Sustainable clothing brands make apparel out of environmentally-friendly materials. Not only do these brands strive to use organic and recycled fabrics, but they are also committed to reducing the overall impact of production—often aiming for carbon-neutral operations and shipping.
- Best Overall: Pact
- Best Budget: Happy Earth
- Best for Plus Size: Reformation
- Best for Men’s Clothing: Taylor Stitch
- Best for Trendy Outfits: Sézane
- Best BIPOC-Owned: Two Days Off
- Best Luxury Brand: Stella McCartney
- Best for Organic Materials: Eileen Fisher
The best sustainable clothing brands let customers choose from organic, recycled, or otherwise sustainable fibers. Ideally, shoppers can choose reasonably priced, sustainable pieces without having to sacrifice style and quality. Many top designers also commit to eco-friendly and socially responsible manufacturing processes and donate a portion of proceeds to environmentally conscious organizations. Here we reviewed the best sustainable clothing brands.
Best Overall: Pact
- Made in: India- Price: $- Sizes: XS–XXL
Why We Chose It
Pact makes all of its clothing with organic cotton and offers clothes for men, women, and kids at an affordable price point.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Everything is made from organic cotton- Clothing available for men, women, kids, and babies- Shoppers can choose to offset the carbon footprint of their shipments
Cons
- Clothing does not use recycled fibers
Overview
Pact is one of the most popular sustainable clothing brands on the market and offers men’s, women’s, kids’, and baby clothing made from organic cotton. Not only does Pact’s cotton use 91% less water to cultivate than conventional cotton, it omits any toxic chemical and is Certified Organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The company also partners with Fair Trade Certified factories that ensure safe working conditions, employee empowerment, and environmental protection.
Customers get free shipping on orders of about $50 or more and can choose to add green shipping via Cloverly. This means the carbon footprint of your order will be offset through the purchase of wind or solar credits. Beyond Pact’s sustainable clothing, the company’s Give Back Box lets shoppers donate their old clothes to nonprofits, thereby increasing the lifecycle of the items.
Best Budget: Happy Earth
- Made in: Not disclosed- Price: $- Sizes: XS–XXL
Shoppers looking for affordable, casual apparel like tees, outerwear, and leggings will love Happy Earth’s sustainable materials, ethical practices, and net-negative emissions.
- Products are made from organic cotton, natural bamboo, recycled fibers, and sustainable cork- Certified B Corporation and member of 1% for the Planet- 100% carbon neutral
- More limited selection than other sustainable clothing brands
Happy Earth is a Certified B Corporation that sells women’s apparel and accessories. Shoppers can choose from organic cotton short-sleeved, long-sleeved, and oversized tees as well as sweatshirts and outerwear, tank tops, and sustainable leggings made from organic cotton and Tencel. While the company’s selection is more limited than other sustainable brands, it boasts several popular T-shirt designs and collections.
In addition to being a Certified B Corporation, Happy Earth is a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning it has pledged to donate the equivalent of 1% of its gross sales to environmental causes. The company only sources vegan materials and works with its partners to reduce waste throughout their supply chains. Finally, Happy Earth strives to ensure fair wages and healthy conditions in the fashion industry and is net-negative, including transportation.
Best for Plus Size: Reformation
- Made in: Los Angeles- Price: $$- Sizes: XS-XL
Reformation offers beautiful, sustainable clothing in extended sizing with an extensive range of styles and colorways.
- Clothing is available in sizes XS to XL- Relies on sustainable manufacturing practices and invests in green building infrastructure - 100% carbon neutral since 2015
- Does not sell men’s clothing
Reformation is an LA-based sustainable clothing company that sells dresses, tops, jeans, and outerwear. Customers can also choose from swimsuits, intimates, and loungewear as well as apparel for weddings and parties. The brand stands out because of its wide selection of beautiful pieces in extended sizes, including a number of options under $150. Like many sustainable clothing brands, Reformation partners with vendors and suppliers that meet high standards around social responsibility and non-toxic materials.
Products have been 100% carbon-neutral since 2015 and the company is working to get certified by Climate Neutral, a third-party organization that verifies companies that achieve net-zero carbon emissions. In addition, the company takes steps to offset the use of resources by partnering with water restoration and clean energy projects and recycles about 75% of all its garbage.
Best for Men’s Clothing: Taylor Stitch
- Made in: USA and China- Price: $$- Sizes: XS–XXL
Men looking to update their wardrobes with sustainable, stylish clothing will love Taylor Stitch’s clean silhouettes and organic, recycled, and otherwise sustainable materials.
