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In celebration of Earth Month, we’re highlighting the brands putting eco-friendly practices at the forefront of their business. Yes, the notion of sustainable fashion often times feels like an oxymoron, but there are several creators who are thoughtfully sharing their craft with the world. Some are taking a timeless approach that encourages shoppers to buy better—not more—while others are prioritizing technological advancements that lower the excessive use of water or greenhouse gas emissions that are created during the production process.
Of course, the fashion industry as a whole has a lot of work to do, but here are a few of our favorite labels dedicated to making long-lasting change.
The Sustainable Fashion Brand List
Herd
For sustainably-made knits, I love what circular label Herd is doing: it uses fully traceable Bluefaced Leicester sheep wool, which it sources from farmers in N.W. England, and then spins it into yarn at manufacturers within a 150 mile-radius to keep a low travel footprint. The yarn is then either blended to create a natural shade, or dyed using plant extracts. Even the buttons are made from nuts! —Talia Abbas, senior shopping editor
Maria McManus
Maria McManus is one of those designers who not only talks about sustainablity efforts, but she truly walks the walk. Each season, I look forward to hearing what she has to say at the end of her runway shows. If you follow her on Instagram, not only will you fall in love with her sophisticated eco-friendly designs, but she keeps us all up to date with progress being made in the clean energy space as well a s plastic consumption across the country.—Alexis Bennett, senior shopping writer
Gabriela Hearst
Ever since Gabriela Hearst founded her eponymous brand in 2015, sustainability has been embedded in her approach—with the designer being one of the first to champion deadstock materials on the runway. I’ve long loved the label’s feminine, craft-focused designs, which are often created in partnership with female artisans.—Emily Chan, senior sustainability & features editor
MFPEN
One of my favorite shows in Copenhagen this past season was Mfpen. While the clothes are made from deadstock and upcycled fabrics, recycled fibers, and other natural materials, that’s not even the coolest part. The show’s soundtrack was a mix of punk rock and heavy metal. There were girls in ties and plenty of the kind of pieces that make you want to raid the menswear section.—Madeline Fass, senior shopping market editor
E.L.V. Denim
Whether’s its via regenerative farming or reworking deadstock fabric, there’s a ton of sustainable innovation happening in the denim space right now. Anna Foster from E.L.V. has been pioneering upcycling since launching her brand in 2022. All her pieces are cut “new” from older, hand-sourced denim, making each pair wholly unique. —Talia Abbas, senior shopping editor
Mara Hoffman
I’ve been a fan of Mara Hoffman for ages—since before sustainability was a pillar of the brand—and the work Hoffam has done over the years to minimize the label’s negative impact on the planet is beyond impressive. These efforts were done in tandem with an expansion of the brand’s size ranges, which is something else I appreciate and admire. I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about this dress in particular.—Leah Faye Cooper, digital style director
DL1961
DL1961 has a eco-friendly manufacturing process using responsibly sourced and recycled cotton to make jeans in a factory powered by solar panels. Some knits are even made from fibers derived from discarded plastic bottles. (And this is just me summarizing. You can see their extensive “sustainability practices” page here.) Personally, I am a massive fan of their Hepburn jean, especially in eggshell.—Elise Taylor, senior living writer
Collina Strada
I love Collina Strada. Hillary Taymour’s approach to design is always thoughtful and considered without abandoning a good old-fashion feeling of fun and a little bit of chaos. I’m currently obsessed with these platform sandals made in collaboration with Ugg. They’re a kind of “vegan leather” that combines plant-based materials and recycled polyester. I can think of a million things I’d wear them with.—Laia Garcia-Furtado, senior fashion news editor
Germanier
I was just making necklaces with my friends out of recycled rhinestone balloon strings from a fun ShopBop party that Azeeza put on my radar and thought of the designer Kevin Germanier. We bonded a few years ago over a fun project and he’s always up to something interestingly sustainable. Once a junior designer at Louis Vuitton, now he’s showing his collections in Paris with pieces that are often handmade (like knitwear by his grandma!) and realized with repurposed materials like these gold and silver star bags made from upcycled plastic beads.—Arden Fanning, beauty editor at large
Nia Thomas
There are so many reasons why I love the clothing from Nia Thomas, but one of the best things about the label is that all of her knitwear is sustainably produced in New York City, Mexico and Peru. Nia has a zero waste-based approach and sells some of my favorite resort wear to date. During the warmer months I find myself grabbing for my Nia Thomas pieces more than anything else in my closet, so I can’t wait for spring and summer weather to really kick in.—Taylor Lashley, manager of social media
Discover more sustainable brands below:
Stella McCartney has become the blueprint for responsible luxury designs. From the slightly slouchy suits to the practical everyday handbags—which are not made with leather or fur, by the way—McCartney has always been thoughtful of the larger impact fashion has on the world.
With an emphasis on creating clothes that align with their values, Another Tomorrow’s collection includes timeless pieces that can be worn for years and years to comes. What’s even better? The label prioritizes using materials that are responsibly grown and ethically sourced.
Marine Serre continues to lead the pack in sustainable Parisian labels to know. Since launching in 2017, the label has proved that upcycled materials can be produced at superb quality. The infectious designs have captured the attention of several A-listers, from Beyoncé to Kendall Jenner.
Technologies that make scaling the production of upcyled designs are at the forefront of Bettter’s business model. Turn to the label for undeniably cool suiting with a modern twist.
Here’s a sneaker brand that has built its label (and a cult-following) around the importance of transparency. One quick look at any products on the brand’s website and you’ll see information on every detail—down to make up of the insoles, which is often crafted from sugar cane and recycled materials.
Bite has made its mission clear ever since it launched in 2016. The acronymic name stands for By Independent Thinkers for Environmental progress. And founders Veronika Kant and William Lundgren are proving that sustainable, minimalist designs need not be boring, with sleek, playful prints and modern details.
For one-of-kind pieces made of deadstock fabric, turn to Central Saint Martins graduate Conner Ives. His cleverly recycled vintage pieces are reshaping the fashion industry and notably count Rihanna as a fan.