Earth Mother

When we hear the word “sustainable,” there are several notions that promptly come to mind—the farm-to-table movement, eco-design, organic beauty, all-natural everything—but clothing barely makes the list. The objects and pieces we place on our bodies day in and day out have been overlooked for the most part, but why? Even with trailblazing brands like Eileen Fisher and Stella McCartney holding court in the space, sustainable fashion is still trying to find its mainstream footing. But a recent influx of talented eco-conscious designers is creating a tidal wave of change within the market. Suddenly the conversation has shifted when it comes to basics like sneakers and t-shirts. This new socially and environmentally conscious crew is committed to responsible sourcing and exceptional quality in everything they produce. And with strength in numbers, they’ve been able to incite real change in an industry that doesn’t pivot easily. Read on to find out what makes these brands tick and how they’re changing the way we get dressed.

ELEVEN SIX SWEATER, available at eleven-six.co; SIIZU EARRINGS AND NECKLACE, available at siizu.com

Kowtow

Founder GOSIA PIATEK

Where is the market currently on the sustainable front?

Over the past decade, fast fashion has really driven the industry to become unsustainable—over-production, little regard for ethical sourcing and consumers’ general disinterest in where their clothes come from and whether they’ll last longer than a few wears. We can all make a difference and it's exciting to see the industry and customers starting to ask questions and make more sustainable choices.

What’s the story with Kowtow?

All of our garments are made from natural fibers that are certified sustainable and ethical by non-profit, internationally recognized organizations. The core of our collection is made using Fairtrade organic cotton, a recyclable and biodegradable fiber certified by Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO). It is organically farmed, free from genetically modified seeds, rainfed and hand-picked. This season we've introduced ZQ merino wool to our knitwear, which is a renewable and biodegradable fiber farmed with the highest grade of animal welfare certification.

Is there a demand for sustainability?

Absolutely. When I started Kowtow 11 years ago, the words “ethical” and “sustainable” weren't associated with fashion. But with issues such as global warming coming to the forefront, people are seeing the effects of consumer behavior, and the fashion industry has been outed as one of the biggest polluters in the world. The conversation has shifted to, ‘How can we preserve the world,’ and consumers are now looking for sustainable clothing alternatives that they can wear knowing that it's not costing the earth. This is truly a great change and we hope to see sustainable clothing as an industry standard.

How has being sustainable enhanced your brand in the end?

It definitely gives us that point of difference. While big players in fashion are making changes now, we have been sustainable since day one. Our commitment to work ethically and sustainably may have its limitations with the materials we use, but we are always developing new ideas and our customers love keeping up with what we're doing and watching what we do next.

Get to Know the Brand kowtowclothing.com

Eleven Six

Founder CATHERINE CARNEVALE

What impact does sustainable fashion have?

It helps to reduce damage to the environment in terms of pollution and landfill waste. It also educates consumers about the importance of knowing where and how clothing is produced.

Tell us about your brand.

Eleven Six produces mostly in Peru and a little in Bolivia using yarn material at source. We specialize in using Peruvian alpaca yarns in the cold seasons (a very environmentally- and animal-friendly yarn) and Peruvian Pima cotton in the spring and summer seasons, both of which are easily transported to local factories. We work with cooperative groups—predominately women—so that we can empower and support them while promoting their work.

What kinds of things do you take into consideration when ensuring a piece is sustainable?

It’s important to know where the work is going and how your product is made. Selecting material (or yarn, in our case) from the source of the production for minimal shipping is key. When I create a collection, I design and develop very tightly so that almost every sample developed makes it to the line. We try to sample as little as possible, so if our first prototype sample is of good quality, this becomes the sales sample at Fashion Week market as well as the press sample. I consider many of our pieces timeless and versatile so that they can work throughout seasons. This encourages investment in special pieces that people know they will keep and continue to wear time and time again.

Get to Know the Brand eleven-six.co

CIENNE DRESS, available at ciennenewyork.com; ELEVEN SIX CARDIGAN, available at eleven-six.co; SIIZU EARRINGS, available at siizu.com

MIMI PROBER DRESS, available at mimiprober.com; GOOD OMEN CARDIGAN, available at goodomennyc.com; ARTICLE 22 EARRINGS AND NECKLACE, available at article22.com

Ceremony

How has the conversation changed regarding sustainability and fashion?

As has been brought to light in recent years, current practices in the fashion world—from material sourcing to labor—are often extremely detrimental to the environment, as well as inhumane. It’s easy to look at the top line and have an out of sight, out of mind attitude, but that mindset is exactly what facilitates inequality in the workforce and the destruction of our earth. Collectively, it is our responsibility to source and create in a way that will sustain our world for future generations.

What has being a sustainable brand done for your business?

It enables us to wholeheartedly stand behind the pieces we sell and allows customers to have peace of mind as well. The process of creating each ring is thoughtfully done by real humans, consciously and meticulously selecting each stone and crafting the ring under fair and comfortable conditions.

Tell us about the materials you use.

The only truly sustainable option is to use recycled materials, as new items will require the use of new resources. Every stone we currently sell is either recycled or traceable from mine to market, but we are actively working on getting to a place where we use only recycled stones. This is very difficult to do in a scalable way, so it has had a large impact on our creative process in building the business model.

Get to Know the Brand ceremony.us

Written by Cara Gibbs

Photographed by Daniel G. Castrillon

Styled by Ana Tess

Model Nianga Niang at SILENT MODELS

Hair Julia Kim

Makeup Meg Kashimura