Sexy sustainability is what we’re buying into for the new season with many fashion labels giving their conscious collections a more desirable update.
It’s grim out there, environmentally speaking, and it can often feel both terrifying and overwhelming.
But tackling your eco-anxiety with your wardrobe choices is a step in the right direction.
According to the manifesto of the Fashion Revolution - a global movement which scrutinises the fashion industries practices and raising awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues - everyone should buy less, buy second hand and wear your clothes longer.
It also encourages shoppers to support sustainable-minded and Fairtrade designers and brands.
For AW19, we’ve moving away from organic cotton t-shirts - although they are a great staple - and are looking at labels with green credentials that we can wear for all occasions.
Step up, Los Angeles label Reformation which opened its first UK store in London.
The celebrity favourite, which boasts breezy, California-inspired dresses and romantic tops, claims to operate as a “100% carbon, water and waste neutral company.”
Founded in 2009, Reformation has a focus on efficient, eco-friendly manufacturing, infusing ‘green measures’ into every aspect of the brand from re-purposed vintage pieces and sustainable materials to recyclable packaging.
Irish customers can buy the range online with prices starting from €68 for a bodysuit to €605 for the stunning Champs wedding dress.
Elsewhere, Swedish high street store H&M has been leading the charge and just six years ago it was the first fashion brand in the world to launch a global garment collection initiative.
Each year, H&M launch the gorgeous Conscious Exclusive collection which comprises of “high-end environmentally friendly pieces, aiming to move H&M’s fashion and sustainability development towards a more sustainable fashion future.”
Last March, it announced that it is well on its way to using 100% sustainable materials in the manufacturing process.
The group has publicly set an ‘ultimate goal’ of using more sustainable or recycled materials across its entire range by the year 2030.
In 2016, Zara launched its ‘Join Life’ initiative - a collection of sustainably created pieces.
We love their cool-girl-chic jeans collection, which has been created with a fibre obtained from sustainably managed forests, where trees are grown in an controlled manner and through programmes that guarantee reforestation.
By next year, the retail giant aims to no longer send anything to landfills from their own headquarters, logistics centres, stores and factories.
Fellow Spanish high street stalwart Mango has also been showing its commitment to fashion with a conscience by setting a goal to increase its use of sustainable fibres, with 50% sustainable cotton by 2022.
Mango also has a Second Chances project that recycles clothing and footwear.
If you only buy one pair of winter boots, make it Mango’s Goodyear welted cowboy boots, €299.99.
The leather has been tanned using sustainable processes aimed at saving water and optimising processes.
The ultimate eco-warrior shoe, armed with those bad boys and you are ready to go into battle.
