While some continue with their couch à la cubicle, let’s be honest, we could all stand to make our professional lives a little more planet-friendly. Sustainable workwear can transform your business attire into better-for-earth attire.
Why Choose Ethical Workwear?
Here’s 3 good reasons why buying sustainable work clothes (when you need to buy new of course) is important:
- According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion industry produces about 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, contributing to around 10% of global carbon emissions. Opting for lower emission materials like TENCEL and organic cotton can help reduce this impact.
- Conventional workwear often contains synthetic fibers which, when washed, release microplastics into waterways. These plastics plus the use of of harmful dyes and chemicals in production poses risks to both environmental and human health. Given we spend hours (too many!) in workwear, choosing natural fibers with no or limited synthetics is a better choice.
- The Fashion Transparency Index by Fashion Revolution reveals significant and ubiquitous issues in garment workers’ rights and conditions. STILL! Crazy! So choosing to support brands who care about the people who made their clothes shows that you care too.
We’ve scrutinized these factors in curating this list of work clothing brands focusing on those that use responsible materials, ethical and fair labor, and prioritize other green business practices.
You may start to notice “rated brands” are popping up in our lists. Learn more about our Brand Rating System which extends what we look for in brands (who opt in) to a range of eco-related criteria, like circularity, climate impact, and more. Find rated brands here.
Related Guides: Sustainable Suits
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. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
The Best Ethical Workwear Brands
Encircled turns dull work days green with ultra-comfortable work-to-lounge pieces made of TENCEL fabric. We’re obsessed with the buttery-soft, wrinkle-free Dressy Sweatpant, perfect for both work and play
For functionally work clothing that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for style, ADAY’s natural and recycled fiber line is fresh and professional (profreshional?). We own several of their versatile pieces, of which the stretchy, wrinkle-resistant Something Borrowed Shirt is our favorite.
Everlane is one of the more affordable options on the list, offering a wide range of workwear in a ton of different styles. Everlane is constantly improving their transparency and has had their climate reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
Index: Sustainable Workwear Labels
- Everlane Jump to brand
- Eileen Fisher Jump to brand
- ADAY Jump to brand
- Stella McCartney Jump to brand
- Encircled Jump to brand
- Another Tomorrow Jump to brand
- Mila.Vert Jump to brand
- Filippa K Jump to brand
- M.M.LaFleur Jump to brand
Everlane
Everlane offers affordable ethical workwear—from tailored trousers and crisp shirts to modern blazers and knitwear.
Everlane is one of the OG brands focused on sustainability. Materials used include certified organic cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL™ – though they have a longer list of materials so it’s worth checking each work garment you may be interested in. The brand is committed to eliminating virgin plastic from its supply chain.
Everlane publicly shares detailed information about its factories and pricing, making it one of the leaders in the “radical transparency” movement. They have also had their climate reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), including achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050.
Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher is a slow fashion brand that can help you get through the 9-5 rush. For all you boss babes out there, they offer hard-working tanks, camis, tops, tees, sweaters, cardigans, jackets, pants, jumpsuits, dresses, skirts, shoes, and denim for casual Fridays.
EF prioritizes fabrics like organic cotton, organic cotton-hemp blend, organic linen, silk, merino, and cashmere (including recycled). You may see “ponte” in some, a wrinkle-resistant and easy-to-maintain blend of organic cotton, polyester, and polyurethane.
The brand is a Certified B Corp and a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Fair Factories Clearinghouse. They have a long history of bluesign® approved fabrics, living wage declarations, and employee ownership.
Their takeback program converts returned/recycled clothes into new goods. The Renew line is where gently-used EF garments are returned to a like-new condition and sold deeply discounted. They also use renewable energy and carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint.
ADAY
ADAY is one of the most sustainable clothing brands for work and play alike. Tops, blouses, sweaters, pants, leggings, jackets, shorts, skirts, dresses, and jumpsuits are on offer for a full work wardrobe.
Everything is designed to be durable and versatile to suit a minimalist wardrobe.
