• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Conscious Life & Style

Conscious Life & Style

Mindful Media for Thoughtful Living

  • Fashion
    • Shopping Guides
      • Full Ethical Brand List
      • Online Secondhand
      • Marketplaces
      • Clothing
        • Basics
        • Plus Size
        • Activewear
        • Jumpsuits
        • Pajamas
        • Casual Dresses
        • Formal Dresses
        • Sweaters
        • Workwear
        • Coats & Jackets
        • UK Brands
        • Linen Clothing
      • Undergarments & Swim
        • Underwear
        • Lingerie
        • Swimwear
      • Footwear
        • Vegan Shoes
        • Flats
        • Sandals
        • Boots
        • Sneakers
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Cloth Masks
        • Hats
        • Jewelry
        • Bags
      • Home Goods
        • Furniture
        • Home Decor
    • Brand Spotlights
    • Founder Interviews
    • Conscious Shop
  • Lifestyle
    • Low Waste
    • Travel
    • Home
  • Beauty
  • Blogging
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
  • Subscribe

Zero Waste Fashion: What it is + 7 Brands Implementing It Today

March 10, 2020
Share

Zero waste living is a quickly-growing trend as the awareness of our global waste and plastic pollution crises rise — and it’s only natural that after implementing some of the common low waste swaps in your life, you’ll begin to look for zero waste fashion, too.

What is Zero Waste Fashion?

Similar to other zero waste use cases, zero waste fashion is all about reusing, creating a circular system, and producing no trash.

What’s different from zero waste fashion compared to other zero waste products is that the zero waste aspect of clothing/accessories is more about the production stage whereas most low waste items are about the use stage.

Zero waste fashion is about utilizing existing materials to their full capacity and not producing textile or other material waste. In contrast, while some zero waste products are made from eco-friendly materials, they are more focused on helping the consumer or user of their products refuse single-use products in the future.

Since fashion is always reusable (unless it’s a fast-fashion dress that’s worn once to a party and tossed out…), zero waste fashion is more about how the fashion items are produced or sourced.

There is pre-consumer zero waste fashion, where brands use recycled materials and/or cut their patterns in a way that results in no textile waste.

And then there is post-consumer zero waste fashion which is about using clothing and accessories that already exist through buying secondhand.

There are plenty of resources for secondhand fashion (like this one with 7 online thrift stores!) so this article will focus mostly on pre-consumer zero waste.

How Does a Brand Achieve Zero Waste Production?

There are two main approaches to achieve zero waste in the garment creation process.

Zero Waste Design: Designers can use special pattern-cutting processes to reduce or eliminate textile waste.

Zero Waste Production: This is when designers reuse excess fabric in other pieces. It’s common for brands to use the remaining fabric leftover from garment production for smaller accessories like headbands or bags.

Beyond creating no new waste, fashion brands can also help reduce existing waste by using existing materials like leftover deadstock that has been discarded by big garment factories, upcycled post-consumer materials such as rubber tires headed to the landfill, or other recycled materials for their collections.

Another aspect important for circular fashion brands to consider is their packaging. Some ways to use sustainable and/or waste-free packaging are recycled paper boxes, recycled or compostable polybag mailers, and cloth bags made from upcycled fabric.

A not-quite-so-tangible waste to consider is the energy used to produce the fashion brand’s products. A truly zero waste brand will also use renewable energy throughout its supply chain.

Zero Waste Fashion Brands

Below is a list of low waste and zero waste fashion brands paving the way for a more circular fashion industry. Not all of them follow every practice listed above, but they are certainly making major headways that go above and beyond the rest of the fashion world.

Note that this guide includes partners and affiliate links. As always, I only include brands that meet strict standards for ethics, sustainability, and aesthetics!

1) tonlé

Zero waste fashion brand tonlé

tonlé is a leader in zero waste fashion, being one of the first and only sustainable fashion brands to implement a fully circular system. The brand begins by sourcing deadstock (leftover fabric) from large garment factories in Cambodia.

The next step is making use of that discarded material. First, designers and makers create pieces with the larger cuts of the remnant fabric. The smaller scraps are cut and sewn into yarn which is then woven or knit into new pieces. Any remaining waste is crafted into handmade paper!

tonlé also uses solar energy for their workshop and uses completely recycled and recyclable packaging. And to close the final stage, tonlé is working on a take-back program for their customers as well.

Explore tonlé

The Conscious Edit Subscription Banner_Green

2.) Swedish Stockings

Recycled hosiery from Swedish Stockings

Swedish Stockings creates their high-quality pantyhose from nylon waste which is in stark contrast to the conventional stocking and hosiery industry which uses virgin synthetic yarn to create cheap pairs of tights that often tear within just a few wears.

