Fashion’s taken the hint – the era of the uninformed shopper is over. In its place is one of the biggest turnovers the industry has seen in the last decade; a sustainability tide so massive that it’s inspired new eco-friendly brands and re-inspired current fashion powerhouses in its wake.
Net-a-Porter’s newest platform, Net Sustain, is a noteworthy step forward for the luxury e-commerce world. Though the coming together of high-end and eco-friendly elements isn’t entirely new (Canada-based Fjordlife and Geneva-based Idun Loor are all of a part of a similar thread) – the e-tailing giant undoubtedly presents an impressive curation of shoes, jewellery and clothes that appeal to the average online and eco-conscious shopper. The edit takes into consideration each brand’s core values before they’re able to make the cut, including ethical work practices, responsible sourcing of materials, human and animal welfare as well as community-based manufacturing – and the final line-up is impressive.
East London’s eco-favourite Mother of Pearl, Stella McCartney (who dropped an exclusive capsule for the edit) New York designer Mara Hoffman and Brooklyn’s impossibly cool jeweller Catbird grace the collection. Yep, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re a discerning shopper, all the labels involved provide a detailed breakdown of materials used, location of production and community-based contributions (Catbird, for example, donates one per cent of its proceeds to charity). Chopard, who made a crossover to only ethical metals in July of last year, is a reflection of the industry’s current wave of heritage companies making sustainable turnovers.
The final result is a well-curated mix of current and classic – and to make things a little easier on those looking to build (or add to) a more eco-friendly closet, we’ve picked out 10 top picks that bridge the gap between luxe and low-waste.
