Quick Key Facts
- Slow fashion aims to make consumers reevaluate their relationship to clothes and align with consumption habits and brands that better serve the planet.
- The apparel and footwear industries contribute to an estimated 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with fashion being the third-highest polluting industry in the world.
- To reduce textile waste and pollution, slow fashion favors slower production schedules, smaller collections of clothing lines, zero-waste designs and the use of sustainable materials.
- In the EU, textile waste totals 4 million tons a year, while in the U.S. it hit 17 million tons in 2018, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating that textile waste accounts for up to 5% of landfill space.
- Clothes are also responsible for 20% to 35% of all plastic pollution in the marine environment.
- Slow fashion advocates for ethical and transparent supply chain processes and better labor conditions. A survey by the Fashion Checker found that 93% of brands aren’t paying garment workers a living wage.
- An estimated 90% of clothes donated to charity are sent to landfills or to developing countries. Only 10% are sold or put to use domestically. To combat this, slow fashion promotes the mending, reuse and upcycling of clothing to extend its life.
- While many are averse to paying higher prices for eco-friendly fashion, according to reports 60% of millennials prefer to shop for sustainable products.
- Extending the average life of clothes by just nine months would save over $5 billion in resources used to supply, launder and dispose of clothing.
What Is Slow Fashion?
Back in 2007, design activist Kate Fletcher coined the term “slow fashion” when talking about the needs for systems-level change in the fashion industry.
It was a hat tip towards the Slow Food Movement, which began in Italy as pushback against the fast food industry, overproduction and waste, in favor of local food and traditional cuisine that supported farmers and local ecosystems.
Similarly, slow fashion aims to combat the ill effects of the fast fashion industry on supply chains, while advocating for the health of people and the environment. This happens by prioritizing the reduction in consumption, and the use of quality materials that are durable, eco-friendly and ethically sourced. Slow fashion also demands more transparency from manufacturers about supply chains.
For individual consumers, it also promotes mending damaged clothes, reusing second-hand items and upcycling to extend the life of materials to avoid having them end up in landfills.
Fast Fashion Vs. Slow Fashion
To understand the importance of the slow fashion movement, it is important first to understand the negative impact of the fast fashion Industry.
The fast fashion industry rapidly produces high volumes of clothing that replicates trends while using low-quality, inexpensive materials.
The overconsumption of this kind of fashion leads to vast amounts of textile waste, pollution and the depletion of natural resources. Human rights violations are also prevalent, as some supply chains involve poor working conditions and extremely low pay.
Pollution
The fashion industry is responsible for 8% to 10% of all global carbon emissions due to lengthy supply chains and energy-intensive production methods that create more emissions than the aviation and shipping industries combined.
The fashion industry might not be at the forefront of peoples’ minds concerning fossil fuels, but the extraction of oil leads to the creation of the plastic microfibers in most of our clothing made with synthetic materials, like polyester. The production alone of synthetic fibers accounts for 1.35% of global oil consumption.
These microfibers shed throughout usage of the clothes, especially while they are being washed, with water that ends up down the drain and reaches beaches and oceans where they can remain for hundreds of years, and be swallowed by fish and other marine life.
According to McKinsey’s 2020 State of Fashion report, fashion accounts for 20% to 35% of all the microplastic that flows into the ocean. Another study by Ocean Clean Wash found that each time we do an average load of laundry, about 9 million microfibers are released into wastewater treatment plants that cannot filter them.
The industry is also responsible for polluted waterways from the use of fertilizers in cotton production, and usage of the chemicals in textiles factories, including lead, mercury and arsenic that end up in the factory’s wastewater, and enters local waterways surrounding the factories.
This harms both aquatic life and the health of the people living in close proximity to the water.
Concerning waste at landfills, currently 60,000 tons of clothes dumped in the Atacama Desert in Chile is detectable by satellite in space.
