Shopping for clothes as a teenager was difficult because I was short and underweight. My mom also had trouble choosing outfits for me, and I was not the only one frustrated. Even more embarrassing was watching the retail assistants laugh. It was pretty harmless. It wasn’t offensive to me, but it was not the kind of behavior you would expect from someone who makes a commission selling you clothes. It’s no wonder that I wouldn’t say I liked shopping. So I decided not to wear what was “in season” and instead chose retro clothes from my grandma or mom’s vintage collection.
It was then that I discovered the joy of dressing up and trying new things. I loved my style. Although I was confident and comfortable, vintage styling wasn’t always an option. I had to be flexible. Many ethical brands celebrate body positivity, diversity, and inclusion. They make clothing and garments that are accessible to all bodies and empower people to feel included. This helps society change its perception of beauty and how it is imposed on them. Here’s a list highlighting ethical brands that champion equality and diversity.
TomboyX
The X marks the spot in Tomboy. This clothing line does not discriminate against anyone and is free from stereotyping and negativity. TomboyX was founded by Fran Dunaway, the CEO of the brand and co-founder. He couldn’t find a Robert Graham button-down shirt for women. Fran created cool dress shirts after realizing the response to her line and realizing a market gap.
However, dress shirts weren’t their mainstay. Naomi Gonzalez and Fran switched to underwear in September 2014. All their materials, including their boxer shorts for women, went on sale that year. Dunaway claims that TomboyX was their only underwear company, selling products from XS to 4XL. This is precisely why the label was so popular. TomboyX doesn’t care about gender fluidity or body type diversity.
Girlfriend Collective
The super-stylish activewear and sports apparel brand made of recycled plastic is something you wouldn’t guess in a million. This label was founded by Ellie and Quang Dinh, a Seattle-based husband/wife team. They teamed up with talented designers who worked at Acne Studio, Lululemon, and Elizabeth & James. The garments are made of recycled “ocean plastic,” plastic that has been collected from beaches and shorelines, such as fishnets and water bottles.
A pair of Girlfriend Collective leggings, for example, is made from 25 Taiwanese water bottles. Six million plastic water bottles have been diverted from landfills since the brand’s inception. Apart from saving the oceans, all products look great, fit well, and are stylish enough to wear to the gym.
Sotela
It was made in Los Angeles with eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, hemp, and Lyocell. Sotela’s goal was to create a women’s clothing brand that promotes body positivity and offers many styles for women of all sizes and shapes. Hanna Baror Padilla, an eco-conscious designer, and mother, founded this made-to-order ethical fashion label. Her goal is to create timeless, minimalistic, and modern outfits to adapt to your changing needs.
HARA The Label
Allie Cameron was on a trip to India when she saw firsthand the negative effects of the fashion industry’s social and environmental impact. Her ethical underwear brand for women, Hara the Label, was founded by Allie Cameron. She ensured workers were paid relatively, used natural dyes that are gentle on the environment, and utilized eco-friendly fabric bamboo viscose. To ensure that critical environmental projects such as the global elimination of pesticides and promoting organic production, trade, and advocacy for better agricultural practices are realized, the ethical brand donates a portion from each sale to the Environmental Justice Foundation.…
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