It’s time we hit the brakes on our clothing consumption.
But what are the fast fashion alternatives?
Slow fashion is the only answer because, simply put, there’s no such thing as ethical fast fashion. And cheap ethical fashion is an oxymoron.
If we’re not paying a fair amount for a garment, then someone else is.
Fortunately, you can still look good with these alt fast fashion brands. Even better, in this list we’ve curated brands that also use sustainable fabrics, ensure ethical labor practices, and minimize production waste.
And as we refresh our articles in the coming months, we’ll be using our new Brand Rating System to assess 22 criteria including climate action and product performance. To learn more about this, here’s our explainer.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
The Top Non-Fast Fashion Brands For A Planet-Friendly Wardrobe.
LA Relaxed’s range of timeless garments is made of the softest and most sustainable organic cotton. We’re totally in love with the pieces we own, which are unique, versatile, stylish, and incredibly comfortable.
We’ve tested countless pieces from Pact and know their Fairtrade and organic cotton pieces are made to last.
London-based Plant Faced’s quirky slogan tees are sure to raise a smile (we’ve received several compliments wearing ours). The super soft organic cotton styles are screen printed in the UK using water-based inks.
Index: Sustainable Alternatives To Fast Fashion
- Reformation Jump to brand
- LA Relaxed Jump to brand
- YesAnd Jump to brand
- Amour Vert Jump to brand
- Afends Jump to brand
- Chnge Jump to brand
- Pact Jump to brand
- Plant Faced Clothing Jump to brand
- MATE The Label Jump to brand
Reformation
About Reformation
Price Range: $29–$1,495
Reformation is committed to reforming the fashion industry from the inside out.
Not only do they offer sustainable alt fashion options, but they’re also about making fashion accessible.
They have something for every woman and every occasion—sustainable wedding dresses included.
They also offer plenty of more casual wardrobe staples like the Anna Cotton Crewneck Sweater, a medium-weight classic sweater made from 100% organic cotton.
Reformation’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Reformation’s eco-friendly materials include TENCEL™ lyocell, REFIBRA™, modal, organic cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled cashmere.
They aim to use 100% recycled, regenerative, or renewable materials by 2025.
They follow a restricted substances list, and many of their dying partners are certified by OEKO-TEX 100 or bluesign®.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Three cheers for local supply chains! Reformation works with several factories in downtown LA, including one they own.
They also have manufacturing partners around the globe—all of which adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and meet international standards for fair labor conditions and rights.
Independent audits are carried out for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Reformation is Climate Neutral Certified and aims to become Climate Positive by 2025.
They’re also water neutral, and several of their retail stores and HQ are Green Business certified thanks to energy saving, water saving, recycling, and other green initiatives.
Inclusivity:
Reformation offers women’s sizes 0-12 with an extended size collection for sizes 14-24.
LA Relaxed
About LA Relaxed
Price Range: $38–$168
If you want one of the best non-fast fashion brands, get comfortable with LA Relaxed.
Coco Maisonette started the brand shortly after her daughter was born to exemplify what it means to follow your dreams.
The brand carries high-quality tops, dresses, blouses, trousers, shorts, and accessories made from eco-conscious materials.
LA Relaxed’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
LA Relaxed keeps its garments cozy with eco-friendly materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, deadstock fabrics, EcoViscose, and TENCEL™ lyocell.
Their fabrics and garments are dyed at a BlueSign™ certified local dye house that uses non-toxic and low-impact processes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
It takes LA Relaxed just under 100 footsteps to finish a garment in their Los Angeles studio.
They’ve reduced their supply chain to a mere 10-mile radius by working with local mills and partners.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
LA Relaxed incorporates a limited-run model, avoiding excess production and sending garments to landfills.
They’re committed to using zero plastic in storage and shipping. They store inventory in reusable bins, incorporate plastic-free hang tags, and ship in compostable and recyclable materials.
Inclusivity:
LA Relaxed offers popular women’s fast fashion alternatives in XS–XXL.
My Personal Review of LA Relaxed’s Velvet Trousers:
I know what you’re thinking: Velour? In 2024? As much as I love a lot of the things the ’70s gave us—bell bottoms, outlaw country, David Bowie—velour was never on my short list of ’70s nostalgia. Until I tried these pants. Made of an ultra-thick fabric, these things are so comfortable. I love the loosely elastic waist that you can adjust to sit wherever (I like my waist high), and the wide legs have all the billow of bell bottoms but for the whole leg. They’re comfortable for lounging but look great when out and about, too.
My Personal Review of LA Relaxed’s Jacinta Organic Dress:
“I personally prefer a more laid-back style, so I don’t find myself in dresses too often, but I absolutely love the Jacinta Dress, which has become one of my wardrobe favorites thanks to its super soft 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton construction and flattering yet incredible functional style.
The combination of the long, modest maxi skirt, high neckline, and flirty open-back window make for a unique and comfortable combo, even if you don’t like showing much skin. I’ve worn mine to concerts, out to dinner, while running my art fair stall, and even while gardening!”
