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What are sustainable clothing brands?
Sustainable clothing brands that define themselves as “sustainable”, “fair trade” , or “ethical fashion” engage in specific operational practices that include paying workers a living wage, providing safe workplaces along the entire supply chain, prohibiting the use of toxic chemicals, and using environmentally friendly production processes that are carbon-neutral and have limited use of water, energy, land, wildlife and ecosystems.
Sustainable Denim, Jeans and Shorts
Frank And Oak – from $80
- Certifications: GOTS
- Materials: Denim created with eco-safe, aniline-free dyes.
- Vegan: No – the company uses a shrimp-based dye
- Sustainable Features: Packaging made from 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard, operates a tree-planting program to offsets carbon emissions created by packaging and shipping, accepts gently used clothing at their retail stores to be repurposed.
- Price Range: $80 – $100
Outland Denim – from $100
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Outland denim is made from recycled cotton, organic cotton, no toxic dyes or chemicals. Outland provides employment opportunities for Cambodian women rescued from exploitative circumstances. Global Organic Textile Standard.
- Price Range: $100 – $250
Dazey LA – from $92
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Dazey LA makes sustainable clothing and accessories with hand-drawn designs that are influenced by 1970s posters and vintage graphic art.
- Price Range: $92 – $130
Nudie Jeans – from $75
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Nudie provides lifetime repairs on all their jeans, in addition to giving customers a 20% discount when they exchange old pairs of jeans for new ones. GOTS, Organic Content Standard 100 (OCS 100), USDA Organic, Fair Trade, FSC, PEFC. Vegan.
- Price Range: $75 – $300
Kuyuchi Jeans – from $100
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Denim made from organic cotton, with no toxic chemicals or dyes. Kuyuchi uses a faux leather called “viridis”, which is a plant based material, mostly made from corn. Kuyuchi has certifications from Fair Wear Foundation, Open Registry, Transparency Pledge, Global Organic Textile Standard, OEKO-TEX® Non-Toxic Textiles, PETA Approved.
- Price Range: $100 – $250
Mud Jeans – from $100
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Denim made from organic, pesticide-free, recycled cotton using production processes that offset CO2 emissions. Mud Jeans can be “leased” instead of purchased. They are big promoters of the “circular economy” and also have programs to recapture and recycle used denim. B Corp., BLUEdot Register. Vegan.
- Price Range: $100 – $250
Unspun Jeans – from $100
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: When you purchase with unspun, you are also supporting their mission to reduce global carbon emissions by 1%.
- Price Range: $100 – $250
Sustainable Casual Wear, Dresses & Skirts
prAna – from $62
- Clothing for Men, Women
- Sustainability: prAna was one of the first clothing companies to work with Fair Trade USA to ensure that everyone gets a fair wage by having a strict supplier code of conduct. Their clothing is also bluesign® certified to not contain toxic chemicals
- Price Range: $62 – $100
Beaumont Organic – from $100
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Beaumont Organic only works with manufacturers in the European Union who pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions for their staff. Locally sourced, certified organic cotton
- Price Range: $100 – $200
Carve Designs – from $46
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Carve Designs uses between 85% – 100% recycled, upcycled and organic fabrics in their clothing. GOTS certified organic cotton.
- Price Range: $46 – $80
Mila Vert Sustainable Fashion Brand – from $100
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: The company manufacturing is based in Slovenia in the European Union to ensure living wages and safe workplace conditions. Cotton is sourced from Uganda via an organic farming cooperative that works to empower the local community. Their clothing is made from GOTS certified organic cotton, linen and hemp. PETA Approved.
- Price Range: $100 – $400
People Tree Dresses – from $20
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Founded in 1991, People Tree is one of the oldest sustainable fashion brands around. They were the first brand to be awarded the prestigious World Fair Trade Organization certification. Fair Trade International, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Fibers, Fair Wear Foundation, Soil Association, World Fair Trade Organization
- Price Range: $20 – $200
Sustainable Fashion – from $100
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: All items are produced at the family-owned facilities in Brisbane, Australia. This ensures a living wage and safe workplace conditions. Locally sourced, certified organic fabrics. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers.
- Price Range: $100 – $200
Flora Animalia – from $125
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Vegan, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers. Clothes are locally sourced and derived of Belgian linens & cottons.
- Price Range: $125 – $500
Sustainable Shirts and Tanks
Outerknown – from $50
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability:Outerknown states their commitment to protect the environment and support fair labor through their partnership with the Fair Labor Association and Fair Trade USA. Their clothes are made using organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester.
- Price Range: $50 – $300
Toad&Co. – from $45
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability:Toad&Co’s apparel is made from environmentally friendly materials such as organic cotton. To lessen its environmental effect, it also employs renewable energy in its supply chain. They also restrict the use of chemicals, water, and wastewater in the manufacturing process.
