8 Fair Trade & Ethical Kids Clothing Brands for Growing Up in a Better World
There are a few things every parent wants for their kids: safety, security, and the ability to grow up in a better world.
Providing them with comfortable and safe clothes is a start, but it’s even better when those clothes are produced and sold in a way that better supports the planet and the people on it.
Who earns straight As in the world of ethical kids clothing?
Patagonia is a planet-friendly brand for mountain climbers—as well as those who prefer climbing trees and skipping rope—thanks to their ethical fair trade kids clothing.
Speaking of climbing trees, tentree won’t cost an arm and a leg with their range of some of the most affordable ethical kids clothing.
Noble has a huge range of sustainable kids clothing fit for your little prince or princess.
Hopscotch your way to the end of the article to see how we graded these kids clothing brands on their ethical report cards.
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QUICK LINKS FOR ETHICAL KIDS CLOTHES
1. PATAGONIA
About Patagonia
Who says outdoor and adventure-worthy clothes are for adults only?
Patagonia is a go-to slow fashion brand for those wondering where to buy ethical clothing for kids in the US.
Their ethical kids clothes are just as durable and outdoor-sy as those for grownups. They include t-shirts, jackets, shorts, pants, swimwear, hats, and accessories for babies, toddlers, and kids.
Patagonia’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Like the rest of their vast line, Patagonia’s kids’ clothes are largely made with hemp, organic cotton, RDS-certified down, and recycled content (polyester, cotton, etc).
Supply chain & labor practices:
Thanks to their Footprint Chronicles, all product descriptions clearly disclose which clothes are made using Fair Trade practices. Since 82% of their 45 partner factories do so, you’ll find it in most of them.
Despite only 82% being certified, all Patagonia producers adhere to their Fair Labor Association (FLA) Code of Conduct, which means that discrimination, harassment, and child/forced labor will land them in a time out.
Green business practices:
Patagonia’s cotton is organic or recycled, and much of it is also regenerative. Regenerative agriculture is one of their key focuses and they helped pilot the first certification system for regenerative organic cotton.
Thanks to their Supply Chain Environmental Responsibility Program, efforts have been made to cut down on water and chemical use, minimize emissions, and use non-toxic (bluesign® certified) materials.
They’ll also be a Carbon Neutral company by 2025.
What we love most are Patagonia’s circularity practices. Kids are tough on clothes, but Patagonia’s Ironclad guarantee means they’ll repair any Patagonia garment for life (for free!). If they grow out of their clothes, sell them to the Worn Wear program for resale.
Inclusivity:
Toddler sizes from 3-6m to 5T and their big kids sizes from XS-XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
Patagonia founded 1% for the Planet, which some of our favorite brands that give back now support (not to mention us ourselves!). This founding member contributes the greater of either 10% pre-tax profits or 1% of all sales.
When a kiddo reaches an appropriate age, they can check out Patagonia Action Works to see how to get involved with local environmental initiatives.
Available: Patagonia
2. TENTREE
About tentree
tentree is a top-rated Certified B Corp that helps the whole family dress sustainably.
For this list, we’re concerned with this outdoor clothing brand’s clothes that will hold up against dirty knees and apple juice spills.
Their ethical childrens clothing includes hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and sweatpants.
tentree’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL lyocell will sustainably swaddle your little tree planter.
Supply chain & labor practices:
tentree works with various factories around the globe, but most of the kids’ clothes are ethically made in China.
For more info, see their transparent factory ledger, where you can read a bedtime story of where every garment is manufactured, how that factory partner operates ethically, and what third-party certifications they hold (i.e. BSCI and Fair Wear Foundation).
Green business practices:
Speaking of transparency, every garment description includes a summary of its reduced environmental impact: waste savings, reductions in water use, and emissions.
They’re Climate Neutral Certified and will be free of single-use plastics by 2023.
Inclusivity:
Sizes from 1T to 5T
Community & charitable giving:
Teach your tot how to count on fingers or toes, then let them know their new clothes helped plant the same number of trees!
When your precious little thing becomes school-age (circa 2030), tentree plans to have planted one billion trees.
Available: tentree
3. NOBLE
About Noble
Noble knows the A, B, Cs of what it takes to dress (and impress) a sustainable kid.
In addition to organic baby toys, they’re also a great place to look for kids’ sustainable clothing (even when your kids outgrow their wooden fire truck).
They also join the ranks of other eco-friendly kid’s shoe brands by offering an array of kicks for all occasions.
Their fashionable line of children’s clothes includes newborn clothes, jammies, one-pieces, tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, shoes and socks, swimwear, hats, knits, and adorable overalls.
