These sustainable fashion designers are the women (and men!) behind a green revolution in the clothing industry
By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi
Sure, there are lots of sustainable fashion brands out there. Reformation, Amour Vert, People Tree…the list goes on. And these labels are fantastic. They’re affordable, they’re paying people ethically, and they’re using ecological materials to make their clothing. But…what about the most sustainable fashion designers? I mean, who’s behind those huge labels? Who actually designs the clothing? The truth is, we don’t really know.
It’s more than likely a whole team of nameless, faceless designers. That’s fine, but sometimes, you really want to know more about the talent behind a brand.
After all, they deserve the recognition!
The most sustainable fashion designers are often pioneers in their field, willing to put their name out there for increasing scrutiny from ever-wiser and more demanding customers.
Whether they’re creating an elaborate wedding gown, or simple white leggings for women, for these ethical fashion designers, their entire reputation lies not only on the styles they imagine and produce, but also the clarity and honesty behind their production processes.
Here, we’ve found some of the most sustainable designers, like, ever. They’re notable for not only their chic creations, but also the ethics that lie behind them. They’re talented, and they’re transparent. Which is your favourite? And who did we miss?
10 Of The Best Ethical Fashion Designers
1. Leanne Marshall
This New York based designer is best known for two things: fabulous wedding gowns, and having appeared on the hit TV series, Project Runway.
Her work is defined by its beauty, and its sustainability. She chooses planet-friendly materials like deadstock silk, cupro, linen, tencel and organic cotton to make most of her pieces. Marshall also employs zero-waste techniques to craft her gowns, some of which look like clouds kissed by the colours of the rainbow. She clearly has a sharp knack for colour and draping, too! Her dresses float around the wearer, like glamorous smoke.
Leanne Marshall ensures her eponymous label is further sustainable by ensuring that every made-to-order dress is produced one at a time, by fairly paid seamstresses. This way, there is never any overproduction, surplus inventory, or waste.
Since 2019 she stopped using and purchasing laces or any synthetics. All of Marshall’s raw materials come from reputable mills that meet environmental and working standard regulations.
2. Sanyukta Shrestha
Another of the most sustainable fashion designers is Sanyukta Shrestha. This multi-award-winning designer is best known for being a pioneer in sustainable bridalwear. But recently, the talented coutier creator has branched out to create some delicately beautiful pret-a-porter collections.
Specifically, her ‘ready to wear’ capsule collection, titled “The Kind Collection” features romantic blouses, elegant trousers and silky skirts.
“The Kind Collection is a celebration of the long-established conscious effort of our brand to design products that are kind to people and the planet, a selection of wardrobe staples that feel luxurious and are destined to be a ‘forever piece’ in our closet,” says the designer.
Shrestha has always celebrated century-old traditional Nepalese craftsmanship, which is employed in all of her work. Her brand has recently announced that 10% of its profits will support the brand’s ongoing efforts to help vulnerable people made homeless due to Covid lockdown measures. In particular, the collection aims to regenerate many lost livelihoods for women artisans, creating a positive impact on the environmental chain.
3. Mara Hoffman
Mara Hoffman began her career as a regular swimwear designer. But over time, she began to suffer pangs of conscience. First, she became aware of the huge impact the sourcing and disposal of fabrics had on the planet, and she swapped to more sustainable materials.
But then, she also became cognisant of how many animals suffered for fashion. She decided that there was no need to use silk, wool, leather or fur in any of her collections, when there were so many other wonderful alternatives.
Today, she is one of the most sustainable fashion designers on the planet!
She reduces her impact on our planet by choosing to create clothing from recycled and organic fibres. Econyl, Repreve, organic cotton, linen and hemp are but a few that feature in her work. And when it comes to manufacturing, Hoffman strives to minimise energy use and waste throughout her entire production line. Of course, she also guarantees fair working conditions and wages to her artisans. Which makes her one of the most ethical fashion designers, too!
4. Daniel Silverstein
Zero Waste Daniel is the brand founded by another of the most sustainable fashion designers, Daniel Silverstein. We first met this young designer in 2013, just before he appeared on the second season of NBC American reality television series Fashion Star. On that occasion, he gained the third position on the podium and had the opportunity to have Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos as his celebrity mentors.
Since that time, he has continued to marry his great passion for design with his drive towards sustainability.
This New York talent is a pioneer of zero-waste cutting techniques. He also uses pre-consumer textile debris for his line of genderless clothing and accessories. His aim? To send nothing to landfill, ever. His pieces are playful and have a strong urban, hip personality.
