Six slow fashion brands worth exploring

These eco-friendly stores make sustainable shopping simple.

By Alina Jaffer

A mobile phone featuring three green arrows sits atop a mesh shopping bag.

Consumers want fashion-forward and environmentally-friendly pieces (ready made via Pexels)

Fast fashion is destroying our planet and our wallets. Luckily, there are a plethora of local companies committed to creating beautiful clothes without also creating excessive waste. 

Here is an introduction to six Canadian fashion brands committed to the slow fashion movement. 

Israella Kobla

Toronto’s Israella Kobla wants to redefine minimalism through structure and bold femininity. 

The label prides itself on using efficient pattern designs and cutting techniques to minimize their manufacturing’s environmental impact. They also offer functional, aesthetically pleasing packaging which can be easily reusable. 

“Design decisions based on sustainable principles are more than using sustainable materials,” says the brand’s website. “One of the best ways we can help the Israella Kobla woman make ethical and sustainable fashion choices is by offering collections that are well thought out and timeless.”

Connally Goods

Vancouver-based Connally Goods takes pride in its dedication to eco-friendliness. 

“Sustainability means meeting our own needs as a business without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” says the brand’s website.  

The company’s gender and size inclusive products are made for durability with natural textiles. All scraps, even loose threads, are saved while creating the comfortably chic goods. These threads are used to repair or refill sleeping bags which are then distributed to people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. 

Ang Hill 

Edmonton’s Ang Hill is transparent about the production of their versatile, feminine basics and accessories. Their website says all original pieces are handcrafted in small batches. Many of these items are made to order and always shipped with minimal packaging. 

This slow fashion approach to manufacturing eliminates unnecessary overproduction of clothing which, according to Greenpeace, is a leading cause of climate change and plastic production. 

“Fashion should be about creativity and style, practicality and durability,” says the campaigning organization. “But fast fashion companies have made it all about newness.”

Arraei 

Arraei creates timeless bohême collections for conscious consumers. The company, created in Vancouver, strives to reduce its environmental impact by using natural fabrics and sustainable packaging. 

All purchases are delivered in compostable mailers and garment bags made from plant materials. Labels are printed on undyed natural cotton; and inserts are printed on recycled paper. 

The company’s founder, Natalie Florence, expresses her constant commitment to growth on the brand’s website. 

“We recognize that this is an evolving journey and that we will never ‘arrive,’ but rather always be looking for new ways to improve our approach to sustainability,” says Florence. 

Encircled 

Around a billion pounds of fabric items are sent to Canadian landfills each year, according to research from the University of Waterloo.

Encircled – a Toronto-based workleisure clothing brand – is committed to reducing their textile waste contribution. The company’s sewing studios upcycle scrap materials into accessories. They also sell imperfect garments at reduced prices in quarterly sample sales, instead of trashing the flawed pieces. 

Customers are encouraged to adopt this less-waste philosophy by buying and selling old purchases on the company’s resale platform, Renewed Threads. Listings are also promoted and posted on the Encircled Facebook group. 

Anne Mulaire

Anne Mulaire is an Indigenous-owned fashion brand operating out of Winnipeg. 

By offering return to nature programs, this company helps their customers buy better and buy less. 

Customers using the “Refresh Program” fill out a form and drop worn-out items in the mail. Anne Mulaire then mends the garments, effectively keeping clothes out of the landfill. These repairs are free within 90 days of purchase. 

The “Reloved Program” similarly embraces a regenerative lifestyle by encouraging shoppers to send used Anne Mulaire pieces back to the shop in exchange for store credit. Participants receive between C$5 –  $25 per item. Of course, these products must be free from rips, holes, stains and other damage. 

Since this company prioritizes using natural materials and upcycling wherever possible, they accept donated garments made from sustainable fabrics. This practice of giving natural textiles new life is Anne Mulaire’s “Revive Program.”

Next time you need a wardrobe update, consider opting for a few eco-friendly pieces. Shopping sustainably is a great way to look and feel good while reducing your fashion footprint.   

Thrifting isn’t the only way to combat fast fashion

Here are four other easy tips to create a sustainable wardrobe 

By: Nalyn Tindall

(Ksenia Chernaya/Pexels)

There are many issues surrounding fast fashion, whether it be its environmental impact or human rights violations. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat the dangerous effects of this ever-growing industry. Thrifting — the act of purchasing gently-used items at discounted prices — is often regarded as the one and only solution. 

Many of us love to thrift and are aware of the opportunity to buy clothing secondhand. According to Retail Insider, “GenZers in Canada are buying second-hand fashion 2.5 times faster than other generations.”

But thrifting isn’t the only way to increase sustainability. Below are four easy ways to shop sustainably and maintain a wardrobe that combats fast fashion. 

Avoid trends 

An important tip for combatting the fast fashion industry is to avoid short-lived trends. Keeping up with the latest trends leads to buying unnecessary pieces that you won't wear for long. 

There’s nothing wrong with engaging in trendy fashion, but before purchasing something new, ask yourself if it's something you really love and will continue to wear once it's no longer popular. 

Curate a wardrobe with pieces that can be worn in multiple outfits. By finding and tapping into your own personal style, the desire to purchase items to fulfill the latest trends inevitably decreases. 

Repair and repurpose 

Rather than throwing away old clothes or donating them somewhere where they may not be sold, ask yourself if you can repurpose these clothes and give them a new life. With the rise of sewing tutorials and easy clothing DIYs, there are plenty of ways you can turn an old T-shirt into a new piece. If your clothes simply have a small hole or have lost a button, make the effort to repair and mend these pieces before discarding them. 

