Fashion accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions and it is only increasing, thanks to fast fashion. While hyper affordable fast fashion brands do not take sustainability seriously, and mid tier ones are still thinking about it, luxury fashion brands take sustainability seriously. Here’s a handful who have toyed with, bought carbon credits and supported offset projects.

Apart from Chanel bagging headlines by offsetting 6.9 million $ carbon credits, a handful of other luxury brands have taken sustainability and decarbonisation seriously and purchased carbon credits.

Stella McCartney arguably has the strongest voice in ethical and sustainable fashion. They have been at COP26 and COP28 and they crafted fashion history with their Frayme Mylo Bag, which is a luxury handbag crafted from mycelium, a mushroom based leather alternative. In their 2023 report, they expressly speak about “using carbon removal credits through a portfolio of negative emission technologies, including afforestation and reforestation, soil carbon sequestration and direct air capture.” 

An ethical fashion piece would be incomplete without the mention of Vivienne Westwood who has been often seen curating her ramp walk shows around climate protests. Vivienne Westwood even collaborated with Anvil Knitwear to support the efforts of rainforest nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, a REDD+ carbon offset project.

Fashion blueblood, Gucci unveiled its decade long strategy called Culture of purpose in 2015 where it addressed its 2025 targets on people and the planet. As of 2023, Gucci did buy carbon credits from South Pole but it seems like they have retracted the claim of being completely carbon neutral from their website and also, terminated their contract with South Pole. Gucci stated that it is revising its environmental strategies to align with the best science-based standards and global regulatory frameworks. 2023 did see a lot of hollow carbon credit claims, and Gucci needs to be appreciated for not just going with the flow and taking carbon credits and decarbonisation efforts seriously. 

Often called the house of firsts when it comes to sustainability, is Burberry. The British fashion giant  was the first luxury fashion brand to receive SBTi approval for its net-zero emissions goal (2022) including a 90% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2040. It is also reported that for its first insetting initiative, Burberry is collaborating with PUR Projet to launch a regenerative agriculture program with wool producers and this farm-level project aims to enhance soil carbon sequestration, improve soil and watershed health, and foster biodiverse ecosystems.

Louis Vuitton is synonymous with vintage luxury. Starting out as a maker of luxury trunks and luggage in 1854, Louis Vuitton has grown into a luxury fashion and accessories brand, which, in 1987 merged with Champagne and cognac brands Moet et Chandon and Hennessy to become LVMH. The Fashion Law does mention Louis Vuitton engaging in carbon offsetting practices, though details are undisclosed.

No matter how much we tilt towards recycling and thrifting, the ramp will never go vacant, neither will new designs cease to exist, they are not just an artist’s right but an entire industry all together. To witness that they take sustainability seriously, is a stellar ordeal; and to see that they use carbon credits makes us, at the House of LongStraw happy.