- Made from organic cotton, upcycled cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, and other sustainable materials- Men can choose from shirts, bottoms, outerwear, footwear, and accessories- Automatically offsets the carbon footprint of shipping products to customers
- Taylor Stitch sells leather jackets as part of its outerwear collection
Taylor Stitch is a men’s clothing brand that sources organic, recycled, and otherwise sustainable materials for its garments. The company offers shoppers footwear, accessories, and apparel including shirts, bottoms, denim, and outerwear. More than 99% of its cotton products are made from 100% organic cotton, and other popular items are made from upcycled cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp. While the brand utilizes merino wool, yak wool, and leather, it opts for ethical practices where possible.
The use of these materials has saved over 33 million gallons of water by switching to 100% organic woven shifting. Additionally, the packaging uses 100% post-consumer recycled fibers, and the company plans to transition to 80% recycled materials for its poly bags, tags, and labels by the end of 2021. Taylor Stitch also extends the use of its pieces by replacing or repairing damaged and defective pieces for the life of the product.
Best for Trendy Outfits: Sézane
- Made in: Two thirds of products made in Europe- Price: $$- Sizes: XS–XXL
Sézane’s beautifully designed and tailored clothing and accessories are trendy while still maintaining classic Parisian silhouettes.
- Most products made from organic cotton, certified materials, recycled polyester, and vegetable-tanned leather- More than half of products are certified by four industry-leading labels - Shoppers can see which values (organic, recycled, etc.) apply to each item of clothing
- Sells leather shoes and accessories, though the brand uses the less harmful vegetable tanning process
Sézane is a Parisian-inspired sustainable clothing brand that was founded in 2013. With over 2.5 million followers on Instagram, the stylish brand is hugely popular because of its eco-friendly designs and materials. The company offers four eco-friendly lines, including essentials, denim, leisurewear, and cashmere.
In fact, more than half of the brand’s pieces are GOTS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, or FSC certified to ensure organic status, the absence of harmful chemicals, and sourcing from sustainably managed forests, respectively. Sézane also boasts a recycling program to help reduce the footprint of fast fashion, all of its locations are powered by renewable energy, and it reduced the overall carbon footprint of its garments by 22% in a year.
Best BIPOC-Owned: Two Days Off
- Made in: Los Angeles- Price: $$- Sizes: XS–4XL
Two Days Off is our favorite BIPOC-owned, sustainable clothing brand because of the company’s beautiful apparel and carbon-neutral certification.
- Apparel is made from sustainable materials like deadstock cotton- Items are small batch-produced to prevent overproduction and wasted material- Climate Neutral Certified as of 2020
- Does not offer men’s clothing
Founded by designer and scientist Gina Stovall in 2018, Two Days Off is a lifestyle and clothing brand rooted in sustainability. All of the brand’s apparel is handmade in small batches in Los Angeles from sustainable materials like deadstock cotton, and linen. All of the brand’s garments are hand-cut and sewn in small batches to prevent waste.
Outside of the studio, all of Two Days Off’s products ship without plastic, and shipping materials are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. The company is also Climate Neutral Certified, meaning it has measured, reduced, and offset its entire footprint using verified carbon credits.
Best Luxury Brand: Stella McCartney
- Made in: UK, Italy, China, USA, and Africa- Price: $$$- Sizes: XS-XXL
Well known for its sustainability initiatives and dedication to eco-friendly materials and operations, Stella McCartney is our favorite sustainable luxury brand.
- Uses a number of sustainable materials, including Coreva biodegradable denim- Does not use leather, feathers, fur, mohair, or skin since its founding - Eco Impact reporting tool helps the company measure its environmental impacts
- The brand is the most expensive option we considered
Stella McCartney launched her namesake brand in 2001 with a commitment to designing clothing without the use of leather, feathers, fur, mohair, or skin. The brand uses a number of innovative and environmentally-friendly fabrics like Bolt Threads’ Microsilk, Econyl regenerated nylon, Bold Thread’s Mylo mushroom leather, Evrnu’s NuCycle yarn, and KOBA Fur Free Fur. The line’s eye-catching ready-to-wear line includes everything from lingerie and sleepwear to swimwear, knitwear, and dresses.
In addition to sustainable fashion, this luxury brand powers its stores with solar panels, uses certified sustainable paper and cardboard packaging, and has developed several initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its clothing. For example, the Clevercare system helps consumers care for their clothing more sustainably, and the Eco Impact report serves as a natural capital accounting tool to measure the brand’s environmental impacts.
