44 Sustainable Clothing Brands: The Ethical Clothing Masterlist
In the world of fashion, there is no more serious faux-pas than the trend of fast fashion.
To be blunt, it’s unsustainable and unethical.
And let’s be honest: do mass-produced clothes even look that good?
That’s why we’re exploring brands that are out to change the status quo.
We want to not only avoid fast fashion but eliminate it altogether by supporting ethical and sustainable clothing brands that are creating a fairer and healthier world.
We’ve created many slow fashion brand guides over the years, but this is the big one. It’s basically an encyclopedia of all things ethical and wearable!
This has involved a lot of trying on, reading tags, and scouring impact reports. We’ve done all the dressy digging and style sniffing for you (a process you can learn about at the bottom).
Ready to feel inspired, invigorated, and like you can dress to save the Earth?
In the case, here are the best sustainable clothing brands.
*This post contains affiliate links
QUICK LINKS FOR SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING BRANDS
1. BOODY
Materials: FSC, OEKE-Tex, and Ecocert-certified organic bamboo.
Supply chain & labor practices: The organic bamboo is produced using a sustainable closed-loop process that uses non-toxic solvents and recycles all water. Workers are paid fair wages and no fabric is wasted.
Why we love them: Most of the bamboo fabric we see today isn’t that sustainable, but thanks to their unique process, Boody’s is!
Product range: Affordable, minimalist and sustainable men’s clothing, sustainable yoga clothes, organic bras and underwear, bamboo socks, activewear, ethical leggings, and bodysuits.
Available: Boody
2. TENTREE
Materials: High percentages of organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL, and REPREVE® recycled polyester.
Supply chain & labor practices: Have a transparent website with a full Factory Ledger and relevant industry certifications. Suppliers and factories are held to an ethical Code of Conduct.
Why we love them: This certified B-Corp plants TEN TREES for every product sold in areas of damaged biodiversity.
Product range: Best Canadian sustainable clothing brand for sweaters, tops, hoodies, tees, fair trade hats, and accessories (such as ethical winter gloves and sustainable wallets) for women and men.
3. OUTERKNOWN
Materials: Mostly natural fibers and certified responsibly sourced animal-based materials like down and wool. Synthetic fabrics are almost always recycled, including Econyl and recycled polyester.
Supply chain & labor practices: Excellent transparency with details published about their Fair Trade certified factories in Peru, Mexico, and China.
Why we love them: They create durable, outdoor-ready designs that are bluesign®-certified free of toxic chemicals.
Product range: Outdoor-inspired sustainable mens clothing and womenswear including sweaters, jeans, tops, swimwear, and outerwear (such as ethical winter coats).
Available: Outerknown
4. ORGANIC BASICS
Materials: 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, recycled nylon, TENCEL, and small amounts of elastane.
Supply chain & labor practices: BSCI-compliant and members of Sedex, Organic Basics also personally visit their factories.
Why we love them: This 1% for the Planet member provides grants to grassroots activists and carbon-neutral global shipping.
Product range: Ethical underwear, activewear, and soft eco friendly t-shirts.
Available: Organic Basics
5. AZURA BAY
Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton, TENCEL Lyocell, recycled synthetics, or vintage deadstock.
Supply chain & labor practices: Sell the most ethical products of third-party brands, meaning everything is made in Fair Trade certified factories or low labor abuse risk countries like the US, UK, and Canada.
Why we love them: The best sustainable clothing retailer for plus-sized inclusivity. They also donate to environmental and female empowerment organizations.
Product range: Sustainable lingerie, underwear, swimwear, and loungewear.
Available: Azura Bay
6. KNICKEY
Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton, dyed with OEKO-TEX approved dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices: Keep their supply chain localized to India by sourcing all organic cotton in Ahmedabad and spinning and making the products in an organic fair trade factory in Tamil Nadu.
Why we love them: Knickey’s program to accept old intimates (from any brand) and recycle them into new material. Participation earns a free pair of undies!