An estimate 92 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills with synthetic fabrics like polyester, spandex and nylon taking anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose if they’re not incinerated.
Water Consumption
Making clothes is a water-intensive process, with the fashion industry being the second-biggest polluter of freshwater resources. Every stage of the process involves vast quantities of water, from production to dyeing fabrics.
According to the UN, it takes 10,000 liters of water to produce just one pair of jeans. As of 2020, the fashion industry uses over 79 trillion liters of water a year.
Human Rights Violations
In the fast fashion industry, employees are often overworked, underpaid and subject to horrible working conditions.
Companies typically outsource production to low- to middle income countries as local labor laws, free trade agreements and safety standards are often not reinforced. Factory workers earn only a little over $2 a day, with some not receiving any wages, and over 85% of these workers are primarily women of color who have no health benefits or any form of financial security.
Additionally, Unicef reports that 170 million children are engaged in child labor, and many of them are in textile production.
Fashion Activism
Over the last several years, movements and social media influencers have emerged to join the slow fashion movement as well as fight for workers’ rights and the environment.
The Slow Fashion Movement is an NGO that educates and empowers consumers to slow down and choose consciously.
They have thrown multiple campaigns, like Circular Fashion, You Are What You Wear (but do you know what you wear?), Know Your Leather, and Women’s Traditional Fashion that talks about clothing being a signifier of identity and culture.
The several organizations that are fighting for workers rights and fair labor conditions include the Clean Clothes Campaign, Fair Wear Foundation (which conducts independent inspections) and Fashion Revolution.
Fashion Revolution formed in the wake of the collapse of a garment factory building in Bangladesh that killed over 1000 people, and injured another 2500, after supervisors ignored a large structural crack in the building.
There is also a growing number of dynamic young influencers who are using social media platforms to spread awareness and education about fast fashion’s impacts, and help decide what to do to create a better planet.
While many are averse to paying higher prices for eco-friendly fashion, according to reports 60% of millennials prefer to shop for sustainable products, conveying that there is demand for better practices.
Building Slow Fashion Habits
While adopting slow fashion habits can seem like a political act, given the state of the fashion industry, slow fashion habits aren’t new and have been practiced by low-income working class folks for centuries, and often out of necessity.
For those who are just starting to adopt the practice, building better habits when coming from a rushed culture of disposability involves a level of slowing down to move with more conscious intention. Here are some actions to take to adopt more slow fashion habits.
Thrifting
Thrifting is shopping for second-hand clothes enjoyed by a previous owner, which can be found at thrift stores, consignment shops, vintage clothing stores, as well as garage sales and flea markets. It’s a good way to contribute to a longer life for clothing items, which otherwise would go to a landfill.
Unfortunately, sometimes overwhelmed thrift stores who can’t get rid of their inventory also direct some of their clothing to the landfill. According to the EPA, 84% of that clothing ends up in landfills or is incinerated.
Prior to donating, hosting clothing swaps with friends or seeing who you might gift clothing to is another option to extend its wear.
Freecycling groups online are also good places to find or give away second-hand items. Search for your local Buy Nothing or Free Stuff groups on Facebook, or go to Freecycle.org to post or find items. Craigslist is another outlet for posting or finding free items.
Mending
Orsola de Castro, author of the book Loved Clothes Last: How the Joy of Rewearing and Repairing Your Clothes Can Be a Revolutionary Act, writes, “We aren’t repurposing and mending clothes because we can’t afford to buy something new – we are doing it because we can’t afford to throw something away.”
For the current generations, mending clothes that have holes, stains, tears and missing buttons is not first nature like it was in previous generations that had to extend the life of their clothes out of financial necessity. Now, the typical first impulse is to throw things out.
Mending not only extends and brings new life to some items, but allows you to slow down, be meditative and also creative. There are two types of mending: visible and invisible.
Invisible mending is when the repair technique used aims for the garment to look close to its original condition.
There are several online video tutorials on how to do invisible mending.
