TENCEL™ puts the T in sustainability and in this list, we focus on featuring brands that include TENCEL™ fabrics in their clothing.
Specifically TENCEL™ lyocell fabric or (less commonly) TENCEL™ modal fabric, trademarked by the Austrian company Lenzing.
TENCEL™ is widely regarded as the most sustainable semi-synthetic fabric due to their closed-loop process to manufacture it—meaning they recycle almost all water and chemicals used to turn the wood cellulose into a silky smooth material.
Of course, using low-impact materials alone isn’t enough, so for this list, we’ve curated our favorite brands that also prioritize fair labor and green business practices.
Our Brand Rating System now examines brands against a broader range of sustainability-related criteria, like climate impact, transparency, and water use. This will ensure we only spotlight the most progressive companies. You can read more about it in our explainer here and look out for rated brands on the list below.
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.
TENCEL™ Clothing We Love Wearing
We own a variety of Organic Basics’ clothing—from t-shirts and sweaters to underwear—and apart from the eco-credentials of this brand (which are very impressive), it’s some of the softest, highest-quality apparel we’ve ever worn. Organic basics has also been extensively rated and reviewed by us here.
We love wearing Toad&Co’s clothing, they make those long flights feel like a breeze thanks to their super comfy line of TENCEL™ travel clothing.
Index: TENCEL™ Clothing Brands
- Organic Basics Jump to brand
- Toad&Co Jump to brand
- tentree Jump to brand
- Tradlands Jump to brand
- Paneros Clothing Jump to brand
- Encircled Jump to brand
Organic Basics
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Recycled materials
Some or all products are made with recycled materials
Sustainable Materials or Ingredients
Either all or most products are made with sustainable materials or ingredients.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
1% for the planet
Better Work
FSC®
GOTS
GRS
OCS
OEKO-TEX®
REACH
WRAP
1% for the planet
Certified Environmental Giving — Businesses give 1% of their annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.Better Work
The Better Work program is a collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) that aims to improve labor standards and business competitiveness in the global garment industry. It combines independent factory assessments with advisory services, training, and public reporting to promote safe working conditions, fair pay, and respect for workers’ rights.FSC®
The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures that wood, paper, and other forest-based materials come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Products bearing the FSC® label support biodiversity, protect the rights of forest communities and workers, and promote sustainable forestry practices.GOTS
The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification is the world’s leading standard for organic fibers. It covers every step of production, from harvesting raw fibers to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, and prohibits toxic dyes, GMOs, and harmful chemicals. GOTS also enforces fair labor practices.GRS
The GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certification, managed by Textile Exchange, verifies that products contain recycled materials and that these materials are tracked through the entire supply chain. It also ensures responsible social, environmental, and chemical practices in production.OCS
The OCS (Organic Content Standard) certification, managed by Textile Exchange, verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product. It tracks the certified organic content from the source to the finished good through a transparent chain-of-custody system, ensuring that labeling claims about organic composition are accurate and independently verified.OEKO-TEX®
The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification ensures that every component of a textile product (threads, buttons, zippers, and fabrics) has been independently tested for harmful substances. Managed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology, it guarantees products are safe for human health, meeting strict global limits for chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and PFAS.REACH
The REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is an EU law designed to protect human health and the environment from risks posed by chemicals. It requires companies to identify and manage chemical risks by registering substances they manufacture or import, ensuring safe use, and promoting the development of safer alternatives. Products compliant with REACH are free from the most harmful or restricted chemicals under EU standards.WRAP
The WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certification ensures that manufacturing facilities operate safely, ethically, and lawfully. Focused primarily on the apparel, footwear, and sewn products industries, WRAP audits factories against 12 core principles covering labor rights, health and safety, environmental compliance, and legal operations.Organic Basics has been rated & reviewed by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
Organic Basics’ clothing range includes numerous products made of TENCEL™ fabrics including bras, briefs, T-shirts and bodysuits.
Almost all products also include GOTS certified cotton.
