A whopping 80 billion pieces of clothing are purchased each year across the globe, yet only 15 percent of people properly recycle their clothing. Just one pair of sneakers takes 30 to 40 years to decompose, and there’s a whole lot more waste where that came from.
Patagonia
One of the OG sustainable brands, Patagonia has a self-imposed 1 percent “Earth tax” that it donates to environmental nonprofits. Approximately 94 percent of its products use recycled materials, the company relies on 100 percent renewable energy for electricity, and you can send in most Patagonia items to be repaired free of charge.
Layering pieces that last more than one winter? Patagonia has you covered (and cozy). This vest ($149) features 50 percent recycled polyester sherpa fleece and is sewn using a Fair Trade Certified method.
Nike’s “Space Hippie” sneaker line ($130-$150) is made from 85 to 90 percent recycled “space trash,” including plastic bottles, t-shirts, and post-industrial scraps.
Adidas Parley
Adidas’ long-standing partnership with Parley has brought recycled ocean plastics into some of the freshest silhouettes. The main initiative is to keep pollution from entering the ocean by repurposing plastic waste intercepted at shorelines. If you want to venture outside of the giants that are Adidas and Nike, there are other options, too.
Neems Jeans
One pair of jeans uses roughly 20,000 liters of water in production. Neems is here to change the bad rap. It exclusively uses deadstock denim, has 100 percent recyclable packaging, and also boasts completely customizable measuring process to ensure the jeans fit your exact specifications. No more wasted materials from guess work.
Customizable for men and women, Neems’ jeans allow you to choose style, rise, wash, stretch factor, and even pocket depth. Each pair starts at $199, and any additional adjustments are free within the first two weeks of purchase.
Aurate is in the fine jewelry game, so we’re talking about a higher budget. The cost is worthwhile, though, as you’re getting quality without a problematic background.
While building a sustainable wardrobe can help your wallet and the environment, the bottom line is that sustainability is about not buying what you don’t need. “Reduce, reuse, and recycle” isn’t just a middle school mantra — it’s important to put into practice everywhere you can.