Visible mending takes an ornamental approach to mending clothes. This involves techniques like using patches, embroidery or darning (interweaving yarn).
Visible mending can involve embroidering blocks, flowers, colorful patches, freestyle and satin stitching, turning clothing into wearable art.
Embroidering as mending dates back to the Edo period in Japan starting in the 1600s, and was created by the working class and fishing families to create more durable clothing.
Called sashiko, worn-out pieces would be stitched together with other pieces of fabric, to last for generations.
While there are businesses that offer tailoring, mending, repairing and altering, there are also YouTube channels to get started at home.
Some can be found here: Repair What You Wear, the Essentials Club, Blueprint DIY and Easy Sewing for Beginners.
Upcycling
During World War II, the British were told they would need to ration clothing, since available supplies were used to make war uniforms. This led to a large campaign to “make do and mend.”
Supplies became so scarce that women could not buy fabric and had to resort to using curtains and tablecloths to make clothes. Today, if clothes are too damaged to repair or if they have worn out their original use, another option to consider is upcycling them by repurposing them into something valuable again.
This can involve mending, but also changing the fit of clothes by cutting it down or adding more fabric. It could mean cutting up clothes and turning them into tote bags, or patches to put on other pieces of clothing. It could mean combining fabrics from two different garments to make something completely new.
It could also mean using it as fabric wrapping paper, or at the bare minimum for cleaning your house.
This also doesn’t have to stop at wearable garments, as clothing can be used to reupholster chairs, make pillow covers, tablecloths, rugs and more.
Here is a list from DIY Candy to get started.
Building a Minimalist Wardrobe
In the 1970s, boutique owner Susie Faux got tired of seeing people spend a lot of money on items that weren’t well made, didn’t fit right and were out of season the following year, so she created what is called the capsule wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe consists of timeless well-made garments built to last a long time, and are versatile in ways they can be worn, dressed up or down.
Over the next several decades, several designers created capsule wardrobe pieces to guide people into emphasizing quality over quantity.
Policy
Over the last few years, several campaigns and policymakers have tried to regulate the fashion industry’s impact on humans and the environment. Some have passed, others haven’t, but some are still being campaigned for.
In the EU, a grassroots campaign called Good Clothes, Fair Pay fought for living wage legislation, but legislation has yet to be passed.
In 2020, France did pass a first-of-its-kind anti-waste law to protect the environment from the amount of waste people create. The law bans stores from disposing unsold goods. Instead of being burned or scrapped, they must be recycled, redistributed or reused.
The Fashion Sustainability and Accountability Act in New York, which stalled in the House in 2022, has been reintroduced for 2023.
The key elements of the Act would involve supply chain mapping for apparel and footwear retailers that operate in New York with a global revenue of at least $100 million. They would be required to map their supply chains and subsequently address and remediate supply chain issues.
It would also require due diligence in requiring brands to identify, cease, prevent, mitigate, account for and remediate adverse impacts to human rights and the environment in their own operations. If passed, it will require brands to assess potential adverse impacts from their supply chain relationships.
It would also involve a fashion remediation fund that will consist of money by fashion sellers who have been fined.
Several states in the U.S., as well as other countries in the EU, have Extended Producer Responsibility laws, which involve producers’ responsibilities for the end lives of their products. These include take back and recycling programs as well as designing new products that are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.
Choosing Sustainable Fashion Brands
Sustainable fashion can often be more expensive than other fashion due not only to higher quality materials, but also because ethical brands pay their employees living wages. Their sourcing of materials (cotton grown without pesticides, for example) often involves paying higher prices to farmers.
Looking for more affordable brands can also leave people vulnerable to greenwashing, which is when companies claim they are eco-friendly but still continue to pollute the environment.
