15 Sustainable Basics Brands With Organic Tees & More
By Jharna Pariani
Explore a range of eco-friendly t-shirts, tanks, tops, shorts, and many more styles that’ll make it to your everyday outfit rotation in no time.
Wardrobe basics are like your best buddies. They are easy and reliable companions that never cease to make you feel comfortable, literally and sartorially. Whether in the form of a pair of breezy shorts that aren’t visible during Zoom calls when you’re working from home or in the form of slouchy sweatshirts that make you feel at ease when you’re bloated during that time of the month.
That being said, your basics don’t have to be basic.
We’ve hunted down a selection of sustainable basics brands that are offering a range of elevated everyday pieces that don’t compromise on chic style or creature comforts. And since basics are those investment pieces you’ll find yourself turning to again and again, it goes without saying that they have to be high-quality.
If you’re beginning to wonder what this could mean for your wardrobe, we’ve found brands offering polished eco-friendly basics that’ll help you build your capsule wardrobe and upgrade your worn-out garb to quality pieces.
Ahead, discover 15 brands offering a range of versatile, comfortable, and made-to-last basics that are anything but basic.
Note: Remember to make the most of everything you already own first, swap or borrow clothes from friends, browse through some of our favorite secondhand or consignment shops or thrift stores near you, then prioritize quality and durability over quantity with everything new you purchase!
This guide contains affiliate links, which means we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase through some of these links. This helps us continue to create these free resources for you! As always, we only feature brands we love (and that we think you'll love too!) and that meet CFC's strict sustainability criteria.
Where to Find Sustainable Basics
1. Organic Basics
Just as its namesake suggests, Organic Basics is a Danish brand creating a range of everyday basics using organic and eco-minded fabrics.
Many of their styles are treated with natural dyes made from non-edible agricultural industrial waste like scraps from the production of rosemary, palmetto fruit, and beetroot that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Categories: T-shirts, Tops, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Bottoms, Shirts, and Knitwear
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Recycled nylon, and Recycled wool
Size Range: XS–XXL
Price: $$-$$$
2. pact
Pact is the place to find a range of simple and fail-safe organic cotton basics that can easily be dressed up or down.
With a dedicated collection of buttery soft basics, their Softspun Collection offers elevated t-shirts that can also be purchased in bundles at a discounted rate when you choose a particular style in three different colors.
In addition to being made from GOTS Certified organic cotton, all their pieces are made in Fair Trade Certified™ factories.
P.S. Expecting mothers can find a range of maternity basics too!
Categories: Tops, Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Dresses, Skirts, Leggings, Sweatpants, Pants, and Shorts
Materials: Organic cotton
Size Range: XS–XXL
Price: $$-$$$
3. Toad&Co
Inject some vibrant prints and colors into your everyday basics with a little help from Toad&Co’s everyday essentials.
Not just big on sustainable values, the brand is also ethically-driven in its intentions and has partnered with warehouses that employ and train individuals with developmental disabilities, while also facilitating outdoor adventures for them.
Categories: Dresses, T-shirts, Tops, Pants, Jumpsuits, Overalls, Skirts, Skorts, and Shorts
Materials: Organic cotton, Hemp, TENCEL™ Lyocell, LENZING™ Modal, and Recycled fibers
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$-$$$
4. Rawganique
Rawganique creates a range of organic everyday pieces that are geared toward chemically-sensitive customers. All of their pieces are treated with either low-impact biodegradable fiber-reactive dyes or natural dyes derived from fruits, vegetables, and bark.
With eco-affirmative slogans and nature motifs, their eco-printed t-shirts are an absolute joy to peruse through.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Camis, Shirts, Blouses, Tunics, Leggings, Sweatpants, and Shorts
Materials: Organic cotton, Hemp, and Linen
Size Range: XS–XXL
Price: $$-$$$
5. Vege Threads
Based out of Australia, Vege Threads creates everyday basics using hemp and organic cotton blends. All of their pieces are treated using low-impact, non-toxic dyes and are available in an extended size range with relaxed styles that were made for lounging around.
The brand also creates a collection of bump-friendly essentials for moms-to-be.
Categories: T-shirts, Dresses, Jumpsuits, Tracksuits, and Bottoms
Materials: Organic cotton, Hemp, and Merino wool
Size Range: US 0–14
Price: $$-$$$
6. People Tree
People Tree is an environmentally and ethically-responsible brand based out of the UK that creates timeless basics that make you feel great, are easy to style, and won’t feel dated.
Accurately described as “the underpinnings of every wardrobe,” their dedicated collection of “Essentials” is a great place to find elevated pieces.
