14 Best Sustainable Denim Brands Making Eco-Friendly and Ethical Jeans for Everyday Wear
These brands make ethical and eco-friendly jeans from more earth-minded materials such as organic cotton (which doesn't use synthetic pesticides and involves other measures to protect our environment), surplus or deadstock fabric (unused fabric that would otherwise be tossed out), or recycled & upcycled textiles (fabric reconstructed from unused and unworn clothes). They also are more mindful of their manufacturing processes, minimizing the use of toxic dyes and chemicals while maximizing water and energy efficiency where possible.
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliate links. As always we only feature brands that meet strict sustainability criteria we love, and that we think you'll love too!
Here are our favorite sustainable denim brands to know:
But before we get started… of course, we always recommend looking secondhand first if that’s accessible to you. One treasure trove for pre-loved jeans we’d recommend is the Denim Library, which has an extensive collection of secondhand denim jeans, including from in-demand vintage brands like Levi’s!
1. Re/Done
Re/Done makes jeans that were literally re-made. The team collects vintage Levi's and re-constructs them into modern fits, thus on the one hand showcasing the durability of Levi's jeans and on the other, making flattering styles with pre-existing, otherwise trashed materials. Because every piece is made with reclaimed textiles, yours will truly be one-of-a-kind.
Highlights: Up-cycled textiles; every piece one-of-a-kind.
Investment: $$$
Shop recycled denim from Re/Done.
2. ABLE
ABLE is an ethical fashion leader, being the first to publish their wages on their website, offering an unprecedented level of transparency to consumers and citizens.
And ABLE is also committed to offering the best styles and fit too — their fashion-forward ethical jeans have just the right amount of stretch and come with the guarantee of unlimited exchanges to ensure you'll get that perfect fit.
Highlights: Ethically-made, transparent production
Investment: $$
Shop fair trade denim from ABLE.
3. Stella McCartney
Where luxury fashion meets conscious fashion lies Stella McCartney, a designer brand that's long embraced using eco-friendly and leather-free materials in its collections when nobody else was doing it.
Naturally, you'd be able to find thoughtfully made jeans here. Just be careful of draining your wallet with the steep price tags.
Highlights: Organic cotton; leather-free.
Investment: $$$$
Shop sustainable denim from Stella McCartney.
4. DL1961
Committed to sustainable manufacturing, DL1961 sources earth-minded fabrics like Tencel and follows circular practices — like recycling and treating 98% of their water, which saved nearly 900 million gallons of water last year.
The eco-friendly jeans from DL1961 are made transparently too with their entire production done in-house.
Highlights: Vertically integrated; water-efficient; uses Tencel.
Investment: $$
Shop sustainable denim from DL1961
5. Prana
As a brand dressing mindful yogis, travelers, and explorers of our planet, you can be sure Prana is taking sustainability very seriously. In its denim guide, you'll find six different styles all made with organic cotton.
If you're looking for classic, comfortable jeans made consciously in a wide range of earthy colors, look no further.
Highlights: Organic cotton; wide range of colors.
Investment: $$
Shop eco-friendly denim from Prana.
6. Patagonia
Known as a pioneer in sustainable outdoors apparel, Patagonia's eco-friendly jeans are no different than the rest of their collection. Their denim is designed for performance, built for durability, and crafted with conscious materials, such as organic cotton. The brand also has a number of certified fair trade jeans too.
Highlights: Organic cotton; Fair Trade production, water- and energy-efficient indigo dyeing.
Investment: $$
Shop organic & ethical denim from Patagonia.
7. Boyish
Eco-friendly denim brand Boyish is committed to more ecological practices throughout every step of their supply chain. From using conscious and innovative earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton, recycled cotton, and REFIBRA™ (made from a blend of upcycled scraps from the fashion industry with Tencel), to coloring their sustainable jeans with plant-based and low impact dyes, to implementing water recycling, Boyish is one of the world's most environmentally friendly denim brands.
Investment: $$
Highlights: Recycled and organic fabrics; water and energy efficient practices; eco dyes.
