We have come so accustomed to clothes being cheap and thus disposable that we often forget to look at the reasons why that is. Clothing was once something you invested in, looking for pieces that would be timeless and worn over and over. But now we are able to buy clothes weekly, wear them once or twice and forget about them because they barely cost us a thing and new seems to always be better. Certainly we can’t all afford to buy designer pieces or shop independent all the time, but I think it is important to start taking note of the brands who have very questionable ethics and look to brands that pay fair wages, focus on sustainability, make an effort to be transparent and create really well-made pieces that will last. Looking at clothes the way we look at investing in good furniture may help us to see that our view of clothing and the whole industry has become a little skewed. Of course our first thought is buy secondhand, but if you want to support independent businesses and brands that are doing it right, these are the ones we think you should lookout for.
EVERLANE
Everlane is known for doing immense research on the factories they work with and visiting them often to ensure the factory’s integrity. It is important to them to remain transparent so you know exactly what you are paying for and why.
ELIZABETH SUZANN
Focusing on careful consumption, Elizabeth Suzann creates timeless pieces that can be worn several ways. All their clothes are manufactured in their studio located in Nashville and they strive to create as little waste as possible.
MAISON CLEO
Maison Cléo is a mother-daughter brand based out of the North of France, creating pieces that are easy to wear and making French girl style accessible to everyone. Every single piece is handmade in their studio by mother of the duo, Cléo. They are extremely transparent when it comes to breaking down cost of materials and hours put into making each piece so you know exactly what you are paying for.
ÖHLIN/D
Based in NYC, Ö/D focuses on effortless style while putting forth effort into being a brand that supports social and environmental consciousness. They source high-quality fibres from vendors that adhere to a “do no harm” policy, which is to say they do not harm the environment or animals.
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