K-Fashion: Approach to Sustainability like No Other
Sustainable fashion is on the rise with more thrifting options and vintage stores in Auckland and online too. But what about Korea? Well, after the worldwide pandemic, health and wellness became a huge thing and people started to become more invested in it. Now it’s not just about taking care of yourself but it has slowly transitioned into taking care of the environment too! As I was browsing online fashion stores in Korea, I came across an interesting conceptual store called Ecogram. It stocks over 20 brands and all of them contribute to eco-sustainability in some way or another. So I thought I would share with you trendy and popular K-fashion sustainable brands and some you can even get on the international online store, Ecogram.
The Green Lab
The Green Lab is where to browse when you are looking for hoodies, joggers and even accessories to complete your streetwear look. They have very minimalistic pieces but your outfit will look anything but basic! Some of their pieces are accentuated with bright but still wearable colours paired with bold and trendy fonts. Their iconic green and hot pink colours will definitely have your casual look upgraded even if it’s in their minimal Crop Hoody and Jogger Pants. It’s even better that all of The Green Lab’s pieces are created with 100% recycled materials by reusing PET bottles to reduce the amount of landfill. They have everything you need for a casual sporty outfit that can easily be completed with a pair of sneakers.
Vegan Tiger
On the opposite spectrum is the bold and fresh style and Vegan Tiger does it particularly well and of course, with sustainability in mind. They're a cruelty-free brand that creates clothes certainly for the loud aesthetics. A mix of different materials with a variety of stand out colours sure makes their pieces unique. All of this combined with funky prints will definitely add a bit of fun into your wardrobe. They certainly aren't your everyday basic pieces and for sure not for the faint of heart. You’ll find some Y2K styles like their selection of Velvet Crop Tops or if you are looking for a fun accessory to spice up your outfit, their Fur Bucket Hat will do just that. It’s also nice to see that Vegan Tiger donates some of their proceeds to animal shelters too!
Pleats Mama
I’ve seen a lot of sustainable Korean accessory brands that focus on leather goods but Pleats Mama does it differently. They use recycled polyester from PET bottles combined with modern knitting techniques to make the cutest bags. They’ve said it takes 16,500 mL PET bottles to make just one bag! Most of their designs are quite unique in the sense that it is pleated (just like the name) which creates a very different shape and overall look. But I think this is exactly what is so adorable about their bags! They’ve definitely gotten more creative over the years, with various colour ways, prints and even shapes to choose from. For a more unique shape there’s the Bow Bag, or accessorise with the New Melody Bag which can be turned into a shoulder bag style that reminds me of 90’s fashion.
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