The sustainable fashion brand produces their upcycled hose in a zero waste factory that conserves and reuses water, minimizes emissions, and reduces and recycles waste. Swedish Stockings also has a take-back pantyhose recycling program that ensures there isn’t even waste at the end of the lifecycle of their products.

Explore Swedish Stockings

3.) Ecoalf

Upcycled and recycled fashion from Ecoalf

Ecoalf is an innovative eco-fashion label producing garments and accessories from 100% recycled materials. The brand uses recycled plastic, nylon, cotton, wool, and tires (for their rubber flip flops) as well as 100% recycled paper packaging. The company is also working to reduce their emissions — they report that they save 13% on emissions overall by manufacturing local-to-them in Spain.

Explore Ecoalf

4.) Zero Waste Daniel

Innovative zero waste fashion brand Zero Waste Daniel

Zero Waste Daniel is an innovator in the circular fashion space. In fact, he is introducing his zero waste production process to larger brands like Eileen Fisher and Miakoda. (If you’re a designer, you can actually work with Daniel to make your production zero waste as well.)

To create their zero waste clothing, Daniel uses his signature “ReRoll technique which applies “the art of sewing to the scraps that abound due to the fashion industry’s wasteful practices.” In addition to creating no fabric waste, the brand uses recycled and recyclable materials in their shipping, packaging, and office materials.

Explore Zero Waste Daniel

5.) Study New York

Sustainable fashion made with zero waste practices from Study NY

Study New York uses zero waste cutting techniques in their production process as much as possible and they make their patterns to ensure the most efficient possible use of their fabric.

Despite their efforts, some of Study New York’s designs leave behind some fabric waste — which is why they’ve partnered with other New York City businesses to repurpose their scrap fabric. And then any scraps still left are recycled.

Explore Study New York

Other Approaches to Zero Waste Fashion:

6. Patagonia’s Worn Wear (Secondhand)

Secondhand Patagonia from Worn Wear

While not originally designed with zero waste practices, Patagonia’s collection of used products is a great way to support a more circular fashion industry by giving a second life to used clothing and gear. And many of the items they sell on Worn Wear are in near-new quality. I bought a jacket through Worn Wear last year, and if I hadn’t known where I got it from, I honestly would’ve mistaken it for brand new.

Explore Worn Wear

7. For Days (Closed-Loop Model)

Closed loop circular fashion from For Days

For Days is helping build more circular systems in the fashion industry with their closed-loop approach. The brand creates 100% recyclable products, designing their pieces with the end in mind from the very beginning. After you’re done with a piece from For Days, you can return your item to be upcycled and swap it for something new.

Though most of their pieces are currently made from virgin fibers, For Days does have an upcycled collection and has set a goal to produce 100% of their pieces from recycled fibers by 2030!

Explore For Days

JOIN THE CONSCIOUS EDIT

A weekly newsletter with mindfully curated reads and recommendations, plus the latest posts. (Preview an issue.)

    By subscribing, you agree to receiving emails from us and accept our Terms and Privacy Policy.

    Pin this post for later:

    7 Zero Waste Fashion Brands
    What is Zero Waste Fashion?

    You May Also Want to Check Out:

    The Benefits of Organic Cotton + 21 Organic Cotton Fashion Brands

    32 Affordable Ethical and Sustainable fashion Brands

    Where to Shop Secondhand Online

    Share this post

    Blog, Ethical Fashion, Guides Clothing

    Related Posts

    Sustainable Banking: Why and How to Make the Switch

    Can Air Travel Ever Be More Green? Here’s What You Need to Know

    Sustainable and Zero Waste Kitchen Guide

    17 Brands With Ethical and Sustainable Dresses for Any Occasion
    40 Tech-Free Things You Can Do While Practicing Social Distancing

