Why Gen Z And Gen Alpha Are Not Afraid To Demand Sustainable Apparel

Gen-Z and Gen Alpha’s Sustainable Needs Are Not Trends

WOODYS EYEWEAR DESIGN AND STYLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLORADO- A fashion-forward desert-themed campaign featuring free-spirited individuals who embrace their unique style with exclusive designer eyewear. The collection's main emphasis lies in the use of unique color combinations and premium materials like Italian acetate, German hinges, titanium, and Carl Zeiss lenses. In addition, the brand prioritizes sustainability by incorporating recycled and eco-friendly materials in over 40% of its frames.

Our fashion editors independently select all product features on Style Lujo. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.

Gen-Z and Gen Alpha’s Sustainable Needs Are Not Trends:

The epitomic wardrobe for 2024 and beyond will be required to balance the contrasts called for by modern life: individuality versus adaptability, substance versus lightness, and sustainability versus harmful to the planet. For Spring-Summer 2024, Gen Z and Gen Alpha reflect upon the contemporary culture of dress codes in a quintessential proposal founded on eco-friendly products.

Anchored in everyday life– pragmatically and figuratively – the fusion of sustainable apparel and related industries contrasts with garments and accessories that are still being made today. 

This Spring to Summer explores new codes of green-washing. – from the non-toxic dying processes to packaging and shipping– reinvigorated in new eco-friendly manifestations. Rooted in reality but raised to a higher level, the new generations entering adulthood exercise wearing clothing as a badge of honor and simultaneously creating wardrobe pieces made to last. 

As both generations mature, it’s time to start recognizing their needs. 

As every generation approaches 30, an inevitable thing happens: people stop talking about that group as if they’re relevant. The idea that millions of humans who happen to be of a similar age and share the same habits and values starts to break down. Naturally, as people age, the core of their values for a cleaner planet will not change. 

There’ve been several headlines recently, including Gen Z’s and Gen Alpha’s romancing the thought of going off-grid. 

Where millennials and Gen-Zers diverge, though, is in the access to information. Gen-Z (and Alpha) are structurally more connected and active on platforms like TikTok, where they broadcast their feelings, insecurities, and political and social stances. 

The Modern generations want to have little in common with their traditional predecessors. Today’s sustainable and recycled apparel is available in a much more extensive range of colors and patterns; for another, it has become increasingly light in weight over time. New apparel offerings, in particular, are now made with advanced technology to be more adaptable to consumer needs. 

One way or another, the quality of the predominantly tech-savvy apparel and fabrications has become more important to consumers. As far as the new generations are concerned, there is just nothing better, and nothing could replace the apparel of the future. 

This newly developed product may be the dawn of a new era in apparel, from the object of the rebellious young to body care for the older. In short, this forthright product symbolizes liberty, adventure, and a new start. 

And, it is essential to point out that there have been magnetic changes in sportswear – so much so that the technology is powerful enough for regular use by a growing cohort of professional athletes and is equally well suited to people who work in offices who are more recreationally active, making it an everyday, lifestyle solution.

COS:

Images Courtesy of COS

COS LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIVA™ TO CREATE TRACEABLE REGENERATIVE WOOL CAPSULE

COS partners with NATIVA™, a pioneering provider of luxury Merino wool, to create a limited-edition capsule championing regenerative farming practices that aim to nurture positive change. Illustrating COS’ ongoing commitment to traceability and transparency, the collaboration supports NATIVA™’s dedication to cultivating balanced ecosystems. NATIVA™’s holistic approach to regenerative farming is tailored to the needs of each farm to enhance soil and water quality, increase CO2 capturing, and improve animal welfare, the empowerment of farmers and their local communities. “NATIVA™ is pioneering a new way of producing the world’s finest Merino wool. By supporting our farming partners through regenerative farming practices and instilling trust and traceability throughout the fashion supply chain with Blockchain, consumers can feel confident in the quality and strictest environmental standards when they see the NATIVA™ name,” said Nicolas Sapelli, NATIVA™ sourcing director. As the COS collections continue to explore regenerative approaches, NATIVA™’s traceable wool fibres come to life through softly tailored set-dressing and elevated essentials. Additionally, more sustainable materials are featured throughout COS’ knitwear collections, crafted from wool certified by both the Responsible Wool Standard and Responsible Mohair Standard, and recycled and repurposed wool. Enduring design, uncompromised quality, and meticulous craftsmanship is delivered throughout. The COS x NATIVA™ 8-piece regenerative wool capsule will be available in stores and online globally in January 2024. 

