The term eco-fashion is not foreign in today’s climate, especially with shoppers who are more conscious about our fashion purchases. The price tags are not the only factor that affects our buying decision and with the growing environmental awareness, we demand better-made—in every aspect—garments, from using only ethically sourced materials to having timeless designs and durable fabrics that would last.
While sustainable fashion communities like Fashion Revolution, thrift stores, and preloved platforms are snowballing—ultimately and ideally to cut back on adding new products to the existing circular—it can be overwhelming (and for some, intimidating) to break away from our old shopping habits for it’s not a process that happens overnight. Hence, instead of rushing the process, we reckon starting small, with practices such as considering these eco-fashion brands and platform options for your next purchases.
Terrae
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Made locally, Terrae is a sustainable fashion brand that uses organic cotton, dead stock fabrics, fabric made out of recycled bottles or Econyl, a 100% recycled fibre made from unwanted fishing nets and other scraps that would otherwise go into the landfill.
Activewear is no longer made just to be worn in the gym or for yoga classes. For many, it has become a norm to be out and about in our trustworthy activewear, especially in this hot and humid weather. Hence, we want them to be the best of all worlds. From sweat-absorbing and stretchy materials that allow maximal movement and flexibility to being durable yet ethically made—and Terrae ticks all the boxes.
WES Studio
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Produced in smaller quantities, WES Studio is a slow fashion brand that uses mostly natural fabric for its garments. An acronym for the phrase “we enjoy simplicity”, the designs often come with minimal ornamentation. The fashion label focuses on nature-inspired palettes, cuts and silhouettes, and creating a wardrobe that withstands the test of time, one that will not go out of style easily and one that lasts the wear and tear.
The “Asa Linen” collection, for instance, is a good addition to our wardrobes, not only because of its versatility in mix and matching but also because of how the material falls lightly on our skin. The breathable fabric makes the garments perfect for those who spend more time outdoors, especially in our climate—tried and tested!
MUNI
MUNI needs no introduction when it comes to offering eco-fashion options to our wardrobes. Well-known for using only plant-based dye or plant-based mordants and metal salts as natural fixers for colour retention, MUNI is all about making honest clothes.
Derived from our nature, botanical dyes are biodegradable, hence good for the environment, and they are also non-allergenic, especially for wearers with sensitive skin. Visually, natural dying—especially with hands—has its charm, depending on how the ingredients react with different natural fabrics, therefore no two pieces are alike. If you appreciate the beauty of imperfections, MUNI will fit right into your eco-fashion wardrobe like the last piece of the puzzle.
Ozero Swimwear
Let’s face it, even if you don’t overconsume fashion, there’s still a high chance of your swimwear being that one-off garment, commonly made out of polyester—often also blended with elastane for that maximum stretch.
Ozero Swimwear spotted the gap and offered us Econyl as an eco-conscious alternative. The regenerated nylon is a type of fabric made out of byproducts of industrial production processes and post-consumer waste, making it a perfect solution for the overconsumption of nylon. Designed with comfort in mind, the offerings from Ozero Swimwear feature a diverse range of cuts that flatter all types of body shapes.
Bungkus
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Frequent visitors of lifestyle and fashion concept stores like Snackfood, Unplug, Mano+ or Fifth, would have at least heard of—or can’t help but notice—the uniquely designed bags and accessories by Bungkus.
Turning soft plastic—often rejected by recycling centres as they are more tedious to get sorted—into fabrics, the design team at Bungkus created vibrant, functional, and practical bags of all sizes that fit all necessities, from makeup pouches to enormous shopping carriers.
Zalora Earth Edit
For one-stop shoppers who prefer to shop everything (for every household member) in one go, Zalora has always been the solution. The launch of Earth Edit is a great addition to the options as it would also encourage more shoppers to look out for eco-conscious choices, whether from a high-street or luxury brand.
As the name suggests, items featured under the Earth Edit are required to fulfil several environmentally friendly criteria, including using responsibly sourced materials like organic, recycled, or fairtrade-certified fabrics. The process of making is also taken into careful consideration, where garments are either cruelty-free, have a low environmental impact, or are designed with circular principles. To top it off, the e-commerce also houses various eco-conscious beauty products from Hourglass, Paula’s Choice, and Aesop, to name a few.
Dia Guild
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A conscious e-commerce fashion platform, Dia Guild houses several Southeast Asia fashion brands and artisanal labels like local contemporary jewellery Wasis, Indonesia-based Votum Heritage and Moy Studio, a Philippines-based handmade jewellery maker, providing us with a wide array of ethically made fashion choices from accessories to ready to wear garments.
While most of the items available come with a comparably higher price tag, every piece is curated deliberately to highlight the exquisite craftsmanship in this region and to ultimately shake off the label of being associated with cheap labour for fast fashion and mass production.