Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe and move away from fabrics like those of the often plastic-based sequin variety. Yet, could the glamorous sequins be made green, and who is doing it right? Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and all other consumers to figure out which sequin clothing brands offer the most eco-friendly clothes. So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable sequin clothing brands? 

The most sustainable sequin clothing brands include Reformation, ASKET, and Stella McCartney, which use low-impact materials, employ full traceability, and strive for textile circularity. In addition, Eileen Fisher and Aspiga commit to reducing carbon footprints and chemical pollution. 

Whether you are searching for a party dress, a jumpsuit, or a bag to add to your wardrobe without negatively impacting the soil, the water, the animals, and other people, there is a brand for you. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about the most sustainable sequin clothing brands and how they ensure sustainable, ethical practices. 

Here’s How Sustainable Sequin Fabrics Generally Are

Sequin fabrics are embellished with shiny and colorful fabric decorative ornaments—which are called sequins. Both the fabrics and the sequins can be made from various materials, leading to the varied sustainability of this textile. However, it is overwhelmingly common today to find sequin fabrics on the market made with plastics derived from fossil fuels. 

“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

To understand the sustainability of sequin, we’ve assessed the life-cycle and each stage’s sustainability. This life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Here’s a quick summary of our LCA of sequin!

What makes sustainable sequin fabrics: Sequin fabrics made with recycled plastic coins, often called recycled sequin fabrics, are considered the most sustainable sequin variety currently available because diverting plastic waste from landfills into fashion reduces the pressure on nonrenewable fossil resources. 

Additionally: Bio-based sequin coins, which some clothing brands and fashion designers have started using, are also considered sustainable as they stay away from further depleting the fossil reserve. 

Here’s How We Selected the Most Sustainable Canvas Clothing Brands

The brands on this list were chosen based on their commitment and actions to promote sustainable practices while reducing the environmental impacts of the textile industry. 

They are transparent about their materials, processes, and workforce management within their supply chain. 

Some brands focus their efforts on reducing waste and optimizing natural resources while others strive to reduce the carbon footprint of their clothes. 

All of these brands share the commitment to reshape the textile industry toward a more sustainable and Earth-friendly sector. 

These Are the 7 Most Sustainable Canvas Clothing Brands

Most Sustainable Canvas Clothing Brands

Reformation | Visit online shop

ASKET | Visit online shop

Stella McCartney | Visit online shop

Eileen Fisher | Visit online shop

Aspiga | Visit online shop

Albaray | Visit online shop

Needle & Thread | Visit online shop

Overall, these sequin clothing brands are sustainable. Yet, they take various approaches to reduce environmental impacts and uphold ethical standards. Let’s dive into each brand and find out more. 

Reformation: Clothes Made Smarter, Better, and for Good 

Reformation was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by Yael Aflalo, driven by the vision to revolutionize the fashion industry, aiming to demonstrate that fast fashion, sustainability, and local manufacturing can co-exist. Today, Reformation is celebrated for their green incentives, carried out without sacrificing style and quality. 

“We’re committed to pushing the industry forward and investing in future-focused solutions, which is why we’re a certified Climate Neutral company and will be Climate Positive by 2025.”

Reformation 

Reformation commits to better fabrics, aiming to trade all virgin materials for recycled, regenerative, or renewable ones by 2025. Their most preferred fabrics include recycled cotton, regenerative cotton, TENCEL™ lyocell, TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™, and deadstock, accounting for 32% of all their clothes. Particularly, their sequin collection is made with deadstock fabrics, lowering the impact of using this fossil-based material. They commit to becoming circular by 2030 by designing out waste at every stage of production, turning any occurring production waste into new products, and using renewable and regenerative practices for necessary virgin materials. Furthermore, their RefRecycling incentive enables customers to sell their preloved Reformation clothes for store credits. Such items will be broken down into fibers and turned into new products. Reformation also connects their suppliers with environmental solutions such as renewable energy, water-saving technologies, energy reduction solutions, chemical input optimization, and wastewater management. Last but not least, they openly share the carbon and water footprint of each product they make, fostering transparency and accountability in the fashion industry. Reformation is Bluesign^® and Climate Neutral certified. 

