Skip to main content

When shopping for sustainable wholesale clothing, you’re ideally looking for a company passionate about the environment and the world of fashion. Combine the two, and you’re presented with Lufema. As a leading women’s sustainable wholesale company with over 40 years of industry experience, our team of professionals offer a premium wholesale service supplying Australia and New Zealand with quality women’s boutique brands. But first, what’s sustainable clothing and what are the benefits of shopping for environmentally conscious fashion? Let’s find out.

Understanding sustainable clothing

Before we dive into sustainable clothing, did you know that fashion is one of the world’s largest industries? However, it’s also one of the biggest polluters. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the planet’s carbon emissions each year. A recent study suggested that fast fashion emits 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year, more than air travel and shipping combined. In fact, one garbage truck of clothing is burned or landfilled every second. That’s enough to fill Sydney Harbour every year!

Considering the percentage of production and distribution of the crops, fibres, and garments used in fashion contributes to various forms of environmental pollution — including water, air, and soil — it’s not hard to see why sustainable clothing is a preferable option.

Sustainable fashion is clothing produced with a focus on being environmentally friendly. Many sustainable clothing brands focus on being ethical as well. While sustainable fashion has grown in popularity over the past few years, it still has a long way to go to be anywhere near as popular and on-trend as fast fashion. The main struggle many sustainable clothing brands and sustainable fashion wholesale companies deal with is the competing prices of fast fashion, despite sustainable clothing being of higher quality.

The difference between fast fashion and sustainable fashion

The main difference in fast vs. sustainable fashion is the amount of waste that each fashion category produces. By producing less waste, sustainable fashion leads to less water pollution and fewer carbon emissions during the clothing production process.

Unlike fast fashion, sustainable fashion focuses more on ethics and the environment. They promote healthier work environments by taking extra measures to ensure safety and provide livable wages. Fast fashion is produced at a massive scale and at an extremely rapid pace. This means the clothing is of poor quality, while also having a disproportionate effect on the environment and livelihoods of workers. This spans their working hours, pay rate and potentially means they’re required to work in unsafe environments. So by purchasing Australian sustainable clothing, you can make a difference not only to the environment but to the lives of many.

Now, you may be wondering, “Are sustainable clothes really sustainable?”. Well, the truth is that sustainable fashion is a viable alternative to fast fashion and leaves a much smaller carbon footprint. It also combats the ethical consequences of fast fashion, working to provide fair and safe working conditions.

Ethical fashion

Ethical fashion is the design, production, and distribution that focuses on reducing harm to workers and the planet. It’s intended to benefit those working along the supply chain and creates a better future for everyone. In essence, ethical fashion seeks to answer questions like “Who made this garment?” and “Is that person earning a fair living wage?” By its nature, it’s bound up in creating more sustainable fashion.

How to start a sustainable clothing line

If you are thinking about starting your own sustainable fashion line, then a few key points need to be considered. Creating fashion that is slow, good for the environment, and ethically produced is highly valued by people who care about where their clothing comes from.

Make sure you define your target audience and start designing around what they want to wear. Locate a manufacturer or wholesaler supplier who is a reputable sustainable clothing supplier. Do your research and source your materials, remembering how certain fabrics can impact the environment. Create samples and determine your price. Then the fun begins. Marketing your brand and getting your name out there takes time. Still, with patience, you’ll soon have an audience who are loyal advocates and love your passion for improving the environment through sustainable clothing.

Where to buy sustainable clothing

Here at Lufema, we have a selection of sustainable Australian clothing brands for you to choose from, including ethically non-mass produced clothing made from biodegradable materials. Here are our most popular:

  1. M Made In Italy

    Considered as slow and sustainable fashion, M Made In Italy showcases classic designs that won’t go out of style. Their collection is all about ensuring ultimate comfort with soft fabrics and loose fits that are sleek and versatile to be worn in the office and out with friends. From elegant black pantsuits to contemporary olive harem pants with eye-catching patches of vibrant orange prints, these outfits are making heads turn in the fashion world.

  2. Gretty Zueger

    Using natural fibres such as silk and Pima cotton, Gretty Zueger encompasses sustainable, biodegradable fashion. As a natural renewable resource, silk is biodegradable and uses less water, chemicals, and energy than many other fibres. As for Pima cotton, it’s considered the silk of South America with its naturally long fibres. A beautiful and breathable fabric, Pima cotton is fashionable, comfortable and hypoallergenic for everyday wear. You could even try their Peruvian Pima cotton sustainable t-shirts wholesale range, which exudes elegance, quality and style. By using these fabrics, polyester is out of the picture.

  3. Adine Undone

    For ethical, non-mass produced clothing, Adine Undone is another of our premium sustainable wholesale brands with edgy and alternative fashion. Everything is ethically sourced and made, and Adine is heavily involved in every aspect of the process, working closely with her team in Bali to create high-quality, non-mass produced clothing that is on-trend and effortlessly sensual.

Stock your boutique with sustainable fashion wholesaler Lufema

If you’re looking to stock some of the best international women’s sustainable clothing brands in your boutique, we would love to be your go-to wholesale supplier. To stock your boutique with Lufema sustainable Australian clothing brands, simply log in to your account or create a new account with us today. To see our pricing, create a wholesale account online or reach out to our team. We even offer flexible payment terms, special delivery dates and exclusive offers, so don’t miss out.