Product range: Organic underwear.
Available: Knickey
7. TOAD&CO
Materials: Organic cotton, Lenzing modal and lyocell, RWS-certified wool, hemp, and recycled fabrics.
Supply chain & labor practices: OEKO-TEX and bluesign®-approved chemical usage in addition to a carbon-neutral headquarters. By partnering with The Renewal Workshop they recycle all textile scraps.
Why we love them: Their California factory employs local adults with disabilities and they were named one of the top places to work by Outside Magazine.
Product range: Affordable and sustainable outdoor clothing for men and women including organic cotton t shirts.
Available: Toad&Co
8. ALLBIRDS
Materials: ZQ Merino wool for all wool shoes and FSC-certified eucalyptus-derived TENCEL Lyocell for the “tree” shoes. Other materials listed here.
Supply chain & labor practices: Provide full supply chain and sourcing transparency and all final assembly occurs in WRAP-certified factories.
Why we love them: They are one of the leading ethical shoe brands with both Carbon Neutral and B-Corp certifications.
Product range: Best eco-friendly footwear brand for ethical sneakers, eco friendly slippers, sustainable running shoes and casual slip-ons.
Available: Allbirds
9. SYNERGY ORGANIC CLOTHING
Materials: Mostly GOTS-certified organic cotton along with some recycled polyester, TENCEL Modal, and spandex. All fabrics are dyed with low-impact non-toxic dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices: Produced in one of two factories, one of which is Fair Trade certified and the other employs fair trade principles.
Why we love them: Not only a certified B Corp, this pioneering organic clothing company has tons of other certifications. They also promote circular fashion with a clothes recycling program.
Product range: Affordable ethical clothing brand for mens and womens T-shirts and tops, pants, fair trade dresses, sweaters, outerwear, and leggings.
Available: Synergy Organic Clothing
10. PACT
Materials: Mostly 100% Fair Trade organic cotton but some designs have added spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices: All clothing is manufactured in Fair Trade certified factories in India near the fabric sources and farms to reduce transportation emissions.
Why we love them: An affordable fast fashion alternative, Pact saves you money and planet resources via their water and energy-saving production methods. They encourage circular fashion through their clothing recycling and donation program.
Product range: Inexpensive sustainable clothing brand for underwear and basics, activewear, ethical pajamas & T-shirts.
Available: Pact
11. COYUCHI
Materials: GOTS and MADE SAFE-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled cotton, Climate Beneficial wool, and organic linen.
Supply chain & labor practices: Partner with India’s Chetna Coalition for sustainable organic farming. Coyuchi uses fair trade certified manufacturing partners with makers supported through a worker-managed Community Development Fund.
Why we love them: Pioneering regenerative agriculture, Coyuchi donates to the White Buffalo Land Trust and Fibershed. Their circularity-minded 2nd Home Take Back program recycles old Coyuchi linens.
Product range: Eco friendly robes, organic baby blankets, fair trade blankets for adults, sustainable shower curtains, eco friendly towels, organic mattress protectors, affordable linen sheets, and other eco friendly bedding.
Available: Coyuchi
12. ABLE
Materials: Microsuede, cotton, TPR (rubber + plastic), and leather (sourced as a by-product of the meat industry and uses clean water practices during tanning).
Supply chain & labor practices: Their website has transparent details regarding workers, wages, rights, child labor, forced labor, and benefits.
Why we love them: ABLE was the first fashion brand to publicly share their lowest-paid wages! Big stuff considering only 2% of fashion workers receive livable wages.
Product range: Women’s ethical boots, sandals, sneakers, flats, heels, and eco friendly handbags and purses.
Available: ABLE
13. CHRISTY DAWN
Materials: Organic cotton, regenerative cotton, deadstock fabrics, and vegetable dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices: Pay fair wages 3x average garment worker in their USA factory.
Why we love them: Their farm-to-closet program is transforming 24 acres of depleted Indian land into a regenerative organic cotton farm. And they’re also one of the few zero waste fashion brands offering a Deadstock Collection made from revitalized fabrics.
Product range: Women’s dresses, tops, bottoms, loungewear, and shoes. All clothing is available in both petite and extended sizing and they sell organic maternity clothes.
Available: Christy Dawn
14. Nisolo
Materials: Leather that’s a by-product of the meat industry and certified by the Leather Working Group.
Supply chain & labor practices: Manufacture in a brand-owned factory, where they provide workers with yoga classes and in-house educational programs on financial literacy, nutrition, and physical education. They are committed to providing living wages for 100% of workers.
Why we love them: This top-rated Certified B Corp and Climate Neutral company helped change the fashion industry by co-founding the Lowest Wage Challenge.
Product range: Ethical sandals, boots, flats, mules, clogs, sneakers, heels, running shoes, oxfords, loafers, socks, bags, and belts.
Available: Nisolo
15. VITAMIN A
Materials: OEKO-TEX-certified EcoLux™ (the world’s first premium recycled nylon fabric), blended with Xtra Life Lycra® for long-lasting durability when exposed to chlorine.
Supply chain & labor practices: VItamin A supports female artisans with fair wage jobs and safe working conditions. Their local supply chain is mostly in California.
Why we love them: Have inclusive swimwear for sizes up to XXL and ship in recyclable/compostable packaging.
Product range: Ethical swimwear.
Available: Vitamin A
16. SUMMERSALT
Materials: Recycled polyamide (salvaged from ocean plastic and post-consumer materials) blended with Lycra. This fabric is tested to hold up in 100+ hours of chlorinated water.
Supply chain & labor practices: Their partner Asian factories are certified by WRAP, GOTS, GRS, and/or BSCI.
Why we love them: Ethical swimwear for under $95… need we say more?
Product range: Affordable and inclusive swimwear, activewear, travel wear, and sleepwear.
Available: Summersalt
17. PATAGONIA
Materials: Range of innovative sustainable materials including organic, natural fabrics (namely organic cotton, hemp, linen, and wool) and recycled synthetics.
Supply chain & labor practices: Fair trade certified, Patagonia has a strong focus on transparency via The Footprint Chronicles, which tells where all garments are made.
Why we love them: A leader in responsible business practices, Patagonia was the founding member of 1% for the Planet.
Product range: Best sustainable clothing brand for men’s and women’s adventure gear, casual wear, outerwear, sustainable swimwear, and eco friendly luggage and bags.
Available: Patagonia
18. UNITED BY BLUE
Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, TENCEL, cruelty-free wool, recycled polyester, and some virgin synthetics, all colored with vegetable dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices: This Certified B-Corp manufactures in seven GOTS, OCS, and/or Fair Trade-certified factories in Turkey, China, Vietnam, and the USA.
Why we love them: UBB donates to environmental charities and organizes ocean cleanups
Product range: Best ethical outdoor clothing brand for men’s and women’s hiking apparel, loungewear, swimwear, outerwear, and sustainable backpacks.
Available: United By Blue
19. REFORMATION
Materials: Recycled nylon, TENCEL lyocell, recycled or organic cotton, recycled ethical cashmere, responsibly sourced yak wool, and vegetable-tanned leather. Working to eliminate things like spandex, viscose, and rayon in favor of more sustainable fabrics.
Supply chain & labor practices: Reformation manufactures over 65% of garments in their own 32 Los Angeles factories. Other global factories are regularly audited.
Why we love them: Not only carbon-neutral themselves by offsetting and maximizing green practices, Reformation incentivizes customers to switch to wind energy.
Product range: Best ethical clothing brand for women with a selection of fair trade dresses and jumpsuits, fair trade sweaters, ethical jeans, and blouses.
Available: Reformation
20. PRANA
Materials: Look out for organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, TENCEL modal, cruelty-free merino wool, and RDS-certified down.
Supply chain & labor practices: While not entirely fair trade certified, this member of the Textile Exchange lets you filter for fair trade products.