Reformation is fully transparent about where their clothes are made and the practices in such factories. Their Supplier Code of Conduct is based on International Labor Organization (ILO) standards. Their factory list shares many details about their factories, including whether a union and a collective bargaining agreement are present and the last audit. They have aligned with the Transparency Pledge and are participating in the Open Supply Hub to expand on the details that are made public so they can be more accountable for the working conditions in their partner factories. They give workers at their vendors a voice to bring up problems regarding their working conditions, level of happiness, working hours, and wages, and collaborate with vendors to ensure necessary improvements. Reformation is also a member of the Fair Labor Association, an initiative committed to promoting fair labor standards worldwide. 

Reformation is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: dresses, tops, bodysuits, denim, cardigans, sweaters, wedding dresses, shoes 
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XS–XL

ASKET: Timeless Clothes Made Under Full Transparency and With Life-Cycle Responsibility

ASKET was founded in 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden, by August Bard Bringéus and Jakob Dworsky, who committed to redefining the clothing industry by offering high-quality, timeless essentials with full transparency on sourcing and pricing. Today, ASKET has become a symbol of conscious consumerism, championing ethical practices and transparency in the fashion world, accessible to customers globally through their online platform.

“Our mission is to end overconsumption and restore value to the clothing industry.”

Jakob Dworsky, founder of ASKET

ASKET ensures sustainability by reducing waste and using less energy throughout the life-cycle of their garments. They tackle the textile waste problem with their Repair Program which helps keep clothes last longer and their Revival Program which diverts used garments from landfills to be repaired, renewed, resold, or recycled. On top of that, they use various recycled fabrics, including recycled wool, recycled cotton, recycled silk, recycled polyester, and recycled nylon. Specifically, their sequin clothes are made with recycled polyester, lowering the impact of using this material. ASKET also runs a Care Program, helping consumers keep their garments fresh longer while using less energy, lowering the environmental impact of the usage stage. In an effort to encourage consumers to buy and waste less, they are fully transparent about the environmental impact of their clothes. 

ASKET maintains ethics through fair labor practices, responsible sourcing, and a commitment to transparency in their supply chain. In 2022, their average traceability score across their entire collection was 96.0%. Regarding animal rights, they follow the Responsible Wool Standard, appropriately addressing sheep’s welfare and the land they graze on. 

ASKET is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

• Best for: high-quality, essential, versatile wardrobe pieces 
• Product range: tops, sweaters, pants, chinos, jackets, coats, socks, underwear
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XS–XXL

Stella McCartney: Luxurious Fashion Clothes Made Ethically and Sustainably 

Stella McCartney was founded in London, England, in 2001 by Stella McCartney herself as a conscious luxury lifestyle brand with a goal of bringing a conscience to the fashion industry. Today, Stella McCartney is recognized with various awards in fashion and sustainability, offering a range of products spanning women’s ready-to-wear, unisex capsules, kids’ clothing, accessories, swimwear, lingerie, performance wear, skincare, and more, with 48 directly owned stores and 21 franchise stores across New York City, London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing. 

“We are committed to being an ethical, modern and honest company without compromising on luxury or quality.”

Stella McCartney 

Stella McCartney ensures sustainability by making use of the most cutting-edge and progressive materials that aim to reduce the impact on the planet and are always cruelty-free while following the principles of circularity. They use a medium proportion of eco-friendly and innovative materials, including GOTS-certified organic cotton, cashmere from 100% recycled waste Re.Verso™, and low-impact plant-based alternative materials (BananaTex^®, VEGEA, Mylo™, MIRUM^®). Regarding sequin fabrics, Stella McCartney made the world’s first garments using non-toxic, biodegradable, and low-carbon bio-sequins, aiming to eliminate plastic-based and metal-based sequins and their many adverse environmental impacts. Further down the life-cycle, Stella McCartney employs technological advances to trace their products, lower their manufacturing impact, and increase their circularity. Additionally, they exclusively use paper that is either FSC-certified or made from at least 50% recycled content in their packaging. In 2014, the brand launched Clevercare—a garment labeling system covering five simple areas of clothing care: washing, temperature, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning to help extend the life of garments, decrease the number of pieces that end up in landfill, and reduce life-cycle environmental footprint. 

