7 Eco-Friendly Fashion Brands Moving Towards Sustainability

The trend of sustainability is something that many people place great importance on, from food all the way to the fashion industry. We believe that many might not be aware of the fashion brands that give considerable attention to this matter.

Therefore, Central Inspirer will introduce 7 such brands that could be great green choices for your shopping list. Let's see which brands are on the list.

1 – Crocs

Founders: Scott "Duke" Hanson, Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, and George Boedecker Jr.

Highlights: Comfort, good ventilation, and unique design

Background

  • Founded by Scott "Duke" Hanson, Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, and George Boedecker Jr. after acquiring design rights from the Canadian company “Foam Creations”
  • The first model produced by Crocs, the Beach, was introduced at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in Florida in 2002, inspired by Dutch-style clogs initially designed for boating
  • Crocs shoes use Croslite foam, a special closed-cell resin material that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 50%, offers good impact resistance, and is very lightweight

2 – Anello

Founders: Takeshi Yoshida

Year Founded: 2005

Highlights: Distinctive bag opening, functionality-focused design

Background

  • Founded in 2005 by Takeshi Yoshida under Carrot Company Ltd. The name Anello comes from Italian, meaning "annual ring" or "tree rings," representing the commitment to continuous development and design
  • The brand's core DNA is simplicity with attention to every design detail, particularly functionality
  • Anello also cares about the environment, launching the REPREVE collection in 2020, which uses recycled plastic bottles to produce bags, with each bag using five plastic bottles

3 – Adidas

Founders: Adi Dassler

Year Founded: 1948

Highlights: Besides being worn for sports, their fashion aspect is also outstanding

Background

  • Adi Dassler separated from his previous company to establish his brand "Adidas." After the business struggled under his successors, Bernard Tapie eventually acquired the company. Adidas has since become a giant corporation through mergers and constant innovation in new shoe models
  • As sustainability trends gain importance, Adidas has also embraced this, producing the low-carbon-emission Future Craft Footprint shoe in 2021, raising 1.5 million euros in 2023 for sustainability education globally through the Move For The Planet campaign, and committing to using recycled polyester in 2024

4 – Puma

Brand Owner: Rudi Dassler

Year Founded: 1948

Highlights: Unique design and aesthetic appeal

Background

  • Rudi Dassler, the brother of Adi Dassler (Adidas), separated to start his brand Puma in 1948, initially named Puma AG Rudolf Dassler Sport, symbolized by a puma reflecting the brand's agile character. The brand peaked during the 1970s-1980s and remains popular today
  • Similarly to Adidas, Puma did not initially focus on sustainability, but in recent years, it has made significant efforts, reducing carbon emissions from factories in 2022 and developing biodegradable shoes in 2023

5 – Veja

Founders: Sébastien Kopp and François Morillion

Year Founded: 2005

Highlights: Rubber sourced from rubber trees in the Amazon rainforest without the need to cut down the trees

Background

  • In 2003, the founders had the opportunity to conduct a social audit at a factory, which appeared clean but had cramped living quarters for workers, housing up to 32 people in a small room. This made them realize that the fashion industry was on the wrong path.
  • While wearing luxurious clothes, the workers in developing countries who made these clothes were living in poor conditions due to exploitation. This unsustainable development was unjust to workers, leading them to collaborate with AlterEco, a French company promoting fair trade products.
  • They decided to produce sneakers because they liked them and wore them every day. They spent minimal budget on advertising to allocate funds for eco-friendly materials and fair wages for workers, ensuring the best possible materials and fair compensation.

6 – Loci

Founders: Emmanuel Eribo

Year Founded: 2021

Highlights: Made from recycled plastic bottles sourced from the Mediterranean Sea

Background

  • Founded in 2021 to offer luxury vegan sneakers by Emmanuel Eribo
  • The brand is based on the concept of producing products using recycled materials, mainly plastic waste from the Mediterranean Sea and Africa. Each pair of sneakers uses about 20 plastic bottles.
  • Currently supported by many organizations like Mission Blue, SEE Turtles, British Divers, and Blue Marine Foundation.

7 – Marimekko

Founders: Armi Ratia

Year Founded: 1951

Highlights: Unique fabric patterns with bright poppy designs

Background

  • Marimekko, a famous brand from Finland, was founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia and Riitta Immonen, creating a collection of simple, comfortable clothes for everyday wear.
  • The brand gained popularity after World War II when people were looking for fun patterns and colors to lift their spirits. The brand received a major boost when Jackie Kennedy wore Marimekko on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1960.
  • For sustainability, Marimekko has a strategy for 2023-2027 focusing on timeless, functional, high-quality clothing to reduce frequent purchases and resource waste.

These are the 7 brands that have integrated sustainability into their product production. For those looking for these brands, Central Tham recommends checking out Central Online, where a comprehensive selection is guaranteed.

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