Top 10: Sustainable Fashion Brands

The fashion industry emitted around 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 according to research from the University of Southern California.

Between 2000 and 2015, production of garments doubled while the duration of garment use decreased by 36% according to UNEP. 

“Unsustainable fashion is aggravating the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss and pollution and waste,” says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “We need to focus on a circular economy approach that values sustainable production, reuse and repair.”

Sustainability Magazine spotlights 10 of the top sustainable fashion brands increasing transparency, cutting waste, reducing emissions and inspiring the industry. 

10. Louis Vuitton

Chief Sustainability Officer: Christelle Capdupuy
Founded: 1854
Headquarters: Paris, France

Part of LVMH, Louis Vuitton follows the LIFE 360 sustainability strategy aligned with a trajectory limiting global warming below 1.5°C. 

By 2026, the brand says that 100% of its strategic raw materials will be certified to standards that guarantee the preservation of ecosystems and water resources.

By 2030 it aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 55%.

Louis Vuitton says it is focussed on “Creative Circularity”, designing products that are made to life and offering repairs where needed.

9. Lululemon

SVP Sustainability: Noel Kinder
Founded: 1998
Headquarters: Vancouver, Canada

Lululemon’s “Like New” programme buys back eligible items that customers aren’t using.

All of the profits from Like New products, or 2% of revenue if this is higher, is used to support sustainability initiatives.

By 2030, Lululemon aims to procure 99% of products containing at least 25% preferred materials by weight and is supporting the development of innovative materials. 

The company does not use carbon offsetting to reduce emissions, instead identifying and implementing initiatives across product and material innovation, manufacturing and transportation.

8. Nike

EVP and Chief Operating Officer: Venkatesh Alagirisamy
Founded: 1964
Headquarters: Oregon, US

All of the waste in Nike’s extended supply chain is diverted from landfill and at least 80% of this is recycled back into Nike products and other goods. 

Further contributing to circularity, it also offers recycling and donation services and sources a mix of eligible returns and open box footwear for refurbished sales. 

Nike collects local vintage and deadstock products and uses the materials to create newly designed and manufactured pieces.

7. Chloé

Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing Director: Christophe Bocquet
Founded: 1952
Headquarters: Paris, France

Part of Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont, Chloé was the first major luxury house to achieve B Corp certification.

Since its certification in 2021, the brand has improved its B Impact score from 85.2 to 97.3.

Chloé has been using Digital IDs in its products since 2023 and aims to expand this further.

These QR codes or microchips provide  information about the manufacturing process alongside care and repair instructions to customers.

They can also support resales by verifying authenticity.

6. H&M

Chief Sustainability Officer: Leyla Ertur
Founded: 1947
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden

By 2030, H&M aims for 100% of its materials to be either recycled or sustainably sourced and in 2024 it increased the amount of recycled materials in its products to 29.5%.

Leyla Ertur, Chief Sustainability Officer at H&M, says: “We want to make sure customers shopping in this price bracket don’t have to compromise and that they can find fashionable clothes that are also sustainable. Circularity is the key.”

5. Adidas

SVP Sustainability & ESG: Sigrid Buehrle
Founded: 1949
Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany

Adidas is using more sustainable materials in its products including 100% third-party certified cotton from 2018 and 99% recycled polyester from 2023.  

It is a founding member of sustainable clothing initiatives including the Leather Working Group, Better Cotton and the Fair Labour Association.

“Our company has set very clear targets on what we want to achieve and we will do exactly that,” says CEO Bjørn Gulden.

4. Levi's

Chief Sustainability Officer: Jeffrey Hogue
Founded: 1853
Headquarters: California, US

Levi’s Climate Transition Plan details its path for the future, including achieving a 42% absolute reduction in supply chain emissions by 2030.

It is also working to reduce freshwater use in manufacturing in areas of high water stress.

Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer at Levi Strauss & Co., explains: “We’re scaling up what works, innovating where it’s needed and collaborating with the industry to do our part.”

3. Puma

Senior Director of Sustainability: Veronique Rochet
Founded: 1948
Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany

By 2030, Puma aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and Scope 3 by around a third.

To achieve this, all vehicles in its car fleet will move to zero- or low-emission where charging infrastructure permits and it will continue to use 100% renewable electricity. 

The company’s efforts for climate, water security and forests were recognised by CDP.

“We are very proud of the improvements PUMA has made regarding water security and forests compared to last year,” says Veronique Rochet, Senior Director Sustainability at PUMA.

2. Gucci

Kering Chief Sustainability Officer: Marie-Claire Daveu
Founded: 1921
Headquarters: Florence, Italy

Gucci reduced its greenhouse gas emissions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 by 32% since 2022 and it achieved 99% overall traceability of its raw materials in 2024. 

Women hold 63.5% of positions in the brand and make up 58% of its managers.

Its Changemakers initiatives supported US$640,000 in grants in North America and more than 11,000 hours volunteered in 2024 to support NGOs. 

Its parent company Kering was among the first to adopt science-based targets for nature in 2024, including a freshwater quantity target for direct operations including its owned tanneries and factories and upstream suppliers.

“Science-based targets for nature will help enable companies to do their part in reversing nature loss and I hope other companies in our industry and beyond will commit to these targets to advance ambitious and measurable corporate action on nature,” says Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering.

1. Stella McCartney

Chief Sustainability & Operating Officer: Pasquale Coppolella
Founded: 2001
Headquarters: London, UK

Since its launch in 2001, Stella McCartney has never used leather, fur, feathers or skins in its fashion, instead looking to support sustainable materials like mushroom leather and plant-based feathers. 

Stella McCartney’s SS2026 collection, debuted at Paris Fashion Week, included denim that can help to purify the air around it, removing CO₂, VOCs and NOx. 

The show also introduced FEVVERS, a plant-based alternative to feathers.

Stella McCartney told FEVVERS: “It’s not only the world’s first plant-based feather alternative, but it’s also proof that brands who continue to use feathers are choosing cruelty over creativity.”

In 2018, the brand signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy Global Commitment, pledging to reduce the plastic it uses and use only recycled, recyclable or compostable plastic by 2025. 

It has only used recycled cashmere since 2016 which it says has reduced its cashmere-related environmental impact by 92%.

Since 2012, all of its handbags have been lined using fabric made from recycled water bottles.