OPINION: Wear sustainable this spring!
These sustainable brands will freshen up your wardrobe for the new season.
These are four brands to consider to take your spring wardrobe (and the earth!) to the next level.
March 29, 2022
Spring has sprung, and you know what that means … spring fashion is officially here! It is time to put away those puffer jackets and soak in that Pullman sunshine.
As you start your spring cleaning, you might feel like you want to freshen up your wardrobe for the new season. If you have read any of my past articles you know that there are ways to revamp up your closet while keeping both you and our environment happy!
As the target demographic for fast fashion, college-aged consumers have a serious influence on the success of fast-fashion companies and the standards by which they operate. That is why shopping ethically is so important.
To make it a little easier for you, I have found several sustainable brands to help bring your closet to life this season.
Springtime means more hikes, bike rides, walks and getting outside! Girlfriend Collective is an activewear brand perfect for movement.
Their activewear comes in a large variety of earthy and colorful tones, as well as diverse sizing. Girlfriend collective is quite affordable, with most workout pieces ranging from $40-$60.
Their products are made from recycled plastic water bottles that would otherwise clog landfills and pollute the earth. Their fabric is dyed with eco-friendly dyes, and they donate the dye mud to local pavement facilities where it is recycled into sidewalks and roads.
Tentree is a Canadian lifestyle brand that plants 10 trees for every item purchased. The brand creates clothing for women, men and children.
Tentree focuses on casual streetwear and activewear – this is great for those who are looking for minimalistic style or everyday basics and staples.
The certified B-Corp brand has already helped to remove tons of CO2 from the atmosphere and reforested over 5,000 hectares of land (that’s equal to 12,000 football fields), according to their website. The brand’s commitment to sustainability goes way beyond trees by using recycled, organic and circular fabrics.
You know we could not forget about jewelry!
Ana Luisa is a 100% carbon-neutral and high-quality jewelry store. Ana Luisa has delicate and beautiful pieces that are perfect for any occasion. Their options include stainless steel, sterling silver, solid gold and brass, all at a reasonable price.
Ana Luisa tracks their greenhouse gases emissions and water usage impact. Using those results they make important changes to their supply chain to improve. They helped restore 2.5 million gallons of water since January 2021 by supporting certified water restoration projects, according to their website.
Patagonia is an outdoor and activewear company known for its outerwear, hats and sportswear. Patagonia sells clothing for women, men, and children. (As the weather gets warmer, Patagonia also sells swimsuits and travel gear!)
Patagonia is making major steps to improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. The majority of their clothing is made from recycled fabrics, and they use an effective business model to prevent fast-fashion production.
While on the pricey side, Patagonia creates high-quality products to increase longevity; they also have a repair and reuse program.
Do Your Part
If you are wondering if one of your favorite brands is sustainable, look to see if they provide a sustainability report on their website. If not, it is a good sign they are not meeting certain ethical standards.
This spring, engage in sustainable practices such as thrifting and buying from companies that operate under higher ethical and environmental standards. Doing so will help curb the detrimental impacts of fast fashion on our planet and it will help you develop a wardrobe that you can feel proud of!
