NYFW: Sustainable Brands to Keep Your Eye On

Sustainable brands dominated New York fashion week this season. Many designers approached their collections with a sustainable focus in mind – using upcycled fabrics, local manufacturing, and even digital printing.

Melke

The Melke team sustainably sources almost all of their materials and fabrics. From the use of fallen ostrich feathers to recycled fabrics and natural dyes. Melke even includes a material glossary in each lookbook, detailing the fabric supplier, fabric composition, and certifications (i.e. – fair trade, organic, dye-free, etc). 

For the A/W 2022 collection titled Falcon’s Fame, Melke founder, Emma Gage finds inspiration in the symbiotic relationship of man and nature. Poetic literature such as Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson creates a vision of inspiration in Emma’s mind. She bases several of her pieces off of nostalgic family gatherings – serene lakeside fishing trips and even travels to Ashford Castle in Ireland.

Crowd favorites amongst the A/W 2022 collection were the ‘Forest Fern’ vest and the ‘Peregrine Dress’ featuring an ostrich-feathered bodice.

Aknvas

Aknvas designer, Christian Juul Nielsen focuses on thoughtful, well-designed clothing with attention to longevity. This is especially unique within the hyper-speed of the fashion life cycle. He designs each piece with the idea that wearers will have a seamless day-to-night transition, adding not only versatility but longevity to the wearers’ wardrobe. 

From the first spark of inspiration to the last model, Christian bases his designs on the support circle that surrounds him. Close friends model the pieces, act as DJs during the NYFW presentation, and even inspire the unique color palette. Christian encouraged the models to move around even lounge and sit in order to give show-goers a full understanding of how each piece looks in various situations. 

Crowd favorites were the bright red puffer jacket and structured orange-yellow dress seen flouncing around the room.

Megan Renee

Black-owned brand, Megan Renee, debuted at the Black in Fashion Council showroom showcasing intricate and structured pieces. All of Megan Renee’s materials are sustainable, made of natural fibers, and are 95% biodegradable. 

Designer, Megan Smith, even uses digital printing to decrease the environmental impact of batch-dyeing and screen-printing. 

The detailed prints and color palettes were compliments to the vibrance in the Black in Fashion Council showroom. 

What’s your favorite sustainable brand? What aspect of sustainability do you incorporate into your wardrobe?