It’s Suddenly in Fashion to Make Chic Clothes That Don’t Hurt the Earth

AirDye technology allows for color to be applied to fabric without the use of water. The process ends up using about 90 percent less water and 85 percent less energy than conventional dyeing processes. Mainstream designers like Costello Tagliapietra have used the waterless dyeing process for the past five seasons.

"AirDye eliminates the use of water for dyeing and printing textiles, potentially saving trillions of gallons of water from destruction," says Paul Raybin, Chief Sustainability Officer at AirDye.

The company says it wants to be a part of the larger sustainability conversation in which they highlight other companies, nonprofits, individuals and governments striving to address water scarcity, pollution and conservation.

"We hope to engage in a constructive dialog with others who share our concerns and passion to bring clean water to everyone, while growing businesses and opportunities. While our focus is on the textile industry, we’d like to engage with the entire conservation community."

Photo courtesy of AirDye

Manufacture New York is a fashion incubator/factory hybrid dedicated to providing independent designers with the resources and skills to streamline their production process and transform local manufacturing into the most affordable, innovative option for all.

Founder Bob Bland tells TakePart that when it comes to the rich history of New York City being mecca for designers, she sees a serious need for change when it comes to “sustainability.”

“Manufacture New York is a sustainability changemaker because we are streamlining the production process, making it completely transparent and local. This reduces so much of the waste in materials, time and energy that is a part of the traditional fashion cycle,” says Bland.

What she says gets her up in the morning is the idea of creating an entirely new category of jobs and careers in sustainable manufacturing for future generations.

“I'm thrilled that we have the opportunity to train and mentor people in all aspects of the production cycle and ensure they make a living wage in jobs with plenty of growth potential.”

Serving already as a major uniting tool for designers looking to manufacture smaller runs and to keep domestic production a big part of their branding and ethos, Manufacture New York is setting itself up as a business model to watch.

Photo courtesy of Manufacture New York

Eileen Fisher started her company in 1984 with $350 in the bank. Today she runs a business 900 people strong with 58 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. What’s the key? Thoughtful design.

The label’s environmental initiatives are a company priority, involving changes big and small—“from developing eco materials and supporting renewable energy to recycling clothing. It's a commitment to our belief in honoring the earth and its connection to our well being. By seeking the best practices throughout the lifecycle of our products, we are creating healthier environments for farmers, supply chain workers and future generations.”

Not only do they walk the talk for implementing smarter environmental initiatives, but they also offer 27 percent of their products in eco-friendly fabrics, and more than 50 percent of their cottons are organic. The label also boasts a new silk dye house that uses Bluesign, a pared-down process that requires fewer chemicals, and less water and energy.

Did we happen to mention if you ever want to work at EF, Human Resources makes sure you have a strong love of environment to be hired? It’s true.

Photo courtesy of EILEEN FISHER

Patagonia’s mission statement reads: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”

Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder, got his start as a rock climber in 1953 as a 14-year-old member of the Southern California Falconry Club. By 1963 he had created his own climbing equipment company called Chouinard Equipment, which morphed into outdoor performance as well as tools and gadgets needed to live an outdoor life to its fullest.

Today the Ventura, Calif., clothing company focuses mainly on outdoor clothing and contributes 1 percent of its total sales to environmental groups. Since 1985, when the environmental program was first started, Patagonia has donated $46 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups. It also cofounded 1% For the Planet and launched the Common Threads recycling program as well as The Footprint Chronicles, which lets customers follow a specific piece of clothing through its entire journey from production to recycle.

Still privately owned, these guys mean environmental business.

Photo: Caroline Gleich via Instagram

Located in both San Francisco and London, the Permacouture Institute is an educational nonprofit for regenerative design in fashion and textiles. The institute focuses on the integration of nature and culture, and research on sustainable plant-based dyes and recycled fibers.

The Permacouture Institute says: “We encourage cross-pollination between the sustainability movement and preservation of traditional textile methods.”

Asking questions like, “Where do our materials come from?” and “What are the social practices that support them?” the institute fosters curiousity in the most artistic sense about an industry rife with toxins and waste.

Like Chanin, Permacouture founder Sasha Duerr and codirector and European liason Katelyn Toth-Fejel are about more than just fashion and textiles: Interested parties are invited in to eat Dinners to Dye For, which promote slow food and slow fashion. The two also work with area universities to teach fashion students the importance of soil to studio.

Photo courtesy of Permacouture Institute