The sustainable labels your wardrobe needs

Words: Beth Pratt

Sustainability is at the forefront of every conversation in fashion right now. From #rewiringfashion, a proposal for a dramatic reshaping of the fashion business, to an open letter spearheaded by designers such as Dries Van Noten, the cry is for fashion to become more sustainable and less wasteful. The great news for us mere punters is ‘conscious fashion’ no longer means tie-dye (though we’d totally take that) and compulsory nettle tea. There’s a myriad of labels championing amazing causes, working tirelessly for sustainability and dressing you beautifully while at it. Here’s five of our favourites…

We love dungarees. Seriously. If you haven’t jumped on this comfiest and very ‘90s (so obviously we’re obsessed) trend, now’s the time. And Lucy & Yak are here to make sure your dungarees are not only super soft and perfect for lounging in, but also sustainably made and responsibly sourced. The label also has a collection made in Yorkshire, which is as scrummy as those Yorkshire puddings if you can believe it.

Best for: utilitarian shapes and comfy, unisex basics.

One of the silver linings of a lack of physical shops (we know, we’re sobbing too) is the chance to choose independent boutiques that you wouldn’t normally travel to. Exeter-based Sancho’s has been championing greener fashion since 2014, and now deliver their handpicked edit of certified fair-trade and naturally-made clothing to all corners of the country. There’s a real focus on clean lines, easy shapes and a muted colour palette – which has WFH written all over it.

Best for: minimalism, neutrals and timeless style.

Reformation moves quickly – the brand can bring a dress to market in a month. While fast-fashion has become a dirty word, this label turns it on its head with an obsessive attention to conscious fibre standards (read their manifesto on it – it’s fascinating) and fabrics. Achingly beautiful design achieved with a focus on treating people and planet right, no wonder it’s got a cult following.   

Best for: soft silhouettes, florals and femininity.

Remember the days when activewear was just for the gym? Ha, we could laugh about it now. When you’re crunching in it, brunching in it and wearing it for your daily Netflix binge, you want it to be made from as much recycled material as possible – 92% upcycled to be precise. TALA are doing just that with their mood-boosting gymwear that it would be criminal if you didn’t spend all day in. Plus, even their tags are made from plantable paper.

Best for: performance, style and sizes for all.

Veja, the cult trainer – made with sustainable practices – is so prevalent that it’s surprisingly tricky nowadays to turn a corner without bumping straight into one. And quite rightly so with that graphic ‘V’, popping and retro colourways, and the fact that they’re made with raw materials harvested ecologically, bringing stability to the regions in which they are grown. If you like stats, the V-10 became the second and third bestselling pieces globally on NET-A-PORTER when they launched. If you like visuals, just look at them. Beautiful. 

Best for: classic sneaker style AND helping to save the Amazon rainforest.