The fashion industry can be seen as problematic, but it is also important to highlight the positive aspects.
Body positivity has unfortunately always been an issue in the fashion industry. However, many brands have promoted and designed plus-sized clothing! A great example is Levi's whose sizes go up to 26. According to Ecocult, "They also ensure that their products are free of toxic finishes, and support more sustainable cotton farming."
Another brand that has done a great job of promoting and designing plus-sized clothing is Made Trade. They have a curated collection of plus size apparel up to 6XL and plus size intimates up to 2XL. Not only does Made Trade carry plus-sized clothing, but their clothes are also eco-conscious, fair trade, and vegan. Their website also shows the brand's values, materials used, and so much more!
A brand that is important to highlight is HOURS. They use eco-friendly and upcycled fabrics to minimize waste and pollution. Along with that, they partner with local mills in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and select sustainable fabrics. Ecocult states, "They work exclusively with WRAP certified factories, which uphold strict environmental and social laws and standards when it comes to worker wellbeing." The packaging used to ship their products is 100% recycled and recyclable. They make sustainable pieces made exclusively for sizes 14-28.
There are also many sustainable clothing brands owned by women of color that are important to point out! Proclaim is a great example. According to The Good Trade, "The founder, Shobha Philips, started Proclaim because she was incredibly tired of never being able to find a “nude” that matched her brown skin tone." The pieces sold are also made from earth-conscious materials!
Lastly, another important clothing brand to point out is Most Prominent Co. The Good Trade states, " Founded by two college students, Avery Antonio and Mayra Moran, MPCo seeks to improve garment labor working conditions through storytelling, educating, and advocating." They source fabrics from natural fibers such as GOTS organic cotton and select materials that uphold longevity in your day-to-day life. Also, production is either in-house or in a garment factory that is ensured to be a healthy work environment.
As you can see, there are many clothing brands that incorporate body positivity, sustainable materials, and women of color! We should do the best we can to support these brands.
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