What Other Fashion Brands Can Learn From ASOS and Urban Outfitters

This feature is dedicated to our #NoChangeNoFuture initiative. From the Women’s March, to Australia voting yes to same sex marriage, and the #MeToo movement, 2017 taught us to look beyond ourselves and come together as a collective of powerful women who are writing our own history. Join us as we cancel setting one-dimensional personal resolutions this January and commit to being the change we want to see. Because without change, there is no future.

As is typical when we enter a new year, this past month has been an important time to reflect and re-evaluate some of our choices. The first month of the year provides a month where we can tap into our habits, and dissect what is really important.

It’s clear that most of us use the month to try and clear our conscience, aiming for a better year ahead. Take the social phenomenons of "Dry January" and "Veganuary", for example; It is a month of new beginnings, or at the very least, a chance to become more aware of your surroundings.

Though the month is rapidly nearing its end, it is not too late to consider other habits that deserve attention in 2018. While many fashion-related resolutions may focus on personal style, it is important to consider the other implications of fashion in the world. In particular, the negative impact fast fashion craze is having on both the environment and communities all over the world. As reported by Forbes, fast fashion not only perpetuates poverty, but is also impacting the planet.

Thankfully, to combat these negative impacts, there are alternatives. Some of our favourite online retailers even have separate lines entirely dedicated to sustainable fashion. By shopping these alternatives, it not only means you’re doing your part in making a positive change, but also helps encourage sustainable practices by showing that there is a demand for eco-friendly clothes. Though we still have a long way to go, this is a step in the right direction. 

Keep reading to discover our favourite eco-friendly labels by brands we already love.

ASOS Eco Edit

Originally launched in 2010 as "Green Room", ASOS Eco Edit requires that every piece sold on the site must meet at least one of seven sustainable objectives. Falling under the categories of "People" and "Environment", these criteria work to ensure that everything sold by the line contribute to sustainable business practices within retail.

With an awareness to the damage done by fast fashion companies, ASOS states on its website, "We are continuously reviewing our buying habits so that customers don’t have to change theirs." While it is important for consumers to consider impacts of their purchases, it is not always a priority for many shoppers. Having lines like ASOS Eco Edit can make the process of making sustainable choices much easier, and therefore a much more viable option for people who want to try and be more sustainable but may not know where to start.

Urban Renewal, by Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal line operates with an awareness that its customers are already fans of vintage clothing. Given that fact, every piece sold on the site falls under one of three categories: vintage, remade, or recycled. This means that you can find a range of eco-friendly garments, from an old band t-shirt to a newly designed skirt made of recycled denim. By reusing old clothing, Urban Renewal reduces waste created by other brands, while limiting the amount of waste they produce as well.

Not only are the clothes sustainable in environmental terms, but they are also produced in the United States, where the brand was first launched. By manufacturing garments domestically, Urban Renewal doesn’t contribute the negative impacts that mass production can have on communities.

To shop our favourite pieces from these eco-friendly lines, keep scrolling: