BRONZE WINNER: Abysse
Location: French Polynesia (Tahiti) & California, USA
Focus: High-Performance Ecoprene & Circular Swimwear
Website: https://abysseofficial.com/
For Abysse, the ocean is a sacred office, not just a backdrop. While the fashion world often treats “sustainability” as a trend, this mother-daughter duo treats it as a requirement for survival. They have pioneered the use of Yamamoto Japanese Ecoprene, a limestone-based neoprene that replaces toxic petrochemicals with earth-mined minerals and food-grade canola oil. Unlike standard petroleum-based suits, Abysse wetsuits boast 10 times the longevity, proving that durability is the ultimate form of waste reduction.
Every stitch of their swimwear is crafted from 100% recycled polyester and nylon (GRS certified), lined with the same recycled fibers to ensure total material unity. Their commitment to a “closed-loop” exists from the water to the warehouse: they use algae ink for printing, compostable corn-starch polybags, and have committed to diverting 24,000 lbs of plastic waste from the ocean through their partnership with CleanHub.
Standout Innovation: Successfully replaced petroleum in wetsuit production with a limestone and canola oil-based “Ecoprene,” powered by hydroelectric energy, creating a technical garment that lasts a decade longer than conventional alternatives.
Quote from Abysse:
“At Abysse, the ocean isn’t just our inspiration, it’s our home. Protecting it is at the heart of everything we do. Through plastic credits, we’re helping to remove waste from at-risk communities before it reaches the sea. But this is just the beginning.”
-Team Abysse
About Abysse: Born on a tiny island in Tahiti, Abysse was founded in 2015 by Hanalei Reponty-Gudauskas and her mother, Raphaele. Raised in the salt water of French Polynesia, Hanalei transitioned from a professional surfer and model to a “conscious manufacturer” to fix a glaring problem: the very gear surfers use to enjoy the ocean was often damaging it. Today, Abysse is a family-run collective dedicated to “producing less, but producing well,” empowering women to reach their peak performance while protecting their aquatic home.
Commendable Fashion Brands
Sproot Baby
Location: London, United Kingdom
Focus: Circular Babywear & Organic Cotton Essentials
Website: https://sprootbaby.com/
Sproot Baby is tackling the “fast-growth” waste crisis in the children’s fashion industry by ensuring baby clothes never see a landfill. Their business model is built on a high-quality foundation of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, designed for durability and sensitive skin. What sets them apart is their “Join the Loop” initiative: every order arrives in a reusable bag designed to be sent back once the baby outgrows the clothes. Sproot accepts babywear from any brand in any condition, providing a £5 credit to parents while reselling, donating, or upcycling the garments into new products, effectively closing the loop on textile waste.
Standout Achievement: Successfully launched a fully circular “Send-Back” program that rewards parents for recycling, backed by a 4.8-star Trustpilot rating for their innovative pre-loved bundles.
Silver Sea Apparel
Location: Canton, Massachusetts, USA
Focus: Toxin-Free Activewear & Bio-Based Performance
Website: https://silverseaapparel.com/
Silver Sea Apparel is dismantling the “toxic relationship” most athletes have with their workout gear. While 80% of the activewear market relies on petroleum-derived synthetics, Silver Sea, founded by fashion retail veteran Nicole Foy, offers a radical alternative: a 100% plastic-free and toxin-free wardrobe. By swapping out polyester and nylon for TENCEL™ Lyocell and pioneering the use of bio-based spandex in the U.S. market, the brand eliminates exposure to endocrine disruptors like BPA and “forever chemicals” (PFAS). Every garment is third-party tested and manufactured in the USA, proving that high-performance athletic wear can be built on a foundation of human health and carbon-neutral goals rather than petrochemicals.
They became the first U.S. activewear brand to integrate regen bio-based spandex, providing a plant-based stretch that remains entirely free of plastic and harmful synthetic coatings.
Burgeon Outdoor
Location: Lincoln, New Hampshire
Focus: Small-Batch Alpine Performance & Community Reinvestment
Website: https://www.burgeonoutdoor.com/
Burgeon Outdoor is redefining the outdoor industry by proving that high-performance technical gear should be made in the very mountains that inspire its use. Operating a transparent studio in the heart of the White Mountains, they utilize low-impact materials like Tencel, organic cotton, and recycled polyester to craft gear tested on the rugged peaks of New Hampshire. By rejecting the traditional offshore manufacturing model, they minimize transport emissions and champion a “made by hand” philosophy that prioritizes quality over volume. Their impact is direct and tangible: they have adopted 10 miles of local trails for maintenance and donated to essential regional organizations like Lakes Region Search and Rescue and the Appalachian Mountain Club. They operate a radical circular-economic model where 5% of every sale is donated to local mountain communities and an additional 5% is funneled into a staff bonus pool, ensuring the prosperity of the people who make and use their gear.
