9 Sustainable Clothing Brands in Australia Keeping the Planet off the Barbie
When searching for sustainable clothing, Australia is making bigger bounds than kangaroos in the ethical fashion industry.
From the red desert of the outback to the glistening coastal beaches along the East coast, Australia’s natural beauty and wildlife are an integral part of the lifestyle.
But it’s evident that climate change is fast having an impact on this beloved nation, and the classic Aussie aphorism, “She’ll be alright”, doesn’t cut it.
With the Australian fashion industry contributing to 800,000 tonnes of textile waste, sustainable Australian clothing brands are swooping in like magpies to show consumers that slow fashion is imperative to tackling this crisis.
Ready to start your journey into some of the eco-friendly clothing Australia offers?
Grab a Melbourne coffee and we’ll give you the Down Under down-low on ethical and sustainable fashion: Australia edition.
Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.
The Most Sustainable Clothing Brands Australia Offers
How does the world’s first (completely) plastic free bra sound? Well, The Very Good Bra can tell you all about it.
If you’re looking for activewear that supports your workouts and the planet, DK Active is one of the few Australian made clothing brands with operations to a large extent powered by solar panels.
For sustainable dresses, Australia shoppers shouldn’t miss the colorful patterns and fashion-forward designs at ELK—or their in-depth annual transparency report on its sustainability and labor practices.
Want to know how and why we consider these ethical clothing brands our sustainable mates?
Have a Captain Cook at the end of the article, or watch our video on the topic above.
The Full List Of Sustainable Fashion Brands Australia
- The Very Good Bra | Visit Store
- Velvety | Visit Store
- d.k. active | Visit Store
- A_C | Visit Store
- Nat’v Basics | Visit Store
- Luna + Sun | Visit Store
- All The Wild Roses | Visit Store
- ELK | Visit Store
- Indigo Luna | Visit Store
1. The Very Good Bra
About The Very Good Bra
Price Range: $–$$
It’s no easy feat to be able to claim you’re the only organic underwear brand in the entire world that sells 100% plastic-free bras (in 28 sizes, no less), but The Very Good Bra has worked tirelessly to achieve it.
As a Certified B Corp, they don’t just support your girls but the planet and workers, too.
Get comfortable in their brief-style underwear (available in six colors) or lounge around in a pair of Go-Slower Pants.
Or if you’re looking for essential sustainable maternity clothing in Australia, be on the lookout for their upcoming compostable nursing bra launch (the first of its kind).
The Very Good Bra’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Very Good Bra’s garments are made with 100% organic cotton sewn together with Lenzing TENCEL thread—and NO uncomfortable underwire!
What sets this ethical clothing brand in Australia apart is its use of natural tree rubber knitted into organic cotton instead of elastane or spandex, a material that’s found in almost all intimate wear (even otherwise sustainable bras).
Everything is botanically circular—GOTS-certified dyes, custom-made hooks and eyepieces, and elastic—which means all of it can easily break down in your home compost and wont’ shed microplastics when washed.
They offer replaceable straps, since these components fail before the cups.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Materials are sourced globally from countries such as Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
They used to work with an ethically certified manufacturing facility in Sri Lanka, but they recently moved to a family-owned factory in Portugal. They intend on posting their certifications and labor practices soon.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
TVGB’s is easily one of the most innovative sustainable fashion designers Australia has. Their biggest initiative in spearheading the movement to develop the world’s first Australian Standard for Textile Composting.
They utilize all fabric scraps to make small runs of sleepwear and underwear, and any sample fabrics get donated to The Social Outfit and Whitehouse Design.
Products are shipped using Sendle in compostable or recycled/recyclable packaging.
Inclusivity:
Panties run from 8-16 (XS–XL) and bras from 32B to 38E.
Community & charitable giving:
The brand partners with a social enterprise called The Avenue for warehouse fulfillment, which offers work opportunities to those facing barriers to employment.
Sample bras are donated to Thread Together.
2. Velvety
About Velvety
Price Range: $$–$$$
Looking for a collection of sustainable vegan fashion brands all in one place?
