With so many environmental problems going on these days, water scarcity in Black communities, biodiversity, climate change and plastic pollution, just to name a few-fashion may not immediately enter our minds as either a problem or a solution. But the bad news is the fashion industry is dirty.
A study from 2022 by EARTH.org reported that after food and construction, the fashion trade is the third largest polluting industry in the world. The majority of our clothes are petroleum-based, made from fossil fuels, and 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year, which dries up water sources and contaminates rivers and streams.
What’s more, garment production, manufacturing and transportation account for about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, releasing a staggering 1.2 billion tons of harmful carbon dioxide each year-more than the shipping and aviation industries combined.
Sadly, this number is projected to grow by more than 50% by the year 2030, but the good news is Black sustainable fashion addresses many of these issues in ways we may not expect.
Our backing of the companies that make an effort to preserve our natural resources, create jobs and promote fair and safe conditions is one of the best ways to advance our social justice efforts. Not only do we help to reduce our impact on the planet, but we also help to uplift marginalized communities.
So, if supporting Black-owned, ethical and sustainable fashion businesses sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, here’s our roundup of 10 game changers to throw your weight behind today and beyond Black History Month.
Custom Collaborative
http://customcollaborative.org
Harlem, NYC-based nonprofit Custom Collaborative runs an award-winning, 14-week training institute that educates, mentors and advocates for low to no-income and immigrant women in all areas of design and business, so they may achieve viable careers in the sustainable fashion sector
Founded in 2016 by Ngozi Okaro, licensed attorney and Morgan State, Fashion Institute of Technology and Georgetown Law alum, her personalized approach to education focuses on a customized outcome for each individual student. Some create and produce items for sale and go on to establish their own fashion labels, while others work in-house with existing, well-known brands to cultivate design or manufacturing backgrounds before carving out paths of their own.
“People are talking about this and that,” Okaro tells Voguebusiness.com, referring to those companies that just pay lip service to the fight for climate change and removing barriers in marginalized communities. “But here’s what it actually looks like.”
beRESONANT
http://shopberesonant.com
beRESONANT features companies that create vibrant, sustainable clothing without any inventory. Instead, every item is made only after purchase, so nothing ends up in landfills or is incinerated. Their manufacturing facilities use less dye, water and raw materials than traditional processes, so their products have a smaller carbon footprint. They also run the beRESONANT Accelerator, a division that helps talented, under-represented designers of color build successful businesses.
House of Aama
http://Houseofaama.com
Heavily rooted in African ethos with deep historical references to the Black experience and storytelling, mother-daughter duo Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka founded the clothing brand in 2014 as a business of upcycling vintage clothing. House of Aama designs made-to-order clothing that reduces wasteful mass production, surplus stock and toxic waste.
Valerie Madison
http://valeriemadison.com
Seattle-based designer Valerie Madison founded her namesake fine jewelry brand in 2014. She honors her Environmental Science degree by responsibly sourcing her materials to create timeless, elegant pieces made from recycled gold and diamond alternatives like Moissanite.
Ashya
http://ashya.co
Established in Brooklyn, NY, in 2017, co-founders Ashley Cimone and Monya Annece design and sell unisex travel accessories for the modern-day explorer. In their efforts to minimize waste throughout the production process, they responsibly source materials, recondition scrap fabrics and produce in small batches.
GOODEE
http://goodeeworld.com
As a Certified B-Corp (a designation that a business is meeting the transparency, legal and social commitments of environmental performance), GOODEE offers a curated marketplace of apparel, accessories and homeware. Founders Dexter and Byron Peart’s core mission is to reduce poverty, assist marginalized communities and advocate for gender equality by featuring and supporting small brands and artisans around the world.
Gracemade
http://thegracemade.com
Founded in 2016, Gracemade is a faith-driven apparel brand designed as a means for women to express themselves while honoring their values. Their timeless, modest clothing is made from surplus fabric and natural materials.
CanDid Art
http://candidartaccessories.com
Inspired by African culture, indigenous designs and cosmic geometry, self-taught jewelry designer Candice Cox established her Oakland, California-based handmade jewelry and home decor line in 2011. Each piece is handcrafted utilizing an assortment of recycled metals and semi-precious stones.
Hope for Flowers
http://Hopeforflowers.com
Iconic fashion designer Tracy Reese founded Hope for Flowers in 2019 to create minimal, feminine womenswear. Her conventional designs are made up of sustainable fabrics such as linen, organic cotton and cupro, which caught the eye and were worn by former first lady Michelle Obama.
Two Days Off
http://twodaysoff.com
Founded by climate scientist Gina Stovall, the climate-conscious Los Angeles, California clothing brand creates made-to-order, effortless clothing made from overstocked material as well as stationery, puzzles and candles produced with recycled stock from post-consumer waste.
