As a sustainable fashion blogger, I’m commonly asked for recommendations on ethical and sustainable brands. Here’s a list of brands that I’ve vetted. None of these brands is perfect, but based on my research, I think they’re doing good things for the planet and its people, and are willing to improve.
This is a work-in-progress, as I don’t buy much clothing and do my best to vet each brand before adding it to the list. If you’d like to see a certain brand here, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll check it out!
If you want to learn how to research brands, see my post on how to tell if a brand is sustainable or greenwashing.
Some of these are affiliate links, meaning that I earn a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you. This income allows me to keep creating educational content on sustainable fashion. If you can, please always shop your closet, swap, or shop secondhand before buying new.
More Affordable
Pact—clothes made from GOTS-certified and Fair Trade cotton
For Days—organic cotton clothes with a closed loop model (you can send old clothes back for recycling)
Everlane is not on this list because of their greenwashing and unethical labor practices.
Don’t forget secondhand sites and platforms, too:
- eBay
- Poshmark (get $10 off your first purchase with my referral link)
- ThredUP (get $10 off your first purchase with my referral link)
- Mercari
- Depop
Not as Affordable but Still Great Brands
Dazey LA—colorful clothing and fun prints made from organic and recyled materials. Workers are paid a living wage.
Kotn—Canadian company that invests in the Egyptian cotton farming community; certified B Corp (masculine and feminine-presenting options)
MATE the Label—Loungewear and super chic jumpsuits made from sustainable materials like certified organic cotton, linen, and TENCEL. Manufactured locally in the US with a commitment to fair wages and workers’ rights.
Outerknown—clothing for active lifestyles made by workers who are paid a fair wage (masculine and feminine-presenting options)
Mayamiko—bold pieces made from locally-sourced fabric in Malawi by artisans who are paid a living wage. (use code LILYFANG10 for 10% off)
Tentree—Canadian company that plants 10 trees per item sold; certified B Corp (masculine and feminine-presenting options)
Two Days Off—Carbon-neutral clothing brand owned by a Black woman climate scientist
Patagonia—Quality activewear often made with recycled or organic materials. Encourages customers to buy only what they need, and also offers a used clothing selection and workshops on fixing your clothes. (masculine and feminine-presenting options)
More Size-inclusive
Loud Bodies (up to 10X)—gorgeous flowy dresses made from natural materials in a small atelier in Romania
Eileen Fisher (up to 3X)—Certified B Corp with sleek, minimalistic pieces (pretty pricey though)
Girlfriend Collective (up to 6X)—Activewear made from recycled water bottles; SA8000 certified factory and Oeko-tex certified fabric
Tradlands (up to 5X)—Cozy knits and flowy dresses made by workers who are paid a living wage
CHNGE (up to 4X)—Edgy streetwear made from certified organic cotton in factories with various fair labor certifications
Christy Dawn (up to 3X)—Flowy floral dresses crafted locally in the US by workers who are paid a living wage
HARA (up to 5X)—Australian brand making loungewear and undies from sustainable materials like Lyocell
Made in the USA
“Made in America” clothing isn’t always ethical, but here are some brands doing it right.
Miakoda—size-inclusive loungewear made in NYC
Harvest & Mill—loungewear grown and sewn in the US
MATE the Label—size-inclusive made in the US
Underwear
See my guide to sustainable underwear for a more in-depth look at these brands.
Boody—Bamboo viscose and organic cotton undies & loungewear made in a closed-loop system and in WRAP-certified factories (super comfy, I really like their full brief undies). Sizes 2XL-4XL coming in March 2021.
Organic Basics—B Corp using sustainable and innovative fabrics, like TENCEL (use code LILYOOBC for 10% off; expires April 30, 2021)
Knickey—underwear made from certified organic cotton in Fair Trade factories. Offers both neutral and fun colors. Recycle your old underwear from any brand to get a free pair of Knickey! (also use code IMPERFECTIDEALIST for 10% off)
WAMA—sturdy briefs and boxers made from organic cotton and hemp
Girlfriend Collective—seamless and size-inclusive underwear made from recycled water bottles
Allbirds—more size-inclusive basics made from a unique blend of natural and innovative materials including TENCEL, Lyocell, and responsible wool.
Pact—more affordable organic cotton underwear made in a Fair Trade factory
Parade—more size-inclusive and vibrantly-colored underwear made from recycled materials. Edit: Since posting, I have been told that Parade has not been great about paying microinfluencers and their undies have caused several people yeast infections. Please proceed with caution.
Shoes
Thousand Fell—closed-loop vegan sneakers made from natural materials
Allbirds—B Corp with sneakers made from sustainable materials (instead of synthetics). Even has carbon-neutral running shoes (first photo in post). See my full review of the Allbirds Tree Dashers. Use my affiliate link to get a free pair of socks with any shoe or clothing purchase, other than underwear (add socks and the other item to your cart).
Cariuma—Brazilian brand with canvas sneakers made from recycled and natural materials.
Rothy’s—Shoes and bags made from recycled plastic.
Jewelry
SnowdropAccessories (body, boob, and vulva-shaped earrings)—small WOC-owned Etsy business