Why we love them: An official bluesign® partner, prAna garments are largely free of all toxic chemicals. They donate regularly to youth outreach outdoor programs.
Product range: Best ethical outdoor clothing brand for men’s and women’s activewear, swimwear, dresses, tees, sweaters, and jeans.
Available: prAna
21. KOTN
Materials: 100% handpicked Giza cotton, the finest of all Egyptian cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices: By purchasing cotton from family farms “direct trade” at set prices, farmers aren’t affected by market fluctuations. Kotn third-party audits all farms and factories.
Why we love them: This certified B-Corp donates a portion of each sale to stop the cycle of child labor.
Product range: Best affordable sustainable clothing brand for loungewear, pajamas, T-shirts and other casual tops, and work trousers (especially for men).
Available: Kotn
22. THREADS 4 THOUGHT
Materials: Organic cotton, recycled polyester, Lenzing Modal, and a few sparse synthetics for stretch.
Supply chain & labor practices: Manufacture in Fair Trade and WRAP-certified factories that utilize waste-reducing production techniques.
Why we love them: T4T offers inclusive XS to XXL sizes and donates a percentage of every sale to charity.
Product range: Best fair trade clothing brand for activewear, loungewear, T-shirts, and casual wear for women, men, and kids.
Available: Threads 4 Thought
23. THE CLASSIC T-SHIRT COMPANY
Materials: 100% ringspun and pre-shrunk GOTS-organic cotton, colored with Azo-free dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices: A Made in the USA brand, they are committed to fair trade principles and cost transparency.
Why we love them: Timeless, flattering cuts and solid colors mean designs that never go out of style. For shipping, they use recycled plastic-free packaging only.
Product range: Best organic sustainable clothing brand for USA made basic short and long sleeve eco friendly T-shirts.
Available: The Classic T-Shirt Company
24. NAU
Materials: Organic/FSC-certified natural fibers and recycled synthetics/animal fibers. Many fabrics are Bluesign Approved.
Supply chain & labor practices: Nau openly discloses all sourcing locations and regularly audits long-term partners.
Why we love them: Committed to “make clothing that lasts”, their line is versatile whether your jungle is real or concrete.
Product range: Best sustainable women and men’s clothing brand for outerwear, hoodies, work shirts, casual bottoms, and loungewear.
Available: Nau
25. AMOUR VERT
Materials: Natural or cellulosic fibers like FSC-certified TENCEL Modal and Lyocell, organic cotton, Cupro, hemp, and merino wool. For synthetics, recycled polyester and some virgin spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices: 97% of garments are manufactured across six San Francisco factories.
Why we love them: Amour Vert has planted over 300,000 trees through their Tees = Trees giving campaign.
Product range: A huge selection of women’s dresses, T-shirts, sweaters, and business casual bottoms, and select menswear.
Available: Amour Vert
26. ARMS OF ANDES
Materials: 100% sustainably sourced alpaca wool.
Supply chain & labor practices: The wool is sourced and processed in Peruvian Andes using traditional techniques and generating gainful employment opportunities.
Why we love them: For introducing the fashion world to alpaca wool—which is fast-drying, moisture-wicking, biodegradable, antimicrobial, and has minimal impact on the planet.
Product range: Ethical activewear, hoodies, and outdoor clothing for men and women.
Available: Arms of Andes
27. LA RELAXED
Materials: Non-GMO organic cotton, linen, hemp, Lyocell, and Modal, occasionally blended with small amounts of spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices: LA Relaxed prioritizes local vendors and keeps almost all their supply chain in the US.
Why we love them: Three words: Oprah-approved jumpsuits. They also donate clothing to local homeless youth.
Product range: Best eco-friendly clothing brand for activewear, basics, T-shirts, and pajamas.
Available: LA Relaxed
28. MATE THE LABEL
Materials: GOTS organic cotton, TENCEL, hemp, and linen.
