THE AFICIONADO FASHION
SUSTAINABLE LUXURY HERE’S A GUIDE ON LOCAL ECO-FRIENDLY HIGH-END BRANDS THAT CHAMPION SUSTAINABILITY
While sustainability seems to be a buzzword of the year, it is often difficult to find covetable luxury fashion brands that carry a similar ethos in the region. Until now, that is. With the Expo 2020 around the corner, Dubai has never been more focused on the concept of sustainability. But how does one define what sustainable is in terms of fashion? It’s not only about ethically sourcing fabrics and recycled materials, its also making sure that fair wages are paid to its workers and artisans. Brands are also looking into other avenues such as cruelty-free or vegan fabrics, addressing toxic pesticide & chemical use , energy efficiency and minimising water use. Stella McCartney remains at the forefront of sustainability in fashion because of the brand’s hard work towards recreating conventional materials. They have re-engineered cashmere and are currently attempting to make synthetic spider silk as part of their collaboration with Bolt Threads. They also make clothes out of recycled nylon and polyester and
24
W W W.LU X H A BI TAT. A E
have renewable energy powered offices. Stella McCartney has also stopped selling its fragrances in China in lieu of their 100% cruelty free brand. Luxury watch brands are also following the sustainable trend, looking for the right materials to produce watches. As most of the watches in the luxury category are often handmade, the focus has changed to the materials used. Panerai has launched the Mike Horn Special Edition watch, which is limited to just 19 pieces worldwide, with its crown protecting device, bezel and case back all made of Eco-Titanium. Its light, but strong, bracelet is made of recycled plastic. Breguet has taken a slightly different approach, through collaborating with Race for Water, along with the intention of raising awareness of ocean preservation. As part of the brand’s sustainability efforts, German art-activist Liina Klauss, who lives in Hong Kong, also created the largest art installation the city’s ever seen, named “Trash-Land-Art”.
