For decades, North America has served as a leader in fashion and design, revolutionizing the industry with progressive trends and sustainable practices. As our industry continues to grow and evolve, many acclaimed designers from across the continent are paving the way for an era of sustainable fashion and design, introducing us to an exciting new approach to creating trendy, stylish, and eco-friendly clothing that meets our discerning needs. Here, we take a look at five of North America’s sustainable fashion leaders and the groundbreaking work they are doing to reduce the impact of our fashion choices.
1. Introducing North American Sustainable Fashion Leaders
Elizabeth Suzann
Known for her timeless silhouettes, Nashville-based Elizabeth Suzann has been a leader in sustainable fashion since the founding of her eponymous company in 2014. With fair-wage, domestic production and a ‘quality over quantity’ mindset, this designer has set a new bar for ethical fashion. Her clothing is designed to last, many with timeless designs and few details that reduce waste in their life cycles. The Elizabeth Suzann palette focuses on natural tones with occasional subtle prints, made from zero-waste patterns. Her commitment to sustainability is exceedingly evident in her refusal to sell pieces on hot sales–an industry standard.
The Tate Group
The Tate Group has quickly become a source of inspiration for many with an eye for sustainable fashion and accessible beauty. Founded by a working-mom, Denise Lee Tate, this e-commerce shop is built on the mission to empower women with eco-friendly, made in the USA clothing. The Tate Group makes use of recycled fabrics and fully compostable fibers, along with digital printing and finishing to reduce the waste of unnecessary production materials. In their production process, they use fabric scraps and remnants to craft various accessories like chokers, headwraps, and other jewelry.
Agate Designs
Agate Designs is a Philadelphia-based sustainable fashion brand that, like many others, focuses on showing that sustainable fashion is achievable without sacrificing style. The Agate team comprises six individuals and focuses on producing a size-inclusive collection of handmade basics, repurposed denim, and recycled fabric. Uniquely, they offer custom and made-to-order pieces for customers who want further customization. Additionally, they employ sustainably sourced materials, eco-friendly practices, and locally sourced textiles.
The Change Initiative
The Change Initiative was founded during the pandemic by Nisha Kanabar, who has dedicated her life to utilizing a sustainable approach to fashion. The Change Initiative offers thoughtful design, enhancing classic pieces with a modern twist. The brand works alongside artisans and craftsmen to create limited-edition collections from end-of-roll fabrics and deadstock materials. Each piece is created with great attention given to sustainably sourcing raw materials and skilled craftsmanship. The Change Initiative also offers upskilling programs for artisans interested in learning the skills of fashion production.
HVN
Advocates behind Slow Fashion, HVN (Haven) is a Canadian label based out of Vancouver. Founded by Vancouver-based designer Taya Klein, HVN offers beautiful, eco-friendly clothing produced with sustainable practices. The brand focuses on locally produced production, fair wages, and transparent labor practices. Additionally, HVN heavily focuses on recycled materials, with what they refer to as ‘sustainable classics’ for longevity. Each season, they release a timeless collection constructed in natural, organic, and recycled fabrics, such as linen, hemp, Tencel, and organic cotton.
2. Crafting Sustainable Styles with Local Materials
Making Choices with the Planet in Mind
These days, more people than ever are focused on making responsible decision that care for the planet. is one way to express that personal commitment. With just a few simple materials and some creative know-how, individuals can make beautiful items that stay true to their core values.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
The best part of crafting with local materials and recycled supplies is that you’ll be significantly reducing your carbon footprint. Not only will you be using fewer resources to produce handmade items, you’ll also be sourcing those materials from within your community. This means that you’ll be creating stylish pieces that don’t contribute to any long-distance transport and emissions.
The Unique Quality of Handmade
Whenever you make something from scratch, you can be sure that you’re creating something unique. Chances are no other piece exists anywhere else in the world. As you create and customize items from local materials, you can be sure that each piece can tell its own story.