Big brands like H&M and Decathlon have been found by regulators to have made false claims, and according to a screening of sustainability claims in the textile, garment and shoe sector, 39% could be false or deceptive.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standards) is one of the newer verification systems that shows that brands are using sustainably processed fabrics and organic materials. Some of those clothes carry that labeling.
In order to get GOTS approval, clothing must be made from 70% or more organically farmed fibers. Only low-impact chemicals are permitted to protect consumer health as well as the environment. Manufacturers must meet water and energy consumption targets and procedures, and garment factory workers rights are upheld by the key safety norms and values of the International Labour Organisation.
When looking for items that are GOTS certified, when typing in items you are looking for into a search engine with GOTS (for example “GOTS white t-shirt), a number of items will pop up.
However, here is a list of some companies that not only provide sustainable clothing, but have ethical supply chains:
A nonprofit social enterprise that addresses the exploitation of women, Anchal uses several sustainable fabrics and has a whole collection of GOTS Cotton with quilts, pillows, clothing and more.
An affordable sustainable fashion brand that utilizes GOTS-certified cotton, Pact offers a wide range of clothing.
Tentree offers apparel made ethically from eco-conscious fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester, TENCEL and hemp.
Beaumont Organic features a wide range of clothing using organic fabrics for their fair trade clothing ranges.
Seek Collective is a U.S. brand dedicated to transparency, authenticity, craft and sustainability.
Here is a more extensive list curated by Good on You.
The post Slow Fashion 101: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/slow-fashion-facts-ecowatch.html
Your bedroom is a sanctuary but there are toxic chemicals lurking in our furniture that can keep it from being a true safe haven. This guide to sustainable and non-toxic nightstands is here to help you check one to-do off of your list in creating a toxin-free bedroom.
Note that this guide contains affiliate links. As always we only feature companies that might rigorous standards for sustainability that we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
What is a Non-Toxic Nightstand?
There’s a lot to look out for with non-toxic furniture, which I’ve covered in detail in that article. For this guide we’re focusing on nightstands, which are primarily made with wood or engineered wood. So I will focus on what to watch out for with wood furniture.
Solid Wood Nightstands
When possible, prioritize solid wood for a non-toxic nightstand because many composite woods (though not all) are made with adhesives that contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.
With nightstands, even if the nightstand is solid wood, the drawers are frequently made with composite wood. If this is the case, ensure that it is free of formaldehyde and other toxic substances.
Zero VOC or Low VOC Finishes
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, include a variety of chemicals (such as formaldehyde). Some of these VOCs can be extremely toxic and harmful to our health, including another known human carcinogen, benzene. The EPA reports that VOCs are up to 10x higher indoors than outdoors, due to products we bring into our homes such as paints, building and furniture materials, and wood preservatives.
When it comes to wood products like nightstands, pay special attention to the finishes used on these pieces. Although wood is a natural material, it can still be finished with toxic chemicals.
Pure linseed oil — an oil made from flaxseeds — is a commonly used non-toxic finish.
What is a Sustainable Nightstand?
Again we’ll focus on wood here since most nightstands are made with wood (or composite wood) and typically do not contain any cushioning or fabrics.
Responsibly Sourced Wood
While wood is a natural renewable material, deforestation is a driver of climate change and biodiversity loss. Plus forests can help stem the effects of the third element in our triple planetary crisis, pollution.
When looking for sustainable wood nightstands, look for:
- Upcycled and repurposed wood
- Wood from reforestation projects
- Traceable, local (or at least domestic) wood
- FSC-Certified wood (though I would be remiss not to note that the FSC is far from perfect as a certifier)
Locally Made
When it comes to bulky, heavy objects like furniture, domestic production is a higher priority on my list when determining sustainability. Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions so the less a piece of furniture has to travel to get to me, the better.
In my case, this means made in the US. (I only know of one furniture company made in my state.)
Many sustainable American-made furniture companies even have their own furniture workshops, for maximum traceability, high social standards, and quality assurance.
