A Guide to Sustainable Menswear
A majority of my audience is male, however I never really payed tribute to that fact. Therefore, I thought that in today's post I will present to you a selection of ethical and fair menswear brands. I know getting your way round sustainable fashion isn't always easy and especially when it comes to menswear it can be tough to get your hands on some cool brands. So following are some tips and ressources.
- Everlane is an affordable American ethical fashion label that offer clothes for both men and women. They are highly transparent by offering an exact cost breakdown on their website and infos to each of the factories they produce in. Everlane only choses to work with high-rated factories that live up to their ethical standards. The clothes Everlane sells are made to last as they have a minimalistic and timeless design.
- Jan'n'June: The German label based in Hamburg recently launched their menswear collection. The styles they feature are minimalistic and make for a good capsule wardrobe: Exactly what we want when it comes to a sustainable wardrobe. They work with organic cotton and recyled materials and produce in Poland in a family owned factory. Furthe, they dedicate themselves to the reduction of plastic and are determined to use the ressources they have to its fullest in order to minimize waste.
- Carpasus is a Swiss menswear label from Zurich. They believe that dressing elegantly shouldn't mean that one has to compromise on the grounds of sustainability and quality. Their specialization is men's dress shirts which they found weren't available yet in their desired style and quality. That's how the idea for their label was born. The offer ranges from formal shirts to more casual flannel and linen shirts.
- Armedangels is one of the more known sustainable brands. The styles they offer are casual and cool, sporting a variety of colors and prints. Armedangels is a member of the Fair Wear foundation, an initiative aiming to improve working conditions in the worldwide textile industry. Furthe, they dedicate themselves to use only sustainable materials including organic cotton, organic wool, organic linen, recyled polyester, Lenzing Modal® and Tencel®.
- Degree Clothing is another German brand offering streetwear. They offer cool and bold prints and statement shirts but also have a range of basics. The brand is PETA approved vegan and their clothes are certified made in Europe.
- Selfnationjeans is the place to go for customized sustainable jeans, chinos or shorts. They produce sustainably in Switzerland and ensure save and fair working conditions. Because the jeans are tailored to your measurement they make for the perfect fit. The materials they use are sustainably sourced in Spain and Italy and of the finest quality. That way you will be able to hold on to the pefectly fitted jeans for years to come as they are made to last.
- ThokkThokk is a fully vegan label for both men and women. As they claim themselves they have a "passion for patterns and edgy playfulness". The pieces are available online but also Europewide in over 150 stores. Their engagement isn't limited to their clothes: Together with the Indian NGO Social Awareness and Voluntary Education (SAVE) they actively fights child labour.
- Kings of Indigo is a well-known brand that has dedicated its production to follow sustainable and ethical guidelines. The brand has been around for eight years and has made a name for itself. Kings of Indigo is based in Amsterdam and can be considered a pioneer with its fashion-forward and innovative designs. With their appearance they show that Fair Fashion is just as cool and stylish.
- KnowledgeCotton Apparael is a Danish menswear brand that dates back to the late sixties. According to their website they claim to follow "a special process of best-practice principles to reduce its impact on the Earth and to ensure that natural resources are treated with respect and care (Source)." The style of their clothes is rather minimalistic and functional, yet they also cover a wide colorpalette and some bold prints.
- Nat-2 is an upcoming sustainable and Fair Fashion label that has won several international awards so far due to their high achievements in design and innovation. The shoelabel uses unique materials such as "Fungi Leather" (Mushroom leather) or a material made from leftover milk that would otherwise be disposed of. Further materials they use include wood, steel, fishskin (from waste) and coffee. There is a total of eleven different lines dedicated to the different materials used. The shoes are available online as well as offline in their flagship store Coilex in Munich.
- Langerchen produce premium eco-friendly outerwear. Their coats and jackets strive for optimal functionality to effectively stand any weather condition. Langerchen aims to minimize their carbon footprint by using sustainable materials such as organic cotton and linen, eco-wool, Tencel and recycled polyester.
- Thought Clothing also feature a men's line for the casual but cool everyday look. They are a fair and affordable brand that use natural materials such as hemp, bamboo and organic cotton. They take their responsibility serious by for example donating their surplus merchandise to those in need. A down-to earth British brand that deserves our support.
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