Velvety has what you seek, offering over 55 vegan brands of men’s and women’s sustainable clothing in Australia—along with shoes, wallets, accessories, toiletries, and cosmetics.
Shop by material, category of item, or brand, and make a fun arvo (afternoon) of online shopping.
Velvety’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Every brand that is under the umbrella of Velvety uses different materials, but they must have one thing in common to be a part of this site: being vegan and cruelty-free.
They always prefer sustainable fabrics that are recycled/upcycled fabrics or organic, and condemn the use of toxic chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All brands that Velvety stocks are committed to ethical and Fair Trade practices.
Committed to ethical practices, Velvety looks for certifications and memberships such as PETA Approved Vegan, Fair Wear Foundation, fair trade, and GOTS.
Each product item has a small description of where it comes from, but to learn the full scope of any single brand’s labor practices, see each one’s website.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Velvety partners with Upparel, a Certified B Corp that upcycles donated clothes. You can get $25 for donating 10kgs of clothes.
They also partner with AirRobe to promote circular fashion by re-selling, renting, or recycling your clothes all in one place.
All items are shipped in compostable packaging.
Inclusivity:
With so many different brands, sizes vary but in general, you’ll find sustainable men’s clothing Australia sizes S-XXL, with some fringe XS and 3X offerings.
Women’s sizes can be found XS–4XL and the size filter will help limit your search to what you need.
Community & charitable giving:
Velvety is part of the #whomademyclothes movement, and they also donate a portion of their profits annually to Big Sky Animal Sanctuary.
3. DK Active
About DK Active
Price Range: $–$$
Looking for sustainable cycling clothing in Australia? Or maybe something to wear for your beach yoga session?
Based in Brisbane, DK Active is both one of the best sustainable Australian clothing brands and best sustainable activewear brands globally.
Take one look at fun prints available in the recycled Utopia Tights, and you’ll see why.
Shop by activity or by fabric type across their range of bodysuits, sports bras, leggings, shorts, and heaps more.
With plenty of options under $100 AUD, they also provide some of the more cheap sustainable clothing Australians can find.
DK Active’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Most activewear pieces are made of 65% ECONYL® regenerated nylon.
Others sustainable materials utilized include organic bamboo fabric, Fairtrade organic cotton, and modal—all bearing REACH and/or OEKO-TEX certification.
Small amounts of lycra and virgin polyester are used where recycled substitutes cannot be, but they’re close to achieving their goal of using 100% organic and recycled materials.
Supply chain & labor practices:
DK Active is one of the few sustainable clothing manufacturers Australia has on its home soil.
Their own factory is located in Brisbane, though some pieces are made at a partner factory in Victoria that is REACH, ISO9001, and ISO14001 compliant.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
This Australian sustainable clothing brand runs its HQ and Brisbane factory completely on solar power and offsets 100% of all supply chain shipping. For products not manufactured in AU, they use sea freight instead of air to reduce pollution.
They partner with Textile Recyclers Australia to donate all offcuts and scraps and ship products in compostable mailers.
Their garment tags are made from recycled paper.
Inclusivity:
DK Active offers sustainable plus-size clothing in Australia in 3XL-6XL (14-20) for their Curve collection, as well as a special maternity line.
Standard garments run XS-XXL (2-12).
88% of their team are women with 71% are in managerial roles.
Community & charitable giving:
They donate to a number of charities, including Women’s Legal Service Queensland, Hear And Say, and Sailability.
They are also members of Thread Together, where they donate garments that don’t make the final cut to charity.
4. A_C
About A_C
Price Range: $$$
What good are eco clothes from Australia without sustainable accessories to match?
A_C doesn’t create your stock-standard handbags made of synthetic materials and toxin-treated leather.
They offer organic, recycled, and plant-based purses that will have every sheila at Circular Quay turning their heads.
A_C stands for Ahimsa (a Sanskrit word meaning “cause no harm”) Collective, and they want to encourage the consumer to shop consciously—such as with the super versatile everyday Claudia Shopper bag.