Secondhand Nightstands
When it comes to sustainability, it’s hard to beat secondhand. This is furniture that already exists and may even be otherwise headed to a landfill. I’ve written in depth about my top picks for buying and selling secondhand furniture.
I’ll summarize it though as:
- Apps like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace (I’ve had the most luck with those two)
- In-person options like furniture resale stores and at estate sales (the former is more curated, the latter might have better deals)
- Online secondhand furniture marketplaces like AptDeco
Are secondhand nightstands non-toxic? Typically, no, given that the majority of furniture in general is not made with healthy materials. However if furniture is used it has likely off-gassed significantly already so there will be fewer fumes compared with buying that same piece new.
Be sure to check that the secondhand nightstand has come from a smoke-free home (and pet-free if you have allergies).
Where to Find Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands
Feeling overwhelmed by everything there is to look for in a non-toxic or eco-friendly bedside table? I feel ya! That’s why I’ve done the hours of research and digging for you to curate the best of the best in non-toxic and sustainable nightstands.
You’ll find highlights of each company as well as other important information alongside each brand or retailer.
1. Medley
Crafted in the US by a production team with over 170 years of combined experience, Medley’s sustainable nightstands are built to last — the furniture frames even come with a lifetime warranty.
Medley’s expert team of furniture craftspeople make each of their bedside tables with FSC-certified solid walnut or maple for the tops, sides, and drawer(s). For the rest, Medley uses low-VOC CARB 2 compliant maple or walnut hardwood plywood to keep the nightstands light but sturdy.
Conscious Qualities: Zero and Low VOC Finishes, FSC-Certified Wood, USA-Made
Price: $745 – $1295
2. Copeland @ Urban Natural
Copeland crafts transitional furniture made with exceptional attention to quality in Vermont from hardwood sourced from the American Northern Forest. The company also uses renewable electricity from their own on-site solar array.
And Copeland’s standard finish for their products is a GREENGUARD Certified for low chemical emissions.
Conscious Qualities: Locally Sourced Solid Wood, GREENGUARD Certified Finish, Heirloom Quality, USA-Made
Price: $240 – $2205
3. Thuma
Modern, simple, and available in four different finishes, Thuma’s upcycled rubberwood nightstands are versatile storage furnishings that complement a range of interior design styles.
These sophisticated nightstands can be available to ship in just 1-3 days and arrive fully constructed, no assembly required.
Conscious Qualities: Upcycled Solid Wood, GREENGUARD Gold Certified
Price: $445
4. Avocado
Made with solid maple or walnut in their own FSC-certified woodshop in Los Angeles, Avocado’s nightstands are sustainably made to last. The nightstands even come with a 10-year warranty.
Avocado seals the nightstands with a zero-VOC stain and while plywood is used for the drawers, the maple wood option is formaldehyde-free verified by UL Environment.
Conscious Qualities: Zero VOC Stain, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, FSC-Certified, In-House Production
Price: from $249
5. Healthier Homes
Founded by “healthy home builders” Rusty and Jen, Healthier Homes curates furnishings without the toxins rampant in modern-day mass produced furniture.
Choose from the solid mango wood Playa End Table (pictured here) finished with a low VOC finish or the solid wood Mindi Wood Bedside Table finished with a water-based low VOC finish.
Conscious Qualities: Solid Wood, Low VOC Finishes, Sustainable Furnishings Council Member
Price: $695 – $869
6. GRAYN @ Urban Natural
GRAYN brings timeless design and expert craftsmanship to sustainable furniture. Handcrafted in Bradford, Vermont, GRAYN’s nightstands embody the brand’s mission to create purposeful, long-lasting pieces.
Crafted from ethically-sourced solid oak, GRAYN’s furniture showcases natural variations in wood color and pattern, celebrating its unique character. Each piece is finished with a GREENGUARD certified clear coating for non-toxic durability.