Juntos:

Lineup of all available Juntos shoes styles and colors. Courtesy of Juntos

Juntos.co

This item is the best sustainable item for men AND women in 2024 because for too long, the perception persisted that being environmentally friendly meant compromising on aesthetics and comfort, and navigating the landscape of eco-friendly fashion while ensuring stylish and comfortable choices has been a journey. Footwear brand Juntos is shattering this misconception and rewriting this narrative.

From the lush comfort of Hyacaya Alpaca fleece to the durable beauty of coconut fiber, banana tree fibers, and sugarcane, Juntos shoes are a testament to the fusion of nature’s finest elements with high fashion. They’ve transformed these raw materials into a harmonious blend of luxurious comfort and eco-chic aesthetics, resulting in shoes that are washable, lightweight, and odor-minimizing. Furthermore, their commitment extends beyond creating stylish footwear. For every purchase made, they ensure that a student in need in Ecuador receives an education backpack filled with school supplies, seamlessly weaving social responsibility into the fabric of the Juntos brand identity.

Doshi:

Our sustainable, partly biodegradable Kraft Paper wallet! Made from a unique envionmently-friendly kraft paper, that doesn’t break down when it get’s wet. It is ultra durable and scratch resistant. With YKK Excella zippers, the top-of-the-line zippers from YKK. RFID protection and PETA approved. 

Doshi is the best vegan brand for stylish people because we use different materials than other vegan companies. Our founder traveled all over the world to find the best possible materials, because he was fed up with buying vegan accessories and having them breaking and peeling after a short time of use. We started creating accessories out of Microfiber Vegan Leather, which is the highes grade of vegan leather available at the market today. 

The resulting material is generally extremely durable and often outperforms leather in a variety of tests. When considering the manufacturing process for animal leather, vegan leather is much more sustainable – especially when it comes from factories that minimize use of water and solvents. Factories making microfiber vegan leather often understand that this premium material is being chosen intentionally by high end brands. They are the most motivated amongst the material suppliers to offer quality products that are often also eco-friendly. Some factories are starting to offer materials that feature a recycled base material.

In recent years we started to shift more and more towards biodegradable and sustainable materials. To that end, we have started creating accessories out of Kraft Paper (such as this gorgeous wallet!), an ultra-durable paper which does not breakdown when wet. Kraft Paper is an under appreciated material that is lightweight, durable, and to large extent, biodegradable.  The core component of Kraft paper is cellulose. We also introduced cork, which we appreciate but are not completely in love with because cork materials do not stand on their own.  They require a backing which is often polyester. However, cork points us in the right direction, moving towards plant based materials.  Many people have asked us about using materials such as apple leather and most recently, cactus leather.  Both of these materials are similar to cork in that the base material is largely polyester, cotton, or a poly-cotton blend.  When this is the case, we often believe that it is only marginally beneficial to use these materials. To call any of these materials, cork, apple or cactus leather as such is misleading in that these materials make up, in our estimation, less than 10% of the actual material. While we appreciate the efforts, we believe that to truly be considered a vegan leather, the material should do more than add a top coating or top layer to a mostly standard material.

