The Conscious Closet
What’s in the sustainable wardrobe today?
Whether by choosing items created using sustainable materials, understanding their production methods or tuning into the philosophies of the brands that designed them, developing a more sustainable way of dressing begins by getting informed.
Listen to this chapter
The 2020 Highlights
Here we showcase highlights of what a sustainable closet could look like now, focusing on pieces that have been crafted with environmental concerns at the fore. Click through the carousel to get the lowdown on each item and see how well they’re performing
Mara Hoffman
Printed modal dress
Why Conscious?
It’s made from Modal by TENCEL™, which recycles 95% of the production materials back into the manufacturing system.
Impact
Modal is woven from the fibers of beech trees which naturally seed and reproduce, creating a sustainable forest with little irrigation needs.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring Modal and Lyocell +41% YoY
Alighieri Clairvoyant
Necklace
Why Conscious?
It's cast in recycled bronze and plated in gold from a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
Impact
The impact of extracting virgin precious metals can include deforestation, loss of habitat, soil erosion and toxic waste entering rivers.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring recycled metals +367% YoY
Greg Lauren
Patchwork wrap jacket
Why Conscious?
Lauren reuses utilitarian fabrics to craft imaginative reinventions of sartorial classics.
Impact
By using US army tent scraps, their life is extended and this avoids sourcing new fabrics with its environmental implications.
Chopard Ice Cube
Rose gold & pure diamond ring
Why Conscious?
Chopard has held Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices certification since 2012 and RJC membership since 2010.
Impact
In its sourcing, the brand employs practice that respects human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and product disclosure.
Mini Rodini
Organic cotton embroidered sweatshirt
Why Conscious?
Mini Rodini aims to create kidswear that children love, without compromising on the social and environmental production aspects.
Impact
Organic cotton is grown without toxic chemicals, so less soil pollution, 88% less water and 62% less energy usage than conventional cotton.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring organic cotton +288% YoY
Heron Preston
Graffiti print recycled cotton shorts
Why Conscious?
The use of recycled cotton in these shorts makes them a great conscious option.
Impact
Recycled cotton (or regenerated cotton) uses approx 80% less water than conventional cotton with a reduced environmental impact.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring recycled cotton +649% YoY
Bode
Pom-pom linen shirt-jacket
Why Conscious?
It's crafted from a linen/cotton blend. A fabric with ancient beginnings, linen (particularly organic) is looking ever more like a fabric of the future.
Impact
Derived from flax plants, linen uses less water than cotton. Organic flax growing restricts many synthetic chemicals, forbids GM-seeds and increases soil fertility.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring linen +55% YoY
Boyish Jeans
Harvey denim jacket
Why Conscious?
Denim brand Boyish Jeans relies on responsibly sourced materials for everything it produces, including this jacket.
Impact
Boyish uses reduced indigo from DyStar with about 80% less sulphate than regular indigo, plus plant dyes — less hazardous than synthetic ones.
Burberry
Detachable sleeve puffer jacket
Why Conscious?
The jacket is stuffed with down feathers that meet the voluntary Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
Impact
RDS ensures holistic respect for bird welfare - feeding, handling, health and environment. Force-feeding or down removal from live birds is prohibited.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring responsible down +325% YoY
Mulberry
Amberley bag
Why Conscious?
Mulberry’s leather is produced in an audited, certified Leather Working Group (LWG) tannery, using low or non-chrome tanning with water treatment.
Impact
Conventional chrome tanning can cause toxic water pollution, impacting nature and people accessing local water supply. Chromium saturated water is poisonous and carcinogenic.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring certified leather +334% YoY
Nike X
Off-White NRG Ru Pro sports bra
Why Conscious?
It’s made from 80% recycled polyester (rPET) which uses discarded plastics like water bottles - crushed, spun into yarn and woven into new fabric.
Impact
Manufacturing rPET generates 75% less carbon emissions than virgin polyester. Plus it helps to reduce plastic finding its way into our oceans.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring recycled polyester +355% YoY
Gucci
Organic silk scarf
Why Conscious?
Organic silk production eliminates the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers, restricts the use of chemicals, improves soil quality and reduces water use.
Impact
Non organic silk production can have various impacts, from toxic chemicals polluting waste water to hormones given to silk worms entering the environment.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring organic silk +4278% YoY
Ganni
Wool v-neck cardigan
Why Conscious?
It’s made from 60% recycled wool, one of the best fibers for reuse and estimated to be good for up to 30 years after being first spun.
Impact
Although it biodegrades, a lot of wool ends up in landfill. While it recycles well, reducing the amount of new wool entering the system counts.
Growth on FARFETCH
GMV of items featuring recycled wool +543% YoY
Spotlight
The anatomy of a sustainable sneaker
Sneaker culture shows no signs of abating and is estimated to be worth more than $100 billion per year. Although sneakers are a mainstay of most people's wardrobes these days, a lot of them are just not sustainable, while the frequent drop model can encourage over-consumption.
But sustainable sneakers do exist and offer a glimpse of how the culture could evolve.
Take a 3D look at the anatomy of one of them, Gucci's Tennis 1977 high-top sneaker.
Click to enter the 3D experience
Conscious Kicks
The number of sneakers classified as sustainably produced is growing. Here are a few more examples to whet your appetite — download the FARFETCH app to try them on virtually.
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We’re seeing luxury consumers globally shift their focus to shopping with more consideration for the world around them. But knowledge is power so at FARFETCH we aim to give our customers the data they want and need
With the full facts in front of them, consumers can make informed decisions and begin to craft an individual wardrobe for themselves that represents a sustainable approach. Our Fashion Footprint Tool, launched in 2020 and recently relaunched with improvements, enables its users to understand the sustainability impact of specific materials, get an indication of the benefits of shopping pre-owned and the factors they can use in their decision-making, to improve their personal environmental footprint.