Supply chain & labor practices: MATE sources cotton from Maharashtra, India, but the rest of the supply chain is “v localized” in Los Angeles within a 10-mile radius.
Why we love them: This female founded company wants to “spread love, not chemicals” and uses only organic fabrics and low impact dyes.
Product range: Best vegan women’s clothing brand for graphic and essential T-shirts, “clean essentials”, and other loungewear like organic pajamas.
Available: MATE the Label | Free People
29. SOLE
Materials: Recycled wine corks, Bloom Algae Foam, post-industrial recycled EVA, recycled PU, and chrome-free leather.
Supply chain & labor practices: Source all recycled cork fabric through ReCORK (which they founded) and manufacture in China with “partners we consider to have high levels of environmental and social integrity.”
Why we love them: Not only a 1% for the Planet member and founder of Brands for Better give-back network, SOLE also supports carbon offset programs to counter their emissions.
Product range: Best eco-friendly footwear brand for recycled flip flops and sandals.
30. MATA TRADERS
Materials: Either 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and rayon (to be avoided if possible).
Supply chain & labor practices: As a long-time member of the Fair Trade Federation, they partner with artisan co-ops in India and Nepal.
Why we love them: Mata Traders is a gold-status Green America Certified Business with top-notch inclusivity for sizes US 0-24. One of the top slow fashion brands we’ve canvassed.
Product range: Best fair trade women’s clothing brand for affordable dresses, ethical plus size clothing, and accessories.
Available: Mata Traders
31. AMUR
Materials: GOTS-certified natural (cotton, hemp, linen, and silk), cellulosic (TENCEL Modal and cupro), and Global Recycle Standard certified regenerated fabrics.
Supply chain & labor practices: AMUR manufactures in NEST-certified (similar to Fair Trade standards) factories in India and Vietnam.
Why we love them: Their take-back clothing recycling program, which is one of many reasons their name is short for “A Mindful Use of Resources”.
Product range: Best sustainable high end clothing brand for women’s dresses and skirts, jumpsuits, and fancy tops.
32. PASSION LILIE
Materials: GOTS-certified organic, non-GMO cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices: Using World Fair Trade Organization certified family factories in India, they provide workers with fair wages, health care, and loan opportunities.
Why we love them: Passion Lilie holds memberships to the Fair Trade Federation and Ethical Fashion Forum Fellowship 500.
Product range: Best fair trade clothing brand for womens sweaters, dresses, and tops, and mens button downs.
Available: Passion Lilie
33. INDOSOLE
Materials: Recycled tires combined with low-water vegan leather and plastic-free “ENVRO” fiber.
Supply chain & labor practices: Limiting the majority of their supply chain to Indonesia, all entities are audited yearly for social and environmental impact.
Why we love them: This Certified B-Corp gives back by organizing charity events and donating shoes.
Product range: Best eco friendly footwear brand for recycled flip flops.
34. PEOPLE TREE
Materials: Organic cruelty-free merino wool, organic cotton, and TENCEL™ Lyocell. All dyes are GOTS-certified and azo-free.
Supply chain & labor practices: 90% of their factories and work-from-home co-op seamstresses bear Fair Trade certifications. You can view proof of social responsibility in a yearly Review.
Why we love them: People Tree was the first ever Fair Trade certified fashion brand!
Product range: Dresses, tunics, T-shirts, sweaters, trousers, and other women’s business casual essentials.
Available: People Tree
35. THOUGHT
Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, wool, recycled synthetics, and bamboo viscose /rayon (which we’d avoid)
Supply chain & labor practices: Source fabrics from and manufacture in China, upholding all entities to their published supplier code of conduct.
Why we love them: As founders of the fashion impact initiative Common Objective, they are held to fair trade equivalent supply chain standards.
Product range: Best affordable sustainable clothing brand in the UK for sweaters, tunics and tees, bottoms, and loungewear.
Available: Thought
36. KUYICHI
Materials: GOTS organic cotton or Post-Consumer Recycled Denim. Recycled PET, Tencel, hemp, and linen.
