The Rise of Recycled Fashion Brands: Style with a Conscience

In today’s fashion world, looking good isn’t enough. Consumers are becoming more conscious about where their clothes come from, how they’re made, and—critically—what impact they have on the planet. Enter recycled fashion brands: a rapidly growing sector that fuses sustainable materials with modern aesthetics. Whether you're buying a designer jacket crafted from post-consumer waste or sneakers made from recycled plastic bottles, fashion is being reinvented for a better future.

At Tellar.co.uk, we believe the future of fashion should be smart in every sense—style, sizing, and sustainability. In this post, we break down the best recycled fashion brands, how the industry is evolving, and how you can shop consciously without sacrificing fit or flair.

Why Recycled Fashion Matters

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, over 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated each year. Most of it ends up in landfills or incinerators. Meanwhile, water, oil, and energy are used in vast quantities to produce virgin materials like cotton, polyester, and nylon.

Recycled fashion offers an alternative—repurposing waste into new, wearable garments. These brands collect plastic bottles, fishing nets, old clothes, and fabric scraps and turn them into high-quality, fashionable pieces. The result? A circular economy where clothing has a second (or third) life.

Top Recycled Fashion Brands Leading the Charge

1. Stella McCartney

One of the pioneers of sustainable luxury fashion, Stella McCartney has been incorporating recycled materials into her collections for over a decade. From recycled polyester trench coats to Eco Alter Nappa faux leather, the brand continues to set the standard for combining ethics with elegance.

"We prove you don't need to sacrifice style to be sustainable." – Stella McCartney

2. Girlfriend Collective

This US-based activewear brand is known for its flattering leggings and bras made from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets. Their compressive fabrics are durable, stretchy, and available in inclusive sizing—a rare trifecta in sustainable fashion.

Explore their range: www.girlfriend.com

3. Pangaia

A science-meets-style brand, Pangaia creates streetwear using cutting-edge eco innovations. Think T-shirts made from seaweed fibres or recycled cotton tracksuits dyed with botanical pigments. Their clothes come with an explanation of the science behind each piece, encouraging consumer awareness.

4. Reformation

Reformation is beloved for its cool-girl dresses, but behind the scenes, it’s pioneering recycled textiles. The brand uses deadstock, recycled viscose, and regenerated nylon. Their website includes a breakdown of each product’s environmental footprint.

“Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2.” – Reformation

Website: www.thereformation.com

5. Ecoalf

Founded in Spain, Ecoalf is built entirely on the principle of recycling. Their slogan “Because there is no planet B” speaks volumes. They use ocean plastics, used tyres, and post-industrial cotton waste to create high-performance outerwear and streetwear.

The UK’s Role in Recycled Fashion

Britain is home to a growing number of labels leading the charge.

Rapanui (Isle of Wight): Clothing made from organic and recycled materials, designed to be sent back and remade.
Finisterre (Cornwall): Surf and outdoor gear made from recycled polyester, wool, and yarn blends.
People Tree: Though mostly known for organic cotton, the brand also integrates recycled fibres in its eco-collections.

And of course, you can find your perfect fit in all these brands using Tellar.co.uk. We help you match your exact measurements to over 1,500 brands, including recycled and ethical fashion labels, so you never have to second-guess your size again.

How to Shop Recycled Fashion Smartly

Even with good intentions, shopping sustainably can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to make it easier:

✅ Look for certification

Look for GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), GRS (Global Recycled Standard), or OEKO-TEX labels to verify the recycled content of fabrics.

✅ Check the full lifecycle

Some brands use recycled materials but still use excessive packaging or unethical production. Opt for brands that close the loop—those that encourage returns, repairs, or resale.

✅ Know your measurements

Fit issues are the number one cause of returns. With recycled clothing, especially limited-run collections, returns can increase waste. Avoid that by measuring properly—and we’ve got the tools for that.

How Tellar.co.uk Supports Sustainable Sizing

At Tellar.co.uk, we make sizing smarter—especially for conscious shoppers. By inputting your chest, waist and hip measurements (in inches or CM), we match you to your best fit in over 1,500 brands, many of which are at the forefront of recycled fashion.

Our tools include:

✅ Real-time brand size lookup
✅ Support for both high street and luxury brands
✅ Unit switch between CM and Inches
✅ Free printable measuring tape (Download here)
✅ One-time profile creation—no need to keep re-entering measurements

Whether you're buying from Reformation or Rapanui, get the right fit the first time.

The Benefits of Choosing Recycled Fashion

Benefit	Why It Matters
Reduced Waste	Keeps fabric and plastic waste out of landfills and oceans
Lower Carbon Footprint	Producing recycled fibres uses less energy than virgin materials
Supports Innovation	Encourages new fabric tech like closed-loop and bio-fibres
Ethical Brand Support	Most recycled brands also ensure fair wages and working conditions

When you combine conscious production with perfect-fit tools like Tellar.co.uk, you're not just shopping—you’re making a difference.

Call to Action: Try Tellar Today

You don’t have to choose between sustainability and convenience. With Tellar.co.uk, you can shop smarter:

👉 Find your exact size in over 1,500 brands

👉 Save time, money and reduce returns

👉 It’s Free & Easy

Get started here: https://www.tellar.co.uk/create-profile/

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Final Thought

The fashion industry is evolving—and so are the tools we use to shop it. Recycled fashion is not just a trend; it's a necessary shift towards circularity, responsibility, and innovation. When paired with intelligent sizing platforms like Tellar.co.uk, the future of fashion becomes not only sustainable but perfectly fitted for you.