This week marks both Earth Day on April 22 and Fashion Revolution Week, two initiatives created to promote and drive social change on environmental issues along with the fight for a fairer, safer and more transparent fashion industry. As we further navigate the unchartered waters of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we must also continue to work towards a future of sustainable and ethical fashion. Here we’ve rounded up some local labels and international brands who are celebrating and utitlising Earth Day as a driving force for a positive and sustainable fashion future.
KITX
Kit Willow releases the KITX Conscious Core range. This is the first collection of activewear from KITX which includes an active-wear top and leggings made in Australia from up-cycled marine litter and features signature harness detailing and gold French hardware. To celebrate the launch on Earth Day, KITX is partnering with royalty and celebrity yoga teacher Charlotte Dodson. Dodson will be holding free 10-minute live yoga sessions on KITX Instagram starting on Wednesday. Willow says, “We wanted to give a moment of active empowerment to our people for 10 minutes each morning via social channels, focussing on core, balance and strength. Yoga has brought so much value to me and Charlotte and I wanted to share during this testing time, turning uncertainly into opportunity in active activism.” In addition, for every sale made through the KITX online boutique on Earth Day, KITX will plant a tree with Carbon Neutral with $5 from every purchase going to the carbon solutions provider and reforestation offset developer.
Maggie Marilyn
Maggie Marilyn has long been a champion for sustainability, a driving force for positive change within the industry. Noting that transparency and the health of the planet is at the forefront of all decision making for the brand. The first Sustainability Strategy was launched in 2019, now her updated report can be viewed here. What does it include? A vision statement for recalibrating the fashion industry and a completely transparent development report on the sustainable practices Maggie has activated for the brand, divided into three sections of Planet, People and Prosperity. You can also view the Maggie Marilyn Somewhere collection - consciously designed pieces that can be recycled and kept within a closed-loop system to be worn many times over and are also traceable from farm to finished garment. This Wednesday on Earth Day, Maggie will also be holding a live Q+A on Instagram (6am AEST) to answer questions from the community around the strategy and sustainability. “We are at a truly pivotal moment in history. This isn’t just about fashion. Here and now is where we decide what the world will look like for future generations.”
Ralph Lauren
Launching in line with the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Ralph Lauren expands and re-releases the Ralph Lauren Earth Polo. The new Earth Polo shirts are crafted from thread derived entirely from recycled plastic bottles. These are then dyed in an innovative process that uses zero water, with each made from an average of 12 plastic bottles. The capsule will consist of a larger offering in an array of colourways for men, women and kids. This reinforces Ralph Lauren’s pledge and commitment to diverting at least 170 million bottles from the world’s landfill and oceans by 2025. David Lauren, Chief Innovation Officer says, “Changing the way we innovate, design and produce our products is the first of many steps we are taking as a Company to be more sustainable. For us, it all started with the Earth Polo.”
