We live in a day and age where we have a ridiculous amount of information at our fingertips. We certainly don't know everything but we can google anything in a matter of seconds. With all of this access to information, it is only natural that we would all start to pay a lot more attention to the environment and how our consumer habits impacts the world around us. Words like 'organic', 'sustainable', 'eco-friendly', and 'green' have become pretty trendy but what do they actually mean? What does it take to be an environmentally friendly fashion designer in the 21st century? While it might not be easy being green, these six designers are doing it right and proving that style and sustainability should always go hand in hand.
Photos via Conscious Clothing
If luxurious fabrics and timeless cuts are your things then look no further than this Michigan-based brand. Created by husband and wife duo Rose and Doug Phillips, this contemporary line is redefining the term 'eco-chic'. Every lovely item is made lovingly in the United States out of sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics, materials, and dyes and most of the fabrics are sourced locally. We love the relaxed, earthy vibe of the line and the beautifully textured fabrics.
Instagram - @consciousclothing
Facebook - Conscious Clothing
Tumblr - Conscious Clothing
Pinterest - /rosedub
Photos via SVILU
2. SVILU
A lot of people associate eco-friendly clothing with sparsely woven hemp fabric, scratchy burlap, figure-shunning silhouettes, and a colour palette of brown, taupe, and olive. This is not the case when it comes to this NYC-born label. SVILU is highly modern with a sharp minimalist aesthetic that is elegant and easy to wear. The cuts and impeccable and the fabrics are luxurious (there's nothing hippie about this line). The best part? Everything is made in New York out of locally sourced materials. These are environmentally-conscious staples for the modern woman.
Instagram - @svilu
Facebook - Svilu
Twitter - @SVILU_NYC
Photos via Kowtow
3. Kowtow
From the materials and fabrics to the construction of each garment, everything that is designed by Gosia Piatek is created with the well-being of people and the planet in mind. Modern, fluid pieces are exclusively crafted out of 100% fair-trade cotton and the workers who produce the garments are ensured a fair wage and employee benefits. All of the fabrics are dyed according to the Global Organic Textiles Standards, meaning that there are no toxic elements like lead, nickel or formaldehyde. Truly, every step of the design and manufacturing process is ethical and eco-friendly. Kowtow is a brand where beauty goes beyond aesthetics and is woven in through and through.
Instagram - @kowtowclothing
Facebook - Kowtow
Twitter - @kowtowclothing
Tumblr - Kowtow Says...
Pinterest - /kowtowclothing
Photos via Titania Inglis
The Titania Inglis signature look is equal parts royalty and rock and roll. Unexpected details, luxe fabrics, and flowy silhouettes are a few of this New York designer's go-to design elements which create a look that is utterly unique and striking. What makes this feminine line even more stunning is its commitment to local production using low-impact materials. Every piece is produced in a small, family-owned factory using materials such as vegetable-tanned leather, Japanese organic cotton, and dead stock wool.
Instagram - @titaniainglis
Twitter - @titaniainglis
Photos via Aideen Bodkin
Since 1999, Irish designer Aideen Bodkin has been creating small, beautifully crafted collections with an aesthetic that rivals the couturiers of Old Hollywood. As a fashion design graduate of NCAD Dublin, Aideen worked with a range or Irish designer before she launched her own label nearly twenty years ago. Although her collections have a very lavish feel, there is nothing wasteful about Bodkin's line. Aideen works with small fabric mills to create her designs and to incorporate her own embroideries. This hands-on approach results in garments that are beautifully constructed and timeless.
Instagram - @aideenbodkin
Facebook - Aideen Bodkin Design
Photos via Demestik on Etsy
6. Demestik
Reuben Reuel is the creative mastermind behind this celebrity-loved label (Beyonce is a fan!). Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Reuben first developed his appreciation for fashion from watching his grandmother, a skilled seamstress, work. Inspired, the designer moved to New York in 2007 and began his education at the prestigious Art Institute of New York City. Reuben's love affair with New York (and with domestic manufacturing) has continued nearly ten years later and Demestik was named to represent Reuben's commitment to producing locally, in the heart of Manhattan's garment district. Reuben draws his inspiration from African textiles and vintage clothing and designs with the idea that every piece should be functional as well as beautiful. With local production and sustainability at woven into the fabric of the brand, Demestik is a brand that is as principled as it is pretty.
Instagram - @reuel_reuel
Who are your favorite eco-friendly designers? We would love to hear from you! Chat with us in the comment section or send us a message at sales@njeffersonltd.com.
