Sustainable Brands To Bookmark
With sustainability week taking place at the end of September, there’s no better time to start thinking about what you can do to help the planet.
We know by now that fashion is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, but there are many brands taking positive steps towards a more sustainable future. Here at The Handbook we love celebrating those choosing conscious practices, so scroll below to see what fashion is doing to shine a spotlight on sustainability.
FASHION
FREYA SIMONNE
Sustainable womenswear brand Freya Simonne was founded in 2020 by former fast fashion designer Freya Simonne Rabet after experiencing first-hand the waste and harm that the industry creates. The London-based label only uses fabrics that are already in existence, striving for a completely zero-waste approach and encouraging people to reconnect with the clothing and textiles they already own and reimagine them in new ways. www.freyasimonne.com
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OMNES
London-based sustainable fashion label Omnes has launched a limited edition charity t-shirt supporting The Greener Earth Project, created exclusively with renowned print designer Beth Postle. The Earth Day t-shirt is made in a Greek factory ensuring a low carbon footprint and the cotton used is seeded, grown and farmed in Greece, providing full transparency and traceability of the whole supply chain. In light of this, the t-shirt has been named the Demeter World Earth Day Tee, Demeter being the Greek Goddess of grain and agriculture. www.omnes.com
STRIPE & STARE
This sustainably sourced underwear, lounge and sleepwear brand is making a difference with its revolutionary pants, having recently launched the B-Edit, a 100% biodegradable collection made using the world’s first 100% biodegradable lace fabric that you can literally bury in your garden and will decompose in 180 days. For every order placed, they will plant a mangrove tree in Madagascar and have so far planted over 20,000 trees, aiding wildlife habitats and creating employment for local families. www.stripeandstare.com
DORA LARSEN
Dora Larsen founder Georgia Larsen wanted to offer women underwear that was comfortable for everyday wear but was still special and empowering. Her colourful creations are designed in London and produced in limited quantities, sustainability lying at the heart of what they do. Between April 22-24, the brand will be donating 100% of its profits to DIRT, an organisation founded by model & activist Arizona Muse that works to regenerate soil by supporting Biodynamic Farming. www.doralarsen.com
ACCESSORIES
JW PEI
This Los Angeles based accessories brand focuses on minimalist designs in sustainable vegan materials at accessible prices. On the 22nd April they’ll be launching the Shea bag, made from 100% plastic recycled bottles in aid of World Earth Day. www.jwpei.co.uk
RAIZ ATELIER
This conscious and fully circular footwear brand is inspired by nature and nostalgic summers. Handcrafted by Spanish artisans, Raíz (which means ‘root’ in Spanish) pays homage to the natural, renewable plant-based materials of cork, wood and wicker – all of which come from PEFC certified suppliers who are dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. Leather is sourced from heritage tanneries in Tuscany and is strictly vegetable-dyed, without the need for harmful chemicals. Their ‘Re-Raíz’ initiative ensures that each component of the shoe is safely composted at the end of its product life. www.raizatelier.com
MASHU
This contemporary accessories label is on a mission to prove that style and sustainability can co-exist harmoniously. The brand makes bags out of sustainable materials, including pineapple leather, cactus leather and corn leather and used deadstock satins and repurposed wood for their handles. For Earth Day the brand is going to donate 15% off all sales to eXXpedition – a not-for-profit organisation that takes all-women crews on transformative journeys at sea, on land and online to understand the causes and solutions to the plastic pollution problem. www.mashu.co.uk
KURT GEIGER
The British footwear brand will be launching its ‘Upcycled Kensington’ bag on Earth Day, a revised take on the brand’s bestselling handbag silhouette created from a patchwork of recycled fabrics from previous Kensington designs. The new bag represents Kurt Geiger’s efforts to explore more sustainable alternatives and is the latest style to join their growing recycled collection. www.kurtgeiger.com
JEWELLERY
BAR JEWELLERY
Bar Jewellery is a London-based contemporary jewellery brand founded by ex Burberry and Tom Ford designer, Sophie McKay. Her designs are inspired by purity of form and each piece is responsibly handmade using recycled materials, believing desirability and sustainability can exist in harmony. Her designs have been popular with eco-conscious celebrities including Meghan Markle, Arizona Muse, Jenna Coleman and Emma Watson. www.barjewellery.com
MONICA VINADER
INITIATIVES
LE COLONEL
French accessories brand Le Colonel has created a scheme that repurposes unwanted items of clothing into a new accessory of choice, from eyemasks to scrunchies and more. You can send your piece for free to its Lille workshop and a team of sewers will give it a new lease of life. Perfect for those who love the fabric or print of an item but no longer wear it. Wear, love, recycle and love again. www.lecolonel.com