You’ll even find garments from other sustainable clothing brands on this list (like Patagonia).
Noble’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
100% GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton is found exclusively in many of Noble’s own ethical clothing for kids, although it’s sometimes blended with polyester and spandex.
The fabric is a little more varied for clothing they source from other brands, but it’s always either natural and organic or recycled.
Across most of the line, eco-friendly dyes are used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Most garments are produced in Korea or Peru, while some are made by small-scale producers and artisan groups in the USA and Canada.
The brand’s manufacturing partners use fair trade conditions.
Green business practices:
To make it onto Noble’s website, every product must meet at least 3 of their sustainability standards: 100% certified organic cotton, fair trade, made in the USA, locally-made, and/or handmade.
The brand tries to use local supply chains to cut down on transport emissions as much as possible.
Inclusivity:
Newborn sizes are available in either 0-3m or 6-12m. Kid sizes go up to 7Y.
There are many unisex or gender neutral kids’ outfits, too.
Available: Noble
4. CHRISTY DAWN
About Christy Dawn
It’s never too early to teach our young how to honor mother earth—and Christy Dawn can help with tees, jumpers, and dresses that will make parents swoon (and take millions of pictures).
If you get really jealous, they also have matching adult dress sizes in some styles so you can truly have a mini-me.
Christy Dawn’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The tees are made with 100% organic cotton dyed with organic and non-toxic dyes.
Most dresses and jumpers are made with deadstock fabric (typically rayon fabric) that has been upcycled from industry waste.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Every product description includes a “Meet Your Dressmaker” section, where you can see details about the garment worker, all of whom are treated like family.
Everyone earns above-minimum wages, which, in some cases, is up to three times as much as the average garment worker.
Everything is produced in one of the brand’s own LA factories.
Green business practices:
Christy Dawn recently started producing regenerative organic cotton in India so it’s climate positive, too!
Inclusivity:
You’ll find sizes 1-2T to 7-8Y.
Community & charitable giving:
Christy Dawn supports various LA individuals and organizations, like South Central LA’s first organic grocery store and the Downtown Women’s Center.
Available: Christy Dawn
5. WARP + WEFT
About Warp + Weft
Warp + Weft supports new parents across the entire spectrum—from ethical maternity clothes to ethical plus size clothing.
Of course, that includes clothing your body’s little miracle for the years that follow.
Ethical jeans are their forte and their vertically-integrated supply chain makes them some of the most sustainable in the world.
That means do-good denim for toddler and kids, boys and girls.
Sustainability for kids just leveled up!
Warp + Weft’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The ethical kids’ jeans are made from mostly cotton, sustainably sourced from the Better Cotton Initiative, along with a small amount of polyester and elastane for stretch.
Some styles also contain up to 20% recycled material, including denim, plastic, and cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Every step of the supply chain is located in Pakistan, where workers are supported with fair wages, reasonable working hours, and healthy, safe working conditions.
You can even take a sneak-peek into their factory.
Green business practices:
No harsh dyes or chemicals are used during the manufacturing of their sustainable kids clothing.
98% of their wastewater is recycled and the brand has solar panels on their factory’s roof.
Inclusivity:
It’s never too early to promote body positivity, so what better brand than one that designs clothing to represent 75 different sizes and body types.
For kids, toddler sizes run from 2T to 6T and kids sizes from 7 (XS) to 16 (XXL).
Community & charitable giving:
With every purchase, you have the option to pay it forward by paying an extra $3 (which they’ll match) to provide clean water to someone in need.
Available: Warp + Weft
6. PACT
About Pact
Pact has affordable organic baby clothes, affordable ethical clothes for adults, and the same for what comes in between.
As Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing brand, their fair trade ethical kids clothing is something to feel good about.
Their kids range includes underwear, socks, dresses, tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, and sleepwear.
They also have kids bundles and multi-packs for extra savings.
Pact’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Organic cotton is the brand’s firstborn fabric love.
Theirs is GOTS certified and often blended with 3-5% elastane, but you can shop their 100% cotton collection to avoid that.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pact’s fair trade children’s clothing is produced in factories in India, which is also where the organic cotton comes from.
The cut+sew factories are Fair Trade Certified and support workers with clean, safe work conditions and appropriate compensation.
Green business practices:
Pact keeps fabric waste at a minimum and uses conservation practices to cut down on water and energy use.
Orders are sent in recyclable/compostable packaging and shoppers have the option to offset their shipping emissions when checking out.
Inclusivity:
Kids sizes run 12-18m to size 10/12 (large).
