If you’re looking to create a sustainable and eco-friendly wardrobe, then you’ll be happy to learn that being a conscious shopper doesn’t mean you have to compromise style. These days, more and more brands are pledging to reduce their footprint on the environment since fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world.
And since sustainability is a trend with staying power that we can certainly get behind, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite eco-friendly clothing brands (six to be specific). Here, the best brands to shop if ethical fashion is as important to you as looking incredible.
1- & Other Stories // website
This ultra-feminine retro-inspired brand is on the more affordable end of sustainable clothing. Known for its whimsical florals and trendy-yet-timeless touches, & Other Stories crafts clothing from 100 percent sustainably sourced cotton and shoes from a combination of recycled plastic and VEGEA, a vegan leather-esque material that’s partially created from winemaking by-products. (Cheers to that!) In addition to its current efforts to lessen the environmental impact of fashion, & Other Stories aims to use entirely recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030.
2- Everlane // website
Everlane’s mission is simple: Fewer, better clothes. The brand is celebrated not only for its classic style but also for its transparency in relation to where pieces are made, fabrics are sourced and the environmental impact they have. Everlane partners with ethical factories across the globe to create high-quality, timeless pieces that can be worn again and again. In line with their theme of “radical transparency,” the brand even shares the exact cost and markup of each product sold. It’s conscious shopping at its finest.
3- Threads 4 Thought // website
In addition to creating beautiful basics and luxe athleisure, Threads 4 Thought takes sustainability seriously. The company uses only thoughtfully produced materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and lenzing modal and works with factories that foster sustainable production and industry-best working conditions. The brand even shares their total environmental impact (ie: driving emissions avoided as well as drinking water and electricity saved) on their homepage. Oh, and did we mention Threads 4 Thought focuses on size inclusivity and partners with the International Rescue Committee to assist in-need communities across the world?
It truly is a one-stop-shop.
4- Organic Basics // website
For Organic Basics, sustainable sourcing and ethical craftsmanship isn’t just a plus—it’s essential to the way they do business. Every piece the brand creates is made to last, with both function and fashion in mind. The fabrics the Danish company utilizes, like organic cotton as well as recycled nylon, cashmere and wool, are selected with renewability, recycling and biodegradation in mind. The factories they use are safe, pay fair wages and have work perks like free lunch and childcare (sadly, this is not the norm for many retailers). Suffice it to say, Organic Basics checks all the boxes.
5- The RealReal // website
For the die-hard fashionistas among us, The RealReal is the best place to indulge in high-fashion that doesn’t have a high impact on the environment. In an effort to make designer goods more accessible and reduce waste, the startup specializes in resale. So, a Chanel blazer that has occupied the back of one person’s closet can find a new life at the center of yours—and for a fraction of the original price. Every item is professionally authenticated and because the pieces are previously owned, you can feel good about your purchase. Pro tip: The RealReal also makes consigning after your closet clean-out incredibly easy.
6- All Birds // website
Comfort is key when investing in a new pair of shoes, but Allbirds goes a step (sorry, had to) above and sources materials like merino wool, recycled bottles, sugarcane, castor bean oil, and recycled cardboard to make stylish sneakers that you can feel good about. The company is committed to using renewable resources, some of which even remove carbon from the atmosphere in the process. That’s a total win-win. Allbirds even takes sustainable standards further and utilizes a third party to ensure their farms and factories are practicing what they preach.
The first step to creating a sustainable closet is zeroing in on what you have, what you want, and what you can recycle. Here at dressCODE, we can help with that. Then, when you’re ready to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe, consider one of these six brands that meld style with sustainability!
