5 B Corp Brands that are Making a Difference Now

With over 4,000 certified members in 70 countries and 150 industries, we've rounded up the top five B Corp fashion brands making an impact today.

In the wake of the pandemic, B Lab, the B Corp accrediting institution, has seen unprecedented growth in companies requesting membership.[1] Although fashion firms make up merely 5 percent of the certified list, they are a significant part of the movement. Let’s discover an exclusive group that is transforming the landscape.

 

The first of many pioneers

Featuring recycled cashmere knits and reworked vintage handbags, Chloé has become the first luxury Maison to be B Corp certified.[2] The brand reduced its carbon footprint by 400 percent in just one year, setting the bar high for all and inspiring others to do more.

 

When B Corp meets pre-loved fashion

In 2021, Vestiaire Collective became a B Corp brand – the first second-hand fashion e-shop in the world to achieve this accreditation.[3] By promoting local transactions and enhancing direct shipping, the Paris-born e-marketplace has curtailed over 1,150 tons of CO2 emissions.

From coffee waste to winter boots

Many companies avail themselves of sustainable materials, but some take it a step further. Frank and Oak, unhappy with just making boots from coffee, decided to build all its physical stores from recycled materials.[4] By focusing on post-consumer waste to create high-quality essentials, the Canadian brand managed to reduce 95 percent of its water usage.

 

“Share your sun”

Bird marks the first eyewear brand in the UK to join the B Corp club. Not only does the company use certified wood, bio-based acetate, renewable cork, and recycled aluminum[5] – it also leverages partnerships for real change. Along with SolarAid, an international development charity, Bird distributes solar-produced electricity to families in Zambia, Malawi and Uganda – averting over 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions.[6]

 

Last but not least

Unusual materials, such as wild rubber found in the Amazon rainforest, are the cornerstone of Veja’s high-performance eco-sneakers.[7] The company prioritizes full transparency across every step of the supply chain, paying double the market price to support small family producers in the region. In 2021, the brand banned air freight shipping, reducing its transportation footprint by 92 percent.

 

Click here to learn more about fashion’s latest interest in B Corps.

 

References

[1] “B Corps May Be Fashion’s Next A-list” | WWD. Available at: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/fashion-b-corp-growth-sustainability-another-tomorrow-athleta-patagonia-1234580518/

[2] “Chloé Is Luxury’s First B Corp, What Does the Popular Certification Really Entail?” | The Fashion Law. Available at: https://www.thefashionlaw.com/as-chloe-becomes-a-b-corp-what-does-the-increasingly-popular-certification-really-entail/

[3] “The Glossary’s B Corp Fashion Guide: The ethical fashion brands to know” | The Glossary Magazine. Available at: https://theglossarymagazine.com/fashion/b-corp-fashion-brands/

[4] “16 B Corps making products we love that you can feel good about buying” | Business Insider. Available at: https://www.insider.com/guides/style/b-corp-retail-companies

[5] “The Glossary’s B Corp Fashion Guide: The ethical fashion brands to know” | The Glossary Magazine. Available at: https://theglossarymagazine.com/fashion/b-corp-fashion-brands/

[6] “The Glossary’s B Corp Fashion Guide: The ethical fashion brands to know” | The Glossary Magazine. Available at: https://theglossarymagazine.com/fashion/b-corp-fashion-brands/

[7] “The Glossary’s B Corp Fashion Guide: The ethical fashion brands to know” | The Glossary Magazine. Available at: https://theglossarymagazine.com/fashion/b-corp-fashion-brands/

 

Author: Naomy Gmyrek