Sustainable Fashion Brands Changing The Game

Sustainable fashion has taken the industry by storm as brands have chosen a more eco-friendly direction for their clothing. Sustainable clothing is designed to keep the environment in mind with eco-friendly fabric and ethical labor practices to reduce waste, creating clothing with a message.

For years, the fashion industry has contributed to the world’s environmental issues, especially when it comes to fast fashion. The industry has caused problems such as pollution, water, and greenhouse gas emissions. Fashion has also been criticized for unethical labor practices to keep up with the high demand from consumers. Sustainable fashion is the practice of teaching consumers to be more conscious of what they buy to put on their bodies.

Over the years, women have been doing their part to combat the issues of fast fashion and make the fashion industry more eco-friendly. Women-owned women of color brands from Hope For Flowers and Selva Negra have become a shining beacon of hope that sustainability and fashion can coexist, giving consumers clothes that are trendy and will make their closet happy. Here are five women of color-owned sustainable fashion brands that are redefining what it means to be environmentally stylish.

Designer Tracy Reese launched her brand, Hope for Flowers, determined to empower women and young people by advocating for sustainability in fashion. The line places an emphasis on being socially conscious and using materials that not only look good, but feel good to wear. Hope for Flowers believes that by incorporating positive, social, and ecological practices into their sourcing and operating structures, they can instill their products with greater substance.

According to Essence, Tracy felt that a shift needed to happen in her career. By using friendly materials and supporting local artisans, she was creating fashion that “looks good and does good.”

“I was at a crossroads with my old business partners,” she told Essence. “But I was learning about sustainability and how harmful fashion’s footprint can be.” 

Tracy’s career started in 1998 when she launched her namesake brand. She has since then designed for Michelle Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Oprah Winfrey.

LatinX-owned sustainable fashion brand Selva Negra was founded in 2016 by Kristen Gonzales and Sam Romero. The Los Angeles-based brand was inspired by the duo’s Latina roots and is the perfect mix of tomboy and feminine items. Selva Negra has everything from bold pantsuits and two-piece sets to neutral pieces for a more calming look.

Their clothes can be dressed either up or down and are perfect for a night out or a chill day out. The brand has continued to do good by working with nonprofits such as United We Dream and ACLU by donating proceeds of their sales. Selva Negra is pro-low-waste, choosing to incorporate compostable packaging and reducing the use of plastic. Their clothing items also size up to 4X to make sure that everyone gets to enjoy their pieces.

Proclaim is a sustainable fashion brand founded by South Asian designer Shobha Philips. According to their website, Proclaim is committed to making women’s essentials that respect both people and the planet. In an interview with Create & Cultivate, Shobha started Proclaim in 2017 after feeling frustrated by the lack of nude bras available in her skin tone.

It was after conquering Mount Kilimanjaro that the designer decided she could tackle anything, including starting her own inclusive lingerie line. She set out to make sure her company practiced ethical production of each item. Each piece is carefully made with earth-conscious fabrics such as wood pulp and recycled plastic and produced by experienced workers in Los Angeles. She pays her workers a fair wage, battling against wage exploitation. Philips continues to be a force in the industry, advocating for brands to practice inclusivity, skin tone, ethics, and sustainability in mind.

Founded by supermodel Liya Kebede,Lemlem is made solely and responsibly in Africa. The eco-friendly brand is an artisan-driven collection for men, women, and children. The collection is handwoven using cotton from Ethiopia and continues to create socio-economic opportunities for artisans, while building communities across the globe.

Liya started Lemlem in 2007, the brand expanding to Kenya with ready-to-wear and Morocco with swimwear. The craftsmanship combines traditional weaving techniques with modern patterns and designs, giving the brand a unique and exclusive look. Lemlem continues to grow its brand, increasing partnerships with artisan groups all over Africa.