18 Ethical and Sustainable Fashion Brands to Watch
Image Credit: Christy Dawn
Reality check: Fashion as we know it thrives on trends, novelty, and consumption. And due to 1) our complex supply chains, 2) modern technology enabling mindless mass production, 3) the wide-spread use of fibers, dyes and chemicals we may not necessarily have known to be toxic when they were first used, 4) the way we're wired to feel immediate gratification from shopping and a desire to keep up and stay on trend, and 5) many other factors... this has become a formula of disaster for our planet's health (bad news for us), the health of people and animals in the supply chain, our own mental and physical well-being, and our bank accounts.
But no doom and gloom here. The good news is that we're waking up to this reality, and every day now, we see new for-purpose companies pop up and pre-existing companies improve their social responsibility.
In celebration of this, we put together this guide to 21 of our favorite established and up-and-coming ethical and sustainable fashion brands you can keep an eye out for. They're not perfect, but they're all on track to push the industry in a healthier direction. And we give that three thumbs-up.
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.
Apparel
Girlfriend
Highlights: comfy activewear made from recycled fibers + loungewear made from organic & recycled cotton; this inclusive brand carries sizes XXS - 6XL and has a gender-neutral collection
Investment: $$
Amour Vert
Highlights: eco-fashion label with elevated apparel and casual loungewear made from thoughtful materials like modal from Beechwood, Tencel, and organic cotton; has a zero-waste collection; produces a majority of their pieces locally in the Bay Area
Investment: $$ - $$$
Seek Collective
Highlights: fair fashion brand partnering with artisan communities in India; each piece is slowly made using traditional heritage techniques such as block-printing, natural dyeing, and handloom weaving
Investment: $$ - $$$
SOTELA
Highlights: Use of eco-minded fibers such as linen, lyocell, and organic cotton; body-positive brand with inclusive sizing (unique sizing system fits traditional sizes 0-30); WOC-owned brand
Investment: $$$
Mate The Label
Highlights: Seasonless designs; organic cotton basics, loungewear, and sleepwear.
Investment: $$
Re/Done
Highlights: Use of up-cycled vintage Levi's and other up-cycled textiles
Investment: $$$
The Tiny Closet Shop
Highlights: Slow fashion brand with timeless yet unique quality pieces made from fibers like TENCEL Modal; garments are handmade to order; Black woman-owned brand
Investment: $$
Outerknown
Highlights: Activewear, outerwear, and apparel made responsibly from materials like organic cotton, hemp, and recycled wool; offers transparency into full supplier list; committed to an ongoing sustainability journey
Investment: $$
Christy Dawn
Highlights: Dreamy romantic dresses and other eco-friendly clothing made from deadstock fabrics; currently investing into regenerative cotton; made in LA
Investment: $$$
Organic Basics
Highlights: Comfy underwear and basics made from organic and eco fabrics; traceability into supply chain; factories hold certifications such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and REACH
Investment: $$
Altar
Highlights: Versatile, eco-friendly clothing made from deadstock fabrics in small batches in Portland or LA; carries sizes S - 6XL
Investment: $$
Mien
Highlights: Effortless clothing made ethically in small batches in LA; uses fibers like linen and GOTS certified organic cotton and only AZO-free dyes; sizes XS - 3XL; WOC-owned sustainable fashion brand
Investment: $$
Aliya Wanek
Highlights: Use of natural fibers throughout collections such as hemp and organic cotton; Black woman-owned brand
Investment: $$
Shoes & accessories
Veja
Highlights: Use of natural rubber, vegetable-tanned leather, organic canvas, rPET, etc.
Investment: $$
Nisolo
Highlights: Artisan-made; ensures fair living wages throughout their supply chain
Investment: $$
Accompany
Highlights: One-stop-shop for slow, artisan-crafted goods made with conscious materials
Investment: $$
AAKS
Highlights: Bold handbags made with woven raffia; thoughtfully handcrafted in Ghana; Black woman-owned brand
Investment: $$$
While many of these brands have gotten scrappy and trashy (using otherwise tossed textiles, which we think is awesome), we still bow down to the saying: "Buy less, buy better"—while also treasure-hunting at our selected top 7 online secondhand retailers.
