Hi friend! I’m sure you’re aware that May is Asian/Pacific American Islander Heritage Month. So, I am excited to share a list of 10 AAPI-owned sustainable brands to support this month and beyond. With the rise in violence and hate crimes against AAPI communities, your support is more important than ever. While shopping at these brands is not the solution to every problem, I am a firm believer that where you spend your dollar matters.
It is definitely a privilege to be a conscious consumer, but if you have the means to do so it really makes a difference. All of these companies have a commitment to sustainable and ethical business practices – you can read more about them in detail on their websites. You’ll find a little bit of everything on this list: beauty, home products, and fashion. So let’s get into it!
Cocokind
Cocokind is the best. They have clean, affordable, and effective skincare products available at Target and on their website. The next product on my list to try is their SPF! One thing I love is that they added sustainability stats to their packaging so you can be a more conscious consumer. We love to see transparency.
Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe founders Sarah and Christine were sheet masking over a glass of wine when they first got the idea for the brand. The company is cruelty-free, uses clean ingredients, responsible sourcing, and eco-conscious packaging. They also have a goal to be carbon neutral by 2022. They also recently partnered with TerraCycle to create a no-waste recycling program!
Blueland
Blueland’s mission is to make it easy for people to be more eco-friendly in their homes. According to the website, their products have helped eliminate over 1 billion single-use plastics from landfills and oceans since 2019. The process is pretty simple: you buy the bottle once and refill it forever. You can purchase tablets that you add to water in the bottle and boom! You’re ready to clean. Check out the starter kits to get started on your zero-waste cleaning routine.
Candid Clothing
Philippines-based Candid Clothing makes ethical fashion easy. Unlike fast fashion brands, they work directly with skilled garment workers to provide training, flex schedules, and fair wages. They use deadstock fabric and upcycle accessories from fabric scraps and are always plastic-free. I can get down with that.
Meow Meow Tweet
Meow Meow Tweet creates vegan, low-waste handmade personal care products. My personal favorite is the everyday sunscreen, which I use every day. It comes in an aluminum bottle with a plastic pump. When you finish the bottle, you can recycle the aluminum and save the pump for your refill. Full disclosure: I have pretty fair skin so it doesn’t leave much of a white tint on my face, but I think it might on deeper skin tones.
A Day
A Day is doing more with less by carrying seasonless apparel perfect for your capsule wardrobe needs. Think simple but elevated styles that will pair with anything you already own. But trust me, the clothes are anything but basic. A Day is also super transparent about their sustainability practices – you can read their “Optimist Report” here.
Rue Saint Paul
Brooklyn-based Rue Saint Paul has an interesting business model that I would love to see other retailers implement. It is a sustainable fashion collective embracing a circular model of business. For the ones who love to shop small: Rue Saint Paul’s mission is to connect small sustainable designers to consumers. They have a selection of new, pre-loved, and rental items.
SiiZU
SiiZU offers beautiful and sustainable apparel and accessories at an affordable price point. I’m a big fan of this gold floral bracelet and this handbag. It’s fun and polished at the same time. SiiZU is committed to ethical production – check out the blog to learn more about the factories they partner with.
Esse the Label
Esse the Label embraces a seasonless slow fashion model with the wearer in mind. They carry classic well-made pieces that will last for years, unlike the poorly-made trendy clothing we are used to seeing season after season. Styles are launched in small capsules instead of huge collections to promote slow and mindful consumption. They also use sustainable fabrics and eco-conscious packaging. Love!
All the Wild Roses
All the Wild Roses is a certified B Corp fashion brand that creates timeless boho feminine clothing. The company is carbon neutral and has plastic-free worldwide shipping. Up to 90% of their designs are made from upcycled fabrics and about 20% are made of vintage fabric. There is also a made to order option if you’re into that.
And that’s all for now on 10 AAPI-owned sustainable brands to support during AAPI heritage month. Please consider supporting one of these brands this month and always. This is not an exhaustive list, so if I missed your favorite AAPI-owned brand please let me know in the comments – I would love to add it to the list!
P.S. If you liked this list, I have a feeling you’ll like my list of sustainable and ethical Black-owned brands to support.
Thanks for reading!
Kyndal
Follow along!