By Madeline Ramirez
Sustainable clothing has been a hot topic within the fashion industry. New generations of consumers are looking for environmentally friendly and humanely produced alternatives to the typical fast fashion brands. The fast fashion industry is notorious for underpaid labor, maltreatment of workers, and harmful manufacturing. Aside from shopping at second hand stores, other companies have emerged online offering eco-friendly options and manufacturing transparency. There are lots of affordable brands for teens looking to shop shrewdly. Here are some options for anyone interested in conscious consumption:
Pact
The brand Pact boasts its organic cotton production all over its website, a process that uses significantly less water than typical artificial cotton production. Fairtrade production is also ensured in Pact factories to prevent unethical work conditions and pay for employees. The company is also making steps towards decreasing its packaging waste by developing decomposing single use bags for shipping products. Pact features a large assortment of cotton products with best sellers like leggings and sweatshirts.
Verishop
Verishop serves as a parallel to Amazon, in which it features clothing and accessories from organic and Fairtrade sources. The site makes ethical shopping easier by offering a wide selection of options within a single site and different brands to cater to buyers’ preferences. Third party sellers are prohibited, guaranteeing each brand is verified by staff as quality and ethical.
Alternative Apparel
Alternative Apparel uses organic cotton and recycled material in its manufacturing process, as well as low-impact dyes to lessen water usage. Clothes are prepared for purchase with biodegradable fabric softeners and reclaimed water rinsing. A majority of Alternative Apparel plants are WRAP-certified and all fall under Fair Labor Association guidelines and workplace code of conduct. Oxo-biodegradable mailer bags are used in packaging to minimize waste. Popular items on the site include casual wear like t-shirts and hoodies.
Boody
Boody brings something unique to the table with bamboo clothing production, an alternative to classic cotton manufacturing. Bamboo products combat global warming with a higher rate of CO2 absorption. Bamboo is also a sustainable alternative to timber in China that can grow back after being harvested. The crop even uses a fraction of the water amounts cotton uses, requiring 130 gallons per 3 lbs versus 5000 gallons for a bit over 2 lbs of cotton. Boody production is also WRAP certified to protect worker rights and prevent exploitation. Boody offers an assortment of basics and undergarments typically woven from cotton. From shirts to socks, all essentials can be found at an affordable price.
Good On You
Good on You is a brand rating site that categorizes brands by their sustainability and ethical practices. The site features documentation on how certain brands make their clothes, where they source materials, how they treat their workers, and more. If you’re ever curious about how environmentally conscious a brand might be, Good On You is a great source of information that can be accessed through its website and on its app for Android and Apple.
