In a world saturated with fast fashion and increasing concerns about climate change, sustainability has become an important consideration. Many industries are reviewing their business models, considering more sustainable options — and rightfully so. These top, environmentally friendly, luxe fashion and lifestyle brands are working to produce less harmful goods for our environment.

Patagonia

Patagonia is an activewear brand that started its business in Ventura, California, in 1973. As the brand produces outerwear and sporting goods, it only makes sense that the company emphasises their focus on creating sustainable clothing that is made with the Earth in mind. With prices ranging from $45 a t-shirt to $999 for their heavy-weight parka made with high-quality materials like merino wool and GORE-TEX fabric, the brand is considered luxury.

For the current 2021 fall/winter season, Patagonia states that 64 per cent of the fabrics used in their
collection are recycled material. The company also proudly states that they are “in business to save our home planet” and have a self-imposed Earth tax: For the Planet donates one per cent of their net sales to organisations working to fight climate change. The company is also a part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. While the sportswear brand holds a higher-than-average price point for many of their garments, you can rest assured that they are made to last.

KOTN

The Canadian clothing retailer Kotn was founded with ethics and sustainability in mind, as Mackenzie Yeates, one of the three founders, noticed a lack of this mindset in other fashion retailers during her time working for luxury department store Holt Renfrew. Kotn proudly refers to itself as an eco-friendly fashion brand and considers itself to be “slow fashion” in contrast to the fast-fashion movement that has been increasingly prevalent with larger retailers. Kotn products are made in timeless designs, honouring the people that make them and the places where they are made.

The fashion brand sources its fabric from the Better Cotton Initiative and small family-run farms in Egypt. In addition, the brand uses non-toxic dyes and plastic-free packaging. The high-quality and sustainable fabric used by the retailer is what makes Kotn a luxe brand with affordable pricing — most of their collection ranges between $35 to $100 an item. You can’t go wrong shopping with KOTN if you’re looking for simple and timeless designs that are built to last.

Tata Harper Skincare

The luxury skincare brand Tata Harper creates skincare formulations that are 100 per cent natural, completely biodegradable, and made in Vermont. Eponymous founder Tata Harper explains that one of the brand’s most important values is their sustainable products. Their earth-derived formulations are packaged in glass, which is infinitely recyclable. For the small number of products where glass isn’t used, the brand uses 100 per cent recyclable, bio-based sugarcane plastic. In addition, the brand has started to roll out refillable products to reduce the amount of waste the company produces.

Arnav Khosla | Contributing Writer