Best for Organic Materials: Eileen Fisher
- Made in: USA and China- Price: $$- Sizes: PP–3X
Shoppers who want natural, organic materials will love EIleen Fisher’s wardrobe staples like linen tops, pants, and jumpsuits.
- 99% of cotton is organic and 16% is traceable- Collections make it easy to stick to a minimalist, capsule wardrobe- Renew take-back program lets customers extend the life of clothing and fibers
- Styles are best suited to a minimalist style
Founded in 1984, Eileen Fisher is a sustainable clothing brand that puts a focus on clothing design with a minimal impact on the environment. Shoppers can choose from a large selection of beautiful and minimalist pieces and collections in organic cotton and linen, ponte, silk, and other sustainable materials.
In addition to its own clothing line, Eileen Fisher’s Renew and Waste No More teams collect used clothing items, deconstruct them, and transform them into new materials for home decor and accessories.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking to give your wardrobe a green makeover, shopping for sustainable clothing brands is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. While thrifting is a fun way to reduce your dependence on fast fashion, there are a number of stylish and high-quality brands that produce lower impact apparel and accessories.
Our overall best sustainable clothing brand—Pact—is a crowd favorite because of the company’s commitment to creating stylish, organic cotton apparel. Pact more affordable than many of the top sustainable clothing brands, and it also has a wide selection for women, men, kids, and babies.
Compare the Best Sustainable Clothing Brands
Sustainable Clothing Brand Certifications
Sustainable clothing brands often tout certifications to demonstrate their commitment to more eco-friendly practices. Before shopping for a more environmentally-friendly wardrobe, familiarize yourself with the most common sustainability certifications. These certifications help consumers make informed decisions and include:
- Certified Vegan: Certified Vegan apparel and accessories don’t contain animal products or byproducts and have not been tested on animals. The certification can apply to clothing and accessories as well as food, drinks, personal care items, textiles and linens, and mattresses and pillows. USDA Organic: Labeling under the USDA National Organic Program requires that companies meet strict pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer requirements when cultivating materials. In the apparel industry, this is most common with the cultivation of cotton, though the certification can also apply to food, drinks, personal care items, and textiles.Fair Trade Certified: Fair Trade Certified products are required to uphold high standards around income sustainability, community and individual well-being, empowerment, and environmental stewardship. In the fashion industry, this means ensuring fair labor, workers’ rights, and sustainable land management. 1% for the Planet: Members of the 1% for the Planet program pledge to directly contribute the equivalent of 1% of their gross sales to environmental charities. Keep in mind, however, that being a 1% for the Planet member does not mean the brand’s clothing or other products are sustainable. Certified B Corporation: Certified B Corporations are required to meet rigorous criteria pertaining to their impact on the environment, community, workers, and customers. There are also certain legal requirements that must be met, including updating governing documents to reflect the B Corp mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Sustainable Clothing Brands?
Sustainable clothing companies are brands that use eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Beyond the use of more responsible materials, sustainable clothing brands often aim to uphold stricter standards around sourcing and manufacturing processes. These companies may also be Certified B Corporations, members of 1% for the Planet, and otherwise certified by third-party organizations.
Is Thrifting a Sustainable Clothing Option?
Thrifting is one of the more sustainable clothing options because it can reduce the cost and carbon footprint of new clothes and shipping. It’s estimated that the cotton needed to create a new pair of blue jeans requires about 1,800 gallons of water to grow; t-shirts take about 400 gallons. By buying second-hand clothing instead of new pieces, shoppers can reduce the demand for fast fashion and move towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Where Can I Buy Sustainable Clothing?
Now, more than ever, shoppers can access a wide selection of sustainable clothing online and in stores. To find sustainable clothing locally, search for boutiques that offer organic and recycled fabrics, or that advertise organic, vegan, and otherwise eco-friendly options.
Methodology
To identify the best sustainable clothing brands, we compared 25 online and brick-and-mortar brands based on cost, materials, and selection of products. We also evaluated each brand’s commitment to environmentally-friendly and socially responsible manufacturing standards and sustainable certifications. Finally, we considered whether each company takes any additional steps toward sustainability, such as membership in 1% for the Planet.
Pact. “How Organic Cotton Farming Saves Water.”
Reformation. “Sustainable practices.”
Taylor Stitch. “Why Organic Cotton Matters.”
Taylor Stitch. “Responsibility.”
Sezane. “Our Sustainable Commitments.”
The 71 Percent. “Industrial Water Usage – What Does It Take to Make These Items.”
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