Sk*p’s guide to buying sustainable fashion
Sk*p Culture
Fashion week is around the corner, which typically signals a lot of buzz and a seasonal wardrobe change. But this biannual event to showcase what’s trending for next season comes at a heavy cost. Endless productions, events and attendees travelling from afar result in a big expense and carbon footprint—when everyone should be scaling back. And new trends lead people to buy new clothes, leading to more unworn clothes and excessive consumption.
When not recirculated, clothing waste (85%) ends up at a landfill—which explains why the fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world. As a conscious beauty brand, we are creating solutions so that you can shop with less impact on the environment. Luckily, there are designers and brands who are on this journey with us to shake things up and change the industry for the better. Here are a few of our favorites you should check out when you may need something new but also want to repurpose something old, responsibly.
Sanctuary Clothing is where stylish meets sustainable. Their chic transitional pieces are made from eco-friendly materials in factories that utilize recycling programs and advanced technology. Sanctuary also emphasizes creating a workplace that benefits employees while also using its resources to support the local community. With such ethical production and social standards in place, we are happy to call Sanctuary one of our go-to shopping destinations for sustainable clothing under $200.
We all have clothes that never see the light of day, but keep em’ around for that rare occasion when we might need them. Then Pact comes along and makes it a whole lot easier to say adios to that old sweater that never fit you anyway. With their Give Back, Wear Forward program, Pact will donate your old clothes to nonprofits that need them. Not only that, The Give Back Box reduces Pact’s carbon footprint by reusing old boxes for a good cause. Labeled “Earth’s Favorite Clothing,” Pact makes it fun to shop for all things comfy and conscious.
February may be one of the coldest months of the year, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel it on the inside. Save the Duck’s insulated vests and jackets are made from 100% polyester fibers recycled from plastic bottles to make you feel warm and toasty through the sleet, rain and snow. As a certified B-Corp, Save the Duck has a transparent business model that manages natural resources responsibly. Even better, they donate 1% of their turnover to companies that take care of the planet, including Save the Children, PETA, WWF and many more. This is definitely a purchase you can really feel good about.
Buying an entirely new wardrobe without shopping fast fashion may sound too good to be true, but For Days gives your closet an earth-friendly refresh. With their Take Back Bags, you simply buy a bag ($10 for a medium bag, $20 for a large bag), fill it up with any old clothing and send it back with a prepaid label. Once received, you will earn Closet Cash equal to the price you paid for the bag, where you can then shop new circular clothing. And we must admit, the clothes are so comfy and universal that you will want to wear them for days (pun intended).
Colorful, cozy, and carbon negative—everything we love about Sheep Inc’s knitwear. Made using advanced technology, regenerative farming practices, and packaged in fully compostable bio-bags; your sweaters will be delivered to you without any waste attached. Every piece arrives with a tag where you can track its digital DNA, revealing your sweater’s lifecycle. This means you can trace your sweater from the wool supplier to the person who hand-finished it, all on your phone. When you purchase from Sheep Inc., you get so much more than a sweater, you get a story to go with it!
There’s nothing better than wearing your favorite pair of jeans, except wearing your favorite pair of sustainable jeans. DL1961 shreds recycled denim and combines it with consumer waste, using advanced technology to make the perfect pair of jeans. One pair of jeans at most brands take 1500 gallons of water to produce, but DL1961 uses less than 10 gallons for each pair. Bonus: DL1961 donates a portion of sales to New York City area shelters and charities. Now those are some good jeans.
Shop till ya drop may be your cardio, but that doesn’t work well for the planet. New clothing production is increasing as perfectly good clothing is being thrown away. Not when you shop at thredUP, an online consignment and thrift store where you can sell your old clothes AND shop a closet of pre-loved clothes that feel like something new. ThredUP also does collaborations with different brands by developing programs like Madewell Forever, which extends the lifespan of Madewell Jeans so they can be loved by someone else.
And finally, there is hope for even more change to come in the fashion industry…
Recently, a new bill was proposed in New York called the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act. If passed (hopefully in 2022), this new legislature would require apparel and footwear brands (earning at least a $100 million per year in global revenue) to report on the impact of their production process and share plans for how they will minimize damage to the environment. It has support from New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and assembly member Dr. Anna Kelles, as well as endorsements from the New Standard Institute and designer Stella McCartney. This would make the fashion industry more accountable and encourage others to follow.