Organic Basics prioritizes climate action and transparency through numerous initiatives including comprehensive sustainability reporting.
Toad&Co
Toad&Co has not been rated.
About Toad&Co
Price Range: $–$$
From Toad&Co themselves: “We love TENCEL™ so much we would marry it.”
Toad&Co’s TENCEL™ women’s clothing line includes a selection almost as wide as its Chaka Wide Leg Pant—along with tops, bottoms, dresses, and underwear. Their men’s collection is smaller, featuring only tees and undies.
Toad&Co’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Most of the brand’s lyocell clothing is blended with GOTS-certified organic cotton and a small percentage of elastane.
Only their underwear is almost all TENCEL™ with a touch of spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Some of their garments are manufactured at a California factory that employs disabled adults, while Toad&Co partners with global manufacturers for the rest.
Every factory adheres to the brand’s code of conduct and is regularly audited.
They’ve been featured on Outside Magazine’s best places to work in the sustainable outdoor clothing and gear industry for several years running.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Toad&Co uses recycled/reusable/reusable packaging. Wait, reusable?
When checking out, customers have the option to receive their order in a LimeLoop Mailer, which can be sent back to be shipped out again.
They also send any scraps to The Renewal Workshop to be transformed into new garments and offset all HQ emissions.
Inclusivity:
All sizes run XS-XL.
My Personal Review of Toad&Co’s Marley II Long Sleeve Tee:
“I sampled the Marley II Long Sleeve Tee, a solid, sustainable staple featuring a gentle v-neck and super soft organic cotton/TENCEL blend fabric. I found it’s ideal for layering in cooler months or wearing on its own in warmer weather, earning it a place in my go-bag for all sorts of adventures. Plus, its elegant V-neck means I can wear it casually and professionally, not just when out in the wild.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
tentree
tentree has not been rated.
About tentree
Price Range: $–$$
tentree makes some of the best TENCEL™ men’s and women’s clothing. Not only do they make clothing out of wood pulp, but they take a page out of the circularity playbook by supporting global reforestation projects to plant more trees.
Check them out for men’s and women’s tops, leggings, sweats, hoodies, PJs, and more—like the all-in-one outfit, the Tencel Slater Jumpsuit.
tentree’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
You’ll find some 100% TENCEL™clothing—including sustainable jumpsuits—but the rest feature sustainable fabric blends. TreeWaffle garments contain lyocell, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and elastane. TreeFleece is made of lyocell, organic cotton, and recycled polyester.
Any buttons are made of coconuts.
Supply chain & labor practices:
tentree is one of the top-rated Certified B Corps. They can show you the impact of every garment made and have a factory ledger detailing their manufacturing partners. Many of these partners are certified by organizations like BSCI, WRAP, SA800, Fair Trade, and the Fair Wear Foundation.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a Climate Neutral brand, tentree purchases carbon offsets for their already minimal emissions. You can do the same with their Climate + offset subscription packages. You can offset your (or your family’s) monthly emissions or help clean up the industry. They have zero single-use plastic consumption.
Inclusivity:
Sizes range XS-XXL for women and S-XXL for men.
Tradlands
Tradlands has not been rated.
About Tradlands
Price Range: $$–$$$
Tradlands wants to be the antithesis of fast fashion. To achieve that they opt for durable fabrics and simple details with just two small batches released per year.
Shop slow and sustainably with their quaint but essential collection of ladies’ TENCEL™ shirts, dresses, and pants.
Tradlands’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Tradlands’ fabric choices vary somewhat depending on what upcycled deadstock they can source, but a 70/30 TENCEL™/linen blend is one of their core fabrics.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Tradlands partners with two family-owned factories. One produces knitwear and the other woven goods. These factories adhere to US-based regulations ensuring fair trade-compliant work hours and overtime pay.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
They transform waste into scrunchies and use sustainable materials for packaging like compostable cornstarch poly bags and FSC-certified hang tags.
