As the fashion industry rapidly moves through trends and materials, Cape Town creators are making an effort to slow us down and help us be more mindful of where we buy and what we wear. Slow fashion is a more ethical and sustainable approach to the clothes we wear, using materials that require a lot less of our environmental resources.
Here are a few of the must-know brands in Cape Town:
1. Float Apparel:
Float is a collaboration of friends who were inspired by travel, photography, music, culture and creativity, and the human interactions that accompany art. The name ‘float’ comes from the idea of being unlabelled – to float between labels, interests and people while exploring the world.
The clothing created is intended to have limited numbers, providing you with a piece that is both unique and non-mass produced. The high-quality products are designed and made in Cape Town, focusing on ethical production methods in their effort to become fully sustainable.
Shop Float products here.
2. Loskop:
Loskop invests an incredible amount of time and attention into creating each garment – all from their home garage in Cape Town. The slow-model process of not producing on a mass scale means that none of the items is 100% perfect or the same.
Loskop aims to have a zero-waste production system. Though they keep their supply of wasted fabric as small as possible, the leftover materials get put to use in making scrunchies that are donated to a local charity or to create once-off pieces.
In line with promoting the circular economy model – moving away from fast fashion’s ‘take, make and waste’ structure, Loskop has a rental model which allows you to hire out festival attire instead of buying new clothes for an event.
Shop Loskop products here.
3. HempLove:
HempLove is a female-owned brand whose values are rooted in honesty, transparency and care for the environment. They believe in being open about a brand’s entire process: material sourcing, the manufacturing process, carbon footprint and involvement in local communities.
The promotion of sustainable fashion as well as expanding the skill sets of women in Africa are huge passions of HempLove. They aim to drive a change in the textile and cosmetic industries in Africa, through education and by leading by example.
Shop HempLove products here.
4. Nette Rose:
Nette Rose is a sustainable lingerie brand that believes it is important and cool to care about having a positive impact on our environment through fashion. For every bralette purchased, they facilitate the planting of a tree in Madagascar, fully offsetting the emissions of the purchase.
Ethical production is a priority for Nette Rose, enforcing a welcoming and liberating environment in their work studio. They keep a limit on their lace, choosing rather to sell out than to have wasted fabric. Every action and product by Nette Rose has the ultimate intention of being mindful, conserving and beneficial for our environment.
Shop Nette Rose products here.
5. EAT YOUR GREENS:
EAT YOUR GREENS is an online store based in Cape Town who are proudly inspired by the natural world. Their products focus on comfort and lifestyle, and aim to participate in the new sustainable era of fashion.
All EAT YOUR GREENS materials are ethically and locally sourced, with designs created for both comfort and style.
Shop EAT YOUR GREENS products here.
Also read:
Thrifting around Cape Town – Why shopping preloved is so popular
Picture: Unsplash