Top 5 sustainable clothing marketplaces and online stores
It is time to see Exeter wake up to the mountains of waste and pollution caused by fast fashion and overconsumption.
Shopping ethically is when we try to buy goods that do not negatively impact other people and the environment around us.
Practically, this can look very different for each individual depending on their main concerns, e.g., animal cruelty, environmental impact, fairness of trade, conditions for workers, etc.
Unfortunately for those concerned about all these issues, it can be hard to find products that fit all these requirements.
You could always grow/make your own, re-purpose what you have, or do without.
But, next time you hit the shops, use this guide to make more ethical shopping decisions in and around the Exeter area.
And while we don't have that many big sustainable clothing marketplaces in our city or Devon County, there are plenty of options online.
In this article, we'll look at the best five sustainable clothing stores online, where you can shop from the comfort of your home and show you care with your wallet.
Finisterre is an outdoor apparel company focused on functional and sustainable products, based in St Agnes, Cornwall.
The company was founded by Tom Kay in 2003 and is recognized as a cold water surf company, with a physical store on 57 High Street, Exeter.
Finistere is a certified B Corporation, so it has a legal obligation to ensure that the people, environment, and communities where they operate are free from pollution, waste, abuse, from head office to stores, and supply chain
A creation of LARA Media Group, a British media company running a global network of digital publications and marketplaces in fashion and beauty, Wardrobe of Tomorrow is hailed as the world's first online marketplace dedicated exclusively to cruelty-free designer fashion.
Following in the footsteps of Stella McCartney, a new world of cruelty-free and vegan fashion labels has emerged, aiming to end animal cruelty, reckless pollution, and unsustainable consumption.
Founded by Laurenti Arnault and Ru Amiri, PhDs in sustainable fashion, Wardrobe of Tomorrow is not just another e-commerce platform for sustainable fashion but the first step towards a cleaner, more conscious fashion world.
The marketplace is supported by the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) - an interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into solutions to problems of environmental change, based on the University's Penryn Campus in Cornwall.
Another ardent supporter of LARA Media Group's marketplace is Patagonia, a worldwide sustainable fashion giant that's putting the planet, animals, and the environment at the core of what they do.
Sancho's is a black-owned sustainable clothing marketplace founded in 2015 to make sustainable fashion accessible on the high street and beyond.
With hopes of supporting the growth of a fair, safe, and equitable fashion industry, Kalkidan (the founder) worked for various NGOs around the world, only to find that the most impactful way we can make a difference in the lives of impoverished people around the world is through honest and equitable trade.
Sancho's was born from the wish to put the best sustainable, slow, and artisan brands under one roof to make it super easy for people to make a difference as they shop.
The online store carries 100's sustainable brands, ranging from recycled activewear super stars Girlfriend Collection to Sustainable Fashion Pioneers People Tree.
FatFace was created to help sustainable shopping grow by offering high-quality and reliable products that will positively impact consumers' lifestyles and the environment.
In 1988, the company's founders Tim and Jules, were enjoying life on the slopes, but money was running out, so they hatched a plan; print some sweatshirts and t-shirts, sell them at night, and ski during the day.
Inspired by the name of the black mountain ski run in Val d'Isère, La Face, FatFace was born.
FatFace clothing is carefully crafted to live life in, to embark on everyday adventures that make you smile in the classic British style.
Seasalt makes beautiful quality clothing and accessories woven with stories of Cornwall, a wild landscape, artistic culture, and maritime heritage.
The brand's story began in Penzance in 1981, when Don Chadwick opened his first shop on Adelaide Street, selling traditional workwear to local farmers, fishers, and artists.
Inspired by this creative, coastal community, Don's sons – Neil, Leigh, and David – decided to create a clothing brand, and Seasalt was born.
Seasalt's design ethos is to create beautiful and valuable sustainable clothing that customers can enjoy wearing season after season.