Stella McCartney commits to transparency across supply chains through diligent reporting, measuring, and tracking. Stella McCartney is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a human rights organization driving force in ethical trade. They also trace most of their supply chain. Additionally, Stella McCartney uses lambswool and sheep wool certified with Responsible Wool Standard, appropriately addressing the welfare of sheep (and their calves) and the land they graze on. 

Stella McCartney partners with and supports many charities, including but not limited to BioPlanet, Million Trees Miami, Naked Heart Foundation, Meat Free Monday, and Sea Shepherd. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear, kidswear
• Product range: shirts, skirts, denim, sweaters, swimwear, dresses, pants, jackets, blazers, hoodies, knitwear, tops, blouses, T-shirts, underwear, socks, shorts, jumpsuits, playsuits, shoes, accessories, plus-size
• Price range: $$$

Eileen Fisher: Secondhand Sequin Clothes From a Sustainable Fashion Brand 

Eileen Fisher was founded in New York in 1984 by designer Eileen Fisher herself to create timeless and sustainable clothing for women, emphasizing simplicity and comfort. Today, they are a respected leader in sustainable fashion, known for eco-conscious practices and a commitment to ethical production. They sell stylish and environmentally friendly clothes in boutiques across the United States and deliver online orders worldwide. 

“The Biggest Thing We Can Do Is Reduce”

Eileen Fisher, founder of Eileen Fisher 

Eileen Fisher’s sustainability efforts focus on using eco-friendly materials, including recycled cotton, organic cotton, organic linen, and hemp, reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated from their operations and supply chain, reducing fabric and corporate waste, and recycling the brand’s used clothes back into new products. Their commitments to sustainable materials, circular systems, and environmentally friendly practices are demonstrated in initiatives like VISION 2020, Horizon 2030, and Renew. Specifically, you will be able to find many pre-loved sequin clothes via their take-back and resale program “Eileen Fisher Renew”. They are also certified as a B Corporation and a Bluesign^® brand. 

Eileen Fisher is committed to ethical practices. They have worker empowerment initiatives such as collective bargaining and the right to make a complaint. For example, their “Our Love, Peru” project supports over 450 families in and around Arequipa with higher fair trade wages and investments in the local community. Additionally, Their VISION 2020, set in 2015, tackled unethical labor practices. They also have a formal animal welfare policy aligned with Five Freedoms. Additionally, Eileen Fisher follows the Responsible Wool Standard and the Responsible Down Standard, which ensures the humane treatment of animals used for textile products. 

Eileen Fisher supports many women-owned businesses. The brand has provided, since their inception, many grants for women, including the current program Supporting Women in Environmental Justice. 

• Best for: elegant, classic, and casual women’s clothes 
• Product range: dresses, blouses, sweaters, cardigans, pants, skirts and outerwear, shoes, accessories
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XXS–3XL

Aspiga: Contemporary and Stylish Clothing Made With Plant-Based or Recycled Fabrics

Aspiga was founded in London, England, in 2006 by Lucy Macnamara to create beautiful products that change lives, enrich communities, and preserve and protect the environment. Today, they are a B Corporation, recognized for high-quality style clothes that consider the impact on the planet. 

“Sustainability has been woven into our DNA since day one. We recognise that sustainability is a process across all levels of our business, not a destination.”