Inclusivity:
Szies range from XXS to 4X.
Paneros Clothing
Paneros Clothing has not been rated.
About Paneros Clothing
Price Range: $$$–$$$$
Paneros Clothing combines small batch styles with California-inspired design. The conjunction of the Greek words pan and eros mean “love all”.
While primarily an upcycled clothing brand, their natural sustainable fabrics show the earth some love, too. Shop their floral, flirty, and fabulous collection of TENCEL™ women’s shirts, blouses, dresses, and skirts or opt for something sleek and professional, like Kate Blazer and matching trousers.
Paneros Clothing’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Paneros’ lyocell is sometimes blended with less-sustainable types of rayon fabric. However, these are sourced as deadstock. They never use new synthetic materials. It’s all OEKO-TEX-certified and either undyed or dyed naturally.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Designing and dyeing takes place in Los Angeles, which is also where repurposed pieces are sourced and handcrafted. For non-upcycled pieces, manufacturing partners are based in Indonesia, one of which is WRAP certified and the other specializes in “slow fashion”.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Paneros turns fabric scraps into scrunchies, only produces small batches (60 pieces or fewer), and utilizes traditional handcrafting techniques. Their mailers are made from 100% recycled materials.
Inclusivity:
Paneros accommodate sizes XS-XL (2-12).
Encircled
Encircled has not been rated.
About Encircled
Price Range: $$–$$$
For comfortable, uncompromising style, check out Encircled.
Whether you’re looking for casual wear to kick back in or professional wear for the office, this brand has you covered with dresses, skirts, tops, leggings, jackets, blazers, pants, accessories, and more.
Encircled’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Encircled uses both Lenzing Modal® and TENCEL™ lyocell, both usually blended with a small percentage of spandex. Occasionally, organic cotton, organically-grown bamboo clothing, or linen is blended in, too.
All materials are OEKO-TEX-certified and dyed using non-toxic dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
This Certified B Corp manufactures in Canada within 60 km from their Toronto HQ, and about 50% of their fabrics are knit in Ontario, too. All partners are vetted using their Ethical Code of Conduct checklist.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Some garments—like the Everyday Twist Top—are designed to be worn in multiple ways, maximizing style variety while minimizing consumption. Scrap fabric is upcycled into accessories or industrial products.
True to their name, Encircled has a Facebook community for selling, buying, and trading Encircled clothes, and resources for anyone curious about circular fashion.
Inclusivity:
Sizes run from XS-4X, or 0-20 with models representing all sizes.
Community & charitable giving:
Their Encircled “Impact” Fund provides grants to emerging non-binary and women-identifying BIPOC-founded Canadian brands. 15% of their collaborations, giveaways, and pop-up markets are dedicated to Black-owned brands.
My Personal Review of Encircled’s Dressy Sweatpant:
“Take my word for it and add the Dressy Sweatpant to your wardrobe. This has become one of my all-time favorite wardrobe pieces for both professional and casual wear alike. The MicroModal fabric makes it buttery-soft to the touch, wrinkle-free, and so cozy you could live in it—as I often do! Especially for folks like me who work primarily from home, its unmatched comfort is appreciated, as is its versatile couch-to-cubicle appearance.
Those who do a lot of business travel (or just travel in general) will also love it because it’s a comfortable airplane pant that makes it look like you didn’t just get off an airplane when you land!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition from the The Ohio State University before completing a Masters in Environment at The University of Melbourne. She then went on to achieve a Permaculture Design Certificate at the Djanbung Gardens. Heather feels best when she is barefoot in a forest or has dirt under her fingernails. She’s constantly daydreaming about her homesteading future and has a rapidly-growing list of the best local (and not-so-local) hiking trails. When she’s not busy hoarding an embarrassing number of upcycled glass jars, experimenting with urban composting, or quelling her eco-anxiety on a long run, Heather spends her 9-5 working for a sustainable agriculture nonprofit, where she advocates for state and federal policies that support thriving farmers and a habitable future.
