With waste becoming an alarming problem for the environment, sustainability has become an important (and urgent) movement, especially in the fashion industry.
While bigger global brands are taking steps toward eco-friendly practices, small homegrown enterprises are more conscious about their environmental impact and taking a “slow fashion” approach, upcycling scrap, dead stock and discarded fabrics for their designs.
To look stylish while helping Mother Earth? That sounds like a win-win to us. If you want to advocate for a more sustainable future in fashion while supporting local creatives, here are five awesome brands to check out:
PROJECT. (@pro.jectph)
Snazz up your daily outfits with bucket hats by PROJECT, which are made from repurposed flour sacks. These come in a couple of colorways (featuring the original design of the sacks), with small and large brim variants. If the standard circumference of the hats is too small for you, they also cater to customized orders. Check out its Shopee page to purchase.
Proudrace (@proudrace)
This edgy streetwear brand is known for its commitment to sustainability in fashion. A new collection, which is coming out soon, will feature pieces constructed entirely from test print fabric panels and cuttings from sweater and t-shirt productions. In true Proudrace style, expect inverted seams, contrast stitching, strategic paneling, and fun graphics. Follow its Instagram page for updates.
Atomic Rework (@atomicrework)
An offshoot of It’s Vintage Vintage, a popular Manila-based purveyor of pre-loved clothing, Atomic Rework takes vintage tees and breathes new life into them by transforming them into slinky strappy tops and corsets, which are one-off pieces, which means they are literally singular unique garments. Visit www.atomicrework.com to shop.
Alyanna Ferrer (@alyannaferrer)
This young designer takes dead stock garments and re-imagines them as sleek and modern wardrobe staples. Key pieces from volume 1 of her debut “Reissue” collection features sharp tailoring and masculine silhouettes as seen on a mixed media denim blazer, two-toned chore jacket, paneled polo, among others. View the full catalogue over at www.alyannaferrer.com.
RIOtaso (@riotasoclothing)
From dresses and overalls to bags and hats, the brand champions sustainability by taking discarded fabrics and turning them into stylish fashion pieces. If you love a funky patchwork print-on-print moment, RIOtaso’s style might just pique your interest. Head on over to www.riotaso.com and take a browse. Also, there’s an ongoing clearance sale with select pieces up to 60 percent off.