Lucy Macnamara, Founder of Aspiga

Aspiga ensures sustainability by sourcing low-impact textile materials, eliminating all plastic from their packaging, and extending their product lifespans through services that repair and re-circulate clothes. Regarding textile materials, they prioritize the most sustainable varieties of natural fabrics, plant-based semi-natural fabrics, and synthetic fabrics. For example, their sustainable sequin collection is made with recycled sequins instead of virgin plastics. Additionally, 96% of all the cotton used in Aspiga’s collection is responsibly sourced or GOTS-certified. Their plant-based viscose and lyocell of choice are made in closed-loop systems by Lenzing, using FSC-certified wood pulp. Regarding packaging, they have replaced all plastic with more sustainable options since 2019. Furthermore, Aspiga strives toward circularity by partnering with The Cirkel, a resale platform supporting shopping and selling pre-loved clothes and offering their Repair and Rewear Service to extend the life of your Aspiga clothing. Lastly, Aspiga has partnered with Future Leap to understand their carbon footprint and develop a roadmap to being carbon neutral by 2025. 

Aspiga ensures their ethics by being transparent about the makers of their clothes. Specifically, all of their Indian suppliers are Sedex Certified (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) or SA800 Certified, ensuring that ethical business practices concerning labor standards, health and safety, the environment, and business ethics are maintained. Additionally, they hold 100% of their garment manufacturer and subcontractors to their Code of Conduct. 

Since their inception, Aspiga has chosen to support incentives where they can make positive change, such as providing clean water, facilitating education, and supporting refugees. For example, they donate £1–2 ($1.30–2.60) for each item that hasn’t yet been made with responsibly sourced or organic cotton to WaterHarvest, an India-based water charity. Some other organizations supported by Aspiga include WWF, British Asian Trust, Black Lives Matter, Love Not Landfill, and Days for Girls. Additionally, they carry out monthly beach cleans. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear 
• Product range: shirts, swimwear, dresses, pants, T-shirts, jumpsuits, loungewear, skirts, shorts, coats, jackets, blouses, tops, sandals, accessories
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XS–XXL

Albaray: Thoughtfully Designed and Responsibly Made Clothes 

Albaray was founded in London, England, in 2020 by Paula Stewart, Karen Peacock, and Kirstie Di Stazio to move forward with a more thoughtful, environmentally conscious approach to fashion. Today, they are an emerging sustainable fashion brand recognized for their uplifting styles and uncompromising attention to detail.

“We design with purpose and believe that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to compromise on quality – or cost the earth.”

Albaray 

Albaray prioritizes sustainability by sourcing a high proportion of eco-friendly materials. They use natural fabrics, including organic cotton, linen, and responsibly sourced cotton. Albaray also sources sustainable rayon fabrics, including TENCEL™x REFIBRA™ and ECOVERO^TM viscose. Additionally, they recirculate waste by using deadstock and recycled fabrics. For example, their sequin clothing items are made with recycled polyester coins. Regarding packing, Albaray uses responsibly sourced FSC-certified paper. Their hang tags and labels are recycled and recyclable, while their returns are paperless. 

Albaray traces most of their supply chain and audits some of their suppliers. They bind their suppliers with a Code of Conduct, covering all of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 

Albaray is an all-women-owned brand that supports women. For example, during 2022’s Black Friday period, they donated £5 ($6.40) of every order to The Prince’s Trust to support the #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign, supporting young women in the UK facing enormous challenges to have a brighter future. In September and October of the same year, they donated 25% of all Wide-Leg Jeans to SmartWork to raise essential funds and awareness to empower more unemployed women to enter the workforce. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: dresses, knitwear, skirts, shorts, pants, coats, jackets, blouses, tops, denim, swimwear
• Price range: $$ 
• Size range: S–XXL

Needle & Thread: Sneakers of Luxury Quality Built With Sustainable Materials

Needle & Thread was founded in London, England, in 2013 by female entrepreneur, businesswoman, and fashion designer Hannah Coffin to celebrate textiles, embellishments, and femininity through timeless and contemporary pieces that have been created to withstand the test of time. Today, they are recognized by Positive Luxury‘s Butterfly Mark for their considered ranges of ready-to-wear, made with low-impact materials like organic cotton, recycled sequins, and recycled polyester. 

“I’ve never designed with one woman in mind; instead I like to create timeless pieces for real women all over the world. From the very beginning, I always wanted to make women feel beautiful.”

