With the worldwide pandemic putting traditional red carpet galas, big-time award shows, and step-and-repeats press events to a temporary halt, fashion brands began to struggle to promote their new lines through our favorite celebrities. That wasn’t the case with this emerging brand that had none other than Selena Gomez wearing it on social media.

About the New Brand

Given recent events, the world of high fashion naturally didn’t see many new emerging brands last year, and technically, AZ Factory isn’t a rookie effort either. The brand is the new label of designer Alber Elbaz who left Lanvin five years ago. Elbaz has previously worked with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Stone, and even Beyoncé herself. Now, he’s adding Selena Gomez to that list. The name of the brand, AZ Factory, takes the first and last letters of Elbaz’s name, A and Z.

When talking about the inspiration behind the new label, Alber shared that it came to him during a walk along the Seine. He’d see the people around him and how they wore the same clothes all year round, yet the principle of fashion is that it has to change for times a year. That’s why instead of creating hundreds of pieces, as he normally does, Elbaz did only ten dresses.

Selena Gomez and AZ Factory

It’s no secret that it was stylist Kate Young who helped Selena Gomez transition from her Disney days to her fashion icon stature. In a series of posts on Young’s Instagram as part of the promotional efforts for Selena’s Spanish-language EP, REVELACIÓN, fans saw a glimpse of AZ Factory’s collection.

In one of the posts, Selena wore a stylish white dress, and a star-patterned pajama-like top in another. So far, it’s obvious that AZ Factory is going for timeless chic with a dash of boldness and a nod to the past.

Recycled clothing is a huge trend in the contemporary global fashion landscape; it improves your style statement and reduces your carbon footprint, all at the same time. Recycled clothes are garments made by repurposing and reusing materials and textiles from damaged, worn-out and old clothes. It may sound unimpressive, but the finished apparels mostly turn out to be true statement pieces, thanks to the creative and imaginative brands behind their making. Here are a few fashion-forward brands worth checking out for their sustainable range of clothes.

Athleta: Best Plus-Sized Recycled Clothing

Athleta is an inclusive body-positive brand that offers the highest quality clothing to women of all ages and body shapes. It’s one of the only athleisure brands to incorporate a women-only fitness line. They have a range of the highest quality loungewear and yoga pieces, suitable for both styling and performance activities. The luxurious signature fabric of the brand is made from recycled cotton. With their amazing plus-size line, Athleta is leading the brands in terms of creating a social impact.

Urban Outfitters: Best Vintage Recycled Clothing

Even though they are new in the market, Urban Outfitters has made a name for itself with its affordable and upcycled vintage clothing range called Urban Renewal. A dedicated team of designers and craftsmen recovers and sorts through surplus materials, discarded or unused outfits, and then turns them into recycled clothing materials, stylishly revamping the brand’s headstock. That’s why the pieces of the range are created in limited numbers, securing the originality and authenticity of the source material.

Mara Hoffman: Best Designer Recycled Clothing

Mara Hoffman is a recognizable name in the fashion world. Her eponymous sustainable clothing label is known for its unexpected whimsical details inspired by the designer’s personal reflections on travels and mythology. Exuding a bright, colorful, and playful aesthetic, the richly textured and understated pieces of the brand oozes feminine power, with abstract art, punchy prints, and tribal patterns. The extensive recycled collections of Mara Hoffman are crafted from eco-friendly and sustainable materials created by New York City’s expert artisans.