Ethical Fashion: What is it and how to start

Ethical fashion is an alternative to mass produced clothing A.K.A fast fashion. It focuses on social impacts of fashion. And like sustainable fashion, ethical fashion also considers the environmental impacts from production.

So what exactly does that mean?

 

Ethical Fashion Has Powerful and Positive Social Impact

There are many laborers taken into account when it comes to producing an article of clothing. Farmers grow the cotton and the garment workers make the clothing.

An ethical clothing brand will take the steps to ensure good treatment for the workers. They will make sure wages are fair and that the work environments are safe. Sweatshops, child labor, slave labor, and animal cruelty are not used.

 

Ethical Fashion Has Surprising Benefits to the Environment

Creating one cotton t­-shirt requires a great deal of water. Exposure to chemicals like pesticides and dyes also pollute our water.

According to World Wild Life, it can it can take 2,700 liters to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt. When you magnify that amount, the negative impact of fast fashion is overwhelming.

Ethical fashion brands look for better ways to produce their clothing. They take steps to avoid excess waste and harm to the environment even if it means slower production.

 

3 Ethical Clothing Brands With A Beautiful Style

If you're looking to start a more ethical conscious wardrobe, it starts by caring. Be curious and ask questions.

Try to find out how a piece of clothing ended up where it is today.

At Kaleidos, we'll research an independent designer's process before considering carrying their work.

 Here are some ethical clothing brands we carry that can start you on your journey:

 

Ilana Kohn

Ilana Kohn works with local, NYC based factories that follow the Work Safety & Health Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Labor. They have also reviewed their workers' payroll to ensure that they're paid fair wages. Ilana Kohn is also audited by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Council of Fashion Designers in America (CFDA).

Shop Ilana Kohn!

 

7115 by Szeki

7115 by Szeki's mission is to craft clever garments that become the most hardest working pieces in your wardrobe. Their aim is to produce high quality pieces that will be long lasting. They own their own production house in Guangzhou City, China where they ethically produce most of their garments. They also partner with like-minded local studios in the region and produce their collections in small batches to avoid excess.

Shop 7115 by Szeki!

  

Ali Golden

Ali Golden insists on maintaining the highest possible standards of ethics and sustainability. Her line is produced in California, a woman-owned co-op in Peru, and a fair trade certified factory in India.

Shop Ali Golden!