Hannah Coffin, Founder of Needle & Thread 

Needle & Thread ensures sustainability by sourcing a medium proportion of low-impact materials. These include natural fabrics (non-mulesed wool and GOTS-certified organic cotton) and recycled materials for both the fabric and the embellishment. Specifically, 90% of their sequins are made from recycled plastic using self-generated waste and certified by the Global Recycle Standard (GRS). Additionally, Needle & Thread’s synthetic materials come from GRS and RCS-certified sources. Currently, at least 75% of their fabrics are responsibly sourced. Regarding packaging, they have eliminated all virgin plastics from their supplier shipping packaging and use polybags made from 100% post-consumer waste. 

Needle & Thread binds their suppliers with a Code of Conduct, covering all of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. They trace part of their supply chain, including the final production stage. Additionally, they manage their manufacturing partners directly and very closely, having a regular presence and a strong working relationship with their suppliers. They also require their factories to undergo an independent audit every two years. 

Needle & Thread forms meaningful partnerships with various charities, including The Prince’s Trust, Save the Children, Women for Women International, and World Land Trust. Additionally, their recent collaboration with Bobbi Brown resulted in around $250,000 raised for the charity Smart Works. Needle & Thread also gives back through community work like canal and beach clean-ups. 

• Best for: womenswear, kidswear
• Product range: dresses, knitwear, knitted dresses, wedding dresses, party dresses, skirts, capes
• Price range: $$$$
• Size range: XXS–3XL

Sequin Fabrics: Durable Materials For Heavy-Used Clothing Items 

Sequin fabrics are embellished with shiny and colorful fabric decorative ornaments called sequins. Both the fabrics and the sequins can be made from various materials, leading to varied levels of sustainability. 

Here are the life-cycle stages of sequin fabrics and each stage’s sustainability assessment:

• Sourcing for sequin fabrics: Sourcing fossil-based plastics—the common raw materials for today’s sequin fabrics—is unsustainable. It leads to the depletion of nonrenewable resources, the acceleration of climate change, and environmental pollution. However, the sourcing stage of sequin fabrics can be sustainable when raw materials are recycled from waste, such as discarded PET bottles, and/or if they come from organically cultivated fiber crops like cotton.
• Manufacturing of sequin fabrics: Manufacturing sequin fabrics is generally unsustainable. The manufacturing process of sequin fabrics using fossil-derived feedstocks is generally energy-intensive and high-polluting. High energy demand can have serious knock-on ecological impacts when fossil fuels are the main energy sources at manufacturing locations. 
• Transportation of organic sequin fabrics: Transporting sequin fabrics is generally unsustainable. It can be a carbon-intensive life-cycle stage for clothing items made with sequin fibers due to the distances covered and emissions associated with transporting vehicles. Fossil-based plastic sequin fabrics typically travel from mines where fossil fuels are extracted to various processing factories, sorting centers, shops, and consumers’ homes before going to recycling centers or landfills. 
• Usage of sequin fabrics: Using plastic-based sequin fabrics is generally unsustainable. Washing plastic-based clothing items contributes to the increasingly serious problem of microplastic presence in marine environments. Sequin clothes are often treated as an outfit for special occasions, leading to them being underused before being discarded, which intensifies plastic waste problems. 
• End-of-life of organic sequin fabrics: The end-of-life stage for plastic-based sequin fabrics is unsustainable because they are not biodegradable. 

The sustainability of sequin fabrics depends largely on the materials used to make the sequins and the backing fabrics. The most sustainable sequin fabrics are made with recycled or bio-based, biodegradable sequins. 

Why Is It Important to Buy Products Made of More Sustainable Fabrics

It is important to buy products made of more sustainable fabrics because a sustainable textile industry has a lower carbon footprint, helps save natural resources, and is ultimately better for forests, animals, and humans. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Your Carbon Footprint 

The production of clothing and footwear is estimated to contribute 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than all international flights and shipping combined. If the fashion industry were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide. 

One way to reduce the carbon footprint of the clothes you buy is to opt for sustainable fabrics. Sustainable fabrics, which are often made with natural or recycled fibers, have relatively low carbon footprints compared to petroleum-based fabrics. For example, organic cotton made in the US has a carbon footprint of 2.35 kg CO₂ (per ton of spun fiber)—a quarter of polyester’s carbon footprint.