Aday refers to them as Super Fabrics, but here’s a sample of what you’ll find in their workwear: Stretch linen (linen + LENZING viscose), Cool weave (GRS recycled nylon + recycled spandex), Recycled scuba (90% recycled bottles), Technical silk (recycled nylon), Plant life (TENCEL modal), and Better knit (GRS recycled cashmere and RWS wool). Fabrics are either bluesign® approved or OEKO-TEX certified as free from harmful chemicals.
All manufacturing partners sign their Commitments to People and Planet which assures ILO standards are adhered to, working hours are limited, and fair living wages are provided. They work with factories in Portugal, the US, China, Turkey, and Italy and share their full list of suppliers. They’re also a Certified B Corp.
Most packaging is recycled and polybag-free, they offset their carbon footprint through Cool Effect, and detail other green actions in their Optimist Report. The small team is 94% female and 35% BIPOC, with representation from disabled and LGBTQ+ groups. Sizes are XS-XL.
My Personal Review of ADAY’s shirts and pants:
“I have a few of their items, including the lovely and versatile Twist + Chill Wrap Top, which can be styled in a number of different ways, and the Turn It Up Pants. They’re an elegant, cropped pinstripe pant with a super comfortable, wide elastic waistband that is completely non-restrictive while remaining classy enough to tuck a button-down or blouse into.
But my absolute favorite is the Something Borrowed Shirt. It has the appearance of your usual classy white button-down—while being as comfortable and stretchy as your favorite workout wear. I’m not kidding! Usually, I can’t wait to ditch my work clothes in favor of PJs in the evening, but this shirt is so comfortable that I’ll happily wear it all day long. The stretchy, drapey fabric also means the shirt won’t wrinkle and need ironing and comfortably tucks into any pair of pants without bunching up.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Stella McCartney
Power-dress for your next promotion with Stella McCartney. They’re one of the best luxury sustainable work clothing brands for turning heads.
With a collection of non-binary clothing, they vote in favor of an inclusive workplace. The women’s and unisex range includes ready-to-wear jumpsuits, knitwear, trousers, shirts, tops, jackets, and dresses.
Expect to see fabrics like recycled polyester, recycled nylon, responsibly sourced wool, organic cotton, traceable wool, and sustainable “forest-friendly” viscose. Forest friendly meaning it doesn’t come from ancient or endangered forests.
The Ethical Trading Initiative member partners with manufacturers who adhere to their Supplier Code of Conduct based on the International Labor Organization conventions.
Only FSC-certified or recycled paper packaging is used. They try to close loops by repurposing and recycling old-stock fabric and encouraging people to consign their gently-used Stella McCartney items with The RealReal, one of our favorite online secondhand stores.
Encircled
Encircled is a TENCEL clothing brand that can make that ten-hour shift feel tolerable. Circle around this brand for their cubicle-ready sustainable women’s work clothes. Their range includes jackets, blazers, leggings, tanks, jumpsuits, pants, accessories, and more.
Biodegradable TENCEL lyocell and modal are commonly featured fabrics. Others are made with bamboo rayon, though we’d recommend treading lightly with bamboo fabric that isn’t produced in a closed loop process.
The Canadian clothing brand and Certified B Corp keeps production local. Everything is made in Toronto, Ontario and the factories are just an hour’s bike ride away from the Encircled HQ. They all sign the brand’s Ethical Code of Conduct checklist, which is stricter than local requirements.
A portion of the fabric is knitted and dyed in a local dye house, too. Within 5 years, they hope to get 85% of their fabric in North America
In addition to green-powered web hosting and studio space, Encircled uses eco-friendly products and has an in-house composting program. Through the Encircled Community Facebook group, they encourage people to sell or trade their gently used Encircle pieces.
My Personal Review of Encircled’s Dressy Sweatpant:
“I am personally loving their Dressy Sweatpant—and trust me, the name is 100% accurate! Since I largely work from home, I love that it has a sleek look while being comfortable enough to lounge (er, work) in all day. At the same time, that super soft and stretchy fabric relaxes to lose wrinkles quickly, so there’s no need to iron or worry if I need to run from working in bed to an in-person meeting.
