.
#4 CARIUMA As a sneakers person, I always look for comfortable and simple design options for both work and leisure so the emergence of Cariuma from Brazil was exciting news to me and made my first order recently. They also use fair trade materials with a conscious mind from production to packaging and shipping in pursuit of the brand mission, to protect the Amazon rainforest and environment. My pick this time was the IBI model made of bamboo and recycled plastic, which is to be super light. With the announcement of Pantone 2020 color of the year, Cariuma launched a classic blue line for ocean protection campaign purposes.
"Responsibility, now it should be about every single person in a business taking responsibility to make a difference in everything they do, at work and in their personal lives." - Richard Branson
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