When Design Gives Back

Over the last decade, fashion and philanthropy has been intertwined. As designers are focusing their efforts to create on trend pieces, more and more brands have also been prioritizing socially conscious initiatives to give back to the greater good. This sentiment has even extended to the celebrities who endorse them as such activists as Emma Watson have made a commitment to only wearing gowns on red carpets made from sustainable materials. Here are five creative brands that are giving back in their own unique way.

1. Regal Tiger

Created by Sarah Lalii, Regal Tiger features effervescent dresses, caftans, separates and other luxury resort wear to help raise awareness and aid in the conservation of animals in partnership with Panthera. Panthera is the world’s only organization dedicated to the protection of wild cats and their landscapes exclusively. With each purchase, 15% of the proceeds will be donated to support the ongoing global preservation efforts. Accordingly, Lalii’s collection mixes fashion with activism featuring lux animal prints in her exquisitely tailored 100% silk garments inspired by exotic destinations with elegant silhouettes.

2. The Far & Wide Collective

Established in 2013, the Far & Wide Collective is an online market place that connects skilled artisans in developing countries to consumers. Working closely together with artisans, their goal is to provide a support system to allow these artisans experience long-term economic growth by helping to educate them on market trends and product development, to how to run and grow a business. The Far & Wide Collective has helped train over 200 women in the last year with their Artisan Toolkit on how to develop a sustainable business by marketing their items in an international marketplace.

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3. Union and Fifth

Union and Fifth is an environmentally conscious e-commerce platform that allows you to re-sell designer fashion with 75% of the proceeds going to your charity of choice. Through generous donors, Union and Fifth is able to help support non-profits all over the country. They have partnered with over 70 charitable initiatives, hospitals, foundations and more to help provide them the necessary funds to sustain their programming and research. All donations are 100% tax deductible and items are then re-sold on their online e-commerce platform.

4. MATT & NAT

The Montreal based accessory company MATT & NAT has become international renown for their exquisitely designed and sustainably and eco-friendly produced bags. For the last two decades, MATT & NAT has been committed to creating items without the use of leather or any other animal based materials. It has been their mission to experiment with different recycled materials such as recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber and cork and in the last decade that have made their linings of 100% recycled plastic bottles. Their accountability and transparency within fashion has added to the immense popularity of this brand brining their collection all over the world.

5. Juice Beauty

Say what you may about Gwyneth Paltrow, but when it comes living purely, she is on to something. As Juice Beauty’s Creative Director, the brand has creative a comprehensive collection of skincare, makeup and hair care products that have been formulated with only an organic botanical juice base along with effective ingredients to help nourish and cleanse. Receiving a USDA Organic, PETA Cruelty -Free certification and many more, Juice Beauty is made with 70 95% USDA certified organic ingredients source locally and made without the use of animal testing in solar powered manufacturing plants for many of their products.