TomboyX
Location: Seattle, Washington
Focus: Gender-Neutral Essentials & Inclusive Bio-Textiles
Website: https://tomboyx.com/
TomboyX is redefining the “human” element of sustainability by proving that environmental ethics and radical inclusivity are inseparable. As a Certified B Corp, they utilize premium, long-lasting eco-fabrics, including Tencel™ Modal and OEKO-TEX® certified cotton, to create essentials that outlast the fast-fashion cycle. Their design philosophy focuses on “quality, fit, and function,” utilizing a woman-owned factory and rigorous fit-testing to ensure their garments provide all-day comfort without compromise. By prioritizing high-quality, sustainable materials that maintain their integrity wash after wash, TomboyX reduces textile waste while serving a diverse community often ignored by the mainstream market. The’ve successfully bridged the gap between sustainability and inclusivity with a size-agnostic range (3XS to 6X) and pioneered gender-affirming product lines made from safer, eco-conscious alternatives to conventional materials.
Krimson Klover
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Focus: Slow Fashion Knitwear & Artisan Alpaca Apparel
Website: https://krimsonklover.com/
Krimson Klover is a pioneer in the “Slow Fashion” movement, treating apparel as a lifelong investment rather than a seasonal trend. Their standout collection features sweaters hand-loomed by Peruvian artisans using ethically sourced baby alpaca, a fiber that is naturally renewable, biodegradable, and incredibly durable. Beyond knitwear, the brand has successfully transitioned to a 100% PFAS-free production line as of 2025, ensuring their high-performance ski and base layers are free from “forever chemicals.” By utilizing Oeko-Tex® certified fabrics and recycled polyester made from diverted plastic bottles, they turn environmental waste into high-end wearable art that respects both the artisan and the athlete.
Tomorrow’s Laundry
Location: Los Angeles, California
Focus: Luxury Wardrobe Staples & High-Density Construction
Website: https://tomorrowslaundry.com/
Tomorrow’s Laundry is built on the philosophy that the most sustainable garment is the one you never have to replace. Rejecting the “disposable” nature of fast fashion, they utilize hand-selected Peruvian cotton, prized for its softness and low environmental footprint and process every fabric to be 100% pre-shrunk. Their garments feature higher stitch counts and reinforced seams specifically engineered to retain their shape and fit after hundreds of machine washes. By focusing on “easy-care” luxury that is hard to destroy, they effectively divert clothing from landfills while encouraging a “wear, wash, repeat” lifecycle.
Standout Achievement: Established a circular-focused “Essentials Club” that rewards long-term ownership with a 25% sitewide discount, moving the customer focus away from constant novelty and toward a permanent, durable wardrobe.
Augustnoa
Focus: Circular Travel & Commuter Essentials
Website: https://augustnoa.com/
Augustnoa is tackling the “disposable” travel gear market by proving that high-function bags don’t need to rely on virgin plastics. Founded by Ally Lei in 2021, the brand was born from a refusal to compromise between professional aesthetics and ecological integrity. Every piece in their collection, from the “Classic Noa” backpack to the “Weekender” duffle, is a study in repurposed materials, utilizing a sophisticated blend of recycled plastic bottles and upcycled cotton T-shirts. By integrating vegan leather accents and a strictly 100% recycled packaging stream, Augustnoa has successfully built a “do-it-all” ecosystem for the modern commuter who values peace of mind as much as organizational efficiency. They’ve successfully diverted and repurposed over 229,625 plastic bottles and cotton T-shirts into durable textiles, supported by a 100% recycled consumer waste packaging model.
LaBante London
Location: London, UK
Focus: Circular Luxury & Apple Leather Innovation
Website: https://labante.com
LaBante London has spent over a decade proving that “vegan leather” shouldn’t be a polite euphemism for cheap plastic. Founder Vanita Badlani traded a career in banking to launch LaBante, a “labor of love” born from a childhood spent in her family’s garment factories and a pivotal university moment that turned her toward vegetarianism and ethical activism. Since 2011, the brand has operated under a strict “Fashion With Respect” philosophy, successfully eliminating PVC, the industry’s most toxic plastic, from its entire supply chain. By pioneering the use of Italian Apple Leather and high-performance recycled microfibers, LaBante delivers a tactile, luxury experience that rivals traditional craftsmanship without the ecological toll. Their commitment to a circular economy is backed by staggering data: to date, they have diverted over 10 million plastic bottles and planted 17,700+ trees.