We’re all fashionable here. But we hate—hate—waste. That’s why we’re so smitten with the following 5 sustainable brands that make amazing, upcycled pieces.

1. Tonle, maxi skirt

Don’t get me wrong—I love form fitting clothing. But sometimes, all I want to do is put on a comfortable skirt that’s simple, loose and effortlessly fashionable. Tonle, a clothing brand that’s dedicated to making handmade pieces with scraps sourced from mass clothing manufacturers, has designed that perfect, effortless skirt. This brand, which makes one-of-a-kind pieces, believes that every thread matters, so you can rest assured knowing that this subtle skirt was made with care. Priced at $32.

2. Titania Inglis, robe

Titania Inglis makes minimalist clothing that is kind to the environment. All of the brand’s clothing is constructed at a family-owned factory in New York. Its pieces are high-quality and remain low-impact—the creators use everything from Japanese organic cotton to dead stock wool taken from the local garment industry. While this is pricey for a robe ($295), we love that it oozes elegance, and is made with organic cotton.

3. TRMTAB, weekender bag

Every collection that TRMTAB makes is handcrafted by people in Northern India and created from upcycled leather trims. All trims are unique, so each piece the brand makes is equally unique, too. We love TRMTAB’s weekender bag—it’s perfect for all the travel you’ll do during the upcoming holidays. This piece is made from durable, waxed canvas and upcycled genuine leather. Priced at $184.

4. Kitty Ferreira, pants

Kitty Ferreira knows how to make items that are sustainable, chic and 100 percent ethical. The brand uses upcycled materials from the UK and Britain. It also uses herbal dye and Organic Peace Silks for silk pieces. These elegant pants are made with 100 percent upcycled wool. Priced at $216.

5. Tara St James, sweater

Tara St James knows the importance of sustainability. The designer makes pieces that are ethical and fully fashionable. The sweater shown above is made from hand-cut fabric scraps taken from the brand’s Twist Dress. This piece is hand-woven by the Brooklyn Weavers Guild at Weaving Hand. It has a boxy, boatneck cut and features fringe. Priced at $445.

Related on EcoSalon
Our 5 Favorite Upcycled Fashion Designers from the USA
Upcycled Fashion Explores Designer Imagination
New Favorite: Lucy Notions Vintage Handmade Headbands

Image of boho woman via Shutterstock

The post 5 Sustainable Brands Dedicated to Upcycled Fashion: Friday Finds appeared first on EcoSalon.

Is sustainable consumption an oxymoron? Forward-thinking companies are increasingly using storytelling as a branding device to educate and engage consumers who want to know the impact of their purchases.

Another fire in another factory. The murder of a labor leader fighting for garment worker’s rights. Rivers turned indigo by waste water from denim manufacturing. How long can we keep yet another worrying headline separate from our love for cheap clothing?

As we recognize what consumption is doing to our planet, changing consumer patterns reflects both a yearning for simplicity and an expectation of transparency – especially among the younger consumers companies covet. That quality of wholeness we prioritize in our food – the connection to the handmade, local and distinctive, quality ingredients, and the story behind the artisan and the passion for her craft – is beginning to inform all of our purchasing decisions.

One way brands are beginning to respond is by using video to simply and powerfully communicate the story of sustainability behind the products and services they’re selling.  While the ability to reach out to style-lovers without negating fashion’s design and feel-good focus can be challenging, evocative visual stories can be a powerful tool in sharing the importance of a more considered approach. Here are some of our favorite video visions for the future of fashion:

Honest Us from Vinícius Bobsin on Vimeo.

1. Honest By founder Bruno Pieters tells the story of his enigmatic brand and what it means to live an authentic life in ‘Honest Us.’ Directed by Vinicius Bobsin and lasting only a few seconds, the mesmerizing short captures the mood of the innovative Honest By collection perfectly.

piece x piece from Elizabeth Brunner on Vimeo.

2. In this video, San Francisco-based designer Elizabeth Brunner shares the inspiration and process behind her visionary line, Piece x Piece. Bringing to life the story behind her innovative garments – which take months of collaboration, exploration and experimentation to make – she illustrates the power of how a simple decision skillfully executed can create meaningful change.

Organic Cotton – Grown in the USA from Patagonia on Vimeo.

3. An industry trail blazer, Patagonia was one of the first companies to tell consumers about the eco impact of its product line via the ‘Footprint Chronicles.’ In their latest video, they document the characters involved in the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC) one of the company’s first suppliers of organic cotton grown in West Texas.

Detox Fashion by Greenpeace.

4. Greenpeace effectively used Anime to describe a futuristic warning of things to come their latest  for their Detox Fashioncampaign. Overcoming difficult messages by using a fun, comic book style, the film remains a thoughtful and provoking on-topic perspective on why beautiful fashion shouldn’t cause toxic pollution.

Top Image: Piece x Piece

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