Shop high quality, less often 

Fast fashion is cheap, but at what cost? Often these items are rushed or made with cheap textiles, leading to short-lived garments. Investing in a more expensive garment, when it’s well-made, is often worth it in the long run. If you have the means to invest in high-quality clothing, it’s something to consider. 

This doesn't mean buying the most expensive designer pieces, but being conscious of the quality of the clothes you’re buying. Pay attention to the materials being used and the sustainability of the brands you're purchasing from. 

It’s also important to properly care for the clothes you have in order to ensure they last as long as possible. By investing in and caring for high-quality clothes, you won’t need to replace pieces as often and you’ll be less likely to contribute to the pernicious fast fashion industry.

Swap with friends and family

When looking to discard old clothes, ask your friends and family if they’re interested in what you have. If they’re ready and willing, have a look at their closet to see if there’s anything to unearth and exchange. By swapping with those close to you, you’re ensuring your pieces are going to someone who will love and use them. Donating is also a great practice, but clothing swaps allow you to help friends and family and open yourself up to new garments from those you know. 

5 sustainable Canadian clothing brands worthy of being in your closet

Whether you are looking to transition to a minimalist capsule wardrobe or you feel overwhelmed by the abundance of fast fashion brands on the market, CanCulture has gathered five sustainable clothing brands to transform your shopping experience. 

By: Marianne Semaan

(Alyssa Strohmann/Unsplash)

In a world where the fast fashion industry is operating at an unprecedented level, the spotlight has transitioned to clothing brands that can divert and challenge the dominant overproduction and wasteful habits that fast fashion has perpetuated. While shopping sustainably can be more costly, trends such as minimalism and “capsule wardrobes” have taken the social media fashion sector by storm, showing the possibilities of creating a cost-efficient sustainable wardrobe built to last. 

As individuals are becoming more aware and self-reflective of their shopping habits, clothing brands are responding by providing transparency on their production practices and finding innovative ways to be more sustainable. 

There is no denying it: the increased effort from brands to hop on the sustainable bandwagon has propelled the fashion industry in the right direction. But issues such as greenwashing and false advertising could not be more prevalent, making it difficult for consumers to find brands that truly care about producing ethically sourced clothes. This leaves consumers asking themselves, “is this brand really sustainable?” when faced with another brand putting on a green face. 

To ease your sustainability suspicions and make your sustainable shopping experiences a little more stress-free, CanCulture has compiled a list of five Canadian sustainable clothing brands that will not leave you questioning their sustainability practices.

1. Kotn

As a certified B corporation — a grading standard that denotes the highest standards of social and environmental performance — Kotn is a brand that works to balance profit with purpose. Sourcing its cotton from family-run farms in Egypt, Kotn ensures that every step of its clothing-making process has the lowest possible carbon footprint. 

Using biodegradable fibres, recycled water and materials, plastic-free packaging and non-toxic certified dyes are only a few of the ways Kotn ensures its positive impact on the environment. The brand also prioritizes the community through its ongoing dedication to creating more jobs and infrastructure. In their most recent project, Kotn has focused on building primary schools in the Nile Delta region in Egypt. They have built seven schools and funded three to date.

2. Londre

Londre is a Vancouver-based minimalist swimwear and apparel brand specializing in reusing materials such as plastic water bottles to produce their garments. With over 200,000 water bottles collected from the streets and beaches of Taiwan, the brand focuses on building high-quality garments capable of being reused at the end of their life cycle.

To achieve the lowest environmental impact possible, the brand also offers carbon neutral shipping, minimal packaging and a repair program that guarantees compensation for suits that require a repair within the first year of purchase. They also donate thousands of dollars to women's health and environmental initiatives, such as Amazon Watch and the Yellow Hammer Fund.

3. Free Label

Founded in 2015, Free Label is another minimalist clothing brand specially crafted and hand-sewn in Toronto and Vancouver. Choosing to produce locally is of utmost importance to this brand as they want to ensure that their garments are made by “happy hands” who feel valued and rewarded for the work they produce. This entails working in a clean and safe environment, being paid fair wages and building close relationships with brand employees. 

Not only are their factories local, but Free Label prioritizes sustainable and durable materials such as lyocell, Supima cotton, linen and bamboo — all custom milled in Toronto as well!

4. Frank and Oak

A Canadian favourite, Frank and Oak is another certified B corporation with multiple in-store locations across the country. The growing company has taken every step necessary to combat climate change and become a leader in sustainable practices — even their stores are uniquely crafted using recycled materials and locally sourced furniture. 

Their packaging is also made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled cardboard and they have partnered with Earth Day Canada to operate a tree-planting program that works to neutralize the carbon emissions emitted by their shipments. It's also worth noting the brand's long list of biodegradable and recyclable fabrics including, hemp, kapok, seacell, seawool and sugarcane paper.

5. TAMGA Designs

TAMGA Designs is an upcoming clothing brand that began with one goal in mind: to show that there can be good in the fashion industry. The brand, which specializes in producing women’s apparel, has done just that through its ongoing use of sustainable fabrics and dyes such as Lenzing modal, Tencel and Ecovero.

These fabrics have been harvested through sustainably managed beechwood and eucalyptus forests in Europe and South Africa and undergo a closed-loop fibre-making process that reuses 99 per cent of its water and chemicals. Above all, the brand is committed to saving trees through its forest-friendly clothing and ongoing donations to tree planting organizations in Sumatra.