Sustainable September: Monika The Label

Fashion : Love

07 September 2020

We don't need to hark on about why we should all be thinking more sustainably – there's enough news about the climate crisis to clearly tell us that – but even for the best of us, we still need a nudge in the environmentally friendly direction to make the changes that'll better our planet.

In this day and age, a reusable coffee cup is no longer your get-out-of-jail-free-card for acting sustainably in other areas of your life. Now more than ever, we need to be putting our green thinking caps on and addressing how we can buy more sustainably with the clothes we wear, the beauty we put on our skin and the ornaments we place in our homes. So, this September, we're doing exactly that.

Our new 'Sustainable September' series will be highlighting the best sustainably-minded products and brands that range over fashion, beauty and homeware, everyday throughout the month, showing that there are earth-affable options that you can opt for. Today, we're looking at up and coming sustainable fashion brand, Monika The Label, who have pounced onto the scene with a collection of vintage inspired silhouettes and contemporary prints.

Wild at heart but slow for fashion? Look no further.

Discovering a new brand that encompasses sustainability with a cool edge hasn't always been a simple task. But today, we're welcoming Monika the Label onto our sustainability soapbox, as the ones-to-watch brand that's eco-conscious as well as cute.

Inspired by all things 70’s, Monika Young, founder of the eponymous brand, wanted to fuse her love of cali-cool with the East London grunge scene. While working as a buyer in Berlin, Monika saw first hand how fast fashion brands were having a catastrophic impact on the planet, and no longer wanted to be a part of the problem. As a result, Monika The Label breathes new life into the fashion sphere, by using local manufacturing, eco friendly fabrics and recyclable packaging.

Looking at inspiration points close to Monika's heart, their latest collection is a modern reinvention of vintage prints. Take the Camille Animal Print Slip Dress; this silky maxi dress’ print was inspired by a vintage scarf that Monika found at a Berlin flea market. As well as ticking our boxes in the design department, their sustainable materials and production processes are equally as pleasing. Most of the pieces are made from Regenesis Light Satin, a OEKTO TEX-certified material made from recycled plastic bottles. And those gorgeous print designs; they are all done digitally, using Azo dye-free inks that are water-based and non-toxic. Digital textile printing has a well earned reputation as the eco-friendlier of the printing processes, with a reduced amount of waste produced, and less use of chemicals and water than traditional methods. It’s win-win if you ask us!

Monika The Label doesn't stop there, by manufacturing designs locally (in North London to be exact) they are able to pay and treat workers fairly proving that “good vibes only go into our clothes” - a motto we can definitely get behind. By working locally this enables the brand to lower their carbon emissions and help support British businesses. If their sustainability hasn’t already pulled you in, their 70’s boho influenced designs certainly will. Milkmaid silhouettes, slip skirts and dresses are combined with modern prints; producing stylish pieces that you’ll not want to miss out on. A truly guilt free affair.