Sustainable Fashion, NYC-Style
The forward-thinking creators blending covetable design with eco-friendly practices.
The fashion industry has long presented challenges for global sustainability efforts. Employing over 75 million people worldwide, fashion plays a crucial role in our economy. But its role in the climate crisis is even bigger and much more dangerous.
With fashion production making up for 10% of carbon emissions and 85% of textiles going to the dump each year, more and more designers are taking note of the negative impact their industry has on the environment. And some of the greatest of these forward-thinking sustainable designers call New York City their home.
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After launching Collina Strada in 2008, designer Hillary Taymour took a step back and reassessed her debut line from a sustainable vantage point. With a newfound mission to produce eco-friendly fashion, Taymour crystallized her vision of sustainable fashion in 2019 by showcasing a collection made from 75% deadstock fabric.
Produced locally in NYC in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Collina Strada currently uses largely recycled fabrics and natural materials like “rose sylk”, an organic fiber made from the natural waste of rose bushes and stems. With a club-ready aesthetic offering all the Y2K vibes Gen Z could ask for, Collina Strada has managed to seamlessly blend its sustainable practices without compromising the designs themselves.
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Taking their name from the idea that a consistent lifestyle built on sustainability can make a positive impact on the planet, The Consistency Project originally started a blog. Eventually, Hawaii-born founder Natasha Halesworth expanded to an online-only store. After a series of successful pop-ups, The Consistency Project opened an in-person location and today is based in Chinatown.
Visiting The Consistency Project is unique. Shopping by appointment only means that each customer has a personalized experience, complete with an on-site tailor that ensures each piece fits you exactly the way you want it to. Their gender-neutral redesigned deadstock is covetable. But their extensive collection of colorful Stan Rays, endless denim and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces offer closet staples that you’ll surely reach for again and again (Consistency, anyone?).
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Founded in 2000, Mara Hoffman’s colorful, print-heavy clothing has been around for quite a while. But in 2015, the designer decided to change course and use her brand as a platform for sustainability. Shifting her eye-catching aesthetic into something softer and all-the-more chic, Hoffman began working with recycled, organic fibers and Fairtrade Certified products, becoming an instant leader in fashion sustainability.
Not only has the brand implemented sustainable practices in production itself, Hoffman has also sought to ensure the lifespan of garments once they’ve been produced through a resell program on the website enabling customers to buy and sell their own Mara Hoffman pieces. Hoffman’s shift into sustainable practices is proof that an established brand can successfully pivot to accommodate for the sustainability crisis we face globally today.
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Rentrayage translates to “make whole again” in French—an apt name for a brand whose mission is to bring new life to old clothes and deadstock materials. Launched in 2019 by founder Erin Beatty, formerly of the socially responsible luxury brand Suno, Rentrayage is the only luxury brand created completely through upcycled fabrics.
Because Rentrayage is made entirely from vintage, finding repeatable fabrics is no easy feat. Consequently, the brand focuses on long-lasting fabrics that are easier to source, like chambray, denim, flannel, seersucker and cotton. As a result, the brand can offer similar styles but ultimately each piece is one-of-a-kind with a somewhat utilitarian aesthetic born from the durability of the available fabrics. To balance this more masculine, workwear vibe, Rentrayage’s pieces often feature softer, more feminine touches like eyelet, ribbon and embroidery, all with materials that offer the longevity a garment deserves.
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Launched in 2020, Another Tomorrow is a young brand offering sustainable, luxury ready-to-wear with an emphasis on transparency. Though their minimalist, chic designs come with a steep price tag, their website offers an authenticated resale program where you can find both earth-and-wallet-friendly pieces.
Another Tomorrow’s transparency initiative provides customers with a complete history of each product, down to manufacturing information, details on the shipping process, material composition and more. Their West Village store is known for its sustainability guidelines as well, complete with a floor made from coconut husks to wooden screens made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified poplar.
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Girl of the Earth designer Ruby Sinclair was raised in downtown Manhattan by antique dealer parents who instilled in her an appreciation of all things vintage. Fitting then that Girl of the Earth functions as a brand made up entirely of upcycled vintage textiles.
With a range of textiles dating from between 1930 and 1999, each fabric is limited, meaning only 1-10 identical units are made of any one style. The brand calls this model “few-of-a-kind” and while that makes each style all the more special, it also makes each piece all the more sustainable. Girl of the Earth manages to seamlessly blend Gen Z trends with classic vintage-lover silhouettes like ’60s mini skirts and ’70s halters. The result is earth-friendly effortless clothing in flattering silhouettes, all with a zero-impact footprint.
WORDS Hillary Sproul
FEATURED IMAGE @anothertomorrow
