One of my favorite places to shop for clothing is Madewell. I love the neutral color palate they go for and how there are many conveniently located stores in the city.

Something I realized from the very beginning is how dedicated Madewell is to reducing their carbon footprint. There are always posters in their stores recommending customers to trade in their used denim and jeans. You can also buy used denim on their online store where they recently launched a resale program called Madewell Forever. I also feel confident buying new jeans from them because they partner with Fair Trade USA, so I know the denim is sustainably sourced.

On Madewell’s website, they share yearly reports on how and what they did. In their 2021 report, which is 44 pages long, they share how they were named “Corporate Equality Index- Top Place to Work” by the Human Rights Campaign for their third year in a row. In this same report, they also boast their upcycled partnerships, where they help keep the excess fabric in use. These long, detailed reports demonstrate their transparency with not only their employees but their customers!

I don’t feel as guilty shopping at Madewell as I would at other mainstream fashion stores, such as Shien or H&M. They focus on better-quality, longer-lasting clothing, with lower prices than their sister brand, J-Crew. Of course, Madewell still has a long way of improvement to go, and they acknowledge that. In their 2021 report, they share how they want to have 100% sustainable packaging by 2025. They also pledged to go carbon neutral by 2030.

If I was able to make a recommendation in their goal to reduce their footprint and have a more sustainable business, I’d tell them to stop using wool, leather, and animal hair in their accessories and designs. Leather and the toxins used for tanning cause extensive pollution. I don’t think it’s necessary to use animal skins and hair in this day and age when businesses have access to lots of naturally grown resources.

Overall, Madewell focuses on reducing its carbon footprint and helping customers have access to more sustainable fashion while also staying trendy and relevant.