Top 20 Recycled and Upcycled Clothing Brands
The fashion industry bears a significant environmental burden, with textile manufacturing proving particularly wasteful due to high energy and material consumption, leading to substantial trash production. Unfortunately, the prevalent fast fashion cycle exacerbates this impact through a linear model of creation, consumption, and disposal. This conventional approach results in the squandering of energy and materials when garments end up in landfills post-use.
In stark contrast, upcycled clothing offers a sustainable solution. Upcycling involves repurposing existing materials to craft new, unique fashion pieces, mitigating the need for additional resources and minimizing environmental harm. Explore the environmental benefits of upcycled clothing to make informed and eco-conscious fashion choices.
Upcycled Fashion & clothing?
German engineer Reiner Pliz first used the phrase “upcycling” in 1994, and it was later featured in the book Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Willian Braungart.
The basic idea of this book is to switch from a linear to a circular manufacturing method, with the latter stressing the use of byproducts and scrap as resources. Similar to the zero-waste philosophy of the Cradle to Cradle movement, upcycled clothing brands use pieces of fabric to produce brand-new items.
Pre-consumer waste is utilized in this method.
Post-consumer waste may also be upcycled. Instead of discarding gently used garments, consider transforming them into something entirely new. This procedure increases the life and usability of the garments in fresh and novel ways.
Upcycling is creating something of greater quality and worth out of previously used materials, whether pre- or post-consumer waste. As a result, it provides a more eco-friendly and ethical method of clothing.
How are Upcycled, Recycled, and Reused clothes different?
| Criteria | Upcycled Clothing | Recycled Clothing | Reused Clothing |
| Transformation | Repurposes old garments without breaking them down | Breaks down waste materials to create new products | Finds new purposes or functions for old items |
| Process | Artistic process, creating higher quality items | Breakdown and reuse of waste materials | Simple repurposing without breaking down |
| Environmental Impact | Minimizes waste, promotes environmental friendliness | May involve incineration, producing toxic emissions | Reduces the need for new production |
| Resource Consumption | Less resource consumption due to minimal breakdown | Requires breakdown and reprocessing of materials | Minimal resource consumption for repurposing |
| Quality and Value | Creates items of higher quality and value | New products created with recycled materials | May not imply higher quality or value |
20 most popular recycled clothing brands
This list is for you if you are either a shopper interested in sustainable brands or the owner of a clothing line with aspirations of adopting environmentally friendly procedures.
These popular recycled clothing brands or top sustainable brands labels cover everything from eco-friendly clothing to recycled swimwear and beyond.
They met the criteria for sustainability by doing things like cutting down on carbon emissions, using the use of renewable resources, and partnering with ethical manufacturing facilities.
Check out these upcycled clothing brands
- Seek Collective
- Beyond Retro
- Kinship
- Outerknown
- Beaumont Organic
- Narah Soleil
- Fanfare
- Pact
- Preloved
- Antiform
- Encircled
- Girlfriend Collective
- Jackalo
- Hôtel Vetements
- RubyMoon
- Vege Threads
- Alivia
- Eileen Fisher
- The Fitzroy
- Outerknown
Sustainable Fashion and the Future of Recycled Clothing brands
As the Sustainable fashion industry strives to become more environmentally friendly, developments in technology bode well for the future of recycled clothing. Policymakers and regulators, typically in partnership with industry stakeholders and consumers, play an important role in supporting sustainable practices.
This allows us to imagine a future in which the fashion industry is more sustainable and circular, with less waste and more effective use of resources.
Wrapping It Up
When you buy from an upcycled clothing business or make your own, you’re not only helping the environment by reducing demand for fast Fashion that contributes to landfills through excessive waste and low-quality items, but you’re also helping the economy.
The traditional, linear fashion business is a major contributor to the environmental crisis, and many fashion brands and companies are using upcycling as a creative and sustainable answer. Through upcycling, we can conserve the environment and live more sustainably without sacrificing originality or creativity.
Prachi, an accomplished Chief-Editor at The Sustainable Brands Journal, has 15+ years of experience in Europe, the Middle East, and India, managing 90+ global sustainable brands. She’s a prolific writer in sustainability, contributing to various publications. Prachi’s unwavering passion and expertise make her a recognized authority, driving positive change and inspiring a sustainable future.
