Fashion
To achieve a more sustainable future, the fashion industry needs to overhaul its current practices. Here, we document that progress by covering everything from sustainable textiles to inclusive clothing lines to innovative materials.
This fashion partnership is making jackets out of old fishing nets
Fishing nets discarded in the sea pose a threat to marine animals and break down into polluting microplastics. Apparel and gear company Bureo prevents these nets from ending up in our oceans and gives them new life as upcycled sunglasses, skateboards, and even Jenga blocks. Now, the company has Read More...
Adidas unveils its first shoe made of mushroom leather
Last year, we shared a story about a consortium of major brands pledging to bring mushroom leather into their products as soon as 2021. Among these giant retailers was Adidas, which has now unveiled a mycelium leather version of its classic Stan Smith trainers — becoming the latest in a flurry of Read More...
Fixing Fashion reduces textile waste with consumer education
Dutch designer Dave Hakkens has launched a new sustainable fashion collection, but he doesn’t want you to buy any of it. Instead, he uses this line to illustrate the different techniques he teaches users on Fixing Fashion, a platform that features instructions and video tutorials on how to Read More...
This apparel company wants to recycle your old socks into dog beds
While consumer awareness about the urgency of transitioning the textile industry towards circularity is growing, socks remain one of the most frequently discarded pieces of apparel. A new initiative from clothing company Smartwool wants to change that by encouraging you to donate your old socks — Read More...
This algae-based sequin dress is 100 percent biodegradable
Eco-conscious fashionistas rejoice! Thanks to designers Charlotte McCurdy and Philip Lim, you can rock sequins without worrying about their negative effects on the environment. Sequins are small, flat, light-catching beads that have long been adorned by the glitzy and the glamorous, but always Read More...
Five sustainable brands pioneering the adaptive fashion movement
Sustainable fashion is on the rise as consumers increasingly opt for second-hand clothing or demand transparency and accountability from their favorite brands. But this doesn't mean sustainable style is accessible to everyone. Plus-size people have fewer options for ethical and eco-friendly Read More...
Choose eco-friendly burial garments for a sustainably stylish departure
Here at The Optimist Daily, we have written about how we can honor our sustainable values, even after death, by opting for decomposable coffins or choosing to have our bodies broken down into organic compost. After speaking with someone who had attended a funeral where the deceased was laid in a Read More...
These compostable shoes are made out of kombucha tea waste
As circularity is slowly making its way into the fashion industry, compostable materials are becoming more common for a growing number of designers looking to weave sustainability into their products. One of the latest such products is the result of a partnership between New York streetwear brand Read More...
This Russian fashion brand creates pieces entirely out of recycled plastic
“Ethical” and “sustainable” are fashion trends that we at The Optimist Daily hope never go out of style. We’re uplifted that many popular brands such as Adidas and Levi’s are rethinking how they manufacture their products so that they are more eco-friendly. Russian fashion house Read More...
These sustainable woolen boots keep your feet dry and warm
While rainboots are good for keeping your feet dry during wet weather, they can be rather heavy, don’t allow your feet to breathe properly, and don’t necessarily protect you from the cold. In an effort to provide a better alternative, serial entrepreneur Andrey Petrov has created the Read More...