- Price Range: $45 – $150
United By Blue – from $125
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: United By Blue removes 1 pound of trash from the world’s waterways for every product sold. To date, over 3.5 million pounds have been removed. B-Corp Certified, Fair Trade Certified Factories, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers, Organic Cotton, LEED Certified energy efficient stores.
- Price Range: $125 – $500
The Classic T-shirt Company – from $50
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: The company imports organic, fair trade cotton from India, and produces T-shirts in a family-owned warehouse in Los Angeles. All workers are paid living wages and guaranteed a safe workplace. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers.
- Price Range: $50 – $100
Nikin – from $15
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: The company plants a tree for each item purchased, in collaboration with Colorado-based OneTreePlanted. To date, they have planted almost 1 million trees. Nikin ships product in FSC certified recycled paper sealed with paper tape. The company only produces clothing in EU countries with strict worker labor rights. Nikin purposefully relocated its manufacturing to reduce CO2 emissions from travel and to ensure employees along the supply chain are paid a living wage. FSC-Certified, sustainable packaging.
- Price Range: $15 – $50 (prices in francs)
Sustainable Activewear, Athletic, Yoga
Ivy Sister – from $50
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Ivy Sister makes their products on-demand to prevent excess waste created by over-production. Thus, they are not housed in a traditional fashion warehouse, meaning their facilities are smaller and safer for workers. Products are made from sustainable, recycled polyester. The company has completely removed water dyes from the production process.
- Price Range: $50 – $110
Woodlike Ocean – from $50
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Woodlike Ocean uses recycled Italian called “ECONYL®”, comprised of 78% processed nylon recaptured from ghost fishing nets and other discarded waste such as carpets. Woodlike Ocean packages orders in a reusable, recyclable, waterproof Tyvek® clutch that can be used as a pouch for swimwear or as a satchel. Vegan.
- Price Range: $50 – $150
Nube – from $30
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Products are made from recycled waste like plastic PET bottles.
- Price Range: $30 – $95
Vitamin A – from $50
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Vitamin A uses digital printing instead of “wet” printing for the bulk of its products. Digital printing reduces water consumption and minimizes fabric waste through detailed sizing adjustments. This process also does not require chemical cleaning products. Organic cotton, linen, recycled cotton and Tencel®, recycled cashmere, with products manufactured in an eco-friendly warehouse in the USA.
- Price Range: $50 – $200
Celo Clothing – from $40
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Celo only works with fair trade certified partners along its supply chain. The company partners with a fair trade factory in Chennai, India to produce their entire collection. This factory adheres to strict regulations to ensure safe workplace standards for workers. All Celo products are made from recycled polyester. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers, Fair Trade Certified.
- Price Range: $40 – $95
Sustainable Outerwear, Coats, Hoodies & Jackets
Tentree – from $40
- Clothing for Women, Men, Girls, Boys
- Sustainability: Fair Trade Certified, WRAP: Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, BSCI: Business for Social Compliance Initiative, SA8000: Auditing Standard and Certification from SAI (Social Accountability International), Fair Wear Foundation. Tentree plants ten trees for every item purchased.
Allbirds – from $98
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Allbirds tracks the carbon footprint of each item of clothing. They strive to be carbon neutral a combination of sustainable practices and carbon credits. They also use primarily organic materials. including wood fibers, organic cotton, sugar, and even castor beans. When they use synthetic materials, it is recycled polyester. B-Corp Certified.
- Price Range: $98 – $120
Coalatree – $from 110
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Sweatshirts and hoodies made from sustainable, biodegradable materials like coffee grounds and recycled polyester from plastic bottles. All products are vegan.
- Price Range: $29 – $120
Patagonia – from $90
- Clothing for Women, Men, Girls, Boys
- Sustainability: Patagonia has a self-imposed 1% tax for the Planet to support environmental nonprofits. Remake Approved, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers, B Corp, Fair Trade Certified, Open Apparel Registry. In 2020 Patagonia transitioned to the Nano Puff® 100% recycled PrimaLoft® Insulation with P.U.R.E™ textile — reducing CO2 emissions by 510,000 pounds annually.
- Price Range: $90 – $300
Honest Basics – from $15
- Clothing for Women, Men, Girls, Boys
- Sustainability: The company employs equitable labor practices and ensures all receive a living wage. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers. PETA-Approved.
- Price Range: $15 – $100 (prices in euros)
Pangaia – from $30
- Clothing for Women, Men, Girls, Boys
- Sustainability: the company’s production is in the European Union and has a Code of Conduct that includes some of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers. Vegan.