Conscious Qualities: Ethically-Sourced Solid Oak, GREENGUARD Certified Finishes, USA Made
Price: $1589 – $2179
7. Maple Corner Woodworks @ Urban Natural
Building quality furniture with classic designs, Maple Corner Woodworks furniture is built to the highest standards.
MCW’s solid wood nightstands are made in Vermont by skilled woodworkers using responsibly-harvested cherry, maple, or walnut hardwood.
Conscious Qualities: Solid Wood, USA-Made, Exceptional Craftsmanship
Price: $1629+
More Furniture Guides:
11 Best Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Beds for a Sound Sleep
15 Non-Toxic Furniture Companies for a Healthier Home
Top 10 American-Made Furniture Brands Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity
The post 7 Best Places for Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands (2026) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
7 Best Places for Sustainable and Non-Toxic Nightstands (2026)
Gone are the days when the act of upcycling clothing was solely associated with at-home DIY projects. Upcycling in fashion is now quickly becoming a creative and sustainable response to the industry’s growing waste crisis. Ahead, discover a curated list of upcycled fashion brands that are repurposing old garments into covetable, one-of-a-kind items of clothing that are a far cry from anything made using a hot glue gun.
What Is Upcycled Clothing?
Upcycling in fashion essentially involves the practice of repurposing post-consumer waste or worn-out pieces of textiles into fresh — and wearable — clothing styles.
By diverting landfill-bound clothing, adding value, and placing them back into circulation, upcycling encourages the very idea of circular fashion. An idea that could potentially prevent waste and reinforce a sense of value in the consumer that is used to tossing away clothing after merely getting 7-10 wears out of them.
The past few seasons have even seen luxury designer brands like Balenciaga, Chloé, and Dolce & Gabbana dabbling with upcycled creations by giving it the high-fashion boost it needs. For its SS21 collection, the statement-making Balenciaga showcased several upcycled looks that included a fur coat composed of dangling shoelaces, and a sheer dress made using basketball net chains.
What Is Reworked Fashion?
Not too dissimilar from upcycling, reworked clothing is the process of reshaping, restructuring, and re-stitching entire garments or parts of them, mixed and meshed with off-cuts, vintage textiles, and trims to produce unique pieces. (More on the behind-the-scenes of the clothing rework process in this podcast episode.)
In fact, studies have shown that clothing reuse activities can conserve between 90 to 95% of the energy needed to make new items, proving that repurposed clothes can significantly lower fashion’s carbon footprint.
Where to Find Upcycled Fashion Brands
According to premium shopping app and fashion data insights platform Lyst, people are growing increasingly curious about upcycled clothing styles. Lyst reports that they’ve seen a 117% rise in demand for upcycled, recycled, repurposed and reworked items year on year.
To keep up with this increasing interest, we scoured the internet to find you the best of the best upcycled clothing brands that are challenging throwaway culture by finding creative ways to repurpose vintage fashion and converting materials you wouldn’t have even dreamt of wearing, into glamorous, one-of-a-kind clothes that are worthy of being addressed as works of art.
Take a look at them below!
Note that the following includes affiliate links and partners. As always all of the upcycled fashion brands featured meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. GOAT Vintage
GOAT Vintage is a BIPOC woman-owned label on a mission to be the upcycled fashion brand that large retailers turn to for supporting their sustainability goals of zero waste production and transparent circularity. Fundamental in their DNA, GOAT Vintage uses no new materials whatsoever — everything is diverted from landfill or used textiles and transformed into “new” styles across the womenswear, menswear and kids categories.
Their upcycled +REWORK collection features a stylish range of clothes that don’t look reworked or pulled apart. From collegiate graphic fleeces, to girly ruffle skirts to the iconic 90’s slip dress, everything is reimagined with zero waste at the heart, with zero compromises on style.
GOAT Vintage partners with retailers who want to launch or expand their sustainable range with next level upcycling styles that are elevated and polished. Beyond streetwear, they design and produce exclusive collections for retailers such as PacSun, Culture Kings and others, to drive home the message that fashion can be truly circular and not a shred more needs to end up in landfill. That’s a message we can all get behind!