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Demand For Natural Resources and Waste Management

The textile industry uses water and land to grow cotton and other fibers. It is estimated that 79 billion cubic meters of water were used for the sector worldwide in 2015. For example, producing a single cotton t-shirt requires as much water as one person drinks for 2.5 years (2,700 liters of fresh water).

Worse yet, the textile economy is vastly more linear than circular: the largest amount of resources used in clothes ended up in landfills (instead of being recycled to remake clothes). According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,

• Less than 3% of materials used in the textile economy in 2015 came from recycled sources.
• In other words, more than 97% of resources used in making clothes are newly extracted. 

When clothing items are disposed of within a short period of time—under a year in the case of half of the fast fashion clothes—the natural systems that provide raw materials for fabrics don’t have enough time to recover and regenerate, which could lead to ecological breakdown. 

Sustainable fabrics are made with less water and emissions while lasting longer:

• Because they are durable, you don’t need to buy new clothes too often. 
• Thus, you help reduce the pressure to extract more resources for making new items. 

Similarly, making and consuming sustainable fabrics made with recycled materials reduces the demand for virgin materials while helping tackle waste management. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests

Sustainable plant-based fabrics are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed, such as complying with FSC standards. 

When you buy sustainable plant-based fabrics, you discourage unsustainable forestry practices like illegal logging. You also help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Animals 

The fashion industry is rife with animal mistreatment when it comes to making animal-based fabrics like wool or silk. Every year, billions of animals suffer and die for clothing and accessories.

Buying sustainable vegan alternatives can help to reduce the pressure on raising more and more animals to meet the demand for animal-based fabrics while sacrificing their well-being and lives. 

Suppose you have to buy fabrics made with, for example, wool or silk; make sure you only choose brands committed to cruelty-free products. In that case, you help advocate better treatments for animals raised within the textile industry. 

Using Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Textile Workers 

Recent statistics from UNICEF estimated as many as 170 million child laborers worldwide, many of whom were engaged in some form of work in the textile industry. They don’t get paid minimum wages and often work long hours. 

When you buy sustainable fabrics from brands transparent about the working conditions at their factories, you discourage the use of child labor and help promote better working conditions for textile workers.

How Can You Generally Buy More Sustainable Fabrics

The key to sustainably buying fabrics is to check on relevant environmental and original certifications. 

For natural fabrics: 

• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A globally recognized certification system that ensures a certain threshold of organic content has been met. It covers manufacturing, packaging, labeling, transportation, and distribution (but not what happens in the fields where crops are grown). 
• USDA Certified Biobased Product: The USDA BioPreferred^® Certification is a voluntary certification offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The certification identifies products made from plants or other renewable materials.
• Ecolabel: Ecolabel is the official European Union voluntary label recognized worldwide for certified products with a guaranteed, independently verified low environmental impact. The label requires high environmental standards throughout the entire life-cycle: from raw material extraction through production and distribution to disposal. It also encourages companies to develop innovative, durable, easy-to-repair, and recyclable products. 

For plant-based semi-natural/semi-synthetic fabrics:

• Forest Stewardship Council: An FSC certification ensures that the wood (or wood-like material) comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
  
  There are two types of FSC Certification: 
  • FSC Forest Management Certification, with a focus on the origin of the wood—the forest. 
  • FSC Chain of Custody Certification, which focuses on the path from the forest to the customer’s home. 

• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification: PEFC’s approaches to sustainable forest management are in line with protecting the forests globally and locally and making the certificate work for everyone. Getting a PEFC certification is strict enough to ensure the sustainable management of a forest is socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable but attainable not only by big but small forest owners.

For recycled fabrics:

• Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): The Textile Exchange RCS was originally developed as an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled input and chain of custody. 
• The Global Recycled Standard (GRS): The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. It can be used for any product with more than 20% recycled material.

