This month’s World Environment Day highlights the urgent need to adopt more sustainable practices in fashion, something that many of Sloane Street’s brands are actively pursuing, as they take meaningful steps towards more sustainable practices within their supply chains, from sourcing and production to distribution, marketing and consumption. 

While many of us are pretty savvy about the day-to-day ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint, when it comes to fashion, things can get a bit confusing. The fact remains that the fashion industry has a long way to go to reduce the impact it has on the planet, with alarming statistics driven by the steady consumption of fast fashion and the use of synthetic textiles, and their effect on the planet, people and nature. 

But we can use our power as shoppers to influence the direction of the industry. Start by supporting the sustainability efforts of brands and get involved in conversations with sales staff, asking for more sustainable options. Get informed about the provenance of clothing and research the ethical and sustainable practices of brands, and buy less by shopping for quality over quantity, then make sure to keep it in top condition.  

When you’re out shopping for the new season on Sloane Street, these are the items hand-selected in partnership with Andrea Cheong for their sustainability and potential for longevity. 

Sparkling from its spot on the corner of Sloane Street and the Square, Tiffany & Co. is not only one of the world’s most iconic jewellery houses but an important voice for responsible gem sourcing. 

Since 2006, the brand has been a founding member of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, which aims to transform the mining industry by certifying and auditing mines to an internationally recognised standard. Back in the 2000s, Tiffany & Co. campaigned for its native United States to participate in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme – a United Nations-backed initiative that helps to prevent the trade of rough diamonds from conflict zones. These days, it goes beyond the Scheme’s basic requirements by avoiding stone-sourcing from any region where there are concerns about human rights. 

In 2020, the house committed to a more sustainable future by launching a five-year roadmap, as well as a Diamond Craft Journey initiative that offers customers full details on the provenance of newly sourced, individually registered diamonds over .18 carats.

Perfect for:

traceability enthusiasts

Andrea’s pick:

Tiffany Solitaire diamond stud earrings in platinum

Like all Tiffany & Co.’s diamonds, the stunning round-brilliant stones in these studs have been sourced from a known mine, or from a supplier with a limited number of known mines. There are few things as enduring as a pair of diamond earrings, so with the right care, this pair will stay with you for a lifetime. Oh, and that iconic Tiffany-blue presentation box? It’s made from recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials – a great titbit to tell your loved one if this is a gift. 

Tiffany & Co., 145 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AY

For more than a decade, Anya Hindmarch has paved the way for a more conscious fashion industry through her philanthropy and anti single-use-bag initiatives. In 2007, she created canvas totes printed with ‘I’m NOT A Plastic Bag’. Accessible to almost everyone at just £5 each, they were a global hit (Vanity Fair even included them in their famed Academy Awards party goodie bags), and raised awareness of reusable alternatives. 15 years later, Anya continues to innovate with her ‘I Am A Plastic Bag’ tote, which is made from 32 half-litre recycled plastic bottles that are reprocessed into a canvas-like material – genius. 

Perfect for:

the environmentally conscious

Andrea’s pick:

Return to Nature tote bag

Circularity can take some understanding, but the concept (which means that materials are kept in use for as long as possible, before being safely returned to nature without polluting) is beautifully demonstrated in this tote. It’s designed with chrome-, heavy metal- and aldehyde-free leather, and doesn’t feature any metal hardware to ensure that once you’ve finished using it, the whole thing can easily be composted and will biodegrade over time.

Anya Hindmarch, 157-158 Sloane Street, SW1X 9AB

Disappointed by the conditions she witnessed on a visit to a Sri-Lankan gemstone mine, Anabela Chan set out to create a revolution in the fine jewellery world and became one of the first brands to use entirely lab-grown, created or recycled stones in her designs. The wonderful thing about lab-grown gemstones is that, in some cases, they can be even more durable and have slightly lower price tags than their organic counterparts. 

Understanding that sustainability is about people as well as the planet, Anabela Chan is also a champion of female empowerment, and donates proceeds from special collections to Women for Women International, a charity that offers skills training and resources to women who’ve experienced conflict. 

Perfect for:

future-focused jewellery lovers

Andrea’s picks:

Pink Ribbon Twirl earrings

These beautiful earrings are crafted with shimmering pink sapphires that are, of course, laboratory-grown, and have been selected with the utmost care and attention to the brilliance, colour, clarity, hardness and durability of each one. But that’s not all – the rose-coloured recycled aluminium, used in the structure of each piece, is made by refining soda cans. What a lovely thing to tell friends when they inevitably compliment your new jewels. 

Anabela Chan, 35B Sloane Street, SW1X 9LP

As one of the most luxurious independent brands in the world (and longtime Sloane Street resident), Hermès understands that it has significant power to shape the future of high fashion. The house has committed to enhancing education and maintaining skilled jobs in its native France (where an impressive 78 per cent of its products are made), creating new jobs across the country and opening training schools for each of its métiers, such as leatherworking and watchmaking. 

Hermès has implemented best practices for animal welfare across its supply chains and put a range of measures in place to improve circularity. As such, in 2022, 100 per cent of its unsold items in France will be donated or recycled, and the house continues to offer repairs on all of its products, ensuring you’ll be able to cherish your purchase long into the future. 

Perfect for:

craftsmanship aficionados

Andrea’s pick:

Petit H reversible cape

Any buy from Hermès feels incredibly special, but this cape is even more so because no two are alike. It’s from the house’s ‘Petit H’ line, which features products made with unused materials and off-cuts from production – another key part of its circularity strategy. Crafted in France, the cape is exceptionally soft cashmere on one side and printed silk-twill on the other, though the exact colours and patterns remain a surprise. 

Hermès, 1 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9PX

Prada’s Re-Nylon line replaces the house’s iconic nylon collection (that uses virgin polyamide) with products made from regenerated ECONYL®. The fabric can be recycled again and again without losing its textile integrity, thus enhancing its circular credentials. What’s more, proceeds from the Re-Nylon collection go towards the house’s ‘Sea Beyond’ educational initiative, which partners with Unesco to raise awareness of ocean preservation. 

And the brand has gone further than this, implementing change from the inside out by switching to renewable energy from solar, wind, hydroelectric or geothermal sources in its head office, retail spaces and distribution centres back in 2017. 

Perfect for:

high-fashion collectors and radical recyclers

Andrea’s picks:

Raffia bucket hat

There are two kinds of raffia – synthetic (created from man-made fibres such as polyamide) and natural (made from dried palm leaves). Happily, Prada’s bucket hat is woven with the latter, as well as straw. Since both are undyed, organic materials, they are easily biodegradable. Caring for your clothes and accessories to make them last is a really important aspect of sustainability, so be sure to store this in a hat box to protect the shape and materials over time.

Celeste Re-Nylon cropped jacket

No virgin (newly produced) nylon was used in the making of this Celeste jacket since it’s cut from regenerated ECONYL® as part of the brand’s Re-Nylon line. It’s such a practical piece that you’ll likely keep it forever, but if you don’t, you can rest happily in the knowledge that the material can be reused in the textile industry. 

Prada, 43-45 Sloane Street, SW1X 9LU