Sustainable Fashion Brands in the UAE

1. Goshopia

“Sustainability is not about a particular aesthetic; it is about a process.” – Araceli Gallego

Goshopia is an online shopping platform for stylish, conscious customers. Araceli Gallego, the face behind Goshopia, wanted to create a “virtual mall” with different styles, prices, and aesthetics that would respect her and other people’s eco-journey.

Being a conscious consumer herself, she found sustainable fashion options inadequate and realised early on that there was a lack of options available to buyers in the region. Creating an online platform that addresses this and also helps support up-and-coming designers and artisans was the best way forward. Thus, Goshopia was born.

Gallego believes that the conversation around sustainable fashion has yet to flourish. She says that most of us start our eco-journeys by recycling and avoiding plastics, and it is a matter of time before it reaches our wardrobes. For Gallego, shopping according to our values is the ultimate luxury. There is a sense of uniqueness and exclusivity that comes knowing that your garment was created by artisans, natural products, all while keeping in mind the health of the planet.

With the love and support of her husband and friends, Gallego has been able to mould Goshopia into what it is today. It is an online platform that lets you shop by categories or by values, follow the 3C’s – Slow, Sustainable, and Socially Responsible, and support ethical fashion.

Goshopia has taken it one step further and partnered with OneTreePlanted.org, which means with every purchase – regardless of value – a tree is planted on your behalf.

Know more on www.goshopia.com

2. Inkahaani

“If we only once think about why sometimes a tee shirt costs less than the coffee we drink – that’s a start.” – Suzanna Varghese

inkahaani is an eco-conscious online store that embraces simple living and aims to inspire people to ditch plastic and shift to more organic products. The story of inkahaani begins with Suzanna Varghese’s quest to go natural and be more conscious about what she brings home and throws out.

There was a point when Varghese accumulated too many things and even threw away products without using them. This rewired her. She started looking for long-lasting and good quality products. The initial research took up most of her time, and she began thinking, “I wish I had one place to go, to buy products that will support my go natural, go conscious journey”. With that thought came the idea of inkahaani.

Varghese strongly believes that the thought to change is what we need. We give sustainable fashion a chance every time we put in the effort to ask ourselves questions like: What is this made of? Where was it made? How was it made? How long will it last?

Opting for sustainable fashion is a personal choice but in doing so, you not only support the planet but also the many artisans and workers that strive to uplift their own families and communities with their work.

Know more about the homegrown brand by visiting www.inkahaani.com

3. Thrift for Good

“A tipping point will come where we need to be more aware of the choices we make on the whole and, luckily, small changes can have a big impact.” – Jen Sault

The greatest barrier for any small project is always funding. Lucky for Jen Sault, she has always been passionate about raising funds for children’s projects. Seeing how generous people are when it comes to doing good for the society, Sault decided to pursue Thrift for Good while working with Gulf4Good.

Thrift for Good is a social enterprise born from the vision of a world with zero waste where everyone has what they need to thrive. It is 100% powered by a community of dedicated volunteers and supporters that help make the world a better place. Thrift for Good helps charitable causes with the revenue received from selling preloved items, so you know your money goes a long way.

We live in a time where we may not be aware of the consequences of linear fashion, and the stigma with second-hand items still remains. Although Sault believes that the love for preloved items can turn the tables, a lot needs to be done when it comes to opting for donated items. She also points out how this region is perfect for both sustainable first-hand fashion as well as accessible circular second-hand fashion. When you choose Thrift for Good, you choose better fashion at a better cost.

For more information, visit www.thriftforgood.org

As discussions on sustainable and ethical fashion slowly pick up, your support for these brands goes a long way in helping break the cycle of environmental harm caused by the fashion industry. Always make the right decision and opt for sustainable options whenever possible. Let this switch be your little way of helping the planet.