Categories: Dresses, Tops, Skirts, Pants, and Knitwear
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Responsible wool, and Linen
Size Range: US 2–14
Price: $$-$$$
7. tentree
A brand that derives its name for their sustainability initiative that plants ten trees (ten-tree) for each item purchased, tentree creates ethically crafted essentials that reflect the importance of quality clothing.
Most of the brand’s basics are eligible for their take-back program which repurposes and recycles worn-out tentree clothing, so that nothing goes to waste.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Tops, Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Dresses, Shorts, Skirts, and Leggings
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Hemp, and Recycled polyester
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$
8. Rapanui
Rapanui is a UK-based brand creating zero-waste basics on a made-to-order basis. Adorned with gorgeous nature-inspired prints using water-based inks and low-waste printing tech, you’ll find yourself reaching for their affordable basics time and again.
Since their pieces are made from 100% organic cotton, the brand encourages returning worn-out Rapanui pieces that can be reprocessed, respun, and made into new products to create their “recycled collection” and offer its circular customers store credit in return.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Tops, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Leggings, and Shorts
Materials: Organic cotton
Size Range: US 4–16
Price: $$
9. Harvest & Mill
Harvest & Mill creates day-to-day basics that are made locally, responsibly, and can be composted at the end of their life. All of their pieces are made using 100% organic cotton in dye-free or naturally dyed styles in the form of relaxed fits that were designed for days spent cozying up indoors.
The brand also minimizes its carbon footprint by keeping its supply chain localized.
Categories: T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Pants, and Shorts
Materials: Organic cotton
Size Range: S–XL
Price: $$-$$$
10. Citizen Wolf
There’s nothing we love more than a well-fitted high-quality t-shirt that can be worn with just about anything, and Citizen Wolf agrees. Using their impressive Magic Fit® algorithm, the Sydney-based zero-waste brand wants to help you get a custom t-shirt that fits like a dream.
Short-sleeved, full-sleeved, polo, or sweatshirt, Citizen Wolf will do it all while offering you a range of colors to choose from.
Categories: Wide range of T-shirts
Materials: Organic cotton
Size Range: Custom-made to your size
Price: $$
11. Phyne
Based out of Germany, Phyne is a minimalist streetwear brand that doesn’t underestimate the sartorial power of basics. Most of their styles are offered in a regular and oversized fit for the ones who prefer wearing relaxed and boxy shapes.
All of their pieces are treated with natural dyes and are responsibly manufactured.
Categories: T-shirts, Sweatshirts, and Hoodies
Materials: Organic cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell
Size Range: XS–L
Price: $$
12. ASKET
Stockholm-based ASKET’s design philosophy revolves around the timeless capsule wardrobe that was made to transcend trends and surpass seasons. With that in mind, you can expect to find a range of “meaningful essentials” — as the brand would like to call it — that are equal parts stylish and sustainable.
The brand is completely transparent about its pricing and has a traceable supply chain. They also offer a care, repair, and revive program to keep their clothes in circulation for longer.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Shirts, Knitwear, and Denim
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Recycled wool, and Recycled cashmere
Size Range: XXS–XXL
Price: $$-$$$
13. MATE the Label
MATE the label is a woman-owned brand based out of Los Angeles creating non-toxic essentials for everyday wear. The brand is highly conscious of its carbon footprint and minimizes it by maintaining a localized supply chain within 17 miles of its headquarters.
The brand’s cost-per-wear breakdown listed for every item makes shopping for essentials worth your while.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Sweatshirts, Sweatpants, Dresses, and Bottoms
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and Linen
Size Range: US 0–20
Price: $$-$$$
14. Made Trade
Consciously handcrafted with the coziest of materials, Made Trade’s curation of sustainable basics is thoughtfully created by fair trade, vegan, sustainable, and BIPOC- and/or Women-owned brands.
With a range of handcrafted pieces that are made to stand out, you can wear these everyday essentials for a quick coffee run or even at work. All of the brands they carry are thoroughly vetted to meet their ethical and sustainable standards.
Categories: T-shirts, Shirts, Tanks, Tunics, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, and Bottoms
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Linen, Hemp, Modal, Bamboo, Wool, and Regenerative cotton
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$-$$$
15. Kotn
Kotn is a Canadian farm-to-fashion brand creating elevated everyday basics available in a range of neutral hues that can easily work with your existing wardrobe.
Made from low-impact plant-based fibers, the brand uses its profits to help fund the education of children in rural Egypt, where a portion of its cotton is grown.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Dresses, Tops, Knitwear, and Bottoms
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Merino wool, BCI cotton, Linen, and Egyptian cotton
Size Range: XXS–XL
Price: $$-$$$
About the Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
