Fashion for the Future: Brands Committed to Environmental Sustainability

At a Glance:

Glossary

ADAY

Baggu

Girlfriend Collective

KOTN

ABLE

Pact

Glossary

Keeping track of environmental standards, certifications, and organizations is hard. Here’s a quick glossary to keep you up-to-date on the latest in environmental standards:

SA8000

• Specialized social accountability standard for fair factory working conditions created by Social Accountability International (Fair Trade standards typically refer to farming)

Oeko-Tex

• Standard to ensure textiles or leather products have been manufactured using environmentally friendly processes, and/or socially responsible working conditions. You can even scan the QR code on Oeko-Tex labels to ensure brands are still within the guidelines! 

B-Corp

• B-corp or Benefit Corporations are mission-driven companies that balance purpose and profit. B-corp status signifies a company that has met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. 

Bluesign

• Full-service solutions system for the textile value chain with a focus on sustainable chemistry. Bluesign works with brands, manufacturers, and chemical suppliers to ensure environmental compliance and has its own standard by which to measure environmental impact. 

Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)

• The largest cotton sustainability program in the world. The BCI aims to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in, and better for the future of the cotton industry.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

• The world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

• An international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of recycled content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices and chemical restrictions.

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)

• The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) requires all sites, from wool farmers to the seller in the final business-to-business transaction, to be certified. RWS farmers and ranchers must meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements.

Post-consumer recycled products (PCR)

• Post-consumer recycled content, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, like aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bottles.

Sustainability-Focused Brands

ADAY

B-Corp Certified

OEKO-TEX & Bluesign-Approved Fabrics

R.E.A.C.H. Certified

GRS Certified Textiles

RWS Certified Textiles

ADAY makes womenswear capsule styles cleverly designed to be as versatile as possible. Each piece is sustainably made with innovative super fabrics for durability, longevity, and easy care.

The brand considers sustainability to be a foundation of their brand mission and works to weave sustainable practices into each part of their business, from concept to delivery. ADAY even requires their suppliers and factories to sign a Commitment to People and Planet, to ensure compliance with their mission-driven standards.

Girlfriend Collective

100% Recycled and Recyclable Packaging

Circular & Take-back Initiatives

SA8000 and WRAP Certified Factory Partners

Standard 100 Oeko-Tex Certified Recycled Fabrics

Girlfriend Collective is a brand committed to sustainability, transparency, and representation for women from all backgrounds and sizes. The brand creates activewear, loungewear, and accessories from PCR textiles, and each piece is available in sizes that range from XXS to 6XL. 

The brand believes good things come to those who don’t waste. In addition to creating their garments from PET and recycled cotton, they champion initiatives that aim to close the loop of manufacturing and fashion waste. The ReGirlfriend initiative allows customers to return used or worn-out garments back to the brand to be recycled again, and get $15 store credit as a reward.

ABLE

Certified B-Corp

Size Swap Collection

Upcycled Leather for Bags

Recycled Silver Jewelry

100% Recyclable Packaging

Femlae-founded ABLE designs woemnswear, denim, leather goods, shoes, and jewlery meant to empower both the women who wear them and the women who make them. 

ABLE prioritizes designs that combine style, function, and fit while staying socially and environmentally responsible. The brand has partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers that employ women in Ethiopia, Brazil, Mexico, China, India, and Portugal. ABLE products are guaranteed for life (really), and the brand even features a Size Swap program, which allows consumers to exchange pieces when life happens, no matter how long it’s been since the purchase date.

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