Shop to Make a Difference: Small Brands We're Supporting Now

As a fashion editor, I’m endlessly inspired by small fashion brands that I look to for new ideas and fresh takes on style. Young and independent designers truly keep me thinking forward by constantly evolving what’s coming next in fashion—providing me with moments of creativity and ways to reimagine my personal style.

Since many small businesses are going through hard times right now, I think it’s more important than ever to rally around them and lend our support, and it’s been wonderful to know others feel the same way. I’ve had a number of people reaching out to me, asking how they can help keep smaller fashion businesses afloat during these tough times, so I’m putting my ideas in one place. Ahead, I’m sharing small fashion brands you can support right now and the ways many of them are already giving back.

The brand: Brooklyn-based designer Laura Lombardi creates minimal jewelry using recycled and reclaimed metals.

How it's giving back: Proceeds from online sales over the next 30 days will be donated to Food Bank for New York City.

The brand: Ven Store London produces beautiful, long-lasting garments using high-quality materials like cashmere.

How it's giving back: Ven Store London has donated £5000 to The Trussell Trust and God's Love We Deliver, organizations that provide food to those who need it most. For the next 30 days, the brand will also donate 10% of all sales to these organizations.

The brand: NYC-based label Khaite, founded by Catherine Holstein, is known for its modern and elevated takes on classics.

How it's giving back: Khaite donated $10,000 to the nonprofit organization Baby2Baby, which is on the ground providing essential items to children and families. For the next 30 days, the brand will donate 10% of khaite.com sales to Baby2Baby.

The brand: Founded by sisters Annamaria and Margherita Brivio, Italian brand Paris Texas designs beautiful shoes and is best known for its boots.

How it's giving back: It's providing support to the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, the city where the brand was founded. It's supporting the intensive care departments, as the greatest problem in Italy is that each hospital does not have enough space and equipment for every patient affected by COVID-19.

The brand: Pyer Moss is described as an “art project” or “a timely social experiment” by founder Kerby Jean-Raymond.

How it's giving back: Pyer Moss is converting its NYC office into a donation center for supplies like N95 masks and latex gloves to redistribute to medical professionals. It has also set aside $5000 to obtain these supplies where available.

In addition, it is setting aside $50,000 for minority- and women-owned small creative businesses that are currently in distress.

The brand: Founded by Anina Heé, London-based brand Refine aims to perfect the classic slip.

How it's giving back: As the factory Refine partners with in Northern Italy is closed until further notice and production is shifting elsewhere, the brand is creating a fund to support the workers. For the next 30 days, 10% of all sale from the S/S 20 collection will go toward payments for their groceries, medicine, and other necessities. 

The brand: At Eckhaus Latta, you'll find a mix of cool color-block jeans, playful knits, and reworked dresses.

How it's giving back: Eckhaus Latta is donating 10% of online sales to the Los Angeles Food Bank and Food Bank for New York City.

The brand: Cesta has a collection of bags that are handwoven by artisans in Rwanda.

How it's giving back: For every purchase made on the site over the next month, Cesta will donate $50 to No Kid Hungry.

The brand: L.A.-based brand Reformation has a commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing.

How it's giving back: Reformation is giving retail teams paid time off, as all stores are closing for now.

The brand: L.A.-based retailer LCD is a hub for young and emerging womenswear designers. It's currently offering 10% off orders over $150 with code GOONLNE and free shipping on orders over $100.

The brand: Dôen prioritizes ethical production and sustainability in the creation of its whimsical pieces. It's currently offering 15% off sitewide.

The brand: Founded by Jessie Andrews, L.A.-based brand Bagatiba creates timeless jewelry that is made ethically and sustainably.

The brand: Based in Milan, Naturae Sacra designs sculptural bags inspired by art and interior design with details like resin handles.

The brand: Sophie Buhai designs sculptural, modern jewelry using recycled materials to minimize environmental impact. Each piece is made by hand by artisans in Los Angeles.

The brand: A London-based label founded by friends Camille Perry and Holly Wright. Named after the Danish word for strength and beauty, Tove aims to design beautiful clothes for modern women.

The brand: London-based brand Daphine is a team of five people that has beautiful takes on gold- and silver-plated everyday jewelry.

The brand: Orseund Iris designs pieces inspired by the effortless style of NYC girls with modern takes on essentials.

The brand: Before launching the label, Peter Do worked under Phoebe Philo and has a similar penchant for designing pieces for the modern woman.

The brand: Australian label Dion Lee is known for its cool take on tailoring and details like cutouts that you'll spot on many of its pieces. It's offering 20% selected items using code DL20.

The brand: Brinker & Eliza is a mother-daughter team who design jewelry together in Connecticut.

The brand: Common Leisure focuses on creating "pieces to live in." Expertly crafted outerwear is at the core of the label, like shearing coats and leather blazers. It's offering 10% off on your first order.

The brand: Portugal-based label Studio Cut sticks to minimal cuts of suiting, billowy dresses, and utilitarian-inspired silhouettes.

The brand: Australian designer Anna Quan focuses on polished tailoring and stylish knitwear, like this stunning bubblegum-pink set.

The brand: Sydney-based designer Christopher Esber has an excellent eye for tailoring and often finishes his clothes with cool, deconstructed details.

The brand: Emerging brand Materiel, hailing from Tbilisi, designs pieces with luxe fabrics and bold punches of color. You'll find cool, '80s-inspired shapes with strong shoulders and nipped-in waists.

The brand: With a cult following among fashion insiders, The Frankie Shop has cool of-the-moment pieces that are also affordable.

Next, discover 11 emerging brands I'm backing right now.