It turns out that sustainability does not necessarily entail fashion sacrifice.
Emma Rose discovers five clothing lines that offer ethically-sourced clothes that help the environment, and you to look good
Winter warmers
Finisterre is an outdoor clothing company that aims to make practical, warm and flattering technical apparel with minimal environmental impact. The Cornish surf brand produces a line of waterproofs, jackets and hoodies using materials that are derived from recycled or easily renewable origins. ‘Biomimicry’ is an important part of Finisterre’s current development, exemplified in the ‘biomimetic’ waterproof jacket that uses a fabric system inspired by animal fur to wick moisture away from the body. Prices vary from around £90 to £250 for jackets and £25 for t-shirts.www.finisterreuk.com
Wall’s wool
Wall designs a wide range of luxury women’s clothing made from ethically-sourced, quality fabrics such as cashmere, silk, merino wool and pima cotton, which is cultivated only in the northern valleys of Peru and is harvested three times a season by hand, causing little damage to the cotton fibres and consequently resulting in very little waste. The fabric maintains its shape and colour effectively, and as a result, Wall produces clothing that is durable and hard wearing, reducing the need for regular replacement. Prices for coats range from around £75 to £250. Trouser prices range from £75 to £189. www.wall-london.com
Head North
Inspired by the rapidly decreasing number of Wensleydale sheep, the North Circular makes knitwear exclusively from the wool of sheep that have been rescued from the slaughterhouse. Each garment carries a hand-made tag informing the buyer of how many sheep have been rescued to date and is spun and dyed naturally within a 120-mile radius of where the sheep are kept. Dresses are priced at around £350, scarves at around £150 and hats at around £75. www.thenorthcircular.com
Fairtrade fashion
People Tree is dedicated to improving the lives and environment of the artisans in developing countries, such as Peru and India, that produce its clothing. Many garments are created by labour-intensive techniques such as hand weaving, which requires nine times more labour than a power loom. Other traditional techniques like hand embroidery, block printing and knitting are used to create clothes from a variety of materials ranging from organic alpaca to organic cotton. Dresses range from £35 to £100, men’s shirts and cardigans are around £55.
www.peopletree.co.uk
MIA
Inspired by her time in Malawi, Mia Nisbet mixes recycled fabrics and traditional Malawian materials to produce womanswear combining African and Western culture. The African fabric is cut and styled using Western techniques, resulting in garments that are rich, stylish and totally unique. MIA aims to promote the sale of locally-produced clothing in Malawi, where the majority of clothing sold in street markets are cheap secondhand items imported from the US, Europe and elsewhere. Dresses retail around £80, skirts £72. www.fashionbymia.com
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.