Perhaps the most exciting and well known material that we have recently added is Pinatex. We have started production with Pinatex (derived from waste pineapple fiber) in 2021. Pinatex is most of what we are looking for in a material. It is up to 80% biodegradable and starts off as plant waste from pineapple harvests in the Philippines. The company making this material, aims to make it 100% biodegradable over time. Our only issue with this material is price.  It is an expensive material, 3 to 4 times more expensive than our high end microfiber leather and 30 to 40 times more expensive than ordinary PU (low end imitation leather).

Woodys Eyewear:

Woodys SS24 collection focuses on color and quality

WOODYS EYEWEAR

DESIGN AND STYLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLORADO– A fashion-forward desert-themed campaign featuring free-spirited individuals who embrace their unique style with exclusive designer eyewear. The collection’s main emphasis lies in the use of unique color combinations and premium materials like Italian acetate, German hinges, titanium, and Carl Zeiss lenses. In addition, the brand prioritizes sustainability by incorporating recycled and eco-friendly materials in over 40% of its frames.

For this spring-summer Woodys brings us a new launch with 42 models and a total of 189 references. New frames that follow the essence and identity of the brand and build a solid and unique collection that stands out for its unique color combinations worked harmoniously.

One of the novelties of this new collection are the half-moon glasses. Woodys enters the world of readers with two models with the unique personality of the brand, thus redefining the standards of these styles in the world of optics.

Materials such as recycled acetate and bioacetate are increasingly present in the frames, representing more than 40% of the collection. Woodys is clear that it must continue to innovate in terms of sustainability. The improvement of their processes and the use of biodegradable, recycled and environmentally friendly materials are part of their strategy to continue creating a better future.

@woodyseyewear

Goodwipes:


Goodwipes Shea Coco Flushable Wipes ($6.19) – Our resealable flushable wipes are perfect for any time of day, that time of the month, noon and night, 365 days out of the year. So much better than dry, scratchy toilet paper, our hypoallergenic wipes are gently-cleansing, perfectly moisturized, super-soft and made with plant-based fibers and natural ingredients that leave you feeling clean, comfortable, confident and refreshed – never sticky, soapy or itchy. 

Y/Project:

A full collection of carry-over and essential pieces with minimal environmental impact.

Fashion with a sustainable future since 2020.

Y/Project’s latest collaboration with Arianee and Neyret, which introduces Digital Product Passports for its SS24 denim Evergreen items: a core offering that prioritises low-impact materials, ethical manufacturing and sustainable practices.  This is a bold move, considering that the DPP regulation is set to take effect by 2027 only, making Y/Project one of the first names in fashion to adapt to a changing industry, and to underline its commitment to circularity, enhancing customer knowledge at a scale previously unexplored.  The Passport is an important tool that connects fashion and technology, as it provides comprehensive information on each item; so clients will not only own a physical object, but they will also gain access to: unique ownership and proof of originality, a tamper-resistant record of items’ lifecycle, transparency from raw materials to finished product, facilitated resale, exclusive invitations and offers from Y/Project.

Y/PROJECT prioritizes sustainable and ethical practices.
Y/PROJECT aims to have a positive impact on both people and the planet.
Eco-conscious / Committed to reducing chemicals and waste while preserving resources.
Responsible / Prioritizing low-impact materials, treatments, and trims.
Long-lasting / Designs to outlive trends and last for years.

Timeless / Comprised of versatile garments and forever staples to create unique looks.

Available at yproject.fr.

KZ_K:

PONTI REVERSIBLE T-SHIRT

KZ_K StudioFounded in 2009 by Polish-born fashion designer, Karolina Zmarlak. Efficiency and versatility are guiding principles, minimizing excess and maximizing utility. The KZ_K design discipline is undergirded by multi-functionality: technically and precisely developed for the convertibility or full reversibility of collection pieces. KZ_K Studio focuses on responsible manufacturing, client relationships and mindful wardrobes that minimize ornamentation, bypass trends, and are constructed for a lifetime of use.


Save Article

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our latest news, posts and products.