5. Jiri Kalfar
Each item of clothing made by couture and ready-to-wear designer Jiri Kalfar has a story to tell.
Czech born Kalfar has shown throughout his work in fashion, how luxury, craftsmanship and awareness of environmental responsibility can come together to create outstanding collections.
For instance, in his Spring Summer 2021 collection, Kalfar imagined the blank canvas of a new world. That season’s entire collection was pure white, created using fully organic and innovative cruelty-free materials such as Buddhist-approved ahimsa silk, pineapple and mushroom leathers, vintage laces and banana threads, to name just a few.
You could say this is not only one of the most sustainable fashion designers, but also one of the most vegan-friendly, too.
Though his designs can be quite elaborate, it’s important to note that all of this Prague-based creator’s garments are made-in-house, following a zero waste policy.
6. L Saha
L Saha is the British based label that belongs to Laboni Saha. She’s an extraordinary designer, originally from Kolkata. In each of her pieces, she coalesces her origins through Indian artistry and style, and mixes in the cosmopolitan flair of London.
Slow fashion is the main focus of L Saha. But she is also proud to display on her website the sustainability of each garment she makes. This could include, for example: transparent supply chains, handmade, or fair policies.
She’s one of our favourite sustainable fashion designers for her attention to detail, innovation, and gorgeous draping. We also love her feminine touch, delicate fabrics, and keen attention to detail. These garments are designed to last in your closet for decades to come.
7. Hannah Fiedler
This luxury womenswear designer founded her eponymous brand in London in 2018. In almost no time, Hannah Fiedler skyrocketed as one of the best known names in sustainable fashion, thanks to her high-quality clothing that’s made supporting local British craftsmanship.
In fact, in 2019 Hannah’s label was awarded the Eco-Age Brandmark. She gained this accolade in recognition of how she designs exclusively with natural materials. Her cool, minimalist pieces have a worldly nonchalance that instill in each wearer an androgynous flair.
8. Kristina Viirpalu
Marvel at the charm and romantic folklore of Estonia in the magical creations of Kristina Viirpalu! She has been making sustainable clothes in her Tallinn based atelier for over ten years. Every piece is a tribute to the historicity of her origins. The embroidery and knitting techniques in this country are highly complex, delicate, and unique.
It takes anywhere from a fortnight to three months to intertwine the lace, wool, beads and ribbons of Viirpalu’s creations. Her detailing is equal to any of the most exquisite couture pieces, and all of her materials come from only the highest quality sources.
Kristina Viirpalu is truly passionate about reviving and maintaining historic Estonian embroidery and knitting techniques. Romantic patterns, styles and ornaments are playfully mixed with contemporary sources of inspiration to meet the needs of a modern woman.
The highlights of the brand are the exuberantly intricate hand-knitted dresses created by the masters of this unique craft. These exquisite gowns and detailed couture pieces are inspired by the Haapsalu shawl, a preferred accessory of the Estonian upper class women of the 19th century. The shawl was knitted so delicately, it could be pulled through a wedding ring. This fragile technique remains a living source of inspiration for our designer.
Her hand embroidered bodysuits, such as the one below, are additionally inspired by the motifs and patterns of various Estonian folk costumes.
9. Stella McCartney
We couldn’t leave this one off the list of the most sustainable designers, as she is responsible for putting cruelty-free and ethical fashion on the map. Ever since she took her first steps in launching her own label, she has dedicated herself to creating “a responsible, honest, and modern company,” as she states.
In terms of creativity, her pieces glorify precise tailoring, accompanied by the charm of British eccentricity. She has always encouraged wearers to be bold, and develop their own personal style, providing a base of clothing and accessories that ranges from classic trousers to vegan bags.
We love Stella McCartney for her dedication to using sustainable textiles such as tencel, recycled cashmere, and and rescued plastics. We also laud her relentless search in developing innovative processes that can reduce the waste and energy use that is sadly, too often a part of the fast fashion system.
10. Stine Goya
This Danish designer is one of our new favourites of all the most sustainable fashion designers here! She seems to know exactly what women want. Retro-style prints, delicate colour, and detailed, feminine silhouettes. The talented creator studied prints at Central Saint Martins before launching her eponymous brand.
She often checks to see there are only sustainable practices throughout her production line, and reducing waste. For example, she ensures she makes each item from eco-friendly materials, such as deadstock fabrics, ECOVERO™ viscose, or tencel.
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