3 Green & Affordable Streetwear Brands You Need to Try

There’s more to urban apparel than Supreme. Check out this exclusive list of brands that get it right – both in style and by the planet.

Streetwear is a movement of the people. By democratizing fashion, designers like the late Virgil Abloh harness inspiration from their audiences – making community a key factor in urban clothing.[1] With 3 out of 5 customers being under 25-years-old,[2] let’s dive into three affordable urban brands that act with care and take responsibility.

 

A focus on ethics & affordability

ENSŌ Clothing believes stylish and sustainable streetwear can be accessible to all.[3] In the fight against fast fashion and overproduction, this brand focuses on high-quality and limited-edition products that need to be pre-ordered.

Opting for paper packaging instead of plastic, ENSŌ Clothing donates 4% of its profits back to Surfers Against Sewage, a non-profit that aims to restore the ocean’s natural habitat. The brand also incorporates ECONYL® nylon into its swimwear collections, a thread regenerated from fishing nets and other nylon waste.[4] Check the latest drop here.

 

A Canadian impact in Egypt

Kotn is a Canadian streetwear brand that is committed to supply-chain transparency and give-back initiatives. The brand designs casual and timeless pieces using natural materials like Egyptian cotton, linen, and merino wool.[5]

The brand works closely with smallholder farmers in the Nile Delta and Faiyum regions of Egypt to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and community building. Kotn has funded 15 schools to provide an accessible and quality education for the farmers’ families.[6] Click here to find out more about The ABCs Project which funds local primary schools.

From surf to fashion

When athleticism meets green fashion, brands like Outerknown emerge. Founded by 11-time World Champion surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown blends style, function, and sustainability into apparel.[7]

Over the years, Outerknown was able to provide better working conditions for nearly 7,000 personnel by collaborating with Fair Trade Certified™ factories.[8] The brand has kept more than 1,300 garments out of landfills through Outerknown, a built-in platform to buy and sell pre-loved items.[9] The brand has also worked to develop more circular products by integrating ECONYL® yarn on a series of jackets and boardshorts. Discover Outerknown’s journey towards 100% circularity by 2030 here.

 

 References

[1] “Defining Streetwear” | Strategy&. Available at: https://strategyand.hypebeast.com/streetwear-report-history-definition

[2] “Streetwear: The new exclusivity” | Strategy&. Available at: https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/gx/en/insights/2019/streetwear.html

[3] “ENSŌ Clothing” | ECONYL®. Available at: https://www.econyl.com/brand/enso-clothing/

[4] “Sustainability” | ENSŌ Clothing. Available at: https://ensoclothing.co.uk/sustainability

[5] “Our Materials” | Kotn. Available at: https://kotn.com/about/materials

[6] “Our Farms” | Kotn. Available at: https://kotn.com/about/farms

[7] “Outerknown” | ECONYL®. Available at: https://www.econyl.com/brand/outerknown/

[8] Fair Trade Certified™ factories must adhere to rigorous social, environmental and economic standards to protect the health and safety of the workforce.

[9] “Sustainability is Everything” | Outerknown. Available at: https://www.outerknown.com/pages/about

 

Author: Naomy Gmyrek