5 Ethical Brands I Love
Our buying habits make a big difference. Whether it's human rights or environmental impacts, the brands we support, in turn, support the causes we care about it. From learning about skincare when I lived in Korea to working with a slow fashion designer in London, I have become passionate about making conscious choices, rather than passive buying.
Most industries, fashion and beauty included, are severely lacking in transparency and often mislead their buyers with trendy buzzwords and ploys. It has become an unnecessary burden for the consumer to do the work and the research when determining brands worth buying. Here are some brands you can feel good about buying from.
Krave Beauty
Why do I like this Korean-American beauty brand?
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Science matters, and it doesn't lie. Krave Beauty focuses on good, quality ingredients leaving out anything unnecessary. Each ingredient has a specific purpose it has been added, creating simple, quality products that are good for your skin.
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Inclusivity is evident. This brand isn't only for the rich or for one type of beauty. With a range of products for everyone, Krave showcases models and clientele of all backgrounds and skin types. Good skincare is for everyone, and Krave makes sure to include everyone.
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Transparency in eco-responsibility is key. With 100% recyclable packaging, Krave is taking steps in the right direction to being a more sustainable brand. From slow shipping to purchasing carbon credits, this brand doesn't ignore its corporate responsibility to the planet, which is something I can get behind.
Kuwaii
The Melbourne-based, slow fashion designer.
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Who makes your clothes? This is a question that most big, fast fashion brands can't or won't answer about their manufacturers or garment workers. They produce locally and are transparent about how many items they make each year, which allows for price transparency. Fast fashion manipulates consumers into believing they are wealthier because they can buy a lot, but buying one piece that will last a lifetime at a higher price point is a better investment over time. Look at calculating cost per wear than cost per item, and you may be surprised.
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They have a life-long repairs program. Kuwaii stands behind their clothes, and they select materials that are made to last. Whether it is a button or a seam, sewers are able to fix the wears and tears that happen over time. Just bring in your clean clothes, and they will mend your items, usually for free.
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You can feel good about how they support the community and the causes that matter, such as gender and racial equality. Kuwaii stands up for the rights of people not just on paper, but they actively promote, protest, donate, and educate.
A_C
Is there such a thing as a "good" vegan leather?
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It's 2023. We know that plastic = bad, and faux leather = plastic. So isn't it better to buy real leather? That question could be debated for an entire semester in a college ethics course. Regardless of your stance on animal rights, we still need to consider the environmental impact of the tanning process and the subsequent waste. One way to reduce your waste without compromising your style is to consider leather alternatives that aren't plastic, like cactus or pineapple leather.
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A_C loves a circular economy. It's not pretty, but donating your clothes and accessories isn't always the best practice. Many of the clothes that we donate to a charity shop actually make their way all the way to certain developing countries, like Haiti. This breaks down local clothing markets, putting artisans and designers out of work, but they are donated in such surplus, that they create a secondary landfill. A_C knows this, and so they have created a buyback program to give used bags new life.
Uturn
Sorry, didn't you just say charity shops aren't always ethical?
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It's honestly so hard to be a person sometimes. Don't buy new because of fast fashion, don't buy second-hand because then privileged, wealthier shoppers drive up prices and take away fashionable, affordable clothes from those who cannot afford to buy new. But also, don't buy new. At some point, we all just have to do the best that we can.
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This is a great store for people who want to get into secondhand, vintage, or thrift shopping. Uturn recycles fashion by carefully selecting preloved items and vintage finds. Each time I have popped in for a look, I have come out with something that I have been looking for for ages but haven't found the right one, such as a pair of brand new oxford lace-ups by Zimmermann or a pleated faux leather skirt by Country Road.
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On occasion, I have found the perfect dress, such as the Lioness Cover Girl mini, but in the wrong size. I highly encourage everyone to find a really good tailor! We are not meant to fit our clothes - they are meant to fit us. Personally, I am in between sizes right now, so I bring all of my clothes that don't fit properly or I need mended to Lily's Clothing Alterations. Once I started having my clothes tailored, I wore all of these items more - the fit better, so I felt better - and because of this, I contributed less to buying new and wearing what I already had.
Clove + Hallow
Transparency in the beauty industry is hard to come by, so I appreciate this makeup brand's efforts in being open and honest with customers.
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To be honest, I'm much more into skincare than makeup. However, I do wear makeup occasionally, so it's still important to be aware of what you are putting onto your skin and the brands you support. This research led me to an important discovery: brands sourcing mica (a mineral often used in makeup for its shimmer) mined by child laborers. And that's a strong "No." from me. Clove + Hallow sources all of its mica from the US. I began emailing makeup brands last year to learn where they sourced their mica from, and I got zero replies from these self-proclaimed "clean" beauty brands that pride themselves on being ethical.
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On top of this, they pride themselves on simplicity. I first started questioning mica when the ingredient popped up on a toner. Why would I possibly need a shimmer in a step focused on cleansing and prepping the skin? Clove + Hollow stops at 15 ingredients in each product, which means that each one has a specific purpose. They also provide an ingredient glossary to tell you what each ingredient is and does. (Special shoutout to Paula's Choice who first pioneered transparency in regards to providing transparency and facts in the formulas of skincare products. This is still a first source when conducting research for me.)
