Ten environmentally friendly dresses ideally suited for your summer vacation
In the pursuit of a fashionable and eco-friendly holiday wardrobe, here are some noteworthy brands that prioritise sustainability without compromising on style.
Reformation and Quince are two brands that stand out. Reformation offers trendy, ethically made pieces in extended size ranges, using deadstock and regenerative fabrics, while Quince provides budget-friendly, durable dresses with certifications like OEKO-TEX and production in fair factories.
Other brands worth considering include:
- Eileen Fisher, known for minimalistic, sustainable workwear and casual pieces made from organic cotton and linen, with a focus on ethical production.
- Tradlands and Sotela, smaller slow fashion brands with a focus on quality tailoring and customizable sizing, suitable for minimalist, affordable wardrobes.
- Petite Studio NYC, offering affordable, ethical pieces designed for petite frames with transparent production and small-batch collections.
- Beaumont Organic, a UK-based brand using GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, and lyocell, with fair EU-based production and free repair services to extend garment life.
- Bibico, a fair trade brand with organic natural fabrics, a slow fashion ethos, and classic designs made in small runs in certified cooperatives.
- Organic Basics, focusing on high-tech sustainable underwear and basics made from GOTS organic cotton, TENCEL™, and recycled materials, produced fairly in factories across Europe and Turkey. The brand is CO2 neutral and transparent about its environmental impact.
These brands emphasise materials such as organic cotton, TENCEL™, linen, biodegradable fabrics, and use certifications like OEKO-TEX and GOTS to ensure sustainability. Many also focus on fair wages, ethical work conditions, and local or transparent supply chains, which support the overall sustainability of your wardrobe.
For those seeking unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, Indianaweg, based in Amsterdam, sells only the most beautiful vintage items, handpicked with care. A vintage silk floral Japanese kimono can be found at Indianaweg, along with other timeless pieces.
Two British brands, COSSAC and Studio Rosalie, also offer sustainable fashion options. COSSAC, known for its timeless and fluid designs, offers a Limited Edition Kim dress and a Drape Neckline Cupro Dress, while Studio Rosalie, a French label, creates pieces out of deadstock and vintage fabrics, everything is handmade and made to measure. Both brands prioritise local production and eco-friendly fabrics.
It's essential to remember that the fashion industry contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, representing 10% of the annual emissions, more than shipping and aviation combined. By choosing sustainable brands, we can collectively reduce this impact.
Moreover, we discard a whopping 92 million tons of clothes-related waste each year. Opting for second-hand pieces or brands that prioritise sustainability can help minimise this waste.
One such sustainable brand is Armedangels, a German brand that has been innovating sustainable fashion since 2007. Armedangels' fabrics are innovative and their designs are minimalist yet beautiful.
By choosing these sustainable brands, we can enjoy fashionable clothing while also making conscious choices that support the environment and ethical production practices.
- Travelling along eco-friendly destinations for a holiday, one can find unique clothing pieces from brands like Indianaweg in Amsterdam, selling vintage items.
- For minimalist, sustainable workwear and casual pieces made from organic cotton and linen, consider Eileen Fisher as your wardrobe's next addition.
- Overlooking style, a budget-friendly wardrobe can still prioritise sustainability with brands like Quince, offering budget-friendly, durable dresses certified by OEKO-TEX.
- Organic Basics concentrates on high-tech sustainable underwear and basics, using GOTS organic cotton, TENCEL™, and recycled materials, produced fairly across Europe and Turkey.
- Travelling light for a trip, Armedangels, a German brand since 2007, offers innovatively designed, minimalist yet beautiful clothing pieces that support sustainability.
- Opting for brands such as Tradlands and Sotela may support a minimalist, affordable lifestyle, offering quality tailoring and customizable sizing championed by small, slow fashion brands.
- Brands like Petite Studio NYC offer affordable, ethical pieces for petite frames, designed with transparent production and small-batch collections, while focusing on fair wages and ethical work conditions.
- On the journey of reducing the fashion industry's impact on climate change and the environment, choosing sustainable brands such as Beaumont Organic and Bibico ensures a commitment to using GOTS-certified organic fabrics, fair EU-based production, and slow fashion production methods.