Reviews by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
YesAnd
About YesAnd
Price Range: $38–$115
If you’re shopping for alt-fast fashion brands, say yes to YesAnd.
One of our favorite brands for sustainable loungewear, they offer countless styles for staying in or going out, including joggers, sweaters, tops, jackets, dresses, and more.
The organic cotton Livia LOVE Joggers are cozy for lounging but maintain an active look, so you can wear them to the gym or when popping into your local shops.
YesAnd’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and TENCEL™ lyocell.
You’ll also find a small percentage of elastane added for extra stretch in some styles.
Supply chain & labor practices:
YesAnd’s supply chain follows rigorous labor standards, providing living wages, safe working environments, and zero child labor.
They manufacture throughout India with offices in New York, California, and Florida.
Scan the QR code on the product tag to learn more about its journey.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
YesAnd’s dyes are free from acetone, chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, and heavy metals.
They offset a portion of their carbon footprint by planting a mangrove tree for every order.
Inclusivity:
YesAnd provides women’s sizes XS–XL.
Amour Vert
About Amour Vert
Price Range: $45–$440
We’re in love with how green Amour Vert is, literally.
Their name in French means “green love” and their stylish range includes numerous alternatives for fast fashion, including tops, tees, blouses, jackets, dresses, sweatshirts, bottoms, and more.
We love the utility-inspired Sienna Femme Fete Stretch Jumpsuit with its versatile, casual design (and abundance of pockets!).
Amour Vert’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Amour Vert incorporates several fabrics, like TENCEL™ modal, organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled elastane, ECOVERO™, LENZING™ viscose, recycled cotton, regenerated wool, silk, and linen.
Many of these fabrics contain certifications from FSC, OCS, and GRS.
Their washable silk is produced in a bluesign® certified factory.
Supply chain & labor practices:
We love it when brands like Amour Vert keep production local.
Amour Vert’s in-house artisans hand draw, cut, and sew their samples at their San Francisco, California headquarters.
Most of their production takes place locally, too. Their bluesign® silk garments are made in China.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
AV minimizes its impact by choosing biodegradable fabrics like TENCEL™ modal made from wood sourced from FSC-certified forests.
They use compostable and recyclable packaging, and their secondhand marketplace, ReAmour, keeps clothing in circulation for longer.
Inclusivity:
Amour Vert offers women’s sizes XS–XL and 24”-32” waist sizes for denim.
Afends
About Afends
Price Range: $15–$160
Don’t be offended when Afends becomes your favorite affordable non-fast fashion brand.
From hemp mini dresses to graphic tees, hoodies, and carpenter pants, the Australia-based sustainable streetwear brand has countless trendy pieces for men and women.
Our favorite pieces include the Louis Hemp Denim Baggy Overalls. Style them up or down, these functional essentials will never restrict your legs with their baggy, wide-leg fit and they won’t restrict the planet when they wear out, since they’re 100% biodegradable.
Afends’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Afends selects materials based on data from the Higg MSI, circularity, and life-cycle studies. Materials include organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, and Tencel.
Many Afends’ garments have GOTS, OCS 100, and OCS Blended certifications.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Afends works with manufacturing partners in China, who they visit at least four times a year.
They provide full details for each, including the certifications and memberships they hold (i.e., Fair Wear Foundation, EcoCert, GOTS, Amfori BSCI, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and SGS) and their various sustainability initiatives, including renewable energy, low waste production methods, and on-site veggie gardens.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Afends HQ, cafe, and warehouse are all powered by solar energy.
The brand’s inbound shipments are carbon neutral, and packaging is 100% recyclable or compostable.
Retail stores are single-use plastic-free, and they’ve partnered with Retraced to map the supply chain journey of their products, beginning with denim.
Surplus fabric material is tuned into accessories, like scrunchies.
They’ve recently purchased 100 acres of farmland to create their own hemp processing facility.
Inclusivity:
Women’s tops come in XS–XL, and bottoms come in 24–34. Men’s garments are also available in XS–XL and bottoms 28–36.
Community & charitable giving:
Afends works with various organizations to tackle plastic pollution, including Plastic Free July, Sea Shepherd, and Take 3 for the Sea.
They also support various nonprofits such as WildArk and Toys Change Lives.
Chnge
About CHNGE
Price Range: $35–$114
CHNGE is here to spice things up with bold, fresh sustainable alternative clothing.
The brand offers poignant streetwear made with the highest ethical standards.
You’ll find a range of stylish essentials, including graphic slogan tees that support various causes and ultra-comfy sweats like the Crescent Blocked Hoodie made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.
CHNGE’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The non-fast fashion brand crafts its pieces from GOTS-certified organic cotton.
They use GOTS and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
CHNGE produces all its garments in a Fairtrade Factory, meaning no forced labor, safe working environments, living wages, and the right to unionize.
