STELLA MCCARTNEY
While so much is currently at stake, climate change is still a very real threat, and making minimal shifts to reduce our ecological footprint has never been more important. To honor Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary, we want to highlight our favorite designers leading change toward a sustainable fashion future through mindful production practices, sustainable resources, or the use of recycled or upcycled materials.
STELLA MCCARTNEY
Stella McCartney is committed to operating a modern and responsible business. Each decision the brand makes is a symbol of their commitment to defining what the future of fashion looks like. From never using leather or fur and pioneering new alternative materials to utilizing cutting edge technologies, pushing towards circularity, protecting ancient and endangered forests, and measuring their impact with ground-breaking tools. “We are agents of change. We challenge and push boundaries to make luxurious products in a way that is fit for the world we live in today and the future: beautiful and sustainable. No compromises”.
MARA HOFFMAN
Mara Hoffman’s aim is to design and manufacture garments with greater care to generate awareness and reduce impact. When sourcing materials to produce a responsibly made product, Mara chooses each material with intention and care. She prioritizes natural, recycled, and organic fibers without the use of any fur, leather, sheep wool, or feathers.
CITIZENS OF HUMANITY
This Los Angeles premium denim label has a devoted commitment to producing the highest quality denim, without compromise. Companywide, Citizens is committed to reducing the global footprint on the environment and over the years have invested in advanced technology to process their product to practice positive steps in creating a better future.
WWAKE
Designer Wing Yau believes it’s vital to know all the hands the brand’s components pass through before she finally assembles them into her ethical fine jewelry line. For this reason, she only uses Fair-mined gold and works closely with the mines the stones are sourced from and artisans that shape and cut each one.
TODD REED
Todd Reed is an American luxury brand renowned for creating bespoke jewelry and high art.
Every Todd Reed design is hand-forged in their Boulder, CO Studio using only the finest materials and ethically sourced, conflict-free stones. The master jewelers meticulously make every piece by hand, employing classic and modern metalsmithing techniques.
Todd’s singular style, incorporating raw and natural colored diamonds with recycled metals, has created an entirely new category of jewelry rebranding the notions of “luxury” in the process.
SILVIA FURMANOVICH
The process is sustainable—no trees are cut down. Instead, it is collected from tree debris, branches, and bark collected from the forest floor and in riverbeds.
Not only do the materials used to make Furmanovich’s work come from the earth, but her designs are all inspired by the natural world.
KATKIM
Sustainability is one of the core pillars upon which the brand was founded. It’s a crucial guideline for the design and development of their pieces, which are created with respect for the communities and environment that surrounds us. All their diamonds are conflict-free and they use recycled gold whenever possible.
BVLA
To create less environmental impact, the metals used in their jewelry are recycled, and their diamonds are ethically sourced and conflict-free. Know where your jewelry comes from and how it is made – make responsible choices.
MARK DAVIS
This eco-friendly fine jewelry brand produced in a rehabilitated Brooklyn factory from 80% upcycled materials including vintage bakelite, 100% recycled gold and other precious metals, ethically-sourced gemstones, and diamonds, and sustainably-sourced wood from third-party-certified suppliers.
GEMFIELDS X MUSE
It is Gemfields x Muse’s goal to operate in a way that contributes positively to national economies, takes a leading role in modernizing the colored gemstone sector and building lasting, sustainable livelihoods for the communities around their mines. They believe that colored gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – legitimacy, transparency, and integrity.
Before starting any full-scale mining operations, they work with relevant authorities to carry out environmental impact assessments and engage with the communities as to their plans. Their approach is based on balancing what they take out with the need and desire to put something back.
SYLVA & CIE
Sylva & Cie often recycles old stones to repurpose and re-engage them in new settings and designs. Her respect for the unrefined and organic beginnings of every element makes her pieces stand-out in the world of highly-refined jewelry collections.
FOUNDRAE
Foundrae’s jewelry cast is made with 100% recycled gold and re-refined precious metals. Recycled gold is refined back into its pure element and is the same high quality as newly mined metals, without the level of degradation to our natural resources caused by new mining. Because precious metals can be recycled repeatedly without degradation in quality, they are a naturally renewable resource.
They adhere to the Kimberley Process, an international initiative to end the trade of “conflict diamonds” – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. All Foundrae diamonds are G VS1 ethically sourced diamonds.
