Your Cart is Empty
Purchase on account | Free shipping from 69 € | Delivery within 2 working days with DHL
Sure, fashion is fun – but unfortunately, clothing is also a real climate killer. According to statistics from the European Parliament , 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the production of clothing and shoes alone. But more and more brands and consumers are championing an alternative: sustainable fashion that places little or no strain on our environment while still being high-quality and stylish.
The current fair fashion movement has thankfully shed the eco-friendly flair of past decades and instead focuses on premium quality and transparency in the production of sustainable clothing. Each brand takes a different approach, but those who look for these things will find manufacturers who are serious about climate protection:
Special seals are a good aid for identifying fashion that doesn't just claim to be sustainable. The Green Button is a government seal that certifies that companies take responsibility for their supply chains and production processes. The GOTS seal (Global Organic Textile Standard) examines environmental and social criteria in the production and processing of textiles made from organic fibers. The Fair Wear Foundation, on the other hand, examines the working conditions of fair fashion: employment contracts, fair wages, and safe working conditions are just a few of the standards specified here.
Unfortunately, the materials our fashion is made from are often anything but sustainable. Even during their production, many chemicals are used that pollute the environment in the countries where they are produced. Synthetic fibers release microplastics into our water when washed – half a ton every year, to be precise! And other materials like cotton also have their drawbacks in terms of sustainability. For example, producing one kilogram of cotton requires between 10,000 and 17,000 liters of water.
Sustainable organic cotton performs significantly better here, using only 7,000 to 9,000 liters, although this is still a huge amount. It's helpful to keep this in mind when shopping and ask yourself what you really need. Wearing a pair of jeans or a T-shirt for a long time is a particularly sustainable way of consuming and minimizing your own contribution to environmental pollution and resource waste.
For 15 years, the Bella Natura concept store in the heart of Schwabing has been inviting visitors to shop for sustainable fashion on three floors. The selection focuses on high-quality, long-lasting favorites that also appeal to trend-savvy fashion fans. More information is available on the Bella Natura website: https://bella-natura.shop/
DearGoods has four locations in Munich and additional shops in Berlin, Augsburg, and Mühldorf am Inn. Only sustainable pieces that are fairly produced and traded and meet animal and environmental standards are presented here. More information here: https://www.deargoods.com/
Gentlemen seeking sustainable fashion will find what they're looking for at The Second Gerdismann on Barerstraße. Here, you'll find secondhand clothing from high-quality labels that are looking for a new home as a favorite piece. More information at: http://www.thesecond-gerdismann.de/
format & WESEN stands for a brand and a corresponding retail and online shop. Clothing items from the format house brand are produced locally in small collections and can be tried on in-store alongside other brands. Further information can be found here: https://format-favourites.de/
Konk also features sustainable fashion produced in Berlin, including clothing and accessories from a small, select selection of local designers. More information here: http://www.konk-berlin.de/
Is your city not included in our list? Greenpeace has created an interactive map of places and events for sustainable shopping, listing numerous locations: https://reuse-revolution-map.greenpeace.de/index.html#/
Those who prefer to shop online will find an even wider selection here. In the online shop of Glore – short for globally responsible fashion – you can choose from numerous brands for men and women and see which sustainability criteria each item of clothing meets. Armed Angels offers high-quality basics as well as a large selection of jeans in its Detoxdenim collection. The trendy models are GOTS-certified and vegan.
But not only clothing, but also shoes are available in a sustainable way. Veja sneakers are made with Amazon rubber, which the brand deliberately purchases at four times the market price to guarantee fair wages and good working conditions.
Fashion doesn't always have to be new. Buying used clothing helps extend the lifespan of garments and maximizes the resources used to make them. The best thing about secondhand shopping is that you can find new favorite pieces at particularly reasonable prices. Precisely because fair trade fashion often costs a bit more, the combination with used clothing is perfect. And you don't have to compromise on quality either, as there are even secondhand shops and online marketplaces for designer fashion. At the same time, more and more large online stores like Zalando and Armed Angels are offering dedicated categories for used clothing.
Shopping for fair trade fashion is an important first step for anyone who wants to consume more consciously. But even after purchasing a new sustainable favorite, there's a lot you can do. This includes washing and storing materials carefully . A suitable hanger prevents fabrics from stretching or becoming damaged, and your sustainable clothing will fit perfectly for a long time. Hanging your jeans and other trousers on a hanger can also save you a few wash cycles: creases will naturally disappear overnight.
Another major problem facing the fashion industry continues to be the overproduction of textiles, which simply end up in huge piles of waste. Only one percent of the clothing produced worldwide is recycled into new garments, partly because we lack the technology to do so. At MAWA, we're taking a stand against this kind of waste and processing surplus textile fibers into clothes hangers. This transforms a waste product into a high-quality everyday item that can itself be recycled.
Discoversustainable coat hangers from MAWA online here and learn more about MAWA & sustainability .
