A Guide to Dubai’s Greener Side
When I think about Dubai, I don’t imagine much greenery or sustainability. I think of modernization and urban life: factories piling pollution into the air and trees torn down to make space for man made skyscrapers. However, these assumptions were challenged when I recently visited Dubai in December 2024.
I had originally gone to see family, but something that struck me is how the city is actually home to many unique companies that focus on sustainability. One particular company that stands out is called The Giving Movement, a brand that was recommended to me by my cousins, who gifted me some of their items for the holidays. Everything in the giving movement is locally produced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They specialize in activewear, offering selections of leggings, sweats, tops, and many other items as well.
Surfing through their website, I was fascinated by the origins of the company: the owner, Dominic Nowell-Barnes, was motivated to create change in the fashion industry when he saw the terrible conditions laborers work in and the pollutants released as garments are produced. After understanding the downsides of the textile industry, he made it his mission to create a brand that combats these stigmas in the fashion world, that all brands are harming people and the Earth. The Giving Movement was the product of that mission.
Now, it is known as one of the most transparent clothing labels, providing details on every supplier they work with and vetting that all of their factories are ethical and sustainable (see photo b).They make sure that everything they produce is eco-friendly, even the packaging, which is made of plant starch! The limit the amount of garments produced to not overproduce or waste clothing, but also not taking as much time as clothing that is made to order. They use products and materials healthy for the skin, making sure that their customers have the best experience they can get out of their pieces. Additionally, every purchase that a customer makes means that The Giving Movement donates 4 dollars to a charity that supports child welfare.
The Giving Movement is just one example of the many sustainable brands that have roots in the UAE. Only Ethikal is another sustainable clothing brand that focuses on positive environmental impact. It uses natural materials– such as cotton– to ensure high-quality and healthy clothes for your skin. They also support fair working conditions, as they make sure the factories they partner with have workers who are well-paid and working in healthy conditions. Similarly to The Giving Movement, they pay close attention to their packaging, using compostable bags composed of cornstarch. What I found most special was that most of their items are made to order, reducing the amount of extra items they have and making sure there is almost no waste; they are also working to become a carbon zero emitter, and donate 1% of all of their revenue to a well-vetted charity annually.
I also saw this campaign of sustainability with my own eyes walking out on the street: you can’t litter, there are specific rules for disposing of water on the street, and you’re eligible to be fined if you are caught burning anything into the air, whether it is inside your home or out in your garden. Together, Dubai’s strict rules and brands’ commitment to the environment make Dubai and the world a cleaner place, focusing on problems such as carbon emission to help reduce their negative footprint.