Supply chain & labor practices: All major suppliers hold ethical certifications based on audits, including BSCI and Fair Wear Foundation (FWF).
Why we love them: The first organic denim brand and fans of circular fashion. Wondering what to do with old clothes? Recycle them via Kuyichi’s Blueloop partners!
Product range: Sustainable denim, mens shirts, and organic cotton T-shirts.
Available: Kuyichi
37. SKFK
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL Lyocell, wool, silk, GRS/Recycled Content Standard (RCS) certified recycled synthetics, and small blends of virgin elastane.
Supply chain & labor practices: A member of the Chetna Coalition for sustainable cotton sourcing, SKFK has a published Supplier Code of Conduct for all suppliers and factories.
Why we love them: They encourage circular fashion through in-store repair, a garment recycling program, and clothing and dress rental.
Range: Women’s dresses, sweaters, blouses, and bottoms.
38. KNOWLEDGECOTTON APPAREL
Materials: Organic cotton, organic linen, Tencel, cruelty-free ZQ Merino wool, GRS certified recycled polyester, and faux leather microfiber.
Supply chain & labor practices: Another member of the Textile Exchange, all suppliers are certified by third-party organizations and held to an IOLO-based Code of Conduct.
Why we love them: KnowledgeCotton is working toward 100% carbon neutrality. They also have inclusive mens sizes.
Product range: Men’s jackets, sweaters, denim, casual pants, underwear, and swimwear.
Available: KnowledgeCotton Apparel
39. ASKET
Materials: Merino wool, cotton, organic cotton, cashmere, linen, recycled synthetics made from PET bottles. They use some unsustainable fabrics but are very transparent about them.
Supply chain & labor practices: Material traceability and true cost transparency, as well as a publicly available list of global factories means we don’t have to ASK(et) too many questions.
Why we love them: They offer permanent, non-seasonal collections as well as an inclusive size range.
Product range: Men’s T-shirts, sweaters, chinos and jeans, outerwear, underwear, eco friendly socks, and cold-weather accessories.
Available: ASKET
40. PICTURE ORGANIC
Materials: Recycled plastic bottles, tires blended with Limestone, and water-based glues and laminates only.
Supply chain & labor practices: Fair Wear Foundation certified and a Certified B-Corp, Picture Organic also partners with Agence Innovation Responsable (AIR).
Why we love them: They donate to eco-positive NGOs like the World Wildlife Fund.
Product range: Men’s and women’s surf gear, swimwear, and ski and snowboard apparel.
Available: Picture Organic | REI | Amazon
41. UNDERPROTECTION
Materials: GOTS-certified organic cotton, banana fabric, TENCEL lyocell, and milk fiber (a dairy industry byproduct). Most polyester, elastane, and Q-NOVA nylon synthetics are GRS-approved recycled.
Supply chain & labor practices: Underprotection is Fair Wear Foundation licensed.
Why we love them: Between a body positive brand image and earth-positive packaging and biodegradable shipping materials, what’s not to love?
Product range: Best ethical clothing brand for lingerie, underwear, organic bras, and intimate sleepwear.
Available: Underprotection | Azura Bay
42. RUBYMOON
Materials: Econyl and recycled stretch fabrics sourced through their garment take-back program.
Supply chain & labor practices: RubyMoon manufactures locally in the UK or just across the pond in Spain in safe and ethical factories.
Why we love them: They are currently the world’s only not-for-profit swimwear company and the first to use Econyl.
Product range: Best ethical vegan clothing brand in the UK for swimwear and activewear.
Available: RubyMoon
43. GUMBIES
Materials: Recycled rubber, upcycled cork, jute, salvaged cotton, and a select few styles with non-biodegradable EVA.
Supply chain & labor practices: They manufacture in China but do so because of the large amount of landfill-bound rubber produced there. Gumbies frequently visit their factories.
Why we love them: Their “1000-miler” flip flops are so named because they are tested for durability and terrain resiliency.
