When people think of ocean pollution, they often think of the trash that piles on beaches and clusters in the sea. Humans are responsible for almost all of the waste that enters the ocean because of our consumerist tendencies. Below are some links to sustainable clothing brands to help encourage you and the people you know to reduce your waste and save our planet!
Patagonia
Patagonia is a very popular outdoor brand, already well known for its commitment to sustainability. Patagonia encourages customers to reuse and recycle in a variety of ways. Firstly, when a product is no longer useful and cannot be handed down or reused, it can be sent back to Patagonia so the material can be repurposed. They make a promise to their customers that their recycled products don’t go to landfills or incinerators. Secondly, when Patagonia receives used items back with the intention of being recycled, there are instances where the garment is still relatively intact. Patagonia therefore sells some of these at a discounted price so the item’s lifetime can be extended. Finally, Patagonia has a commitment to using sustainably grown materials in their clothing items. Overall, it’s a great brand to get outdoor gear from with the promise of amazing quality, a long usage time, and dedication to sustainability.
https://www.patagonia.com/home/
Madewell
Madewell is primarily a jean brand based out of New York. In an effort to reduce waste, Madewell allows customers to bring in any pair of jeans – whether manufactured the Madewell brand or not – and recycle them in the store. The leftover denim is used to make new jean styles. The idea here is that customers continue to get new jean styles without creating more waste. To encourage more people to take advantage of this opportunity, Madewell gives the customer who brought in the pair of jeans $20 off a new pair of jeans. Madewell is also transitioning to more sustainable practices in clothing production and shows a lot of promise in the future.
Levi’s
Levi’s is another sustainable jean brand based in San Francisco, California. Levi’s demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by fabricating their jeans out of hemp instead of cotton because hemp uses less water and leaves behind cleaner soils. Their jeans are made with the intention of lasting a long time and therefore customers don’t have to invest in new jeans for many years at a time. When the jeans do eventually wear down, Levi’s offers repairs. Jeans that are too far gone can be upcycled – Levi’s uses the denim material to create a new piece of clothing. Additionally, their winter coats and jackets are made out of recycled plastic and other waste. Levi’s is definitely a good sustainable jean brand for both your fashion and your wallet.
https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/
The Slow Label
The Slow Label is based in Lithuania. Their core belief is that people shouldn’t buy clothes as frequently as they need to wear them. As made apparent by the name, the Slow Label is fighting against the fast fashion industry. For starters, the Slow Label only partners with other sustainable clothing labels to encourage a global effort away from consumerism. Their website also has an extensive page dedicated to explaining each material used in each product. They value transparency with their customers because they want to provide their customers not only with fashionable clothing, but also with some education in sustainability. Finally, the Slow Label makes their clothing with the intention that they can be reused over and over again. They have a system in place where if an item breaks, it can be exchanged for a new one. The old item is reused to create a new fashion item and avoid waste material. Supporting this clothing brand will keep the planet cleaner and keep you informed about what is in the clothes you wear.
Billabong
Billabong is a very popular surf brand based in Burleigh Heads, Australia. With such a passion for the ocean and the fun it offers, Billabong’s commitment to sustainability is obvious. In fact, they keep an updated blog of tips and tricks on how to live more sustainably. Actions in the blog range from big to small but definitely encourage at least some degree of change. Additionally, Billabong has a clothing line called the ‘Recycler Boardshorts’ where they convert plastic water bottles into board shorts. Single use plastics are a massive problem in our oceans today, so repurposing them into an essential item helps battle some of that pollution. Everyone needs a swimsuit, and buying from Billabong allows you to get what you need while helping clean up the planet.