Price: $$-$$$$
2. Fanfare
Fanfare is a brand that’s breathing new life into vintage pieces, deadstock fabrics and surplus clothing by transforming them into unique contemporary designs.
Not only do they create upcycled looks but also feature a range of vintage pieces, along with a recycled clothing section on their site that showcases an impressive lineup of handpainted, embroidered and unique patchwork details.
The best part? Starting at $100, you can send them one of your tired old pairs of denim jeans to upcycle it to your customization and liking.
Price: $$-$$$
3. RE.STATEMENT
The upcycled clothing marketplace unlike any other, RE.STATEMENT works with small business designers to convert existing or used materials into pieces that make a statement.
From designers that tie-dye, hand-paint, and embroider appliqués to create distinctive styles you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, this marketplace lets you buy distinct clothing and also offers the unique option to upcycle your own clothes by co-creating with a RE.STATEMENT designer of your choice.
Price: $$-$$$
4. RE/DONE
At an amateur level, many of us have upcycled an old pair of jeans into denim cut-off shorts for the summer. After all, denim just happens to be one of the most democratic and resilient materials that tend to outlive most of the clothes in our wardrobes.
But don’t just take our word for it — take a look at what LA-based RE/DONE has achieved ever since it began partnering with heritage brands like Levi’s to upcycle vintage jeans into modern fits.
Since its affiliation with the timeless denim label in 2014, upcycled clothing brand RE/DONE claims to have diverted over 158,000 pairs of vintage Levi’s from landfills by transforming them into unique collectables.
Price: $$$-$$$$
5. 4KINSHIP
“If you are expecting a perfect piece, these are not for you.” These are just a few words of caution you’re bound to come across while shopping on 4Kinship’s website. This Diné-owned vintage and upcycled fashion brand prides itself on creating repurposed, imperfect pieces “that have a lot of soul” — as the brand so aptly describes it.
Upcycling materials like military parachutes and old curtains, along with a mix of preloved textile and vintage pieces, 4KINSHIP works with the indigenous folk of Dinétah (ancestral homeland of Navajo) and constantly supports projects that uplift their community.
Price: $$-$$$
6. E.L.V Denim
E.L.V Denim is a London-based label that upcycles unwanted post-consumer denim to create genderless, size-inclusive denim styles that are bound to age well in your wardrobes.
We love the fact that most of their denim jeans are vertically patched in contrasting washes at the legs to create unique styles that are sure to give you the illusion of a longer frame.
Moreover, by reusing existing denim materials, the upcycled denim brand reduces its water consumption by using 7 liters of water to wash its denim compared to a whopping 7,000 for every new pair of jeans made.
Price: $$$-$$$$
Shop @ MATCHES | Shop @ Net-A-Porter
7. Hôtel Vetements
This chic French label was born out of the need to rescue and revive discarded hotel linens and textiles to create clothes which capture the symbolism of the hotel experience through meticulous handicrafts.
Hôtel Vetements creates its wearable heirloom pieces using forgotten hotel curtains, upholsteries, cotton sheets, linens and tablecloths that look like they could’ve easily come from a Wes Anderson movie.
In fact, the upcycled clothing brand says that some of their hotel linens like embroidered, silk curtains were sourced from the iconic Ritz Hôtel in Paris and date all the way back to the 1800s.
Price: $$-$$$
8. Farewell Frances
Using a wide variety of vintage quilts and bedsheets, Farewell Frances makes upcycled clothing look every bit as covetable and chic.
The upcycled clothing brand’s range of quilted jackets appears worn-in yet cozy, which have a distinctive Cottagecore appeal to them. An aesthetic that is clearly visible in their styles, since the head designer, Carly Scheck claims to draw design inspiration from her favorite childhood movies and novels like Little Women, Heidi and Anne of Green Gables.
