It’s time to face facts: the future is cosy. We all just spent a year locked indoors and, even if the end may seem to be in sight, there are some things I think will stick around for a while. More flexible work, with blended office and home working, is likely to be one of them. Along with the rise of staying in our homes came the rise in loungewear, and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon.
But if you want to stay comfortable and snug for this new set-up, that doesn’t mean you need to turn to fast fashion. Below are a few of my ethical and sustainable alternatives for all your loungewear needs.
Asquith London
Asquith London make eco activewear for yoga, pilates, sports and everyday life. All of their clothes are ethically made in a GOTS certified and Sedex audited family-run factory in Turkey. They use organic cotton, Oeko-Tex certified bamboo from FSC certified forests and Bambor®, a unique blend of the two which is grown, knitted and dyed in Turkey and is GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified. Their dyes are also certified and eco-friendly, while their target of plastic-free packaging by 2021 was a success too.
Their pieces are durable, soft and super comfy, while also being naturally anti-bacterial and breathable. I’ve been basically living in the Essence Track Pants and can always be found wearing their leggings in the gym!
Colorful Standard
Colorful Standard love colours and perfectly crafted basics. Their pieces are designed for the long run: sustainable, colourful and uncomplicated. They use 100% organic cotton and Oeko-Tex certified dyes, and all garments are ethically made in Portugal. Their manufacturing centre was created by Colorful Standard’s founder and they list the address on their website, as anyone is invited to visit and see for themselves.
Plus, all garments are pre-washed so they don’t shrink after purchase, pieces are dyed after they’re cut and sewn to prevent waste, all labels and packaging are recycled and FSC certified, and any leftover fabric is recycled into furniture fillings.
The Simple Folk
The Simple Folk create small-batch versatile pieces that are comfortable, practical, and conscious. They craft minimalist, nature-inspired items for adults and children that are made with non-toxic fabrics and dyes, and allow for play and exploration. They use thoughtfully selected GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified fabrics and dyes, and use a factory in Portugal which is GOTS certified, Oeko-Tex certified and runs on renewable energy.
They also support children’s education through Pencils of Promise and Malala Fund.
RYLEY
RYLEY focuses on creating activewear from recycled waste. Fabrics include 100% pre-consumer recycled nylon from industrial wastage and GRS certified polyester made from recycled PET plastic bottles, all of which are made and dyed in a leading Bluesign® certified mill in Italy. Pieces are then made in an East London factory, packing is biodegradable, compostable, FSC certified and uses soy-based inks, and they offer a repair/recycle service in hopes of creating a more circular economy. Any fabric offcuts are returned to RYLEY, who use them in the sampling development process or save them for future upcycling, and even zips are made from recycled materials.
Charlotte Dunn Design
Charlotte Dunn Design create luxurious and sustainable pyjamas using bamboo, organic cotton and linen. They only use GOTS certified materials (even their embroideries use organic cotton) while items are produced in London in ethical production facility ApparelTASKER. They produce in small batches to reduce waste, and use offcuts to create accessories like scrunchies or eye masks. During the pandemic they also raised over £700 and redirected profits from sales to produce scrubs for the NHS.
Aesthetic Laundry
Aesthetic Laundry design wearable creative clothes to fall in love with. Run by a small team of four, everything is designed and handmade in their London studio. Their sizes run from XS to 5XL, they work to reduce waste and create durable items, they don’t create excess stock or throw things away, their clothes are colourful and unique, and staff are paid well and treated fairly. Their materials and dyes currently aren’t listed as organic, but they do operate a slow fashion model and work to be size-inclusive, making them a better option than fast fashion.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective was created with a commitment to transparency. Their fabrics include recycled polyester from recycled bottles, ECONYL® yarn which recycles fishing nets and other waste and cupro, a yarn made from cotton industry waste in a zero-waste, zero-emission facility in Japan. All textiles made from recycled materials are Oeko-Tex certified and produced in Taiwan in a speciality eco-friendly facility, while production mainly takes place in a SA8000 certified factory in Hanoi, Vietnam. SA8000 certification overlaps with Fair Trade, and guarantees fair wages, safe and healthy conditions, zero forced or child labour, and the right to unionise.
Their dyes are Oeko-Tex certified, while wastewater is cleaned and cooled before it is released, and dye mud is donated to a local pavement facility where it’s recycled into sidewalks and roads, their packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable, and their sizes run-up to 6XL for more inclusivity.
View this post on Instagram
Brothers We Stand
For those who prefer more masculine clothes, Brothers We Stand is an online marketplace specialising in a curated collection of sustainable and ethical menswear, catering to a range of styles and preferences. Each brand stocked undergoes extensive research and must meet sustainability criteria which includes labour standards, transparency, quality design and durability. Products must have a positive social or environmental impact that sets them apart and Ethical Consumer has awarded Brothers We Stand with their best buy label for the level of supply chain transparency provided at the point of sale. Each garment comes with a footprint breakdown that looks at everything from organic certifications, waste reduction, workers rights and durable design, alongside areas Brothers We Stand believe could be improved.
Brothers We Stand currently have a loungewear edit, with a range of cosy clothes which are perfect for home!
Organic Basics
Organic Basics create eco-friendly activewear, underwear and essentials in Europe. They only work with certified factories, who work to reduce their environmental footprint while also ensuring there’s no child or forced labour, and workers are paid a living wage, treated well and are safe. Every fabric they use is handpicked based on footprint and durability, including GOTS certified organic cotton, GRS certified recycled nylon, TENCEL™ Lyocell from Europe, and GRS certified recycled cashmere. They use seamless knitting to provide stretch but eliminate fabric weak points and waste during production, and they ensure products are as long lasting as possible. Plus, they have some beautiful colours.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
To Be Frank
To Be Frank started as a way to turn waste into something new, giving old fabric cuttings or ‘rubbish’ a new life. Their Rubbish Range is made from recycled fabric cuttings which would normally end up in landfill and abandoned fibre from retailers walking away from their commitments during the pandemic, and they also use recycled thread and packaging too.
They’re committed to water conservation through processes like ozone washing denim or air washing t-shirts, and actively work to reduce carbon through commitments such as local sourcing, using solar-powered factories, or partnering with delivery companies who work to produce low emission options, and ensure all workers are treated ethically and paid properly.
They also direct funds towards multiple social projects including women’s health and wellbeing in the fashion industry, tackling water security initiatives around the globe, partnering with Onetreeplanted on reforestation, and caring for young refugees from Syria and Palestine.
SPONSORED POST DISCLAIMER: this post contains some brands who I have paid relationships with, but they’re all brands I independently support and love. I would never recommend something I don’t believe in, all editorial decisions my own.
1 Comments