Mrembo Africa is a Nairobi-based ethical fashion brand that seeks to build hope and create sustainable economic empowerment for its women artisans. The brand uses vibrant African motifs to uniquely enhance modern designs, allowing traditional artistry and skills to be channeled into new markets. Mrembo Africa employs both local Kenyan and refugee women aiming to strengthen their sewing and tailoring skills so that they are able to support themselves and their families.
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![]() Kuyichi is a Dutch denim brand that is both socially and environmentally responsible. The brand works with factories that guarantee their workers fair wages in safe and healthy work environments. Additionally, the brand is a champion of recycled and organic materials; in fact, in 2013 their entire collection was made from 100% organic or recycled cotton, hemp, linen, polyester, and tencel®. ![]() Haikure's products are what you get when you mix the quality of Italian tailoring with eco and ethical fashion practices. The brand, which emphasizes the importance of traceability, believes that the consumer should have access to information on each product's production processes. Additionally, Haikure is on a mission to inspire a new lifestyle in which sustainability and fashion can coexist through the promotion of respect for both people and the planet. Alchemist is a brand striving to mix high fashion with ethical fashion. Currently, 92% of Alchemist's production takes place in Europe, a decision the brand made to reduce their carbon footprint and ensure the protection of their workers' rights. Alchemist is also a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to improve labor conditions in the fashion industry.
![]() Wabi Sabi, and eco-fashion brand, produces shoes, jewelry, accessories, and clothing. The brand classifies all of their products into four categories of sustainability: natural, recycled, organic, and handmade. In addition, Wabi Sabi is careful to use certified ecological materials and only works with suppliers who comply to fair trade regulations. ![]() Mata Traders is a fair trade brand that produces clothing, jewelry, and accessories made by cooperatives in India. As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Mata Traders is dedicated to the creation of opportunities for economically and socially marginalized workers; the brand ensures safe working conditions, protects the rights of children, and respects the cultural identities of all of their employees. In addition, Mata Traders is also dedicated to cultivating environmental stewardship. To learn more about the brand's production process, watch the video below: PrAna is a socially responsible apparel brand committed to sustainability. The belief that "a brand should give much more than it takes from the world" is what drives PrAna's business and production practices. Not only does the brand use resources and labor in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, but it is also on a mission to "inspire, integrate, and socialize a more caring and proactive approach to the world around us."
![]() The Baand, a brand centered on the production of timeless fashion basics, is committed to improving environmental and social conditions within the fashion industry. The brand uses 100% organic cotton and alpaca wool in their garments, which they source from small, family owned companies in Peru. ![]() Nomads is a UK-based clothing line that has been committed to producing fair trade items for over twenty years. The brand works with Indian handicraft artisans to create one of a kind pieces. In addition to their commitment to fair trade practices, the brand is also environmentally conscious. ![]() As both an environmentally and socially responsible brand, The Green 3 works to produce both modern and classic garments from recycled, organic, and reclaimed materials here in the United States. The brand uses only biodegradable detergents and low-impact reactive dyes. Additionally, the company works with organizations such as Aspiro to provide jobs and life skills training for adults with cognitive disabilities. ![]() Khunu is a brand committed to creating positive social change through their business. The brand's garments are made of yak wool from the Tibetan Plateau and Mongolia. Khunu works with local nomadic people groups in these regions to provide greater economic opportunity and stability among rural communities. Additionally, the brand is dedicated to environmental responsibility through all stages of their production processes. Raven and Lily is a clothing, accessory, and jewelry brand dedicated to artisan empowerment, fair trade, and environmental responsibility. The brand currently carries five collections made by female artisans from Ethiopia, India, Cambodia, Kenya, and the US. They are a member of the Ethical Fashion Forum's current 10 Founding Source Partners and are certified by Green America. To learn more about how the brand began, watch the promo video below. ![]() Matter is a socially motivated brand that specializes in producing comfortable, versatile pants. By connecting Indian artisans with designers around the world, the brand seeks to provide economic growth and stability in the rural communities of their craft collaborators. Additionally, the brand is deeply committed to supply chain transparency, environmental impact sensitivity, and the creation of long term production partnerships. ![]() Sinerji is a brand striving to "change the fashion industry for the better, one thread at a time." This Australia-based brand exclusively engages in fair trade and sweat-shop free production. Additionally, their products are made from certified organic cotton and bamboo jersey and are dyed with organic vegetable dyes, making the clothing eco-friendly in multiple ways. ![]() Levi's, which is part of the Levi Strauss & Co. apparel company, is a clothing company that specializes in denim. Their products are made with four key values in mind: empathy, integrity, originality, and courage. For years, the brand has been committed to fair labor standards and workers rights. Today, their Made of Progress campaign exemplifies their current mission - doing more with less while caring for people worldwide. To learn a little bit more about the spirit behind the Made of Progress campaign, check out the video below. ![]() Country Road is an Australian brand dedicated to ethical fashion practices. Their corporate social responsibility model focuses on four key components: their people, their communities, the environment, and ethical trade. The brand is a big supporter of the Australian wool industry, but their products are exclusively sourced from non-mulesed wool. Additionally, they have developed an Environmental Code of Practice, which they require all their suppliers to sign. Rapanui is an eco-friendly brand dedicated to making sustainable fashion "cool." The UK-based brand is known for its radical transparency and use of organic textiles. For Rapanui, ethical fashion begins with their design practices and continues through every stage of the production process.
