Trendsetters
Coming out of Easter weekend, I wanted to write a blog post that focused on celebration. Despite the current global circumstances, there are still so many things, people, businesses and more that are in need of recognition and celebration. With that being said, this blog post centers around two companies that I truly admire and feel are doing good within the sustainable fashion landscape. Without further ado, here they are:
E.L.V. Denim
E.L.V. DENIM, or East London Vintage Denim, jeans and jackets are a sustainable clothing company based out of East London. In an effort to keep their carbon footprint to a minimum, as well as support their local community, E.L.V. DENIM uses local factories and ateliers to produce their jeans and jackets. The jeans and jackets themselves are “made with old discarded denim transformed into modern, sophisticated designs, where the material has ZERO impact on the environment” (“Sustainability,” 2020). Sourcing the jeans from vintage warehouses around the UK, E.L.V. DENIM works side-by-side with its suppliers to create stylish jeans with nearly no impact on the environment. According to their website, it takes only 7 liters of water to create a pair of E.L.V. DENIM jeans compared to 7,000 liters for your average new pair (“About Us,” 2020, para. 2). In an effort to increase transparency, E.L.V. DENIM meticulously outlines its production process on its website, illustrating that they have nothing to hide. Anna Foster, Founder and Creative Director at E.L.V. Denim states, “sustainability is the ultimate part of what I do. We live in a very aesthetic world, so a successful brand has to marry carefully the two of them together” (“Sustainability,” 2020). E.L.V. DENIM does just that. Check out their website and Instagram to lust over some seriously drool-worthy jeans that you can feel good in and about.
Reformation
Reformation is a clothing company that has somehow managed to combine the seemingly impossible – fast, yet luxurious fashion that is also sustainably made. As stated on the “Our Stuff” (2020) page of Ref’s website, “Reformation’s design mission is to make effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure. The design process starts with us thinking about what we really want to wear right now. We source the most beautiful and sustainable fabrics possible to bring those designs to life quickly” (para. 1). Much of Reformation’s sustainable focus is on fibers and materials – “up to 2/3 of the sustainability impact of fashion happens at the raw materials stage – before the clothes have actually been made.” Therefore, Reformation has “Ref standards” which help them classify the environmental impact of different fibers. These standards take into consideration “water input, energy input, land use, eco-toxicity, greenhouse gas emissions, human toxicity, availability and price” (“Our Stuff,” 2020, para. 4). Five categories make up the “Ref standards:” Allstars, Better than most, Could be better, Don’t use unless certified and Eww, never. Reformation’s goal is to produce 75% of its clothing with A & B fibers. Reformation has even gone so far as to map out their sustainability goals for the next five years (2019-2023), as well as keep their consumers up-to-date on their progress with quarterly sustainability reports. With new styles coming out all the time, Reformation is a great place to invest some time into a serious peruse.
Isn’t all of that amazing?! It’s so nice to remind yourself that there are some good things happening in the world. And guess what?! These are just two companies. There are hundreds more out there that are workings towards a more sustainable fashion future.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend celebrating (virtually!) with your family and friends!
Bye for now,
McGee