I also love it for travel because it provides all the comfort of sweatpants…while making me feel a bit more dignified during an airport layover. It’s truly a do-it-all trouser!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Another Tomorrow
Want your purchase to have as little impact as possible? Climate Neutral Certified, Another Tomorrow, can provide. Responsibly grown and ethically manufactured materials go into their range of sustainable office wear, think: dresses, skirts, tops, tees, knits, pants jackets, and denim.
Another Tomorrow uses materials that meet their strict comfort, quality, and animal and environmental welfare criteria. These include GRS recycled ethical cashmere, organic linen, TENCEL lyocell, renewed denim, wool, FSC certified viscose, and organic cotton. Buttons are made from either recycled polyester or natural corozo.
The Certified B Corp works with suppliers mostly in Europe and their garments are manufactured in Portugal and Italy. Workers receive respectful, safe, and comfortable working conditions and are paid living wages.
Production is carefully controlled to minimize or recycle waste, such as through “best-in-class” chemical and wastewater treatment policies. The company maintains a small supply chain to keep its footprint down, and offsets at least 120% of its entire carbon emissions, hence their Climate Neutral certification. Biobased plastics and recycled materials are used in packaging.
Mila.Vert
If your 9-to-5 style leans toward timeless, tailored, and low-impact, Mila.Vert has your sustainable work wardrobe covered.
Based in Slovenia, this slow fashion label offers elevated essentials like structured shirt dresses, minimalist tops, classic trousers, soft knit cardigans, and cozy polished sweaters. Each piece is thoughtfully designed by founder Tina Logar Bauchmüller, blending clean lines and neutral tones for a refined professional aesthetic that transitions seamlessly from workday to weekend.
Mila.Vert uses certified organic cotton across much of their collection, dyed with non-toxic, natural dyes. Select garments also feature European linen, TENCEL™, or recycled wool, sourced via responsible partners who prioritize both environmental and ethical standards.
Each item is locally produced in Slovenia by long-standing partners like Liniatex, Krona, eSPe sewing, and Jakopina. This allows the brand to maintain close oversight, ensure ethical labor practices, and deliver consistently high quality.
Mila.Vert’s made-to-order model means no excess stock and no unnecessary waste. By only producing what’s needed, they minimize overproduction, reduce their carbon footprint, and support a slower, more conscious way of consuming fashion.
Filippa K
From the UK, Filippa K’s luxury sustainable workwear puts longevity first, specializing in minimalist men’s and women’s designs for an uncomplicated wardrobe. Their product range includes blazers, dresses, skirts, tops, outerwear, suit jackets, trousers, denim, sweaters, shirts, and accessories.
The brand’s list of materials is long and includes: cotton (organic, Pima, and recycled), mulesing-free wool (alpaca, cashmere, merino, mohair, and recycled), Swedish leather, semi-synthetics (cupro, lyocell, Refibra, modal, and recycled cellulosics), down, linen, and silk.
They also use synthetic fabrics, including recycled polyamide and recycled polyester.
Clicking on each product shows the country and factory in which each piece of workwear is made.
Filippa K currently has a Preowned range for secondhand pieces and by 2030, they’ll take back any Filippa K garment to be remade, resold, or recycled. Until then, their website recommends local tailors and they’re available to advise you on any repairs—or you can use an online clothes repair service.
2030 is also when they plan to reduce emissions by 50% before achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
M.M.LaFleur
M.M.LaFleur is a female-founded startup that offers women’s dresses, tops, t-shirts, pants, jackets, knitwear, shorts, skirts, shoes, and accessories.
Website labels make it easy to see which garments use eco-conscious fabrics, like: recycled Wondertex (made from recycled plastic bottles), Pima or regular cotton, linen, and Eco Soft Wave (35% recycled materials and treated with anti-odor Polygiene).
They also use virgin wool, vegan leather, polyester, viscose, polyamide, acetate, nylon, and silk, which we’d avoid where you can.
The company initially only produced garments in NYC, but as they’ve grown, they now work with manufacturers in Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Their Second Act site allows secondhand M.M. items to be resold. Recycled materials are prioritized for shipping and climate-positive plans are in the works.
