UPSIZE PH | There’s a New Fashion Trend in Town — And It’s All About Sustainability!

We, ladies, communicate our personality through the clothes we wear. And we bet there’s no better idea and philosophy to express than the importance of saving the environment.

“Sustainable clothing” refers to the use of fabric derived from eco-friendly resources, such as recycled materials. This movement has started gaining traction in the West, particularly when our life peg Emma Watson, as part of her promotion for “Beauty and the Beast”, not only endorsed but also wore sustainable brands in her press tour.

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Le Bristol makes its own honey on the roof! 🇫🇷 🐝 ❤ The @edun trousers are created by artisans in Burkina Faso, featuring a zipper made from recycled brass. EDUN is building long-term, sustainable growth opportunities by supporting manufacturers, community-based initiatives and partnering with African artists and artisans. Top is @breelayneofficial and made in downtown LA by local artisans from mesh and lined in silk. Both materials were leftovers discarded by other designers, and were bought to recycle and repurpose in new garments. For every item sold, a tree is planted. Bag made in a family-owned factory in Alicante, Spain by @m2malletier. The factory was opened in 1981 by shoe designer Jaime Romero and his wife. Today, 25 artisans from the local town of Sax work in the factory and have been working there for at least 15 years. Everything is handcrafted using skills and traditions which have been passed down generations. Shoes @creaturesofcomfort, crafted in a small factory just outside of Florence. Creatures of Comfort recently participated in #womentogether and #whyimarch campaigns donating a portion of its proceeds to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU and SPL Center. The brand is also participating in a campaign headed by Women for Women International that supports women in war zones. @shiffonco jewellery made in New York City. Half the profit from Shiffon's pinky ring collection and 10% of profits from all other Shiffon products directly fund seed grants for female entrepreneurs and companies that promote the well-being of women. Through partnering with One Young World, Shiffon has been able to reach a growing group of young innovators across the globe. All fashion info verified by @ecoage All beauty brands are cruelty-free and formulated using both natural, mineral and organic ingredients. Beauty info verified by @contentbeauty

A post shared by The Press Tour (@the_press_tour) on Jun 23, 2017 at 5:50am PDT

There are also documentaries talking about the bane of consumerism, such as “The True Cost” and “Minimalism”, which are both available on Netflix.

Corollary to this, Organic Sound, a Barcelona-based textile company, has been recycling old concert tees and making new ones out of them. Award-winning musician Jason Mraz is among their clients.

Fashion brand H&M also has a “Conscious” collection which focuses on sustainable clothing. You may have noticed some brochures in their shops, asking for old clothes? Yup, they use recycled polyester and organic linen, even recycled silver, in this line.

So how and where do we find sustainable clothes in the Philippines, you may ask?

Well, here are some options:

1. Lazy Fare

There’s a shop in Glorietta 1 that sells sustainable clothes for only a few hundred bucks.

Their items are composed mostly of the basics — tees, pants, and cardigans, among many others. And for the really affordable prices, they’re actually comfy and easy to mix-and-match!

Their clothes are, as they claim, “made with reclaimed fabric rescued from landfills.”

2. Muni Studios

Through their online presence, Muni is “saving the world, one dress at a time.”

They take pride in the production of sustainable pieces and ethical manufacturing (i.e. respect for people and the environment).

3. Rags2Riches

Quite an old-payer in the sustainability biz, Rags2Riches is already an established brand that has been recognized both locally and internationally.

Every product is hand-crafted by the hands of artisans, mostly women living in Payatas, who used to weave rugs worth a fraction of a peso each.

What this brand does — aside from giving their workers a sustainable livelihood by cutting out middlemen in the picture — is marketing products made from upcycled fabrics to a more affluent market.

4. Candid Clothing

This online shop takes the extra mile in reducing waste by using factory surplus fabric, so you just can’t deny the quality of fabric is at par with that of branded clothes.

5. Thrift markets

Of course, we can’t ignore the original go-to shops for sustainable clothing: the ukay-ukay! Every town and city has it, and if you haven’t been to one, well, gurl, you’re missing out on some great finds!

It sure takes effort to choose from a wide array of possibilities, dusting off item per item, meticulously inspecting pieces in every rack. But where else can you find and purchase authentic designer brands at the fraction of their actual cost?

In fact, some enterprising ladies have made ukay-shopping profitable! Just take photographer Kimi Juan, for example, who started Hunt Village. There’s also Rarity, which sells great thrift finds that comes with fashion inspo!