A_C’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While many kinds of plastic-based vegan leathers trade sustainability for ethics, A_C doesn’t compromise on either.
They work with only PVC-free plant-based or recycled materials that are PETA-Approved Vegan.
In the exterior of their handbags, you’ll find Desserto cactus leather, Sileather (100% recyclable and made from silicone), Pinatex® (made from pineapple skins), and FSC and OEKO-TEX-certified cellulose paper.
They line them with deadstock fabric and recycled polyester.
Supply chain & labor practices:
A_C works with Chinese manufacturing partners who are required to provide fair wages, respect for workers’ rights, paid annual and maternity leave, and adequate safety training.
They prohibit abuse, harassment, forced labor, and child labor.
They regularly visit in person in addition to having third parties carry out BSCI social compliance checks.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
A_C wants their products to last a lifetime, but if it’s time to say ta-ta, they offer a circularity program. Either send back your old purse to receive 20% off a new one or extend its life with their repair service.
If you have a love of online thrift store shopping, look in their pre-loved section for secondhand finds.
Most shipping is carried out by sea freight using Sendle (a Certified B Corp that is 100% carbon neutral). If they must use air, they work with the Climate Foundation to offset emissions.
Everything will arrive in recycled or recyclable packaging printed with soy-based inks.
Community & charitable giving:
For every product sold, they plant one mangrove tree in Thailand or Indonesia through SeaTrees.
5. Nat’v Basics
About Nat’v Basics
Price Range: $
As a business that believes sustainability requires a holistic approach, Nat’v Basics makes sustainable and ethical fashion “basics that are better for bodies and planet”.
Based in Gold Coast, Nat’v Basics is one of the most sustainable clothing brands in Australia, providing sustainable bras, underwear, and bodysuits with seamless designs to keep you comfortable in the hot Aussie summers.
Nat’v Basics’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Nat’v Basics range includes designs made in their signature TENCEL™ modal fabric made from sustainably grown birch tree wood pulp.
They also have a range created with 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton and a Recycled Materials range that is 80% Recycled Materials + 20% Elastic + 100% GOTS Organic Cotton Gusset.
Some items still incorporate recycled polyamides and elastane, but they are working on substituting these with eco-friendly materials.
All dyes are low-impact and non-toxic.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Their TENCEL™ modal is sourced from Austria, where it’s made in Fair Trade and ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certified factories.
Final products are made in Hefei, China.
This ethical brand meets regularly with its suppliers but relies on third-party auditing through Amfori BSCI to uphold its ethical standards and fair wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Nat’v’s goal is to create a circularity program for garments at their end-of-life.
They use Shopify’s Planet app to monitor and 100% offset shipping. Funds go to the Jarí Para Forest Conservation Project in the Amazon Rainforest.
All shipping materials are FSC-certified and compostable, down to the soy inks
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes run S-3XL (6-20 AUS).
Community & charitable giving:
Nat’v donates to charities such as OzHarvest, One Tree Planted, and Thread Together.
Their Charities of Choice program allows the customer to choose who to donate to at checkout.
6. Luna & Sun
About Luna & Sun
Price Range: $$$
Luna & Sun is a female-owned and led business producing sustainable linen clothing in Australia.
This brand focuses on clothing to make women—and especially mothers—feel comfortable at every stage of life.
Sustainable maternity clothing in Australia can be beautiful and flattering, as demonstrated by The Sirima Dress in gorgeous turmeric yellow.
Expecting or not, you can find delightfully feminine designs across their range of dresses, tops, pants, and other accessories.
Luna & Sun’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The main eco-friendly material used by Luna & Sun is linen in various weights.
They also use organic cotton as well as an elastic fabric that is made of natural rubber and cotton that are woven together, ensuring it is fully biodegradable.
All their natural materials are OEKO-TEX and PETA-Approved.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Luna & Sun works with Potters Textiles, which sources the linen from Austria and Belgium before it’s milled in several OEKO-TEX-certified Chinese factories.