![]() Hiptipico is both a brand and online boutique dedicated to raising up Guatemalan artisans while preserving Mayan culture and customs. By reinvesting their profits into women's cooperatives, family shops, and Mayan handicrafters, Hiptipico has been able to stimulate local economies through their work. The brand's practices revolve around five core values: fair wages, economic development, authenticity, empowerment, and sustainability. Etrican is a Singapore-based brand dedicated to creating accessible designs and affordable clothing out of organic cotton. On top of that, they work exclusively with responsible factories that ensure fair pay, adequate working hours, and good conditions for their workers. All Etrican products are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard organization, which holds its members to both social and environmental standards.
![]() The West is Dead is a clothing brand committed to preserving, protecting, and reclaiming the American West through their craftsmanship. Currently, the brand is partnering with the Intertribal Buffalo Council to work toward the revitalization of the West. Additionally, all of their garments, including this comfy crew neck sweatshirt, are handmade in the USA from high-quality raw materials. 4 All Humanity is an online private label that offers women's apparel (like this fair trade, 100% organic cotton Hi-Lo Henley Dress) made by a cooperative in northern Uganda. The brand also produces accessories, which are made from recycled materials, silver, vintage fabrics, leather, and semi-precious stones by co-ops in India, Thailand, Mexico, and South Africa. 4 All Humanity ethically sources every one of their products, believing that in doing so they can not only change the futures of the artisans they work with, but also transform the apparel industry's current model of sourcing.
![]() Steven Alan is a New York based designer committed to creating classic, timeless pieces of clothing. His garments are handmade from high-quality raw materials. Most of the manufacturing is done in New York (seventy percent, in fact), and the small amount of production done in China takes place in small factories that do not partake in mass-production. This allows the brand to be proud of their product as well as their process. ![]() Nau (pronounced "now") is a Portland-based company dedicated to social, material, and aesthetic sustainability. They create beautiful pieces out of natural, renewable, recycled, and salvaged materials and donate 2% of every sale to their humanitarian and environmental Partners for Change, (which include Ashoka, Breakthrough Institute, Mercy Corps, People for Bikes, and Ecotrust). Nau is known for their modern take on urban and outdoor apparel like this rain poncho, made from recycled polyester and organic cotton. ![]() Known for their "super-soft" quality and simplistic designs, Alternative Apparel's products are both comfortable to wear and lovely to look at. Through their work, Alternative aims to promote purposeful causes, connect people, inspire creativity and catalyze change. This Alpaca Cropped Poncho is made from sustainably sourced baby alpaca wool in partnership with the Sustainable Alpaca Network, Pacomarca. This wool comes from the rural highlands of Peru, where Alternative has partnered with local experts in the trade to create a sustainable textile industry. To learn more about the company's work in Peru, check out their video "Made in Peru: Alpaca Wool" below. |
Author
Allie Gardner is a DC-based nonprofit professional working to eradicate human trafficking. She holds a Master's in Public Anthropology from American University. Archives
August 2016
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