Why fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth
As pressure to be eco-friendly grows, stylist RIVKIE BAUM reveals which labels are already putting the planet first
IN the UK we buy more clothes than any other European country – and twice as many as we did 10 years ago. However it seems our love of fast fashion comes with a hefty price tag for the environment.
Worrying figures suggest that
ADIDAS
Recent reports have suggested that about five trillion pieces of plastic, with a total weight of more than 250,000 tonnes, have been dumped in the oceans, devastating marine life.
Now sportswear giant Adidas is trying to redress the balance with its new Parley collection. The range features innovative sportswear made from recycled, discarded plastic.
Plastic waste is spun into chlorine-resistant fabrics as well as high-performance trainers and lightweight gymwear. Trainers, £139.95, Adidas (adidas.co.uk)
ZARA
The Zara Join Life initiative goes beyond pretty dresses in planet-friendly fabrics.
The brand is proving its determination to protect the globe by ensuring the majority of its stores are ecofriendly too.
Zara uses renewable energy sources to power its computer servers but the recycling doesn’t stop there.
Is your bedroom full of clothing you no longer wear? Zara will recycle old clothes for you so there is no excuse to keep pieces at the back of your wardrobe. Dress, £19.99, Zara (zara.com) hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothing are thrown out each year in the UK, with 80 per cent ending up in landfill.
Last week the Government demanded that the fashion industry start taking greater responsibility for the impact it has on the Earth. Shoppers are taking
LEVI’S
Levi’s is a big brand taking its environmental responsibility seriously. Historically denim production hasn’t been environmentally friendly, especially in terms of waste water.
But Levi’s new collection WaterLess aims to reduce the amount of water used in the finishing processes by 96 per cent.
So far it has saved 1.8 billion litres. There are 200 items in the men’s and women’s collections in the range but Levi’s hopes that by 2029, 80 per cent of its denim will be made using water-saving techniques.
Better still, the company is happy to share the new technology so other brands can follow suit. Jeans, £90, Levi’s (levi.com)
MANGO
High street favourite Mango’s classic silhouettes and sophisticated colour palettes have been given an eco-friendly makeover.
The brand’s Take Action collection is made from sustainable fabric in a bid to reduce the impact of clothing production on the environment.
It is full of chic and stylish looks that give savvy consumers an environmentally friendly option in-store.
No matter what the style, it has never been easier to buy beautiful pieces of clothing that love the planet too. Shirt, £29.99, Mango (mango.com) notice, with online searches for “sustainable fashion” and “who made my clothes?” up by about 250 per cent.
With many labels now working to reduce waste and increase sustainability, don’t miss our guide to the most eco-friendly fashion on the high street.
NORTH FACE
North Face is known for its ultra-warm clothes that are designed to battle the elements.
However the brand is now also waging a war on waste. Not only is the company recycling old North Face clothing, it is also working to reduce production and water waste.
While the firm admits that there are challenges to safeguarding the environment when producing such high-tech fabrics, it is working with experts to find new ways to minimise the impact. Coat, £220, North Face (thenorthface.co.uk)
H&M
H&M has been hugely influential in the fight against fashion pollution and was one of the first major high street brands to promote an eco-friendly clothing range.
The brand’s Conscious Collection, which was launched in 2012, offers sustainable style at an affordable price with organic and renewable fabrics on offer.
This season H&M has introduced recycled cashmere and velvet made of recycled polyester for the first time. While eco fashion has suffered in the past with a frumpy image, H&M’s strong and stylish collections have ensured that recycled fabrics can be transformed into on-trend must-haves. Dress, £139.99, H&M (hm.com)