It’s no secret that the fashion industry isn’t the most sustainable. Fast fashion has caused an avalanche of pollution and waste, and yet the industry continues to flourish. However, throughout North America, innovators are introducing a range of sustainable fashion solutions that provide a much-needed alternative. From eco-friendly clothing fibers and materials to renewable energy technology, these sustainable fashion innovations are being driven by passionate individuals, businesses, and organizations.
1. Cutting-Edge Sustainable Fashion from North America
North America has some of the most innovative sustainable fashion when it comes to going green with your wardrobe. Here are just a few exemplary brands to keep in mind when looking for stylish and eco-friendly clothing:
- Reformation: This LA-based brand started out as an environmentally conscious clothing store, dedicated to making stylish garments from sustainable sources, without compromising on quality. With over 20 stores nationwide and boatloads of online traffic, Reformation continues to be a powerhouse in conscious fashion.
- Pacific textile: Founded in 1995, Pacific Textile has been a pioneering name in eco-friendly fashion. Their commitment to eco-friendly materials, responsible manufacturing, and sustainable practices has made them a leader in the fashion industry.
- Groceries Apparel: Founded in 2006, Groceries Apparel is a brand that focuses on ethical production, sustainability, and transparency. They prioritize pesticide-free natural fibers, and eco-friendly fabrics and dyeing processes, ultimately to create clothing that is both beautiful and sustainable.
- United By Blue: United By Blue has been an industry leader in conscious fashion since it was founded in 2010. Their commitment to creating clothing that is both stylish and environmentally responsible is evident in their materials and production methods.
Sustainability for All
Whether you’re in the market for casual wear, work-wear, accessories, or formal attire, there is likely to be an eco-friendly North American fashion brand that fits your needs. Sustainable fashion has come a long way in recent years, making it easier and more fashionable to go green for all occasions.
Be Conscious
The emergence of sustainable fashion has been a remarkable leap forward for North America’s fashion industry. However, it is still important to exercise caution when selecting sustainable clothing, since there are still many unscrupulous manufacturers out there. Be sure to do your own research and check into the materials and manufacturing process of any clothing you are looking to purchase.
Making a Difference
At the end of the day, the importance of conscious fashion brands cannot be overstated. By making the switch to sustainable clothing from North American fashion brands, you are helping to make a difference for the planet. Doing your part to reduce your personal impact is an invaluable step to take in the fight to save our planet’s resources.
2. Fashion with a Conscience: North America’s Sustainable Trendsetters
In the fashion industry today, it is no longer perceived to be enough to have bought into simple style, as the fashion-conscious and socially aware are embracing a new wave of sustainable fashion. Brands across North America are stepping up to the plate with eco-friendly and ethically produced designs, proving that sustainability and chicness can work together to create beautiful fashion statements.
The denim fashion guru, Eileen Fisher, is a leader of the sustainable revolution when it comes to fashion. Not only does their clothing align with the pillars of human and environmental rights, but Fisher has also pioneered the Responsible by Design program, which encourages the use of recycled and sustainable fibres. Their commitment to keeping sustainable materials vibrant in both style and in colour play puts them at the forefront of North America’s sustainable trendsetters.
Then there is Hem & Thread, the Los Angeles-based sustainable clothing manufacturer. Using environmentally conscious materials such as organic cottons and dyes, the company continues to set trends in the sustainable fashion community. Not only do they produce their items in smaller batches to reduce carbon footprint but they also use low-impact dyes that are free from toxic chemicals. The effects of Hem & Thread’s commitment to creating organic items have been widely recognized in North America’s fashion circuit.
Canadian company, Spirit of the Seven Rays, is devoted to the concept of “conscious fashion”. They produce high-end, ethically-made clothing that’s made of delicate fabrics such as organic cotton, rayon, and silk. Not only does it adhere to strict ecological and human rights standards, but it also has a passion for creating beautiful fashionable items, using a mindful approach in their production process.