Community & charitable giving:
The recyclable packaging is actually a “Give Back Box” where old clothes (from all brands) can be sent back to Pact to be donated to those in need.
Available: Pact
7. COLORED ORGANICS
About Colored Organics
Colored Organics started with a mama on a mission and ended with a brand that combines one of Earth’s favorite fabrics with a business model that helps children in need.
Their organic fair trade children’s clothing range includes dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, tops, joggers, leggings, overalls, and tights for kids.
Colored Organics’ Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
GOTS-certified organic cotton (colored with water-based and eco friendly dyes) is the main material they use.
A small amount of elastane (5%) is used in things like leggings.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Colored Organics is 100% sweatshop-free and made without child labor (because wouldn’t that irony be just devastating?!).
The factories are GOTS-certified, meaning safe and healthy work conditions with capped work hours.
Fair wages are paid and every worker has access to medical benefits and vacation time.
Inclusivity:
Baby clothes are available from 0-24m and kids from 2-6y
Community & charitable giving:
The brand partners with a range of reputable organizations to make an impact in the lives of children. Every month, they chose a new initiative to relegate a portion of each purchase to.
Available: Amazon
8. PETIT TEMBO
About Petit Tembo
Petit Tembo offers ethical affordable kids clothing for budding changemakers.
They think it’s never too early to consume consciously, broaden our worldviews, and provide products to help grow the hearts of children.
This year’s back-to-school shopping comes with choices of t-shirts and sweatshirts, with adorable and heart-warming affirmational artwork.
These hand-drawn designs are actually made by the children who are supported by one of the brand’s nonprofit partners.
Petit Tembo’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Everything is made from 100% organic cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All clothes are designed and made locally in Vancouver, Canada.
Green business practices:
They are committed to ‘end-to-end’ business practices that minimize their carbon footprint. This is why they source organic cotton locally, in North America where it’s then processed with low-impact dyes in a closed-loop system.
All packaging is made from recycled materials.
Their upcycle program accepts used t-shirts and pullovers to be donated or properly recycled in exchange for a discount.
Inclusivity:
Kids sizes run from 2/3 to 6/7.
Community & charitable giving:
Every year, 20% of the brand’s net profits are divided equally and donated to the Kisumu Hope Restoration Programme and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Available: Petit Tembo
HOW WE FOUND THE BEST ETHICAL KIDS CLOTHING BRANDS
Sustainable and ethical fashion isn’t just important for those of us who can read garment tags. It’s never too early to dress ethically.
This list of the best sustainable clothing brands for kids met most (or all) of the following criteria:
Materials:
Many of our usual sustainable fabrics are making it into kids’ rooms. These include hemp, cotton, organic cotton, recycled content (polyester, denim, plastic, cotton), and TENCEL lyocell.
We were happy to see these were typically processed with non-toxic and organic dyes. Organic kid’s clothes are, after all, always preferred.
- Certifications: GOTS, bluesign®, Better Cotton Initiative
Supply chain and labor practices:
These brands want to make sustainable clothing for kids—not use kids to make clothes. That’s a non-negotiable for us, but we also look for much more.
In addition to never using sweatshops or child labor, we wanted to see fair trade practices, safe working conditions, above-minimum wages, and other employee benefits.
- Certifications: Fair Wear Foundation, BSCI, Fair Trade, Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral
Green business practices:
To ensure that our planet is happy and healthy once that kid reaches adulthood, we love seeing brands that use practices to limit water, energy, and chemical use, avoid single-use plastics, prioritize local supply chains, and upcycle old garments.
Inclusivity:
Kids are pretty innocent, meaning they haven’t yet experienced the harshness of how non inclusive the world can be. We’d like to keep it that way!
Size inclusivity isn’t as relevant with children’s clothing as it is with adults, but we still like to see brands that overall pay mind to inclusivity and diversity, whether that be through being women or POC-owned or through using a diverse cast of children to show off their new duds.
Because impressing gender roles on children is so last century, we enjoyed finding brands with unisex outfits, too.
Community & charitable giving:
Taken together, these brands display an impressive collection of charitable initiatives to support children, animals, and adults around the globe.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON ETHICAL KIDS CLOTHING BRANDS
The benefits of ethical kids clothing are many. When made with sustainable fabrics, they’re healthier for their sensitive skin and growing bodies, too.
Kids clothes are a bit of a downer, we know; they grow out of them so darn fast!
That’s why we recommend checking out online thrift stores for second-hand kids clothing first, and definitely donating or handing down clothes once they no longer fit.
If you have friends or family members with other pint-sized sustainable fashionistas, be a pal (sharing is caring!) and share this article with them.
