6 sustainable fashion platforms

More and more often we hear about sustainability, and for anyone who is passionate or works in the fashion industry, this word has become part of everyday life. An issue that is gaining more importance and above all attention from the audience every day, increasingly attentive to conscious choices when it comes to buying a new pair of shoes or a jacket.

However, it is not always easy to find sustainable products, or in many cases it is difficult to understand the "level" of ethics of the brand, or even the best known sustainable brands are often very expensive. However, this does not mean that there is not enough supply, in fact the sustainable fashion market is growing fast and you can find practically everything.

So how can we understand what sustainability really means and where to find the right products? nss G-Club has selected 6 sustainable fashion platforms which, through interviews, answered these questions.

1. RENOON

Renoon was founded in Amsterdam by the creative mind of Iris Skrami, co-founder of the platform, who, after starting to apply her sustainable lifestyle to shopping, came up with a solution to make sustainability more accessible. Renoon, that a few days ago launched the brand new invite-only app, is the destination for those who want to discover and buy new brands and products that are fully sustainable:

First and foremost transparency is key, although Renoon takes information from certifications and other organizations as well. So no need to do the job yourself when shopping, Renoon verifies it for you.

 

So you just need to check the glossary section of the website to start discovering a new world.

What are the criteria for Renoon to verify sustainability? It is categorized in 4+1 areas: environmental protection, human wellbeing, animal ethics, technology and innovation, new consumption (including second-hand and rent).

We do not believe that sustainability is a trend. This is a must. Something we cannot avoid. Fashion is one of the most polluting industries (more than aviation and transportation combined). So, of course there is still a lot to do and for consumers to improve their consumption habits.

Which are the best sellers for Renoon? The platform collaborates with some big names - like Luisaviaroma, Vestiaire Collective, Nanushka - but also with small brand that are innovating, like HeartBreak Soldiers (cozy sweats), Kuyichi for denim, ZEROBARRACENTO (zero-waste, gender neutral and Italian), Bits (underwear), ACBC (shoes).

Website: renoon.com
Instagram: @renoon.official

2. STAIY

The sustainable fashion platform Staiy was founded in Berlin by four Italian guys in 2019, influenced by the dynamic and multicultural environment of the city, where sustainability was already a relevant topic, but still little explored by the fashion industry.

"After careful research on the subject, we discovered that fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world; moreover, getting in touch with the community of independent designers in Berlin made us understand what their priorities and problems were: hence the need to give a choice, still missing at the time, to the traditional online shopping, that could have a lower environmental impact while focusing also on aesthetics and to the user experience in general. The existing platforms were not focused to attention to detail, so we decided to fill this gap with the aim of making the difference." - told us the co-founder Ludovico.

This is also reflected in the opening of a concept store in Berlin to establish an evolution from the starting point, fashion, into something more complete, a lifestyle. Staiy's goal is to create a community that shares values of aesthetics, ethics and innovation.

What are the criteria for Staiy to verify sustainability? Staiy's selection is based on 5 pillars: water, air, materials, worker condition, and brand commitment. Based on 62 questions related to these areas, brands will get a final score: if the result is above the minimum, the brand can become part of the reality. In addition to the "measurable" elements, the philosophy, values and communication of the brand are also evaluated, and a path of growth can be set up with them. Furthermore, Staiy's goal is to apply a more specific assessment method, analyzing the individual products and not just the brand in general.

"It is important for the consumers to know the values behind the brands they buys, asking questions like: What's inside the product? Where does it come from? What are the values of this brand? You have to be curious. There are many possibilities, you can find many alternatives. You have to discover them and then try."

Which are the best sellers for Staiy? Among the best sellers for the Italian market we find Artknit Studios, while more generally a very popular brand is Komodo. But also brands that were added more recently to the platform are having a good success.

Website: staiy.com 
Instagram: @staiy_official 

3. TALIA COLLECTIVE

Talia Collective is an editorial marketplace, with two main aims: eradicate greenwashing, and offer educational content on the topic of sustainability. On the platform you can discover and purchase the best conscious, luxury fashion, beauty and lifestyle products. Talia Collective wants to inform and make sustainability accessible, but also fun, cool and aspirational.

"At Talia Collective, we want to change people’s perception of sustainability from the required to the desired. Our belief is that ethical living can no longer be an option or a trend, but instead needs to be the new normal."

What are the criteria for Talia Collective to verify sustainability To select products, Talia Collective defined 8 main criteria: considerately produced; cruelty-free and vegan; friendly materials; locally crafted; water usage; circularity centred; give-back culture.

On top of this, they only select brands that were willing to commit to significant improvements over a two-year period.

