HOWL

All the garments are designed in Antwerp by founder Sofie Claes. Sofie worked for years in the fashion industry and saw what it was like behind the scenes. Together with writer and storyteller Han Zinzen, she founded HOWL. With the clothing brand, the duo wants to show that fashion can also be ethically produced and ecologically more responsible. For production, the brand cooperates with factories in Portugal, where workers receive a fair wage according to EU labour laws.

To minimise their impact on the environment, HOWL uses a combination of recycled and organic materials. The collection includes, among other things, the KODA tank top and the RUNE & SAGE t‑shirt made of 75% organic cotton and 25% recycled cotton. HOWL has already saved 1,400 litres of water thanks to this choice of materials.

In addition, the brand also uses surplus fabric from other clothing productions, also known as deadstock materials. By doing so, the brand gives new life to fabrics that would otherwise end up in landfills! 

HOWL garments are also packaged in ecologically responsible materials. The brand chose envelopes made of recycled paper printed with soy ink for shipping. The hangtags and strings are also made of recycled cardboard, and the sleeve is made of 100% recycled plastic. 

With HOWL, you do not only invest in a quality item but also a greener world. For each garment sold, the brand plants a tree. For this, the brand works with Dronecoria, a Spanish non-profit organisation focusing on improving the ecosystem.

Although HOWL practices circularity by recycling deadstock fabrics, the brand also often uses materials blends, making recycling the clothes after use difficult.

In a circular economy, circular business models also play an important role, such as repair services, clothing rental or resale of pre-loved clothes. Again, HOWL is not (yet) pursuing these.

All the garments are designed in Antwerp by founder Sofie Claes. With the clothing brand, the duo wants to show that fashion can also be ethically and ecologically responsible. For the production, the brand cooperates with factories in Portugal.

The Belgian brand incorporates materials like wool in its collection but offers limited details on the living conditions of the animals involved. Consequently, assessing animal welfare standards remains a challenge for COSH!.

Slow fashion is central to HOWL. All pieces have a timeless design and are made of quality materials. 

Are you a fan of the HOWL t‑shirts? Then, choose the WOLF PACK, a set of two sustainable, ethical tops for men and women because a favourite piece of clothing comes best in duplicate! Unique in design and material, the WOLF PACK is a permanent item in the collection that is available year-round.

HOWL does not work according to seasons and goes against the fast fashion mentality, whereby new collections are made quickly in low-wage countries each season. The brand produces consciously, respecting nature and paying attention to each link in the production chain.

Committing to transparency is not easy for a small brand like HOWL. Unfortunately, this clashes with the sector’s limited traceability. Nevertheless, the brand shares information about its Portuguese production partners and materials transparently.