Finding the Right Supplies and Materials
Before you begin crafting your sustainable style project, it’s important to make sure you’ve found the best supplies. Start by making a list of any materials you’ll need, such as:
- Local fabrics and yarns
- Recycled synthetics and leather
- Secondhand adornments
- Craft and hardware supplies
- Upcycled furniture and wood
Also, consider what items you might already have in your home that could work. You’ll be surprised by just how much you can create with things you already own. With a few simple tools and some creative imagination, you can make beautiful projects that will help you express yourself and reduce your environmental impact.
3. Encouraging Eco-Friendly Practices in the Apparel Industry
Consumers are becoming overwhelmed by eco-unfriendly practices often seen across the apparel industry. While there are some brands that are actively creating change with mission-driven focuses, the industry as a whole must take a multi-pronged approach to create real, lasting change. Here are a few strategies widely used to promote eco-friendly practices in the apparel industry.
Cutting Down on Packaging
The apparel industry is notorious for excessive over-packaging. In order to reduce waste in this industry, brands need to identify ways to improve their packaging materials and shipping processes. Using eco-friendly packaging materials like recycled paper, corn-based plastic, and reusable containers can help reduce the amount of non-biodegradable materials that are going to waste. Additionally, reducing the amount of products shipped in a single container cut down on emissions, creating a more sustainable shipping process.
Safe Dyes and Fibers
Many apparel products are made with toxic dyes and synthetic fibers. These materials can have harmful effects on both the environment and customers. Instead, brands can adopt the use of natural, organic dyes and fibers to create eco-friendly clothing. Natural fabrics and dyes can be more durable and sustainable than synthetics, and they have the added bonus of being non-toxic.
Recycled Materials
Using recycled materials is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. Recycled materials can drastically reduce waste in the manufacturing process. Companies can use recycled fibers such as nylon and polyester, or they can use recycled materials to create new products. Repurposing fabric scraps and offcuts into new items cuts down on the amount of fabric that would otherwise be thrown away.
Creating Closed-Loop Systems
For an effective closed-loop system, brands need to be able to collect and resell their own products. This helps to reduce waste and create more sustainable production practices. Companies that are actively engaged in creating closed-loop systems are able to reduce the amount of energy and materials used in production, and it also helps offset the cost of implementing sustainable practices.
The apparel industry has the power to make a real change for the better. By adopting these strategies, brands can start the journey toward creating an eco-friendly manufacturing system. Implementing sustainable practices into every stage of the production process is the first step toward creating a more sustainable apparel industry.
4. Reweaving the Fabric of North American Fashion
As early as the 19th century, North American fashion saw the development of certain styles, trends, and ways of wearing clothing that artwork from the era displays. Over the years, the region has continually reinterpreted these looks, building on a unique cultural identity within the fashion world.
In recent times, the complexity and diversity of the North American fashion scene has grown even more. As sustainability and community-building become more important considerations in the fashion landscape, designers have started to reweave the fabric of North American style.
- Artistic Expression – Designers have taken the look and feel of North American style in a variety of directions, incorporating designs, colors, and material choices that best express their individual artistic identities.
- Eco-Friendly Clothing – Sustainable practices and responsible materials are being embraced by North American fashion houses, leading to the creation of more mindful, eco-friendly clothing.
- Socially-Minded Brands – Numerous fashion brands of the region have adopted a mission to not only create apparel but also invest in communities and movements that they believe in.
Region-specific craftsmanship has found its way on the runways of North American fashion, with couture designers taking inspiration from local embroidery, quilting, and other traditional grassroots techniques. Inspirations from the North American continent are also being reinterpreted for a modern audience, allowing the region to retain its unique identity.
Whether featuring upcycled materials, encouraging diversity in fashion, or drawing on persuasive storytelling, North American fashion is in the middle of a creative renaissance. Through new creative expressions, the region’s fashion scene is set to continue to drive innovation and contain its own inviting, comfortable style.
Fashion production has been traditionally viewed as wasteful and harmful to the environment, but North American fashion designers are revolutionizing the industry with their trendsetting sustainable practices. Together, these visionaries have taken sustainability to the runway, delivering stylish garments without sacrificing the well-being of our planet. The sustainable fashion future is bright, and these eco-friendly iconoclasts are ahead of the curve.
