Jasmine Hemsley shares six of her favourite sustainable fashion brands.
As more and more designers bring in sustainable criteria from sourcing to production, fashion as we know it is being revolutionised. These are my favourite examples:
1. Mara Hoffman
Not only bold, bright and colourful with playful shapes, Mara Hoffman‘s clothes are kinder to the planet – and the people involved in creating them – which is always good for the soul.
2. Mother of Pearl
Like Mara Hoffman, Mother of Pearl started off as a new-generation brand, however, as it is has grown, and when Amy Powney assumed her role as creative director, sustainability has become an focus of the brand’s DNA. I’ve been a lover and wearer of this label for many years so when news came of the launch of the brand’s ‘No Frills’ line – a core collection of sustainable, ethical, traceable clothing, which launched this September – I was delighted. It’s full of the fun and colour that I first fell in love with.
3. Stella McCartney
What is a sustainable fashion round-up without a mention of the queen of sustainability herself, Stella McCartney? A pioneer in the industry, the brand’s commitment to ethical practices without compromising on style is just incredible. Stella made it the ‘fashion’ to be more conscious when it comes to our clothes. With classic cuts and interesting twists, they’re pieces made to last a lifetime – it’s high-end investment at its best.
4. Muzungu Sisters
Muzungu Sisters offer ethically sourced handmade luxury, produced by 16 different artisan communities across four continents. There are so many incredible traditional ways of making things that are being lost as craftsman either become replaced by machines or find more profitable jobs in their countries. Muzungu Sisters are brilliant at promoting these traditional techniques to a global audience.
5. People Tree
People Tree is proof that shopping sustainably doesn’t have to cost a fortune. One of the original ethical brands, People Tree partners with Fair Trade producers, garment workers, artisans and farmers in the developing world to produce ethical and eco fashion collections.
6. Ace & Jig
In 2009, Ace & Jig set out to create a seasonless women’s collection from one fabrication: the brand’s own yarn-dye fabric woven into clothes equally interesting in texture, colour and pattern. They wanted effortless clothing that could be worn in many ways,for many years. It’s manufactured in India by textile specialists who use ancient wooden hand looms to weave the fabric in a factory that practises the holistic kaizen (the Japanese word for ‘improvement’) philosophy of continuing to improve, so not only do they provide free childcare, but they also use reclaimed water to grow organic produce for their employees.
All photos credit: Nick Hopper