Green is in! – All about sustainable fashion in the UAE

• Understanding Sustainable Fashion
• Sustainable Fashion Brands in the UAE
• Frequently Asked Questions

Wearing a nice outfit gives you that boost of confidence you sometimes never knew you needed. They help to show your character to the world, giving strangers a glimpse into your personality. But what happens when your fly new outfit has come into the existence at the cost of having a detrimental affect on the health of the planet? That’s when you turn to sustainable fashion brands in the UAE!

We are now seeing several sustainable fashion brands in the UAE that aim to reduce their impact on the environment from the design stage itself. With more fashionistas trying to reduce their carbon footprint, it is a truly positive development to see brands taking initiatives to also do so from their end.

Let’s explore exactly what sustainable fashion means and the brands in the UAE that you need to check out.

What is Sustainable fashion?

In contrast to fast fashion, where clothes are manufactured in bulk leading to excessive waste, sustainable fashion comprises clothing, shoes and accessories that are produced and marketed with sustainability in mind.

Right throughout the design and manufacturing phases, sustainable fashion brands follow the ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ mantra. With materials being ethically sourced and minimal waste being disposed, it can sometimes be slightly pricier than fast fashion. That potential extra cost is most definitely for a worthy cause though.

A lot of popular fast fashion brands tend to use cheaper materials that soon wear out, leaving their owners no choice but to dispose of them. These discarded items then inevitably end up in landfills, that pollute the air and groundwater. Another concern behind fast fashion is the labour involved – there have been several notable situations of workers being underpaid or even not paid at all and truly awful working conditions. There’s also been worrying instances of child labour been used. Which is why most sustainable fashion brands endeavour to work in the most ethical manner possible, usually ensuring socio-economic equality throughout manufacture and production.

If you’re thinking of skipping out on fast fashion, let’s take a look at some of the top sustainable fashion brands in the UAE.

List of sustainable fashion brands in the UAE

The Giving Movement

This athleisure brand name has taken the region by storm since their inception. Their ethical practices, use of sustainable fabrics and numerous charitable initiatives have deservedly won them many plaudits.

The Giving Movement was launched in 2020 when the world was engulfed in the pandemic. They use recycled nylon from recycled water bottles and bamboo to create their eco-friendly loungewear and streetwear pieces. All of their materials are locally sourced with limited production of each clothing line to reduce waste.

To top it all off, AED 15 from each sale of their garments is donated to charity, toward food and shelter for children. That means buying from TGM isn’t just a step towards improving the health of our planet, it also helps to improve the lives of those less fortunate.

Abadia

Abadia is a luxury fashion brand based in the UAE. They pride themselves on the ethical practices they utilise in the manufacture and production of their pieces. Their designs lean heavily on aspects of culture from the region, bringing in elements of Middle East influence to create traditional and timeless pieces.

Abadia uses luxury dead-stock materials, rather than manufacturing new fabric for their designs. Also, they firmly believe in supporting local creators, with a majority of their artisans being women from the Middle East. Definitely a brand worth checking out!

BLSSD

BLSSD (pronounced ‘blessed’) is a clothing line launched by Lama Riachi. Being a cancer survivor, she wanted to start a brand that was more than just fashion, a brand that could have a positive impact on the world around us. That’s why BLSSD donates to a plethora of worthy causes including paying for cancer patients’ treatments and reuniting them with family.

The fabric used in BLSSD’s designs is all made using sustainable fibres and with ethical means of production. Made in the UAE, their collections feature bright colours, unique cuts and distinctive designs that can definitely help you create a statement.

All Things Mochi

One look at All Things Mochi’s designs and you’ll feel a major Bohemian vibe going on. Heavy on the use of embroidery to create cute patterns (mostly florals), their collection matches the summery tropical vibe that fits perfectly with life in the UAE.

All Things Mochi supports the artisans that are involved in the production, and use materials that ensure that pieces last for a long time (as part of their mission to reduce waste). With recycling also being one of their core values, a lot of their designs are upcyled and follow the circular fashion framework.

ASMARAÏA

ASMARAÏA is a luxury modest clothing line for women based in the UAE. Their designs aim to show off the feminine silhouette without showing too much skin.

ASMARAÏA’s clothing is ethically sourced in the UAE, using cruelty-free and sustainable means of production. Their line is made of mostly organic cotton, recycled polyester and faux fur. With festive designs and memorable patterns, this modest fashion line can spruce up your look with their lovely range.

By M.A.R.Y

To honour her African roots, the founder of By M.A.R.Y heavily incorporates designs from the African subcontinent into their clothing line. With the goal of creating clothing that women worldwide can feel stunning in, By M.A.R.Y uses contemporary designs with prominent patterns and bright colours.

The clothes used in this clothing line are handcrafted, with fabrics manufactured in a sustainable manner. Each collection is limited and produced in ‘on and off batches’, leading to less waste being produced.

Joseph and Alexander

The epidemic of plastic in the ocean has reached a staggeringly high level which simply can’t be ignored, leading to several initiatives by environmentalists and marine groups alike. In an interesting twist, we’re also seeing fashion brands taking major steps to help alleviate this hugely troubling issue. Joseph and Alexander is a clothing brand that recycles plastic and other materials to create their swimwear line! Not only are these pieces safe to wear, they are extremely fashionable and are perfect for a beach holiday.

A family brand, their swimwear is made from items including recycled plastic bottles, abandoned fishing nets and waste from landfills. Their production also follows ethical practices. With matching swimwear lines for father & son, or mother & daughter, you’re guaranteed to catch everyone’s eyes this summer wearing these ‘fits.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where can I buy sustainable fashion in the UAE?

If you’re an online shopper, you can shop from e-commerce sites such as Blue Terra that curate sustainable products in beauty and fashion for the eco-conscious.

You can also visit Goshopia, an e-commerce site that works with multiple designers and brands who embrace sustainability in their products. At their core, they believe in producing fashion that is ethically produced, slow (not mass-produced) and sustainable.

One of the brands mentioned above, BLSSD, has a pop-up store in the Mall of the Emirates. For all the brands mentioned, if it’s not available in a retail store, you can shop online at their respective websites. Luxury clothing sites such as Ounass also have several sustainable, handcrafted pieces in their range.

Generally, we would suggest looking for keywords such as “hand-crafted” or “cruelty-free” when buying makeup or clothes. The next time you’re shopping at one of the malls in Dubai, maybe try to seek out sustainable labels rather than the tempting bargains and discounts. Explore our guide to shopping in Dubai to plan your next shopping trip.

What is Circular Fashion and how is it related to this Sustainable fashion?

Circular Fashion refers to the phenomenon of keeping sustainability and ethical labour practices in mind during the entire life cycle of fashion pieces, right from the production to distribution. This is closely linked to the principles of sustainable development.

Even as a country, there are have been several sustainable initiatives taken by the UAE to reduce the carbon footprint. We can’t expect change to happen in a day, but taking small steps from our end to live a more sustainable life can definitely make a difference to our environment. Ask yourself the next time you’re on another fast-fashion site: how long is this trendy outfit going to last? Would it be just another outfit that needs trashing after one machine wash?

If we were all take small steps to slow down on consumerism and step up recycling it could make a huge difference to the health of our planet. Let’s get started!

If you’re a fashionista looking for brands in the UAE, check out our list of homegrown clothing brands in the UAE. You can also support local businesses by exploring these makeup and beauty brands from the UAE.

Stay updated on the UAE’s latest trends with MyBayut, the region’s favourite property and lifestyle blog!