As a Gender Fair-certified company, at least 30% of the leadership positions and employee policies are women-led. 45% of their team does not identify as white and they are committed to diversity with a set plan.
Sustainable Workwear FAQs
Q1: What is “sustainable workwear”?
A: Sustainable workwear refers to business and professional clothing made with environmentally friendly fabrics and ethical practices. These garments prioritize the use of organic, recycled, or biodegradable fabrics, and are produced with reduced resource consumption and minimal environmental impact. They’re also made ethically by people who are paid fairly and treated well.
Q2: Why should I choose sustainable workwear over traditional workwear?
A: Sustainable workwear offers numerous benefits, such as reducing your carbon footprint, lessening water usage, and minimizing pollution from harmful chemicals and dyes. Buying from brands who make this more conscious workwear means you’re supporting an industry that is trying to make the world more equitable and safe for future generations.
Q3: Are sustainable workwear brands more expensive?
A: While sustainable workwear can sometimes be more expensive due to the cost of ethical labor and eco-friendly materials, it is often more durable and offers better long-term value. Additionally, the higher price reflects the true cost of production without externalizing environmental or social harm. And often, these more sustainably made clothes are not more expensive – why some of those expensive workwear brands can justify their elevated prices without any sustainability initiatives in place is beyond us! There are a couple of more affordable options on this list.
Q4: How can I ensure the clothes I buy are genuinely sustainable?
A: You can come to us at Sustainable Jungle – we do a lot of the vetting for you and our brand directory is a great place to hunt for amazing sustainable brands. Otherwise, look for certifications such as Fair Trade, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX, and bluesign®. These labels (and others) indicate compliance with high environmental and ethical standards in textile production. See our guide on sustainable fashion for more help with this.
Q5: Can eco-friendly workwear still be stylish and professional?
A: Absolutely! Many sustainable workwear brands offer a wide range of designs that are both stylish and appropriate for professional settings. They blend contemporary fashion elements with classic styles to ensure you look and feel great at work. Plus you have more to talk about around the old water cooler. Work friends will LOVE hearing about your passion for sustainability.
Q6: How do sustainable brands deal with microplastic pollution?
A: Sustainable brands often opt for natural fibers (our preference) or recycled synthetics designed to minimize microplastic shedding (we’re a bit sceptical of this though). They may also encourage the use of washing bags like the Guppyfriend to capture microfibers during laundry – which we would recommend!
Q7: Do sustainable brands offer workwear for all body sizes and types?
A: Many sustainable brands are committed to inclusivity and offer a broad range of sizes. It’s important to check individual brand offerings, as availability can vary. Hit us up if you want a specific workwear guide on more inclusive sizes.
Q8: What are some sustainable work clothes fabric options?
A: Common fabrics used in sustainable workwear include organic cotton, TENCEL™ lyocell, hemp, linen, and recycled polyester. These materials are chosen for their lower environmental impact and durability.
Q9: Where can I find sustainable workwear brands?
A: You can find sustainable workwear brands ON THIS LIST. But also online, through various fashion retailers, and in specialty stores. Many brands also have dedicated sections on e-commerce platforms focusing on sustainable and ethical fashion.
Q10: How can ethical workwear impact the fashion industry?
A: By purchasing ethically made workwear, consumers can drive demand for more ethical and environmentally friendly practices in the fashion industry, encouraging brands to adopt greener policies and improve their supply chains.
Joy has been a passionate advocate for the environment since she was a small child. She grew up in South Africa and has been lucky enough to be exposed to the wonders of nature not just in Africa but all over the world. She founded Sustainable Jungle (together with her husband Lyall) back in 2017 after becoming enraged by the devastating impact of palm oil. She then founded the Sustainable Jungle Podcast and together with Lyall interviewed remarkable people from all over the world who were finding ways to create positive impact. Outside of Sustainable Jungle, Joy has always worked in the corporate world, starting out as an auditor and later moving into management consulting. More recently she specialized in Climate Investing for the Asia Pacific region. Given her experience, her current passion is Brand Ratings. She is very much enjoying going deeper on what it really means to drive sustainability performance and true impact through business operations.