These are visited regularly to verify ethical treatment and conditions for workers.
Only 8% of Australian fashion brands manufacture their garments there, making Luna & Sun is one of the few Australian-made clothing brands around, accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a partner of AirRobe and Upparel as well as offering a Take Back program, they are establishing circularity in their brand.
L&S uses Sendle and Australia Post for shipping, both of which are carbon-neutral.
They also use organic cotton clothing labels and deliver garments in linen tote bags and compostable mailers.
Inclusivity:
You’ll find sustainable dresses Australia sizes 6-18, as well as all other garments.
Community & charitable giving:
Every purchase helps Luna & Sun plant two trees with One Tree Planted.
They send sample items to Save the Children Australia, so they can sell, repurpose, or recycle them in their thrift stores.
Longer rolls of fabric are donated to The Social Studio’s mission to support migrant and refugee women.
7. All The Wild Roses
About All the Wild Roses
Price Range: $$–$$$
All the Wild Roses was created by an Australian refugee from Vietnam who wanted to build a better fashion industry, having seen the poor working conditions for Vietnamese garment workers.
Producing timeless, vintage-inspired designs, this Certified B Corp offers the luxurious yet affordable sustainable clothing Australia has been begging for, from boho dresses and vintage blouses to skirts and maternity wear.
All The Wild Roses’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
All the Wild Roses designs eco-friendly clothing in Australia using upcycled and vintage fabric from deadstock and surplus stock.
They cover buttons with off-cut fabrics or incorporate biodegradable coconut shell buttons.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Designed at headquarters in Sydney, the Australian eco-friendly clothes are then manufactured by an all-women team in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
As a Certified B Corp, women are paid above a living wage, have safe working conditions, and work reasonable hours.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
All the Wild Roses has carbon-neutral shipping, worldwide working with GreenFleet, a non-profit dedicated to restoring the Australian Forest. Their goal is to be carbon-neutral across their whole brand by 2030.
To cut production waste, they operate on a limited collection or custom-made order basis.
They also use plastic-free compostable mailers from The Better Packaging Co.
Inclusivity:
Sizes run 6-20 (XS–4XL).
Community & charitable giving:
They work with Opportunity International Australia, providing micro-loans to women-led businesses in developing countries.
8. ELK
About ELK
Price Range: $$–$$$
For true fashionistas in need of sustainable clothing, Melbourne based ELK has it all on the rack, and then some.
When it comes to ethical and sustainable clothing, Australia is lucky to have the eclectic, artsy range offered by ELK including clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and accessories.
Hit up one of the dozens of Melbourne museums, and look like a budding artist yourself in this unique Deili Pant.
ELK’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
ELK uses Naia™ cellulosic fiber, which is responsibly sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Other materials used are organic cotton, TENCEL™, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, hemp, and ethical wool.
Supply chain & labor practices:
ELK has a full transparency report, but some main highlights are that 100% of their Tier 1 Core suppliers have certifications such as SA8000, Fairtrade, Fair Wear Foundation, WRAP, and B Corporation.
They use third-party audits to meet the criteria set out by SMETA, Better Work, and ELEVATE.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Promoting slow fashion in Australia, they manufacture bi-annual collections to keep waste minimal and are developing a (RE)NEW resale program that will later expand into a take-back program.
They work with Pack4Good initiative to be 100% plastic free and use 99% recyclable or compostable packaging.
ELK has a 100% carbon reduction goal by 2030.
Inclusivity:
They offer sizes 6-20, through uppers sizes aren’t available in all styles,
Community & charitable giving:
ELK is a member of 1% for the Planet and donates to Positive Change for Marine Life, TREEPROJECT, and Take 3 for the Sea.
9. Indigo Luna
About Indigo Luna
Price Range: $$–$$$
With a determination to create comfortable clothing that doesn’t harm the Earth, the family-owned business, Indigo Luna, is an adored name in the Australian ethical fashion world.
