Organic cotton t-shirts are the quintessential eco-essentials.
Arguably the next best thing to our birthday suit, they put the Tee in sustainabiliTEE.
But while they may be basic, there’s nothing basic about saving the planet. So where can you find the best organic cotton t-shirts?
Roll up your sleeves because the brands we’ve curated in this list prioritize the most sustainable fabrics, low-impact dyes, and ethical labor.
In the coming months, we’ll start applying our new Brand Rating System, which assesses brands across several more sustainability-related criteria, including water usage and climate change. Find out more about it here.
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 Cotton-Picking Best Organic Cotton Tees
We love wearing Colorful Standard’s 100% organic cotton tees that come in dozens of unique colors to complement any outfit. They’re incredibly well-made and have become even softer over time.
For dreamily soft organic cotton tees that are made in the US from US-grown cotton, turn to Harvest & Mill. After practically living in this brand’s basics, we can confirm that they are super comfortable, breathable, and durable.
Index: Organic Shirts We Love
- Harvest & Mill Jump to brand
- Colorful Standard Jump to brand
- Pact Jump to brand
- MATE The Label Jump to brand
- The Classic T-Shirt Company Jump to brand
- Toad&Co Jump to brand
- The Good Tee Jump to brand
Harvest & Mill
About Harvest & Mill
Harvest & Mill is on a mission to provide locally sewn and grown clothing.
Ironically, the US is the biggest exporter of cotton in the world—which makes no sense considering that just 2% of clothing purchased in the US is made there.
Harvest & Mill is working to change this through their USA-made clothes that include sustainable basics, shirts, joggers, and socks.
When you shop their men’s and women’s naturally dyed organic cotton t-shirts (including crew, raglan, and long sleeve), you’re helping to up the demand for local manufacturing.
Harvest & Mill’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All Harvest & Mill garments are 100% organic cotton and PETA-approved vegan.
Their black fabric dye is low-impact and non-reactive (read: protects water and soil and adheres to EPA discharge laws).
They also leave some products undyed because organic heirloom cotton is beautiful already in its natural brown, red, and green colors. The natural dyes they do use come from dye artists and farmers in California and Indiana.
All of their tees are 100% compostable at the end of their life, in other words this right here is compostable clothing.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The USA-grown organic cotton is processed in American heritage mills, before being finished at one of three domestic facilities all within 15 miles of Harvest & Mill’s Berkeley studio.
Because they don’t work with any fabric wholesalers, brokers, or offshore manufacturers, they’re able to have full traceability.
Abiding by strict local labor laws, employees are paid fair trade wages and benefit from satisfying and creative workspaces.
Green business practices:
Harvest & Mill is a proud member of Fibershed and is working to go beyond organic by re-building soil health.
They produce 70% less GHG emissions than other sustainable clothing brands and all of the emissions they do produce are offset.
Excess fabric and cutoffs are repurposed or recycled and their sustainable materials for packaging are 100% recyclable, biodegradable, and made in the USA.
Inclusivity:
Sizes go from XS-XL in women and S-XL in men.
My Personal Review of Harvest & Mill’s Organic Pack: Athletic Shorts + Unisex Style Tee:
“This set is basically my go-to for summer lounging and snoozing. The organic cotton feels like a dream – so soft and breathable and the fabric and stitching are very high-quality, so I reckon these will last a really long time.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Colorful Standard
About Colorful Standard
Colorful Standard is holding the apparel industry to a higher standard with its vertically integrated supply chain, long-lasting clothes, inclusive styles, and climate-positive production.
In addition to eco-friendly hoodies, sweaters, crew necks, sweatpants, and accessories, they’re filling dresser drawers with unisex, men’s, and women’s organic t-shirts.
These are available in long-sleeve and short-sleeve styles and any color under the sun—well, 47 of them!
Colorful Standard’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Colorful Standard’s t-shirts are PETA-approved vegan and made with GOTS certified organic cotton and OEKO-TEX-certified sustainable dyes.
The durable, anti-pilling 180g fabric is pre-washed to minimize shrinking and extend wear.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Ensuring “fair, organic, and uncomplicated” working conditions, everything is made in the brand’s own manufacturing center (RTG Textiles) in Portugal.
RTG is committed to transparency and ensures fair trade conditions in accordance with European Labor Laws.
Employees benefit from comfy break areas, shared cars, and other perks.
Green business practices:
By carefully measuring, cutting, and dying fabrics according to demand, Colorful Standard produces little waste.
Small amounts of unavoidable fabric waste are put to good re-use as furniture filling.
To minimize their carbon footprint, everything is shipped directly from the warehouse using recycled materials, like plastic and FSC-certified paper.
Inclusivity:
With simple styles and cuts, most of their collection acts as gender-neutral clothing. The “men’s” and “women’s” sections are mostly for sizing familiarity.
You’ll find XS to XL in women’s styles and XS to 2XL in men’s.
