Pretty Reckless: High Fashion’s Least Eco-Friendly Labels

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Luxury Waste

Luxury-label fashions are synonymous with opulence and grandeur. But away from the clamor of the Paris runway, the fashion industry is notorious for being an environmental buzzkill—polluting waterways, promoting deforestation and supplying tons of landfill waste.

That’s why Greenpeace Italy has “thrown down the gauntlet” by challenging 15 French and Italian brands with a “Fashion Duel.” The organization looked at whether or not these brands are responsibly sourcing leather and paper packing; two commodities identified as drivers of deforestation. The survey also included criteria on the use of hazardous chemicals, an ongoing problem in textile manufacturing.

“Large companies have the power and reach to change policies that will create real change on the ground,” says Chiara Campione, the Forests Campaign Coordinator at Greenpeace Italy. “Fashion brands are beginning to realize that they have to provide both value, quality, style and function—but also ‘values’: producing fashion responsibly.”

Out of the 15 brands Greenpeace observed, some were happy to reveal their supply chains and practices, confirming their commitment to corporate responsibility.

But others weren’t so forthcoming, refusing even a modest level of transparency while evading any commitment to environmental sustainability. That makes them Greenpeace’s least environmentally friendly high-fashion labels.

Photo: Shisin/Getty Images

Dolce & Gabbana

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are the brain-power behind this storied Italian empire. But Greenpeace reports that despite the label's luxury status, Dolce & Gabbana's business practices are environmentally lethal. The label reportedly doesn't practice any sort of corporate transparency; it won't divulge its supply chain, reveal its sources for leather goods, or commit to stopping any of the practices that may result in water pollution.

Photo: Glenn Beannland/Getty Images

Roberto Cavalli

Roberto Cavalli's fashion empire is as decadent as his style aesthetic. Known for his massive retail expansion into China, the launch of his Cavalli-themed nightclubs in the Middle East, and the shameless distribution of his own namesake vodka, nothing about the eccentric man behind the empire is subtle. But according to Greenpeace, his business practices may be equally indulgent. Cavalli proudly uses fur in his designs, and refuses to divulge details about his manufacturing policies. Most importantly, his label refuses to make a commitment to sustainable business methods, like forgoing textile suppliers who knowingly pollute the environment.

Photo: Sinisha/Getty Images

Hermès

The small French fashion house has been turning out its iconic Birkin bags for decades. Each is a symbol of old world artistry, carefully hand-sewn in small batches. But Greenpeace says that despite its small factory and old-fashioned manufacturing practices, Hermès doesn't allow for corporate transparency, hiding whether or not it's sourcing its leather and packaging materials from sustainable sources.

Photo: Juice Images/Getty Images

Chanel

Chanel may be the world's best-known fashion label, and within the design industry, it's certainly the most respected. But the empire built on Coco Chanel's signature suits has today become a careless participant in the environmental damage wreaked by the clothing industry. According to Greenpeace, the company refuses to commit to even the most minimal precautions when it comes to sourcing their materials from sustainable businesses and instead purchases textiles from facilities that contribute to water pollution.

Photo: Amet/Getty Images

Salvatore Ferragamo

Ferragamo may not be as well-known Stateside, but internationally, it remains one of the most highly-coveted fashion labels in the world. And unlike the other brands in this list, the company is not without its sustainable business practices; Greenpeace reports that Ferragamo does in fact sustainably source its packaging goods, which is commendable. Unfortunately, when it comes to its leather and textiles, the company isn't nearly as careful. It refuses to commit to ethically sourcing those two materials, which are major contributors to deforestation and water pollution.

Photo: Julia Savchenko/Getty Images

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Amy DuFault is a writer and editor whose work has been published in EcoSalon, Huffington Post, Ecouterre, Organic Spa, Coastal Living, Yahoo!, The Frisky and other online and print publications. In addition to being a former co-owner of an eco-boutique, she coaches and connects the sustainable fashion community to feed her soul. She also dreams of singing in an all girl punk band even though she has stage fright. @amytropolis | TakePart.com