Consumers are constantly seeking eco-friendly and responsibly made clothing, and these sustainable trendsetters of North America are answering the call. With high-quality, stylish designs and conscious production levels, they are making waves in the fashion industry and setting an example globally, showing that sustainable fashion and chicness can go hand in hand.
3. Shifting Ideas: The North American Sustainable Fashion Movement
As the fashion industry recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, a new movement is emerging in the North American market. Sustainable fashion is becoming increasingly popular among both businesses and individuals, and is quickly becoming the ‘new normal’.
From using eco-friendly fabrics, to extending the lifecycle of clothes, to being socially and environmentally conscious, sustainable fashion is gaining traction. People are increasingly swapping their fast fashion habits for slow fashion, looking to invest in higher quality clothing that not only looks great but is conscious and planet-friendly, too.
How is this trend being reflected in North America? A plethora of brands are emerging every day, offering clothes and other products that are responsible and conscious. And they’re not just the biggest brands either; many small start-ups are leading the charge, driven by passionate and committed people who are looking to make a real difference.
One such example is Vancouver-based Odeyalo, a brand that sources its fabric from artisans in India and creates timeless, genderless basics using natural materials – like bamboo, linen, and hemp. Each of its products is carefully considered for quality, comfort, and style, while upholding ethical production standards.
- This trend hasn’t been limited to fashion either.
- Alternative materials are becoming increasingly common, with brands like Reformation leading the charge.
- Shoppers are increasingly choosing to shop carefully, investing in high-quality, timeless pieces they’ll never tire of.
As well as producing great pieces of clothing, sustainable fashion is also naturally becoming more affordable, with conscious brands keeping production costs down and passing the savings on to the consumer. This movement has firmly rooted itself in the fashion industry, and it isn’t going anywhere soon.
4. Unexpected Solutions: Innovative Sustainable Fashion from North America
North America has proven itself to be a driving force in the global fashion industry time and again. From courtside sportswear to evening couture, the continent continues to up its production standards and process of creating stylish labels. But in the last five years, this region has particularly excelled in sustainable fashion. With the emergence of global environmental concerns, brands have been quick to step up to the plate and provide eco-friendly alternatives to their customers. Here are just a few of the unexpected solutions in sustainable fashion that North America has to offer.
- Kotn: This Canadian fashion house provides sustainable cotton fabrics with social responsibility. As well as striving to maintain their product’s quality, they also work with Egyptian farmers to create an ethical supply chain chain from source to store.
- Christy Dawn: Based in LA, this ethically conscious designer crafts each of its items from deadstock materials. Each piece is handmade with the aim of keeping the environment pollution-free.
- Reformation: Ever since its beginnings, Reformation has been a champion of sustainably produced clothing. Their mission to ‘be the change they wish to see in the fashion industry’ has manifested in a line of 100% sustainable clothing made from recycled and renewable materials.
North America’s designers and retailers continue to think up imaginative ways to reduce the fashion industry’s carbon footprint, while keeping up their signature style. To help create environmentally friendly pieces, companies such as United By Blue have made it a priority to create clothes from recycled materials, as well as hosting beach clean-ups to maintain a corruption free ocean environment.
In addition, some fashion brands like Groceries Apparel are attempting a different approach. Applying the principles of circular fashion, Groceries Apparel has created a system that reduces waste from the operational cycle by reusing existing materials. As part of this, it asks customers to return their old garments, so that they can be recycled and reused in the making of new pieces.
As the sustainability movement shows no sign of abating, North American designers are gathering momentum in their own right. From detailed fabrication processes to inventive reuse systems, these innovative solutions concerning sustainable fashion mean the continent is playing an increasingly influential role on a global scale.
From upcycling to better use of resources and more sustainable fabrics, these sustainable fashion innovations in North America are enabling us all to come closer to creating a more sustainable fashion industry one step at a time. Who knows what will be possible next? With these great leading strides, the future of sustainable fashion definitely looks brighter.