Extra employee benefits include subsidized meals and on-site medical care.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
CHNGE is Climate Neutral Certified.
Their factory uses 80% renewable energy, and they recycle 95% of the water used for dying.
All the brand’s mailers are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper; garment bags are made from recycled plastic.
Inclusivity:
CHNGE offers inclusive sizes XXS–4XL.
Pact
About Pact
Price Range: $20–$148
You can’t talk about affordable alternatives to fast fashion without mentioning Pact, makers of Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing.
The Colorado-based brand has undoubtedly left an imPACT on us. They’re one of our favorite sustainable basics brands with underwear, sleepwear, hoodies, tops, pants, leggings, dresses, and more.
We tested the Fit & Flare Tie-Back Dress and can’t get enough of the flowy design and tie-back detail. Ideal for dressing up or down, it will remain a summer staple for years to come.
Like the other garments from Pact we’ve tried, we appreciate its simple silhouette that not only makes it timeless in style, but extremely versatile to wear.
Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Everything Pact makes starts with organic cotton. Theirs is Fair Trade and GOTS-certified.
Some products contain elastane for added stretch.
Supply chain & labor practices:
74% of Pact’s organic cotton is sourced from India, supporting natural farming processes that are better for people and the planet.
They only work with Fair Trade Certified factories that ensure safe working conditions and fair wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Pact puts the planet first with initiatives to save water, energy, and fabric waste.
They partner with SimpliZero to measure and offset product CO2 emissions.
Orders ship in post-consumer recycled paper and biodegradable garment bags.
Inclusivity:
Pact offers women’s inclusive sizes XS–3XL for most items. Men’s sizes run S–XL.
Plant Faced Clothing
About Plant Faced Clothing
Price Range: $12–$115
Plant Faced Clothing is one of the best non-fast fashion brands offering vegan styles.
The London-based brand develops non-binary tees, sweatshirts, hoodies, shorts, accessories, and more.
Plant Faced Clothing’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
More than 75% of garments include sustainable fabrics like GOTS-certified cotton and recycled polyester made from plastic bottle waste.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Plant Faced works with manufacturing partners in Bangladesh, Ukraine, and Turkey, nearly 100% of which are Fair Wear or WRAP-certified.
Designs are then printed in London using vegan-friendly water-based inks.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Small batch production helps to minimize waste, and orders are shipped in 100% recycled paper mailers – minus the plastic garment bags.
Inclusivity:
The proudly queer (non-binary) owned and operated brand doesn’t discriminate, offering unisex sizes between XS–3XL.
Community & charitable giving:
Plant Faced has championed several causes like Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and WIRES wildlife rescue.
They plant one tree for each item sold via Eden Reforestation.
My Personal Review of Plant Faced’s Kale ‘Em With Kindness Crop Top:
I’ve been wearing the goes-with-anything Kale ’Em With Kindness Crop Top and love its simple, stylish, yet statement-making aesthetic. It’s incredibly stretchy, which means I can wear it even for more active days. I recently went on a five-mile hike in it, and it moved comfortably right along with me (scratch that, it moved better than I did!). Plus, you know I love a good pun—and it turns out, so do most people. I get so many compliments on this top!
I also own the unisex Classic Crew Sweater and love how soft and cozy the organic cotton feels, even after repeated washes. As a hand embroidery artist, I can tell that it’s well-made down to every stitch and seam, so I can see it being a wardrobe staple for years to come.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
Price Range: $28–$298
MATE the Label is one of our favorite sustainable alt fashion brands that’s developed by women for women (and men and kids).
They carry t-shirts, crop tops, undies, bras, sweatshirts, and other basics built to last.
DressClean™ and put an end to fast fashion trends with timeless pieces like the Organic Waffle Half-Zip Sweatshirt.
MATE the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
MATE crafts its pieces with non-toxic, natural, and organic materials, including organic cotton, linen, and TENCEL™.
Garments are sewn with cotton thread and colored with low-impact sustainable dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
To reduce CO2 emissions, MATE has partly localized its supply chain within a 17-mile radius of its headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
The Certified B Corp also partners with a GOTS-certified manufacturer in India and a Fair Trade facility in Peru.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
MATE is Climate Neutral Certified and has removed all plastic from its labels and packaging.
Through the Detox Your Closet Program, customers can easily recycle garments and help create a more circular production model.
Inclusivity:
General sizing runs XS-XL, with XS–3XL available in some styles. Men’s garments can be found in S–XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
MATE the Label is a member of 1% for the Planet.
My Personal Review of MATE the Label’s Organic Waffle Long Sleeve Shirt :
“If you’ve read my other reviews, you may have gathered that I’m obsessed with waffle texture, so I jumped on the chance to test this product. It’s just as cozy as I dreamed it would be, featuring a really thick and snag-resistant waffle weave. The collared button-down design makes it feel like my favorite flannels, except better, warmer, and more versatile, thanks to the easy-to-pair cream colorway I went with.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
