Creating a Sustainable Luxury Fashion Brand

After oil, fashion is the second most polluting industry to the environment. The majority of brands design four to six collections each year, with the average collection consisting of around thirty different fabrics. At present, over 100 billion garments are produced annually, with consumers purchasing an estimated 60 percent more clothing items compared to fifteen years ago and keeping them for only half as long.

As consumers increasingly desire more sustainable garments, how can the fashion industry fully embrace sustainability? This field case study examines how both new and established fashion designers and brands can incorporate sustainable methods and principles at each stage of the product life cycle. The case study addresses areas including: designing with less waste and more consideration to the environment; sourcing sustainable textiles and ethical production; and providing prompts for creating a sustainable brand identity.

Danielle Lara is a luxury fashion brand designing women’s ready-to-wear and couture evening wear. Collections sell throughout the UK, Ireland, and internationally. In 2008, the brand was invited to exhibit at London Fashion Week as part of a design collective where they showcased an upcycled collection of one-of-a-kind and limited-edition evening dresses. Their designs were selected for the reuse of luxury fabrics that would otherwise be discarded, a concept that was unusual and quite unique at the time.