What is ethical fashion?
In a world where fashion trends come and go, the most important and enduring of them all is sustainability. Ethical fashion is driven by conscious consumerism, raising increasing awareness of sustainability in the world. This has changed the way we interact with our wardrobes and altered our shopping habits forever.
Ethical fashion brands demonstrate that it’s possible to create beautiful runway-ready garments, while minimizing environmental impact and protecting the wellbeing of workers. It marks a new dawn for the fashion landscape as we’re becoming increasingly clued up on eco-conscious brands, which in turn, has encouraged more labels to do better.
We’re questioning where our clothes come from, what they’re made from and the working conditions in which they’re made. It’s important to be transparent about sustainability —- a word we should use with caution to avoid greenwashing.
There are many measures that brands can take to become more ethical, but they should all start with providing workers with a fair living wage, decent hours and good working conditions. Over-produced clothes risk ending up in landfills, so it’s crucial for brands to take up slower production to minimize waste.
The ethical appeal of designer brands
Designer brands are increasingly bringing sustainable practices into their product lifecycle. Some are focusing on local production methods and others are preserving craftsmanship by working with artisans near and far, supporting global communities.
By embracing slower production, ethical fashion brands can create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story. There’s something so special about a garment that’s kinder to the planet and not to mention the feel-good aspect of wearing it. It opens the door to meaningful conversations as our clothing choices can spark engaging dialogue with others.
List of ethical fashion designers
At DOORS NYC, we support ethical women’s fashion and the trailblazers disrupting the industry to make the world a better place. Shop consciously with our edit of international designers online today.
TURTLEHORN
María Voth Velasco - Spanish founder of streetwear brand TURTLEHORN - incorporates sustainable practices and social projects within her avante-garde designs. Alongside upcycling and hand-making her signature deconstructed pieces from deadstock fabrics, she conducts workshops that foster cultural awareness and conscious behavior.
CICATRICES IMPRIMÉES
CICATRICES IMPRIMÉES is a Milan-based independent shoe label rooted in Italian craftsmanship and slow production methods. The collections are consciously made in small quantities and handcrafted by artisans from premium leather. Label signatures include 90s-style mules and minimalist flats with block heels.
GREENEST
Driven by founder Haeun Choi’s eco-conscious vision, South Korean label GREENEST’s mission is to make ethical fashion more widely accessible. From sourcing raw, natural materials to using slow production methods, the brand’s passion for sustainability echoes throughout the timeless collections. Expect classic shirts and jackets to wear for years to come.
OMELIA
Established in Kyiv in 2020, OMELIA is a Ukrainian fashion brand that upcycles clothes and champions diversity through gender-fluid collections. The label breathes new life into multicolored vintage shirting with sparkling hand-embellished rhinestones and fringing. Choose the brand’s oversized shirts to bring sophistication to your looks.
JANE PAIK SEOUL
JANE PAIK SEOUL’s elegant handbags and clutches are traditionally handmade by skilled artisans in the label’s native South Korea. Inspired by the nostalgia of the 1920s and 1930s, each bag is rendered in the finest leather. The label’s discerning day-to-night pieces feature detachable straps and chains to carry them in different ways.