the unwash review
CLED is an eco-conscious jewelry company based in Los Angeles that brings new life to recycled items. The brand stands out for its commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and innovative design. CLED transforms discarded glass bottles into unique, handcrafted jewelry pieces. Their design and production practices emphasize environmental responsibility and ethical practices. CLED highlights the endless possibilities of upcycled jewelry and the larger possibilities of sustainable practices in the fashion industry. The brand’s design philosophy is inspired by nature and outdoor experiences. This is seen through their jewelry as it often features organic shapes, incorporating molten glass and solid metals to create abstract and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Founded by Seulye Jo, CLED is a women-led and Asian-owned business that embraces inclusivity and environmental consciousness. Seulye’s vegan lifestyle is a large inspiration for the brand’s foundation and the leading mission the brand aims to fulfill. CLED is committed to the use of cruelty-free materials and ensures that no animal-based components, such as pearls, coral, or leather, are used in its jewelry. CLED also supports charitable causes by donating a portion of its proceeds to various organizations, reflecting its dedication to social responsibility. The brand goes beyond creating beautiful pieces by creating a positive community impact and forging like-minded connections with its consumers.
“We think taking a step towards sustainability is better than not doing anything! We are not perfect and we are constantly learning and finding new, better ways to do things”. – Seulye Jo, Founder of CLED
The brand’s dedication to sustainability is rooted in its ethos through its focus on using solely upcycled materials. The brand sources discarded glass from local establishments in Los Angeles, including restaurants and cosmetic brands, to create its signature ‘Eco Gems’. Each ‘Eco Gem’ is unique, resulting from the varying melting points of different glass types, which adds to the individuality of every item. These glass pieces are meticulously melted, cut, and polished in-house by the brand therefore eliminating the need for mined gemstones. Keeping these practices in-house and local to Los Angeles reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional jewelry production. The brand also prioritizes eco-friendly packaging, utilizing biodegradable materials and vegetable-based inks to minimize the impact of packaging waste.
CLED exemplifies a harmonious blend of sustainability and artistic innovation. The brand is pushing the fashion industry forward to use upcycled and cruelty-free materials while still creating beautiful designs. Upcycling, the use of unconventional materials, and rethinking traditional design is the future of fashion which CLED hones in on. Through its use of upcycled materials, ethical practices, and unique designs, CLED offers jewelry that not only makes a statement aesthetically but also aligns with values of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
01
Attire the Studio
Rather than cashing in on lucrative brand deals to create fast fashion capsule collections, the need for positive change in the fashion industry was calling. Attire is a luxury fashion brand based out of Paris that focuses on radical transparency, excellent quality, and ethical sourcing. The brand mainly sells luxury staples that will stand the test of time, such as classic trench coats, minimalist knitwear, and everyday basics.
02
Completedworks
Completedworks creates designs that are meant to resemble pieces of art and stand the test of time, without succumbing to trend cycles. All of their jewelry is made from recycled or Fair Trade materials. Completedworks uses reclaimed, recycled, and ethically sourced materials such as marble, glass, bio-resin, and silver. The brand proves you don’t have to compromise design and style for sustainable practices but rather that the two can work in harmony to create timeless, wearable pieces.
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SUSS Knits
The mother-daughter duo behind Suss Knits (pronounced sOOs) is committed to slow and small batch fashion and keeping their manufacturing process as low waste as possible. Intending to create a knitwear line focused on sustainability, ethical production practices, and inclusivity, Suss is creating knits to be enjoyed by everyone. Inspired by their Swedish heritage, 80’s grunge, and inspiring individuality, the brand capitalizes on knit as an art form.