- Price Range: $30 – $300 (price in euros)
Picture Organic Clothing – from $50
- Clothing for Women, Men, Girls, Boys
- Sustainability: The company produces 84% of their products from 2 factories – one in China and one in Turkey. The founders regularly visit the facilities, and workplace safety is evaluated by third party organizations. B Corp., Fair Wear Foundation. Vegan. 100% recycled, organic or ethically sourced materials.
- Price Range: $50 – $300 (prices in euros)
Armedangels – from $20
- Clothing for Women
- Sustainability: Global Organic Textile Standard, Fair Wear Foundation. Organic, non-toxic fabrics. The company verifies its workers are paid a living wage.
- Price Range: $20 – $200 (prices in euros)
WAWWA Clothing – from $25
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: WAWWA primarily uses recycled materials in the production of its clothes, including plastic water bottles to make polyester. The company’s production is in the European Union and has a Code of Conduct that includes some of the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers. Vegan.
All About the Shirt – from $20
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: The company uses rain water, co-planting, and insect traps to sustainably grow organic cotton. The company has two production facilities – one in UK and one in India. This allows them to stay in close contact with their manufacturers and monitor workplace conditions and safety protocols. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers, SA8000 Certified Workplace. Vegan.
- Price Range: $20 – $60
Phyne – from $50
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: 85% of production is based in Portugal under strict EU regulations. Workers are paid a living wage, in addition to overtime compensation and bonuses. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified Fibers, OEKO-TEX® Non-Toxic Textiles, FSC-certified packaging.
- Price Range: $50 – $200
Afends – from $40
- Clothing for Women, Men
- Sustainability: Afends warehouse is based in Australia and is 100% solar powered. It does source materials from vendors in China and provides detailed information on each warehouse on its website. Global Organic Textile Standard, Fair Wear Foundation, EcoCert Organic Content Standards, Global Recycled Standard. Vegan.
- Price Range: $40 – $200
Final Thoughts
What is a fast fashion brand?
Fast fashion is the mass-production of cheap, disposable clothing. Before the 1990s, most brands would release 2-3 “collections” per season. That has increased over the past 30 years to brands releasing an average of 52 micro-collections each season, resulting in 80 billion garments per year. [1]
The sustainable clothing industry has developed in direct response to the environmental, social and economic problems created by fast fashion.
Sustainable clothing certifications
In compiling our list of brands, we mostly focus on fashion brands that have third party certifications of their labor and production processes. We also include a few small businesses with sustainable textiles and processes that manufacture clothing on a small-scale basis.
The following certifications demonstrate that a company has achieved specific ecological or labor-related goals in its supply chain. We indicate in our list which brands have achieved official fair trade or sustainable certification.
Labor Equity | living wages, safe workplaces:
- World Fair Trade Organization – International review board that independently audits fashion brands to confirm the fair trade labor and workplace standards are satisfied.
- Fair Wear Foundation – Demonstrates a brand has safe warehouses that are inspected to ensure international safety requirements are upheld.
- B Corporation – Certification that verifies a comprehensive evaluation of a brand’s societal and environmental performance, in terms of waste, water consumption, pollution, workplace safety and employee compensation.
- SA8000 – A social certification program that is awarded to brands that pay employees that pay a living wage and provide safe working conditions.
- Transparency Pledge – Created by an international collective of nine trade union federations and human rights groups. The directory publishes the names, addresses, and other information about fashion production warehouses around the world.
- Open Apparel Registry – A directory that publicizes brands’ supply chain warehouse locations.
Non-Toxic | chemical and pesticide-free fabrics:
- OEKO-TEX – Verifies textiles have been tested for harmful chemicals and that products are manufactured under environmentally and socially responsible methods.
Organic | natural, biodegradable fabrics:
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) – Certifies that fabrics are free of pesticides, herbicides, and have been organically produced according to strict environmental and social criteria.
- EcoCert Organic Content Standards – Verifies that a brand’s fibers are derived from certified organic raw materials.
Eco-Friendly | recycled materials, environmentally sustainable:
- Global Recycled Standard – Certifies the origination and composition of recycled content in textiles and documents the environmental and societal chain of custody.
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – International certification that certifies products created from ethically managed forests.
- BLUEdot Register – Organization that records the quantity of carbon emissions that companies offset through their supply chain processes.
The lowdown on sustainable brands and fair trade manufacturing
The fashion industry is undergoing a major transformation in the ways materials are designed, produced, manufactured, transported, stored and sold. Each stage of a garment’s life cycle has severe and often negative economic, environmental and societal impacts.
Textile processes must be changed in order to preserve our natural environment and empower workers with basic human rights. As a result, innovation in textiles is happening as forward-thinking companies change their processes to become a sustainable fashion brand
