In the world of fashion, the biggest faux-pas is the impact it has on the environment. According to an article by ecowatch.com, the fashion industry is the second largest polluting industry worldwide next to oil. Many mainstream brands use factories that largely contribute to fossil fuels, use pesticides on cotton, and animal testing. What's worse is consumers help feed money into this market because people are not ever going to not need clothes. However, there are alternative brands that are environmentally conscious that recycle materials for their products, use organic materials, and produce locally with the overall aim of reducing their carbon footprint. We've compiled a list of beauty, clothing and accessory brands that strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible, allowing you to make a positive impact.

Miik

This Canadian clothing company based in Toronto designs and produces its products locally. It also uses sustainable fabrics such as bamboo, modal, linen and sorona. The company sells jackets, dresses, tops, bottoms, tunics and cardigans for men and women. Miik products are sold in Bijou Boutique and curiosities in London, Ontario.

Roots

Roots has taken comfy Canadian wear to a whole new level with its sweatpants and cabin socks now a staple wardrobe item. Roots uses organic and recycled cotton and sustainable fabrics such as wool, bamboo, hemp and soy in its products. Its store also uses sustainable practices such as energy-efficient lighting, organic paints and reclaimed wood building materials while minimizing waste. Reusable bags are also a product that they encourage customers to reuse to reduce plastic bag waste. Clothes can be bought in-store or on their website roots.ca.

Lush

Lush is popular for its luxuriously smelling, colourful and glittery bath and shower time products. It is also well known for its green policy initiatives such as keeping their products “naked” while using as little packaging as possible, or if not, using recycled materials. The company has also drastically reduced its use of palm oil and is aiming to eradicate it from all of their products. Lush is also working to reduce the amount of water, waste and energy used in its producing, transport and selling processes. Best of all, all products are vegetarian, hand-made, limited in synthetic ingredients and are not tested on animals. Products can be bought in-store or on their website at lush.ca.

Bite Beauty

This beauty company is based in Toronto and is popular for its lip products sold at Sephora. It uses fair-trade and organic ingredients and is free from parabens and sulfates. The ingredients are all-natural and even edible. The line has highly-pigmented colours and incorporates antioxidants and hydrating essential oils. Produced and packaged completely in one building, this company reduces carbon emissions by making everything by hand. Products can be bought in-store and online at Sephora.com and bitebeauty.com.

Tentree

Tentree is a clothing company known for its appearance on the show “Dragon's Den” after a deal was made with Bruce Croxton and Arlene Dickinson. For every item of clothing sold, Tentree plants 10 trees. Currently over 14.5 million trees have been planted in areas with great need such as Madagascar and Ethiopia. The company uses organic cotton and recycled materials for its clothing. Once purchased you can follow where your Tentree item's trees are planted. Tentree is sold at Boathouse or on their website tentree.com.

Matt & Nat

Matt and Nat is a Montreal-based company that stands for “material and nature” and sells many forms of handbags, wallets, shoes, briefcases, toiletries and accessories. The vegan brand uses 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles as the lining for its bags and uses other sustainable materials such as cork and rubber. Products can be purchased at their online store mattandnat.com and in-store and online at Indigo.

Encircled

Encircled is an online clothing store based in Toronto that uses ethical fashion making. The three main fabrics they use for their products include modal, tencel and bamboo that are naturally-derived, biodegradable and do not use pesticides. You can request your products to be minimally wrapped for shipping, with all shipping products previously recycled. A selection of their items can be transformed into different styles allowing for a more versatile product. Products can be purchased at their website encircled.ca. You can also check the schedule on their website for their pop-up events.

Pixie Mood

Pixie mood is amcruelty-free and vegan-friendly bag and accessory company. It uses vegan leather made from poly urethane to make seasonal handbags, totes, backpacks among many others. The products can be found in-store at Live Chic at Fanshawe or online at pixiemood.com.

Source: https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big--1882083445.html