Price: $$-$$$
9. 1/OFF®
1/OFF® is a repurposed clothing brand that makes upcycling in fashion look oh so chic with vintage designer pieces from luxury fashion houses like Burberry, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and more. They create one-of-a-kind pieces as its namesake appropriately suggests.
Consider it your gateway brand to owning part of a higher-end luxury label. If that doesn’t sound convincing enough, just take a look at this repurposed halter-neck wrap top that came from a Ralph Lauren men’s shirt.
Price: $$$
Check out 1/OFF® (NL)
10. Chopova Lowena
This noteworthy UK-based upcycling fashion brand is a celebration of Bulgarian folklore that’s seamlessly blended with sporty elements and a bold punk aesthetic. Just as their design aesthetic suggests, the brand is famous for repurposing recycled and deadstock materials like pillowcases and aprons to create their inimitable skirts and sportswear.
Their iconic pleated skirts instantly give off a punk-rock vibe and have been worn by the likes of Madonna and Dua Lipa, to name a few.
Price: $$$-$$$$
11. Frankie Collective
If you’re a streetwear fan, then Frankie Collective is the place you ought to be shopping for your hypebeast attire. The upcycled fashion brand sources vintage pieces from cult brands like Nike, Champion, Adidas, and The North Face to create reworked pieces in ways you wouldn’t imagine were possible.
Expect to find wave color-blocked sweatpants assembled from 3 different vintage Nike sweaters to deceivingly well-constructed corsets and bustiers that don’t look as though they were reworked using a bunch of sweatshirts.
Price: $$-$$$
12. 3 Women
3 Women is a women-founded and owned brand creating upcycled clothing that you won’t believe once belonged to tablecloths, pillow covers, feed sacks, and rice sacks. You’ll also find vintage treasures from L.L. Bean, reworked Levi’s 501s, along with some pieces dating back to the 70s and 80s.
The Money Manifestation Jacket is easily one of their standout pieces that was crafted from parts of a feed sack and tablecloth.
Price: $$-$$$
13. Picnicwear
As its namesake suggests, Picnicwear — founded by upcycled fashion designer Dani — features a range of bright and cheerful summer-in-the-park-worthy clothes and accessories that are made using deadstock and vintage materials — primarily, upcycled towels!
If you’ve ever relished lounging in a towel robe after a relaxing shower, you know these terrycloth materials can instantly evoke a sense of lazy comfort. So, it’s only logical to see these colorful and bright towels turn into a range of covetable clothes for the summer.
Price: $$-$$$
14. Rokit
Having started out as a hip vintage denim store in the heart of London, Rokit launched its range of reworked fashion back in the late 80s, long before any of the younger millennials were even born.
To date, Rokit originals reworks secondhand and vintage clothes, uses deadstock materials, and manipulates just about anything old to create coveted limited edition pieces.
Since the brand started out as a vintage source for denim jeans, it comes as no wonder that some of the star pieces in their reworked collection include hand-dyed Levi’s jeans.
Price: $$-$$$$
Check out Rokit (UK & US)
15. Proche Studio
Your go-to source for pretty patchwork pieces unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, Proche Studio’s meticulous patterns are an absolute treat for your eyes.
Using vintage scraps from quilts and handkerchiefs, these camisole and patchwork pants are our go-to separates for the season. The unique yet wearable pieces are making upcycling in fashion look appealing even for upcycled clothing newbies.
Price: $$$
For More Slow Fashion Content:
About The Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her.
When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
The post The 15 Best Upcycled Fashion Brands Transforming Would-Be Waste into Beautiful Clothes appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
The 15 Best Upcycled Fashion Brands Transforming Would-Be Waste into Beautiful Clothes
This week’s quote is from poet Gary Snyder: “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Nature Is Not a Place To Visit. It Is Home. appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-nature-is-not-a-place-to-visit/
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