Regenerative Fashion is based off Regenerative Agriculture, which is ‘a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health with attention also paid to water management, fertilizer use, and more’ – The Climate Reality Project. It’s essentially restoring our soil’s health, since top soil is said to have a remainder of 60 years. If you aren’t familiar, top soil has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms, and is responsible for growing our crops. After years and years of misuse of land with toxic chemicals and poor crop rotation, we have almost depleted our vital top soil. Luckily, there are many farms switching to Regenerative Agriculture, and putting the life back into our planet.
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What does Regenerative Fashion mean exactly?
Regenerative Fashion is based off Regenerative Agriculture, which is ‘a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health with attention also paid to water management, fertilizer use, and more’ – The Climate Reality Project. It’s essentially restoring our soil’s health, since top soil is said to have a remainder of 60 years. If you aren’t familiar, top soil has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms, and is responsible for growing our crops. After years and years of misuse of land with toxic chemicals and poor crop rotation, we have almost depleted our vital top soil. Luckily, there are many farms switching to Regenerative Agriculture, and putting the life back into our planet.
Why Is Fashion Talking About Regenerative Farming?
Fashion, like politics, loves a buzzword — especially when it comes to the environment. Sustainability! Circularity! They just tripped off the tongue. And now there’s a new favorite in town: regenerative.
What does Fashion have to do with it?
All the cotton, linen and natural fibers we grow, need to come from regenerative practices. It’s not just about the food we eat, but the clothes we wear, the skincare we put on, and the many items that fill our home.
How do you know if a brand is regenerative?
It isn’t always clear, and there is not a certification at this point to help steer consumers in the right direction. It’s still fairly new to world of sustainable fashion, but a lot of brands will clarify if something is Climate Beneficial or Regenerative within the product details. Since there aren’t too many brands who have adopted this mindset, yet, I was able to come up with a list of at least ten worth checking out. There are probably a few handfuls more, but these stuck out to me the most in terms of aesthetic and accessibility. I’ll be sure to add more in the future, but I’m very excited to start with this round up!
How to look for regenerative fashion
Shopping for second hand or upcycled clothing is always a good way to support circularity through the used economy.
While some organic farms may already practice regenerative agriculture, it’s currently impossible to tell whether they do with the existing organic certifications. Regenerative Organic Alliance, building on existing organic labels, will soon roll out a new certification to help consumers distinguish regeneratively grown goods.
Meanwhile, we can look for brands that:
- mention, explicitly, their companies’ support for regenerative agriculture, soil health, ecosystem restoration, or Indigenous-led land stewardship;
- have full transparency of their fair labor practices and supply chains at all levels, including the regenerative farms they source their raw materials from;
- and prioritize things like organic, biodegradable fibers, bioregionally suited fiber varieties, nontoxic and/or botanical dyes, regional production, and/or traditional craftsmanship.
3 regenerative fashion brands to support
1. California Cloth Foundry
Believing in longevity and timelessness, California Cloth Foundry makes loungewear and casual wear clothing from regeneratively grown fibers and natural botanical dyes.
2. Harvest & Mill
Working towards the Fibershed model of regional farming and manufacturing, Harvest & Mill makes its clothing in Northern California — using organic cotton grown in North Carolina. They use non-toxic, natural dyes, and also work with naturally colored cotton.
3. Coyuchi
Committed to ethical manufacturing, Coyuchi makes apparel, bedding, towels, and other home goods primarily using 100% organic cotton. They currently have some products that come from regenerative farms that they are working to expand.
An acknowledgment of the pioneers of regenerative fashion
Besides the formalized brands we can find online, many Indigenous or traditional artisans and makers around the globe — the true pioneers of regenerative fashion — also make clothes using locally, wild-harvested or regeneratively grown fibers, natural dyes, and generational craftsmanship techniques. In fact, many of them are working to preserve their regional textile systems against the forces of economic globalization.
While we may not be able to find all of their products in online shops, it is important to acknowledge their contributions to sustainability outside of the mainstream fashion sphere — where fame, popularity, and success often depend on the financial resources that companies have to market their brands and imagery.
Taking our fashion activism beyond conscious consumerism
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