Sourcing and highlighting the best sustainable brands on the market is what we do so of course our event had to bring these products to everyone that attended. We partnered with twelve of our most beloved brands to make the ultimate gift bag. Every brand that came together for this event is proudly featured on The Unwash and are products that we can’t get enough of. Ghia kicked off the evening with their non-alcoholic aperitif that was a fan favorite of our guests. All of the table linens were provided by Atelier Saucier which set the ultimate sustainable scene for our event. All of our attendees went home with products from Corpus, Saie Beauty, Everist, Lesse, Biom, Ries, Dieux, Cheekbone Beauty, Outside, and Halfdays. Having some of our favorite brands come together for our community to give them a try or get a new batch of an already holy grail product created a completely immersive experience in the world of The Unwash. 

Community is a big part of sustainability and every brand we feature is working to ensure a positive impact on the environment around them. Bringing together our readership in a mindful way is essential to our ethos and getting to do so thoughtfully resulting in a beautiful evening is all inspiring. We’re so glad we got to put this on with a like-minded business and bring all of our favorite brands together for everyone to go home with.

Inflation, the cost of manufacturing materials, increasing rents, and the need to support staff are all legitimate reasons brands can’t stay above water in the current economic climate. When it comes to ethically sourced ingredients and materials there are no cutting corners on price, unlike mass-produced alternatives. The upfront costs for small sustainable businesses are increasingly more exorbitant than commercial brands. Sustainable materials and ingredients come at a much higher price tag to ensure proper quality and circularity. Many of these brands continue to strive to break even or make little profit due to the impact they know they are making and for the love of their consumers. It seems that now brands cannot continue to keep up with rising costs despite the demand still being present. Several brands singing their swan song are those that are women, Black, AAPI, or Latinx-owned, leaving a frustrating reminder of the gap in funding opportunities for minority business owners. With fewer opportunities for additional fundraising in comparison to brands owned by heterosexual white men, minority-owned businesses have less breathing room for financial choices. Brands such as Back Beat and Common Heir had an audience built of people who were excited to see a brand owned by founders that reflected their consumers, their closure leaves another glaring hole in the industry for representation.

In an economy that gives gratification to brands that prioritize speed over quality, what does the future hold for sustainable brands? People first companies as we like to call them, pave their own path that isn’t necessarily supported by capitalist demand. The point of sustainable brands is to slow down, create quality products that last as long as possible, and then repurpose or upcycle them to continue the flow of circularity. This business model often isn’t enticing to investors or retailers as it disrupts the constant push for people to overconsume. Many of these brands are here to change their industries and create positive consumption habits. They aren’t in it for the financial gain but rather because they know what they’re doing is making an impact and pushing for systemic change. Although it can be upsetting to see brands come and go, it’s important to understand that not every small business can withstand current economic challenges. Just because your favorite company closes doesn’t mean you should shut the door on buying sustainably as a whole. You can seek out secondhand options, find new up-and-coming brands, and upcycle what you currently have. Staying committed to the cause is a constant reminder that sustainability isn’t a quick trend to buy into but rather a long-term commitment that consumers and brands alike are ready for.

New regulations in the EU that were approved by parliament in the spring of 2023 took aim at greenwashing claims and subsequently would penalize brands capitalizing on false or deceptive narratives. Using words such as ‘eco-friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘climate-neutral’ is prohibited under the new regulations unless the company shows sufficient evidence behind these claims. In March of this year, France put their foot down against fast-fashion retailers such as Shien. The brand argued against the bill stating that this takes purchasing power away from consumers especially at a time of economic crisis yet seemingly ignored the large implications the brand has on the global economy through their waste production. Concern about reducing clothing access for people who cannot afford ethically made products is completely valid and opens up further conversations about the resale market and the need to create ethically made products available for all economic demographics. The proposal of this law doesn’t come without mixed intentions. Many researchers and political analysts speculate that this is a mode of anti-Chani legislation hidden in sheep’s clothing especially as the bill comes from right-winged French politicians. Some also question if this is a way to further ostracize parts of the population that need fast fashion whether that be for size inclusivity or economic disparity. Despite this, it is important to note that fast fashion’s biggest purchasers are women around the age of 35 years old making $65,000 annually. The news around creating clearer expectations for sustainability in the market space has been loud but makes you wonder what the follow-through will look like, especially on a global scale.

Lots is coming down the pipe demanding change and much-needed transparency which the European Union is taking the lead on. Major things to watch coming out of the EU are new regulations around sustainability reporting, the green claims initiative, requirements for product design and circularity, and supply claim due diligence. The United States has long been lagging behind the European Union and other global entities in creating comprehensive sustainability initiatives but the new requirements in the EU could create a shift in the US manufacturing process to comply. Part of an issue plaguing the US is the misnomer between federal and state-level policies therefore leaving us with nothing comparable to ESG or CSRD. The SEC and DOL are slowly rolling out policies around financial disclosures for sustainability practices as well as disclosure of risks related to greenhouse gas emissions. Large-scale product or marketing reform has yet to hit the US but the EU’s new policies especially around greenwashing could cause US-based companies to follow suit.