For all types of fabrics:

• STeP by OEKO-TEX^®: STeP by OEKO-TEX^® is an independent certification system for brands, retailers, and manufacturers from the textile and leather industry. It communicates organizational environmental measures, including reducing carbon footprint and water usage.
• OEKO-TEX^® Standard 100: OEKO-TEX^® labels aim to ensure that products pose no risk to human health (i.e., containing banned chemicals). 

Some certifications that are signaling brands’ efforts toward lowered environmental impacts and a circular economy are: 

• B Corp Certification: The label B Corp is a certification reserved for for-profit companies. Certified holders are assessed on their social and environmental impacts. 

• Cradle2Cradle certification: Cradle2Cradle provides a standardized approach to material circularity. It assesses whether products have been suitably designed and made with the circular economy in mind covering five critical categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Final Thoughts

Sequin fabrics are generally unsustainable as they are commonly made with fossil-based plastics. Fossil-based plastic production is energy-intensive and high-polluting. Washing clothes made with plastic materials contributes to microplastic problems in marine environments. Also, conventional fossil-based plastics aren’t biodegradable. 

By purchasing new or pre-loved sequin clothing items from brands that commit to recycling and sustainability, you support their mission to create a fairer and less harmful textile industry for all lives on Earth. 

Here is the list (again) of the most sustainable sequin clothing brands:

• Reformation
• ASKET
• Stella McCartney
• Eileen Fisher
• Aspiga
• Albaray
• Needle & Thread

To make your use of these fabrics even more sustainable, follow these steps:

1. Buy second-hand, recycled, or upcycled clothes made with sequin clothes.
2. While using sequin clothes, maximize the number of wears between washes and keep them as long as possible.
3. At the end-of-life of your sequin clothes, upcycle the materials to extend their usage and arrange for them to be recycled or properly disposed of.

Stay impactful,

Sources

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• Aspiga: Our Materials
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Viscose Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Lyocell Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Aspiga: Our impact
• Aspiga: Resale 
• Aspiga: ASPIGA Fashion Made Fair | 2022-2023 IMPACT REPORT
• Future Leap: Home
• Aspiga: Meet The Makers
• Sedex: Home
• Social Accountability International: SA8000 Standard
• Aspiga: Charitable incentives
• WaterHarvest: Home
• Love Not Landfill: Home
• Days For Girls: Home
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Albaray
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Rayon Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Lenzing: ECOVERO^TM
• Albaray: Sequin
• Albaray: Code of Conduct
• International Labour Organization: ILO’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 
• Albaray: We’re donating £5 to WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN from every order this Black Friday weekend
• The Prince’s Trust: Home
• Change A Girl Life: Home
• LinkedIN: Albaray
• Albaray: Dark Wash Full Length Wide-Leg Jeans
• SmartWork: Home
• Positive Luxury: Home
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Needle & Thread
• Needle & Thread: Responsibly Sourced Fabrication
• Textile Exchange: Global Recycle Standard
• Needle & Thread: Positive Luxury
• Needle & Thread: Code of Conduct
• Needle & Thread: Social Responsibility
• World Land Trust: Home
• Needle & Thread: Our Story
• European Parliament: The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographic)
• Science Direct: The challenge of “Depeche Mode” in the fashion industry – Does the industry have the capacity to become sustainable through circular economic principles, a scoping review
• Science Direct: Carbon Footprint of Textile and Clothing Products
• European Parliament: Environmental impact of the textile and clothing industry
• European Parliament: What if fashion were good for the planet?
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future
• McKinsey: Style that’s sustainable: A new fast-fashion formula
• Forest Stewardship Council: Home
• Our World in Data: Deforestation and Forest Loss
• Our World in Data: Renewable Energy
• Peta: Animals Used For Clothing
• The Guardian: Child labour in the fashion supply chain
• BioPreferred: WHAT IS THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM?
• European Commission: Environment | EU Ecolabel
• FSC Forest Management Certification
• FSC Chain of Custody Certification
• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Textile Exchange: The RCS and GRS are designed to boost the use of recycled materials.
• OEKO-TEX: Certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX®
• B Corp Certification: Home
• C2CCertified: Home