A quick guide to New Zealand’s leading labels doing good for the Earth.
MAGGIE MARILYN
It’s been a year since Maggie Marilyn launched its Sustainability Strategy and its Strategy Update Report has been released in time for Earth Day 2020. Brand founder Maggie Hewitt and the team are proud of the progress they have made to date and are more determined than ever to transform fashion into a circular and transparent industry. Read the report here.
OVNA OVICH
Marina Davis’s designs in chapters rather than slavishly following seasons for her sustainable designer fashion label Ovna Ovich. Inspired by making positive change through her work her latest 20-piece collection, Chapter 13, is purposely lean and considered. A few past favourites make a reappearance Tencel and possum wool. Debut pieces include the Isadora dress (pictured) available in deep blue cornflower or black, perfect for winter parties.
KOWTOW
Kowtow’s latest collection includes 100 per cent Fair Trade certified organic cotton knitwear, individually knitted to eliminate yarn waste. Kowtow has used organic cotton since the label’s inception, which is processed using the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) approved inks and dyes. Its merino wool is processed and dyed using the Bluesign system to ensure an environmentally responsible yarn. Buttons are made from recycled hemp. You’ll never find a zip on a Kowtow garment.
MINA
As a brand that dedicates its ethos to mindful consumption, Mina is pleased to have a cohort of 100 per cent organic options in the AW20 collection. For designer Natalie Procter it is all about clean lines and simple cuts – staying true to all things simple, and all consciously made in New Zealand.
WE-AR
All WE-AR garments are mindfully made in harmony with the planet. Sustainable textiles selected for all WE-AR garments must feel good against the skin, perform well, be of good quality as well as good for the environment. WE-AR is a Sustainable Business Network partner and Certified B Corp business.
CONSIDERED BY KAREN WALKER
For the past 18 months Karen Walker stores have been offering eco-conscious brands, and will continue to increase this selection with its own Considered edit of garments like this sweater made from 100 per cent GOTS Certified organic cotton and pant made from 100 per cent linen. All made in a Fair Trade Certified facility in India. Karen Walker’s Considered edit highlights consciously crafted clothing and accessories. The items and brands featured take a considered approach; the sourcing of their materials and their production processes support the welfare of people, animals and the environment and they’re designed with longevity and circularity top of mind. Karen Walker also celebrates brands that invest in communities and artisanal skills and is an active member of the Ethical Fashion Initiative.
ALLBIRDS
This month (April 2020) Allbirds launched their new labelling initiative which sees the carbon footprint of each of their products clearly labelled both on their box and inside the shoe. This concept aims to measure what Allbirds want to reduce and encourages other brands to do the same, enabling consumers to compare the effect on the environment when making a purchasing decision. Allbirds shoes are made from a combination of ZQ Certified Merino Wool, Eucalyptus Tree, SweetFoam (a rubber made from sugar) and recycled bottles and leave a lighter footprint on the planet.