    Primary Sidebar

    Let’s connect

    Instagram

    🧵🌿 WHAT IS COLLABORATIVE DESIGN?. // We talk 🧵🌿 WHAT IS COLLABORATIVE DESIGN?. // We talk a lot about the disconnection we have with the makers behind what we buy...
.
But industrialization and mass production has also resulted in a disconnect between designer and maker. 
.
For truly ethical production, there must be an equal knowledge exchange between makers & designers in the design process, especially when artisans are using traditional techniques & generations-old crafts. 
.
But what does collaborative design look like in practice? And how does this type of collaboration support more sustainable and ethical production?
.
I’m interviewed Tatiana of @zuahaza to discuss these questions and much more! Tune in and let us know your thoughts. 💗
    🛏🪑🏡 As promised, the guide to non-toxic f 🛏🪑🏡 As promised, the guide to non-toxic furniture is here!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
For a big list of eco-friendly and non-toxic furniture brands, check out the link in bio!⁠⁠
    🛋 Is your furniture off-gassing toxic chemicals 🛋 Is your furniture off-gassing toxic chemicals? Here's what to know about volatile organic compounds in furniture and how to reduce your exposure in your home.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Top tip: Buying used furniture is a great way to reduce your exposure since the highest concentration of VOCs are off-gassed with newly manufactured furniture just out of the factory. (If you are looking for new furniture that’s safe though, stay tuned for a list of non-toxic furniture brands coming soon!)⁠⁠ 💚
    🏡 Are you familiar with sustainable interior de 🏡 Are you familiar with sustainable interior design?⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Unsurprisingly, the home goods & furniture industry has much of the same problems as fashion: labor exploitation, unsustainable production, and massive amounts of waste.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
But, there are ways to style our homes with intention, in a way that goes beyond aesthetics and considers the impact on people, planet, and our health.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Swipe through for five tips from Kelly of @gratify_home and check out the link in bio for the full guide to sustainable interior design! 🛋 ⁠⁠
    🌿 Carbon offsets are much more complicated than 🌿 Carbon offsets are much more complicated than they might first appear.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
So, I've partnered up with @simplizero to talk about what carbon offsetting can (and cannot!) do, what the risks are of offsetting schemes, and how to find reputable offsetting projects. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
For much more on this topic, read the full article. Link in bio!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
[sponsored] ⁠⁠
    We talk about the importance of living wages a lot We talk about the importance of living wages a lot in the ethical fashion space, but what does this actually mean?⁠⁠
⁠⁠
This question — and the question of "will increasing wages increase clothing prices?" — came up during last week's IG Live with Ayesha of @remakeourworld.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
These are both really common questions, so I wanted to dedicate an entire post to address them.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
For more on the topic of living wages in fashion, follow @asia_floorwage, @cleanclothescampaign, and @remakeourworld + check out the article linked in bio for a much bigger deep dive I wrote on consciouslifeandstyle.com.
⁠⁠
#LivingWagesNow #PayUpFashion⁠⁠
    Standing in solidarity with the Asian American com Standing in solidarity with the Asian American community and amplifying/re-sharing some resources for ways to take action to #stopasianhate.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Yesterday's horrific shooting in Atlanta was the most recent anti-Asian hate crime — crimes which have increased nearly 150% in 2020 and surged even higher in cities like New York, which saw an increase of 833%. [Source: Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism]⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The hate must end. Visit anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co for a list of resources (updates, educational content, petitions, places to donate, mental health resources, etc.) Link in bio.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Tags for resources listed: @apen4ej @stopaapihate @smithsonianapa @versian.co @unapologeticallyasian_ @goldhouseco @asianamericangirlclub @theycantburnusall @weareaanow @hateisavirus @nextshark @aapiwomenlead @asianaaf @stopaapihatenyc @asians4antiracism @asianamericancollective @advancing_justice_atl @aaajalc @napawf_atl⁠⁠ | posts are from @jezzchung @sophfei @kimsaira + @annie_wu_22 | cover image is from @nhiii
.
#StopAAPIHate #hateisavirus #racismkills #dismantleracism
    ➡ IG Live with @remakeourworld's Ayesha Barenbla ➡ IG Live with @remakeourworld's Ayesha Barenblat is happening in just a couple hours (9am PST / 12pm EST)!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
We'll be discussing:⁠⁠
⁠⁠
👗 Why garment worker representation is so crucial to creating a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry⁠⁠
⁠⁠
👚 What centering garment workers would look like in practice⁠⁠
⁠⁠
👗 Whether or not brand-led initiatives and industry commitments have really led to any tangible improvements in the lives of garment workers (and why that's the case)⁠⁠
⁠⁠
👚 What sorts of reforms will be necessary to truly improve the industry⁠⁠
⁠⁠
👗 How we can all get involved in creating a more equitable future for fashion⁠⁠
⁠⁠
See you soon!⁠⁠
    We know that Covid has worsened already exploitive We know that Covid has worsened already exploitive, unjust conditions in the garment industry...⁠⁠
⁠⁠
➡️ And now, it’s time to take action demand better from fashion brands, support garment worker rights, and ensure workers get the direct relief that is needed now.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
🌍 WAYS TO SUPPORT⁠ 🌍⁠⁠
⁠⁠
1. Donate to the Garment Worker Relief Fund (link in bio)⁠. Although brands have more than enough money to provide this relief, they have failed to do so, and so @remakeourworld has created a GoFundMe for individuals to provide support.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
2. Sign the @PayUpFashion Petition (payupfashion.com)⁠. Learn more about this movement in the previous post on @consciousstyle!⁠⁠
⁠⁠
3. Support the #GarmentWorkerProtectionAct / #SB62 to improve working conditions for garment workers in Los Angeles (garmentworkeract.org)⁠⁠
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Join The Conscious Edit

    Footer

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • About
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2021 Conscious Life & Style LLC, Made by Underline DesignsBack to Top
    This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. We'll assume you're fine with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Got it! Reject Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

    SAVE & ACCEPT