Product range: Boat shoes, sandals, and flip flops.
44. NO NASTIES
Materials: 100% GOTS-organic, non-GMO, and fair trade cotton.
Supply chain & labor practices: Fairtrade International or FLO-CERT certified across their factories. They also source sustainably from the Chetna Organic sustainable farming co-operative and mill in Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills.
Why we love them: Their transparent website includes production videos, individual product impact assessments, and an impact report.
Product range: Men’s pants, organic hoodies, and casual tops, and women’s dresses, skirts, Nast-TEES, and sweaters.
Available: Made Trade | No Nasties
HOW WE CHOSE THE BEST SUSTAINABLE CLOTHING BRANDS
The fashion industry is mind-bogglingly massive.
It’s also one of the dirtiest (second only to coal!).
Fortunately, many sustainable and ethical clothing brands are stepping into the spotlight.
Still, there’s a lot of fast fashion brands and greenwashing to sift through as we peruse the world of “sustainable” fashion.
To help us along the way, we have our trusty sustainable and ethical fashion criteria that makes us look step-by-step for the following:
Materials:
It’s important to consider materials first and foremost, as this is where the majority of a garment’s impact comes from.
Our favorite sustainable fabrics are those that are natural and organically grown, like organic cotton, linen, hemp fabric, and wool.
Coming in second place are some closed-loop plant cellulose fibers (lyocell and modal), as well as recycled synthetics like some types of vegan leather, fleece, and some swimwear fabrics.
We try to avoid unsustainable materials like virgin synthetic fabrics, most types of chemically plasticized bamboo fabric, and chemically tanned leather (most leather, if we can avoid it).
Oftentimes, at least a little synthetic material is blended in (typically spandex/elastane) or used to make an entire garment in the case of recycled plastics and deadstock fabrics.
For when synthetics can’t be avoided, don’t forget to use a Guppy Friend Bag to prevent microplastics from entering our waterways.
Don’t forget the non-toxic and AZO-free dyes for the brightest colors and greenest planet.
- Certifications: Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), Greenguard Gold, OEKO-TEX 100, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), MADE SAFE, Fair Trade, Global Recycled Standard (GRS), bluesign®
Supply chain & labor practices:
In addition to sourcing the most sustainable fabrics, we also want these ethical brands to treat their workers well, from sourcing to sewing.
We look for transparency that demonstrates all workers in the supply chain have been provided with living wages and safe working conditions. We don’t tolerate child labor or forced labor and are happy to see these brands don’t either.
- Certifications: B-Corp, Fair Trade, WRAP, BSCI, SA8000, Fair Wear Foundation
Green business practices:
This is a catch-all for any other initiatives to support our planet.
These commonly include garment recycling programs, minimized or reused textile waste, carbon offsetting, the use of renewable energy, sustainable office practices, closed-loop or manual manufacturing techniques, and low or zero waste packaging.
Inclusivity:
Fashion isn’t traditionally the most body-positive place.
Instead of body shaming of impossible-to-fit ideals, we look for inclusive sizing and real models (instead of airbrushed Barbie Dolls). Instead of gendered clothes, we look for brands that cater to all cultures, races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
Bonus points for brands that are owned and operated by women or BIPOC individuals.
Community & charitable giving:
With the resources to do it, some ethical brands are doing even better by donating money or clothes, volunteering, organizing charitable events, using their platform for good, or being a member of 1% for the Planet.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON ETHICAL CLOTHING BRANDS
We’d like to take a quick moment to reflect on how many wonderful, sustainable brands there are that are changing the garment game!
If you found this list as helpful as we hope, share it with your friends and help us spread the good word on green garments.
It’s great that brands like these exist, but that only means so much if we don’t support their efforts to revolutionize the entire fashion industry.
Lovely list! I used to love Elizabeth Suzann, unfortunately their business did not make it due to COVID. My new favs are SKYE (shop-skye.com) and CO (co-collections.com). Their pieces are timeless and effortlessly elegant.