Brands We Love Index

Sustainability is complex and no brand can check every box perfectly. Some brands focus more on ethical labor, organic fibers, recycled materials, vegan or cruelty free, zero-waste or some combination of these in varying levels. The brands we love have a beautiful aesthetic, an ethical mission and are effectively innovating in one, a few, or all of these areas. Click on the brand's name to explore their sustainability practices more deeply and check back here from time to time, we're constantly discovering new brands!

How We Measure Our Brands' S.Q. (Sustainability Quotient)

1. Ethical Labor (Fair pay/treatment)

2. Sustainable Materials (Natural fibers, organic, Low Impact, Recycled, Vintage)

3. Vegan (or Cruelty Free)

4. Zero-Waste /Low Impact (Conscious design to minimize waste, repurposing scraps)

5. Carbon Neutral (Plan in place & approaching targets for carbon neutrality

Brands We Love

Waltz Studios is an independent, woman-owned San Francisco brand, manufacturing ethically in Los Angeles. Waltz's chic tailored separates are made of natural, luxe materials using ethical labor. We love the structured, sexy pieces in chic, playful colors. (1&2)

Vesta Studios is an independent, woman-owned, brand based out of Denver, CO. Vesta uses completely vegan materials and produces femine, flowy dresses and seperates ethically in a factory in The Bay Area. Vesta uses natural materials like linen, Tencel and Cupro (a fabric made from plants that's machine-washable and looks and feels like silk). Vesta also produces each piece as it's ordered keeping waste low. We love Vesta's flattering and comfy, Cupro wrap dresses and silky wide leg pants. (1,2,3&4).

*Eileen Fisher is a female founded, global brand and one of the pioneers and leaders in the sustainable fashion space. Established in 1984, Eileen Fisher uses 70% organic cotton in their products and became even more circular by developing program of used pieces, upcycling them into their Eileen Fisher Renew line. Eileen Fisher has certifications like Bluesign to ensure the chemical dyes they use are safe and partners with NativeEnergy to track their carbon footprint. The company provides grants for new eco-conscious fashion companies and advocates for policy change on sustainable business through organizations like BICEP. The aesthetic is cozy linens and a minimalist color palette with boxy cuts originally inspired by Japanese silhouettes. (1,2,4&5)

*Mara Hoffman is another female founded brand aggressively pursuing sustainable targets. In 2015, the company was known for swimwear and overturned its manufacturing practices to focus on sustainability. They now use fibers like hemp, organic cotton, linene and ECONYL and REPREVE made of pre/post consumer waste plastics in their swimwear. The poly bags swim comes packaged in are compostable/biodegradable, and packaging like tags and mailers are 100% recycled paper. Their dyes are tested using OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 to make sure there are no harmful chemicals. Overseas factories are publicly shared and carefully monitored and a large portion of their collection is produced in New York City and Los Angeles. Mara Hoffman has committments and collaborations with several NGO's & private companies to manage waste, textile waste, repurpose their garments and protect oceans and forests. On top of all the intensive efforts to green their supply chain, we love Mara Hoffman's fashion-forward, luxury-quality pieces. Her shapes and prints feel rare and avant-garde but highly wearable. (1,2,3,4,5)

Paloma Wool: is a female-owned, brand based out of Barcelona, Spain. Paloma Wool doesn't trumpet their sustainability practicing but their pieces are made in Barcelona using natural fibers like linen and cotton with swimwear made of recycled ocean plastics, and waterless printing, a low impact process. On top of the subtle foray into sustainability, Paloma Wool has a distinct, quirky aesthetic defining of this generation with asymmetry, artsy knits, prints and colors. (1,2,&4)

*Reformation is a fast-growing, L.A.-based female-founded brand. Ref takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability repurposing deadstock fabrics, organic cotton, recycled cotton, linen and innovative sustainable fabrics like Recover® a yarn made from old clothes. Producing in their factory in L.A., Reformation has created it's own system for ranking best fabrics which they've published tracks and reports the carbon impact of each piece on the consumer product page. The aesthetic is sexy and young and nouveau french. Think Jane Birkin meets fashion blogger. (1,2,3,4,5)

*Hope and Harvest is an Australian-based, sustainable brand exclusively for curvy and plus-size women. The brand manufactures in Australia and overseas using fair-trade, labor agreements using only vegan materials, including organic cotton and modal. Hope and Harvest complies with SA8000 accreditations, which measures safe conditions for garment factory workers. The aesthetic is a a bit rocker, a bit boho with lots of black florals, peasant tops and the occasional pop of cheetah. (1,2,3)

*Hackwith Design House is an independent brand making their collections in their studio in Minnesota. In addition to being sustainable, Hackwith House is inclusive with their sizing with most of their pieces available in plus. Like Vesta, Hackwith makes some of their pieces to-order to cut back on waste. They use natural fibers like linen, cotton, and recycled fibers in their swimwear. The aesthetic feels hip, coastal breezy with minimalist pieces like rompers and shift dresses in linen. (1,2,3,4)

**Jungmaven

Zimmerman

To Be Continued...