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TENTREE, Tamga designs and WUXLY: how these canadian brands are paving the way for socially-responsible fashion.
Emily Hambly 2022
Without a doubt, the constant cycling fashion trends, unreasonably high consumer demand and increased market saturation makes for incredibly difficult industry conditions for fashion brands around the world. With some of the biggest fast-fashion names under scrutiny in recent years (ie. GAP, Levi’s - to name a few), you only wonder how difficult it is for smaller brands to compete, or even get a foot in the door of one of the most lucrative business industries; fashion. So, this begs the question, how do you stand out and get a place at the table, all while remaining environmentally-conscious?
Enter tentree, TAMGA Designs and Wuxly!
Within our Canadian borders, there are numerous businesses that constantly challenge the fast-fashion industry, making innovation and environmental sustainability the rule, not the exception. From planting 10 trees for every clothing purchase, to completely eliminating the use of animal products in their processes, I’m excited to share some brands that not only deliver on the trendy and comfortable front, but also the environmentally/socially-conscious front too!
“We Believe Big Change Starts Small.”
In 2011, Canadian duo Kalen Emsley and David Luba were surfing and kayaking in Hawaii , when the idea of tentree was born. After returning to Canada in 2012, the two brainstormed an environmentally-sustainable and eco-friendly clothing company that plants 10 trees for every article of clothing purchased. 10 years later, the company is going strong, joining the Trillion Trees movement in the next decade. In the efforts of regenerating ecosystems, capturing carbon and providing planting jobs in communities around the world, their unique business idea makes them stand out in a crowd, while standing up for human and environmental rights.
More on social responsibility, all of their products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they’re made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using only sustainably sourced and recycled materials. With a very open approach to their manufacturing and packaging processes, this brand says goodbye to greenwashing, and says hello to a sustainable future. Check out the website above (linked through the tentree name), or below for more!
Find your new favourite shop stop: https://www.tentree.ca/
By using only traceable and botanic fibres, this forest-friendly fashion brand prioritizes the environment while still creating luxurious and gorgeous pieces.
In 2014, this Canadian company was founded among the United Nations and several NGO’s to create and foster a bright future, where fashion and a healthy environment can coexist.
With an equal respect of style, people and the planet, TAMGA was created after a heartbreaking garment factory collapse in 2013, one that claimed over a thousand lives. This pushed Yana Barankin and Eric Dales to create something out of the tragedy in the heart of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A mere 8 years later, the company is going strong, with a zeroed-in focus on protecting the forests of Indonesia.
To find out more about their story and how they manage to put the environment first while becoming a bigger competitor in the fashion industry, see the link above or below!
From tragedy to beauty: https://www.tamgadesigns.com/
Last, but certainly not least, we have Wuxly Movement, the leading brand for animal-free, sustainable outerwear. Selling nothing short of parkas, winter coats, fleeces, accessories and more, this luxury outerwear brand manages to measure up to brands like Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles, but out-perform them with their sustainable and environmentally-friendly business model.
You may have heard of CFL pro-football player James Yurichuk. After moving to Toronto to join the Argonauts, he faced a problem of finding a sustainable and cozy winter coat for his Brazilian-born girlfriend. Mind you, she had never owned a winter coat before (because who would need one in sunny, tropical Brazil?!), so James wanted to recommend the greatest brand. That’s when it hit him, that what he was looking for didn’t exist!
Enter the founding of the Wuxly Movement. Not only has this brand gone viral and spread across the nation, but the success of Wuxly has developed stronger research into durable, sustainable outerwear that avoids animal products!
While it may be sunny right now, get a headstart on your winter wardrobe with tons of high-quality options here: https://wuxly.com/pages/our-story
I can’t wait to see how these new brands will show up around the world, and have even become a customer of tentree myself. Let me know and share your favourites at our Instagram page, or send us an email!