My Personal Review of Colorful Standard’s Classic Organic Tee:
“The Classic Organic Tee is a no-frills basic tee that everyone needs in their closet. What makes it stand out, however, is that it’s incredibly well made with no chemicals and comes in a huge range of colors. On top of that, it’s somehow gotten even softer with wear and washing, and the color is still going strong—no fading at all.”
Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester
Pact
About Pact
As the maker of “Earth’s Favorite Clothing,” Colorado-based brand Pact is the place to go for all things organic.
Whether you’re looking for sustainable men’s clothing, women’s clothing, or ethical kids’ clothing, you’ll find plenty of stylish options including hoodies, dresses, skirts, maternity clothing, outerwear, sleepwear, and much more.
Their fair trade cotton t-shirts are available in all styles (short sleeve, long sleeve, v-neck, crew neck, etc.) and for the whole family.
They have some super cute kids’ graphic tees and they’re one of the few brands to offer organic baby shirts.
Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Some Pact tees are 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton while others are an 80/20 organic cotton and hemp fabric blend.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pact partners with an organic cotton farm and Fair Trade-certified factories in India.
This helps keep the supply chain local and leaves a positive imPACT in an area of the world often associated with exploitation and sweatshops.
Workers are supported with safe working conditions and fair trade pay.
Green business practices:
Pact uses energy and water-saving manufacturing methods, carbon offsets shipping, and uses recyclable and compostable packaging.
Through a partnership with SimpliZero, they’re a Net Zero Carbon company.
Inclusivity:
Pact embraces inclusivi-tee with a women’s size range from XS-2X and S-2X for men.
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
MATE the Label is a sustainable fashion friend with a range that’s “clean from seed to skin.”
Between bike shorts, jumpsuits, sustainable loungewear, and 100% organic t-shirts, they take care of all of your eco-essentials.
Their Organic Cotton Classic Tee comes in 12 different colors. With its relaxed fit, it’s sure to be a wardrobe staple for years to come.
MATE the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
MATE’s certified cotton tees for women are made with nothing but, right down to organic cotton trims.
The organic jersey is 110 gsm (read: lightweight and breathable) and dyed with low-impact dyes that are free of 49 harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Every shirt starts out as cotton grown in Maharashtra, India.
It’s then knitted and dyed in the US, eventually ending up in Los Angeles where it’s garment-dyed—within a 17-mile radius from MATE’s HQ.
The factories aren’t certified but do meet fair trade criteria.
Green business practices:
Compared with conventional cotton, MATE’s organic version uses 87% less water and emits 45% fewer greenhouse gasses. It also protects some of the one million workers who end up in hospital because of pesticide poisoning.
The brand helped to form the California Cotton and Climate Coalition to encourage more California-grown cotton and the use of regenerative farming techniques.
Send back your old MATE garments via the brand’s reMATE program, and they’ll be chopped, shredded, and re-spun into new yarn that goes into a recycled product line. You’ll receive store credit to put toward some new organic tees.
Inclusivity:
General sizing is XS-3X and their Extended Collection runs from size 1X-3X.
My Personal Review of MATE the Label’s Organic Cotton Classic Tee:
“The Organic Cotton Classic Tee is one wardrobe essential I wouldn’t be without. It’s so soft and light that I wear it all the time—whether I’m layering it under other clothing or on its own on hotter days. The relaxed fit is super comfy, and if you’ve been reading my other reviews, you probably already know that I love earthy, mellow colors.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
The Classic T-Shirt Company
About The Classic T-Shirt Company
What do you get when you combine experts from the technology and fashion industries who are about to have a baby (and want her to grow up in a healthy environment)?
Makers of some of the most sustainable organic tees course!
The Classic T-Shirt Company combines luxury, quality, and integrity to produce these beauties in the USA.
Their short-sleeve, long-sleeve, V-neck, and crew-neck styles are available for both men and women and in over a dozen colors.
The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Classic T-Shirt Company uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton for all of its products combined with an eco-friendly dye that’s free of harmful chemicals.
The ring-spun cotton is durable and pre-shrunk, so it won’t fade or lose shape after washing.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand sources from GOTS-certified organic cotton farms in India.
After domestic milling, the garments are manufactured in a vertically integrated factory in Los Angeles that ensures excellent working conditions, reasonable hours, living wages, and other fair trade standards.
Green business practices:
Instead of seasonal sales that encourage a fast fashion mindset, the brand focuses on creating high-quality, durable garments that will last for years to come.
T-shirts come shipped in recycled and plastic-free, sustainable materials.
Inclusivity:
Women’s (“boyfriend fit”) sizes run from XS to XXL and men’s from XS to XXXL.
My Personal Review of The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Men’s Short Sleeve V-Neck:
“At first glance, the Short Sleeve V-Neck might seem pretty basic, but this super-soft organic cotton tee is way more durable than your typical $10 shirt. The fit is just right, and I love how it doesn’t fade or pill over time. After wearing it for over a year, it still looks almost brand new.”
Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester
My Personal Review of The Classic T-Shirt Company’s Unisex French Terry Box Tee:
“I own the Unisex French Terry Box Tee and adore how soft and snuggly the French terry sweatshirt-type fabric is. Its raw edges and boxy cut give it a relaxed vibe, and it’s easy to wear with pretty much anything, from jeans to sweats. I’ve been wearing it for about a year, and the fabric is still in amazing shape. Even the raw edge hasn’t frayed or unraveled at all.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Toad&Co
About Toad&Co
Woman-founded brand Toad&Co is in the business of sustainable outdoor clothing.
Their adventure-ready product range includes men’s and women’s jackets, sweaters, shorts, pants, insulating layers, hemp clothing, and ethical underwear.
They also have an impressive selection of men’s and women’s organic cotton t-shirts that we’d recommend checking out if you’re looking for some suitcase staples for your next low-waste travel adventure.
Toad&Co’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
For their women’s and men’s organic t-shirts, organic cotton is often blended with other sustainable materials like TENCEL lyocell, hemp, recycled materials, or a tiny bit of elastane for a comfy, moisture-wicking fit.
Toad&Co has a long list of eco-friendly fabrics and an equally long list of restricted substances.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand sources its certified organic cotton in Turkey, where it’s also spun, dyed, knitted, and sewed.
All manufacturing partners adhere to their strict Code of Conduct and provide safe and fair trade conditions.
For some garments, they partner with Planet Access Company and use a Californian factory that offers employment opportunities to disabled adults.
Green business practices:
Their manufacturing partners use some renewable energy and the brand itself purchases Renewable Energy Credits to offset the emissions of its headquarters.
By 2050, Toad&Co plans to add net-zero emissions to their sustainable practices.
Toad&Co’s Joy Backed Guarantee provides repairs/replacements if your purchase doesn’t bring you joy (or compliments within three wears).
Through a partnership with thredUP, their Clean Out Kits help clothing stay in circulation for longer. Fill it with gently-loved clothes (from any brand) and receive a Toad&Co credit in return.
They also partner with The Renewal Workshop, where they send textile scraps and unsold garments to be transformed into new garments.
Inclusivity:
The brand offers organic tees in sizes XS-XL for women and S-XXL for men.
Community & charitable giving:
They co-founded the Planet Access Company, which offers training and employment to adults with disabilities, and the Search for Adventure program which offers disabled adults travel adventure and outdoor activities.
My Personal Review of Toad&Co’s Ponderosa Long Sleeve Henley:
“The Ponderosa Henley is my go-to for fall in Wyoming. It’s loose-fitting, which is perfect for those chilly mornings that turn into sweaty afternoons. The ribbed design keeps things breathable, and the organic cotton/LENZING™ Modal blend feels really silky”.
Review by Christopher Ryan, SJ’s Menswear Tester
My Personal Review of Toad&Co’s Marley II Long Sleeve Tee:
“I tried out the Marley II Long Sleeve Tee, a sustainable staple with a comfy v-neck and incredibly soft organic cotton/TENCEL blend fabric. The stylish v-neck means I can wear it casually or for work. I find it’s perfect for layering up when it’s cold or wearing solo when it’s warm, so all in all, it’s a super versatile piece.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
The Good Tee
About The Good Tee
Certified B Corp The Good Tee began after founder Adila Corker learned about the heart-breaking number of suicides among Indian farmers.
Adila set out to better support farmers by purchasing fair trade organic cotton and has written a book about her efforts.
The responsibly sourced cotton is turned into dresses, bottoms, tanks, tees, tunics, scarves, and more.
From organic plain t shirts to baseball tees and slouchy pocket tees, you’ll find plenty of kid’s, men’s, women’s, and unisex styles.
Versatile classics like their Fair Boxy Pocket T-shirt and The Fave & Fair Unisex Tee are sure to become minimalist wardrobe favorites.
The Good Tee’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Each biodegradable tee is made from fair trade and GOTS certified organic cotton using AZO-free and low-impact dyes.
A good tee, indeed!
You can also order a herb-based natural dye kit to create your own “sustainable works of art.” A fun eco-friendly gift perhaps?
Supply chain & labor practices:
From seed to shelf, this brand puts the T (shirt) in transparency. With their in-development supply chain map, you can trace everything back to specific farms, mills, and factories.
They only work with manufacturing partners who are socially and environmentally responsible as per their code of ethics.
They also partner with Fairtrade Canada to support farmers and workers with living wages and a community development fund.
Green business practices:
You’ll receive your eco-friendly t-shirt in a biodegradable bag and recycled/recyclable box.
Inclusivity:
For adults, sizes XS-XL (slim and relaxed fits) are available.
They also offer toddler and youth tees (2T, 4T, 6T, S, M, L).