"Always choose quality over quantity and remember that sustainability is about the people as well as the environment. If a T-shirt costs the price of a cappuccino, how much would the garment worker have been paid?".

Which are the best sellers for Talia Collective? Talia works with some of the most forward-thinking brands in the world that create luxury products using ethical and conscious practices. Few examples are Vernisse (Italian upcycling fashion brand), Shekudo, AAKS (Ghanaian accessories brand that hand waves with material from family-owned farms), Inhala Soulwear, Irene Forte Skincare, Tata Harper.

Website: taliacollective.com
Instagram: @taliacollective

4. RÊVE EN VERT

Rêve En Vert is a highly curated platform for sustainable living. REV brings together the best of ethical fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle alongside proactive content and a beautiful presentation in order to make sustainable consumerism easy and cool. What's more? They are a team of all women working in East London.

"I came up with the idea for Rêve En Vert oddly whilst I sat in a class on renewable energy. My professor mentioned that after the oil and gas industry, fashion was the second most polluting industry on earth. I was completely shocked. I feel like now a lot of us are aware of this fact but six years ago, I just couldn’t believe that an industry that was meant to be so innovative and creative could be so far behind on environmental and humanitarian concerns." - told us the founder.

What are the criteria for Rêve En Vert to verify sustainability? REV has 4 main pillars: organic, re-made, local and fair, besides official certifications. On the new website, they have many more sustainable criteria for each item to describe their strongest assets as well.

"For me, fast fashion is like eating at a fast food restaurant – the greasy french fries may taste good for a moment, but shortly afterwards you just feel awful." - adds the founder.

Which are the best sellers for Rêve En Vert? REV has a real curation of not just sustainable fashion, but also organic beauty, conscious home and wellness. During the pandemic, the best seller were basics, essentials, and lingerie. Brands like The Wylde and Indigo Luna are also quite successful: both are Australian, using all natural plant-based dyes and fabrics, and have a bohemian attitude. In general, the idea of fashion for REV is about pieces you can live in daily and that are made to last over the years.

Website: reve-en-vert.com
Instagram: @revenvert

5. WEAR CONSCIOUSLY

Wear Consciously is a digitally-native shopping destination for women to find sustainable and ethical apparel and jewelry. A curated selection to make it possible for women to choose from the finest selection of global brands that prioritize social and environmental causes, offering an elevated boutique-like experience.

"I’ve spent almost a decade in fashion in various roles including design, marketing, and product development. It wasn’t until I worked in the garment manufacturing industry in Bangladesh that I fully grasped the magnitude of the systemic problems that exist within fashion. I became deeply frustrated by how exploitative and environmentally-damaging the fashion industry is and oftentimes felt guilt. So I started thinking of ways I could make a difference, and in 2020 we launched Consciously." - told us the founder Maisa.

What are the criteria for Wear Consciously to verify sustainability? They currently have 8 main criteria: fair trade; vegan; handwork; transparent; female-founded; POC-founded; small batch production; eco-friendly materials.

"According to a 2018 Nielsen study, the U.S. sustainability market is estimated to reach $150 billion in sales by 2021, driven mainly by Millennials: consumers are increasingly motivated to be more environmentally and socially conscious. They’re even willing to pay a premium for it." - adds Maisa.

Which are the best sellers for Wear Consciously? Currently, they count 32 brands from several countries around the world. Bestseller are Yala Jewelry, Whimsy+Row, No Nasties, Katie Dean Jewelry, Devlyn Van Loon, L’Envers and Milo+Nicki.

Website: wearconsciously.co
Instagram: @wearconsciously

6. ETHICAL MADE EASY

Ethical Made Easy is a global destination to discover the best sustainable brands out there, to find inspiration and to start adopting a more ethical lifestyle. Born in 2016, from a need of the founder Jasmine Mayhead to find a way to easily discover ethical brands and their stories.

"It all started on a holiday in Cambodia. After bartering for a $9 handbag in a local street market, Jasmine returned to her hotel one evening and coincidentally watched The True Cost documentary. It opened her eyes to many of the injustices that occur in the fashion industry, and a fire grew in her belly". - as written on the website about Jasmine.

Through the selection and analysis process, Ethical Made Easy helps consumer understand what it really means to be an ethical and sustainable brand, which is often not completely clear; EME is also also a place that celebrates the stories of these ethical brands and the founders behind them.

"We exist to make the process of selection simple, easy and inspiring". 

Plus, they have a resources area that provides apps, books, documentaries and podcasts to further support and expand the conscious awareness and education.

Website: ethicalmadeeasy.com
Instagram: @ethicalmadeeasy