Drawing inspiration from Australian and Balinese flora and fauna, their flowing yoga clothing, sustainable swimwear, and ethical intimates capture the essence of living as one with nature and slow fashion in Australia.
And with oh-so-comfy looking products like the Layla Flares, you’ll almost certainly be living in them, too.
Indigo Luna’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
100% vegan Indigo Luna uses mostly recycled or natural materials, such as certified organic cotton and deadstock nylon.
Their sustainable yoga clothing and intimate lines include 10% of spandex, but plenty of items are 100% natural.
The Earth-colored hues are produced by plant-based GOTS-certified dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pieces are cut, sewn, and dyed by hand by local artisans in Bali. They “ensure that every person involved in production works in comfortable, safe conditions”, but there is no information on wages or certifications.
They place a strong emphasis on women’s empowerment, which is why 93% of staff and two of three directors are female.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
To reduce deadstock and offcut waste, they create their collections in small, conscious runs until they’re gone.
Everything is packed in cassava bags (a type of root vegetable), and nothing is individually wrapped, before being sent via carbon offset shipping.
Inclusivity:
You’ll find sustainable women’s clothing Australia sizes 6-16 (XS-XXL).
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How We Chose These Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands Australia
Just like the USA and UK, Australia is home to some fast fashion giants and despite marketing campaigns promising more ethical and sustainable practices, it’s valid to question if that’s at all true.
So is Zara becoming sustainable? Or is H&M Australia ethical?
Not really. Despite environmental and fair wage commitments and the occasional recycled fabric collection, they both still promote a culture of fast fashion, putting out garments every few weeks and using profits to open new stores.
Zara’s supply chain has been accused of unethical forced labor practices, and H&M offer no sustainability certifications to back up their 700+ factory supply chain.
So just who are the most sustainable fashion labels in Australia, and how did we avoid this rampant greenwashing to find them?
As usual, we based our assessment on our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria.
Materials:
Natural fabrics are the bread and butter the most sustainable clothing brands, Australia or elsewhere.
Since Australia is geographically close to Asia, importing sustainable fabrics is relatively easy, but we always want to make sure the materials meet non-toxic standards, use minimal natural resources, and ideally can degrade in compost.
From organic materials (like linen and organic cotton) to recycled plastic bottles and newer sustainable fabrics like cactus leather, fashion brands should always consider the full life of the garments they produce.
- Certifications: Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animas (PETA), OEKO-TEX, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
Supply chain & labor practices:
Manufacturing certifications aren’t a perfect defense against misleading marketing (read up B Corp greenwashing for why), but they’re still one of the best tools we consumers have.
Ideally, they’ll be paired with transparent information about where materials are sourced and where garments are made, as well other efforts by the ethical brand to reinforce ethical treatment of workers—like personal visits and legal codes of conduct.
- Certifications: B Corporation (B Corp) International Organization for Standardization (ISO 14001), ISO9001, Fair Trade, Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), OHSAS 18001, Ethical Clothing Australia, Fair Wear Foundation, Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), Social Accountability International (SA8000),
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Consumers are demanding that companies take responsibility for their carbon emissions. While carbon offset programs are a good start, they’re no longer enough.
Be on the lookout for businesses that are doing more to actively reduce their carbon footprint at the production phase.
Inclusivity:
We love seeing the organic sustainable clothing Australia offers in sizes that promote body positivity and inclusivity.
Community & charitable giving:
Any Australian ethical clothing brands that contribute proceeds or products to amiable causes shows that they not only care about the Earth, but about their community.
Final Thoughts On Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Australia
With so many cheap, unsustainable garments out there, it’s important to do right by the beautiful rock we call home—and by the nearly 1,700 animals and plant life in Australia that are under threat of extinction due to climate change.
Slow fashion is the future. If you hear anyone say otherwise, tell him he’s dreaming.
Fortunately, you no longer have to venture into the Outback to find it, thanks to Australia’s slow fashion brands making ethical style easier than ever.
When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, Australia is far from down (under) and out, so be sure to share what you learned in this article over brekkie with your mates (or over some VB’s– we don’t judge).
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