Shop sustainable jeans from Boyish.
8. Bella Dahl
Bella Dahl made its way into this list because of its unique dedication to clothes made with Tencel, a closed-loop fabric made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp.
Its "Tencera" collection includes bottoms, dresses, and more all made in washes that mimic the look of conventional denim but with lighter and softer textures.
Highlights: Uses Tencel
Investment: $$
Shop eco-friendly denim from Bella Dahl.
9. Warp + Weft
Conscious and size-inclusive denim brand Warp + Weft has a wide variety of skinny, straight, and wide-leg denim styles in sizes 00 - 24 plus the brand has maternity-friendly jeans, and denim with Pettie and Tall inseam lengths. The brand also has efficient water practices, using 1,400 fewer gallons of water per pair of jeans compared to conventional denim.
Highlights: Inclusive sizing; water-efficient.
Investment: $ - $$
Shop conscious denim from Warp + Weft
10. Sézane
Sézane's “Eco-Responsible Denim” is made from environmentally-friendly fabrics like GOTS-certified organic cotton for the main fabric and recycled polyester for added stretch. The sustainable denim jeans come in ultra-flattering and on-trend cuts, too.
For their production, Sézane works with long-term trusted partners and their workshops are audited annually.
Highlights: Uses organic and recycled fabrics.
Investment: $ -$$
Shop Sézane's eco-friendly denim.
11. Outland Denim
Founded initially to create employment opportunities for women survivors of sex trafficking, Outland Denim adheres to strict ethical manufacturing standards for its sustainable jeans.
Browse from a range of classic cuts and washes to find your perfect evergreen pair, and make these organic cotton jeans staples in your wardrobe for the years to come.
Highlights: Use of organic cotton and water-efficient practices; B-Corp Certified; 94% traceable supply chain with zero exploitation
Investment: $$$
Use code CONSCIOUS10 for 10% off your order
Shop organic denim from Outland Denim.
Photo via Nudie Jeans
12. Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans is the go-to shop to find denim for men or boyfriend jeans for your own closet. Offering free repair services and store discounts when you turn in old jeans you no longer want, Nudie Jeans has really thought of the entire life-cycle of what they make, proving their expertise in the industry and thoughtfulness for the people and environment they serve.
Highlights: Organic cotton; full transparency reports; free repair services.
Investment: $$$
Shop conscious denim from Nudie Jeans.
13. Mud Jeans
This guide to sustainable jeans wouldn't be complete without eco-friendly denim brand MUD Jeans! This industry-leading label uses earth-minded fabrics like certified recycled cotton and organic cotton, follows water-efficient practices (each pair of MUD Jeans uses just 8% of the water that a typical pair of jeans requires), and energy-efficient practices (they emit nearly 70% less CO2 per pair of jeans than the industry average.
And, if you want to refresh your wardrobe more frequently but still want to do it sustainably, you can also lease a pair of jeans from MUD Jeans!
Highlights: Organic and recycled materials; water and energy efficient; carbon-neutral (and working towards being carbon positive).
Investment: $$
Shop sustainable denim at Mud Jeans.
14. E.L.V. Denim
E.L.V. DENIM's jeans and jean jackets are made using discarded vintage denim found in warehouses throughout the UK. And the brand's zero-waste jeans are made in an ethical factory, where each pair of jeans is cut by hand and crafted with care by makers earning fair wages.
Highlights: Ethical, transparent production; uses 100% recycled materials.
Investment: $$$
Shop zero waste jeans at E.L.V. Denim
Jelt
Jelt makes eco-friendly elastic belts perfect for pairing with your sustainable denim. Not only are the belts made from recycled plastic bottles, but they are manufactured in Montana in ways that empower underserved women living on rural ranches. Feel good wearing a slim-fitting Jelt knowing you are supporting a Woman Owned Small Business that is B-Corp certified and a member of 1% for the Planet.
Highlights: Recycled materials; responsible manufacturing, gives back to charity. Investment: $32
