When you think about luxury fashion brands, it’s easy to imagine a fur coat or expensive leather bags and shoes. You might even think of some avant-garde runway shows. Unless you’re into quiet luxury, you may be even visualising some logo prints such as Louis Vuitton or Gucci.
If we were to create a word cloud of descriptive words associated with luxury fashion, we’re not sure that ‘sustainable’ would be visible. So why are we talking about sustainable luxury fashion?
What does this concept truly mean and is it really a thing that matters?
Defining sustainable luxury fashion
Going back to the idea of the word cloud, you would certainly hear words such as timelessness, heritage, longevity as well as classic. These are all words to convey the sense that buying from such brands will ensure that your products will endure. If people do not use the word sustainable (which has a similar meaning in terms of its appeal to longevity) with these other words, it raises the question: how can products endure if they are not sustainable?
To understand this we have to go back to our glossary where we wrote that the definition of sustainable fashion is: a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice.
Explicit in this statement is the consideration of externalities, an economics term for the impact on third parties, i.e. something other than just the buyer and seller (the brand), in this case the environment, as well as workers. Implicit in the use of words such as timelessness, heritage, longevity and classic used for luxury fashion is that this is only really about the product with impacts on third parties being coincidences rather than considerations. This is how we end up with worker exploitation and the use of animal skin and fur.
So bringing this together, we can say that sustainable luxury fashion has all of the components of luxury fashion but crucially also considers the impact on the environment and workers (i.e. ensuring that they are not exploited). This means that sustainable luxury fashion brings together the exclusivity and exceptional craftsmanship associated with luxury fashion but with added social responsibility and environmental care.
Now that we know what sustainable luxury fashion is, we need to know how to identify it in the marketplace. This is because it does exist despite people not usually making the word associations, nonetheless it is still tricky to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Key principles of sustainable luxury fashion
Ethical production
Sustainable luxury brands focus on ethical production. This means ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and respectful treatment for all involved in the garment's lifecycle, from farmers cultivating raw materials to seamstresses completing the final product. Ethical production is about acknowledging that true luxury should not come at the expense of others’ welfare. You’ll often know that a firm abides by this because they will ensure to mention it despite it being difficult to police when you have a complex, overseas supply chain. Look for references to things like Living Wage, National Minimum Wage as well as audits and certifications such as SA800.
POMP's sustainable luxury sweatshirt in 100% certified organic cotton - for men and women
Eco-friendly materials
One of the most crucial elements of sustainable luxury is the choice of eco-friendly materials. Now, if only life were simple enough that we could see phrases such as eco, eco-friendly and sustainable and assume that they are. Regulators are getting better at this but the reality is that you still really need to read the fabric label to get the full picture.
Fabrics like GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled fibres, and low-impact dyes are central to these garments. Choosing organic and recycled materials helps reduce the reliance on pesticides, heavy water use, and overall pollution, making the production process healthier for both workers and the environment.
Transparency & circularity
Sustainable brands also differentiate themselves by their transparency. They are open about their sourcing, production processes, and material choices, providing people with the information they need to make conscious decisions.
Circularity is an essential to the longevity of sustainable luxury as well. Many brands are designing garments that can be recycled, repaired, or even returned to complete their life cycle without ending up in a landfill. This approach dramatically minimises textile waste but it is complex and requires significant investment to get there. As a result most brands that operate within the sustainable luxury spectrum are still in the early stages of business plans that are targeting a fully circular approach. As a circular business, Pomp is proud to be able to offer sustainable clothing for our customers. Learn more here.
Longevity beats exclusivity
Longevity is a defining feature of sustainable luxury fashion. Rather than focusing on fleeting trends and seasonal collections, sustainable luxury emphasises garments made to last. In other words, pieces that can be worn, loved, and cherished for years. In contrast to the disposable culture perpetuated by fast fashion, this type of luxury encourages people to invest in timeless items of clothing that remain relevant beyond short-lived trends. Recognising this in practice can be quite difficult because there are often subtleties in messaging that apply to brands. Some of the honest ways that brands may communicate this is via a capsule wardrobe that doesn’t change every year. Whether they describe it as a capsule wardrobe or not is irrelevant; what matters is that some clothes always remain part of a brand’s catalogue. This can easily be contrasted with brands that only ever have seasonal collections.
Why sustainable luxury matters
The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters, contributing an estimated 10% of global carbon emissions, alongside massive water pollution and resource waste. Choosing sustainable luxury means actively supporting an alternative fashion system that reduces environmental damage and treats workers ethically, helping make the industry a force for good.
The benefits of sustainable luxury
- Environmental protection: Sustainable luxury promotes environmental protection by minimising harmful chemical use, reducing water consumption, and supporting organic agriculture and biodegradable or recyclable packaging.
- Social responsibility: Ethical practices ensure that the people behind the production process are paid fairly and treated well such that they get to work under safe conditions.
- High quality: Sustainable luxury focuses on craftsmanship that lasts. Unlike fast fashion items, which are trendy and low quality, these garments are made to last both in terms of style and durability.
- Personal wellbeing: Choosing clothing made from eco-friendly, responsibly sourced materials means fewer harmful chemicals on your skin. This is not only beneficial for personal health but also better for the environment.
How to recognise sustainable luxury
Recognising true sustainable luxury in a marketplace increasingly filled with greenwashed marketing can be challenging. Here are some indicators:
- Certifications: Look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), which verify the use of organic fibres, or SA8000, which ensures fair labour practices.
- Transparency: Genuinely sustainable brands are transparent about their materials, sourcing, and production processes. They willingly share information to empower consumers.
- Timelessness: Sustainable luxury focuses on classic, versatile styles rather than the latest trends. Garments are designed to become wardrobe staples, not disposable seasonal pieces.
Join the movement towards sustainable luxury fashion
The movement towards sustainable luxury is fundamentally about redefining what we value in fashion. Instead of focusing purely on ephemeral trends, it is about investing in high-quality garments that honour both the planet and the artisans who craft them. By supporting brands that embrace these values, we help to transform the industry into one that is ethical, responsible, and sustainable.
True luxury lies in garments that not only look good but also have a positive impact at all levels: the environment, the people involved in making them, and the consumer.
Choose timeless designs, support ethical production, and make a statement that reflects what luxury should genuinely be: conscientious, enduring, and beautiful.
