12 Sustainable Basics Brands With Organic Tees & More
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.
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 12 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. 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: $$-$$$
2. 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: $$-$$$
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. Q for Quinn
Q for Quinn believes that our everyday basics should be clean, comfortable, and responsibly made. Ethically produced in family-owned factories in India and Portugal, they create a range of toxin-free socks, underwear, and everyday essentials for the whole family. And, if a little one is on the way, they have a range of organic cotton maternity underwear too.
Every product they make is traceable across their supply chain — from farm to factory to final shipment. And every product is designed with sustainability and sensitive skin in mind, including the ability to filter products to shop for only “dye-free” and “plant dyed.”
Categories: Underwear, Socks, Tanks, T-shirts, Bottoms, Activewear
Materials: GOTS-certified Organic Cotton, Merino Wool, Biodegradable Trims
Size Range: XS–XXXL
Price: $$
6. tentree
A brand that derives its name for their sustainability initiative that plants ten trees (ten-tree) for each item purchased, tentree creates ethically crafted essentials that reflect the importance of quality clothing.
Most of the brand’s basics are eligible for their take-back program which repurposes and recycles worn-out tentree clothing, so that nothing goes to waste.
Categories: T-shirts, Tanks, Tops, Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Dresses, Shorts, Skirts, and Leggings
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Hemp, and Recycled polyester
Size Range: XS–XL
Price: $$
7. 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: $$
8. Citizen Wolf
There’s nothing we love more than a well-fitted high-quality t-shirt that can be worn with just about anything, and Citizen Wolf agrees. Using their impressive Magic Fit® algorithm, the Sydney-based zero-waste brand wants to help you get a custom t-shirt that fits like a dream.
Short-sleeved, full-sleeved, polo, or sweatshirt, Citizen Wolf will do it all while offering you a range of colors to choose from.
Categories: Wide range of T-shirts
Materials: Organic cotton
Size Range: Custom-made to your size
Price: $$
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. 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: $$-$$$
11. 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: $$-$$$
12. 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: $$-$$$