What are ethical clothes? Can you find quality affordable ethical clothing? Well, if you are environmentally conscious, this piece has all these answers and more.
Lately, there’s been a rise in brands supplying sustainable and affordable clothing options. From eco-friendly materials to sustainable production methods, these brands are working hard to provide ethical and stylish clothing that is also wallet-friendly.
These brands specialize in clothing made from sustainable materials and have a low environmental impact. Still, they are designed with comfort and style in mind. Even on a tight budget, these affordable, ethical brands offer high-quality apparel that you can trust.
In this piece, I will outline the 16 best brands. But first;
Table of Contents
- What is Sustainable Clothing?
- Why is Sustainable Fashion More Costly than Conventional/Fast Fashion?
- Best Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands
- 1. Pact Apparel
- 2. Krochet Kids Intl.
- 3. Urban Outfitters
- 4. Tentree
- 5. Passion Lilie
- 6. KOTN
- 7. Tamga Designs
- 8. Fair Trade Winds
- 9. Accessorize London
- 10. Nu-In
- 11. No Nasties
- 12. Lucy and Yak
- 13. CHNGE
- 14. The Great Beyond
- 15. Alternative Apparel
- 16. Mata Traders
- What is Ethical Fashion?
- Why Choose Ethical Fashion Brands?
What is Sustainable Clothing?
Sustainable clothing refers to garments made using sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques and materials. These clothes are designed to protect the environment and the people who produce them. Typically, they have a low environmental impact, are made with eco-materials, and help conserve resources.
The sustainable fashion industry designs and produces ethically and sustainably made clothes. Sustainable fashion improves human rights while also being affordable and stylish. Also, it helps sustain the quality of life of textile industry workers.
Generally, sustainable fashion brands can help create a more sustainable future for both people and the planet. This is possible when they source materials ethically and use environmentally friendly production practices.
Therefore, you support sustainable initiatives if you purchase clothing from these brands. Subsequently, you’ll be positively impacting the world around you.
Why is Sustainable Fashion More Costly than Conventional/Fast Fashion?
Sustainable fashion is more costly than conventional/fast fashion. That’s no secret! And it’s all because it requires more time, effort, and resources to produce them.
For example, organic cotton requires three times the amount of water to grow as in-organic cotton. Thus, it takes more time and care to produce organic cotton clothing.
In addition, sustainable fashion brands often use recycled or upcycled materials. They also use socially responsible manufacturing practices.
These extra steps result in higher costs. And that is why sustainable fashion tends to have a different price range from its fast-fashion counterparts.
However, gone are the days when sustainable, ethically made fashion only came at a price tag that most of us could not afford. Thankfully, high demand has now made things different.
Currently, several sustainable, ethical clothing brands out there produce high-quality, ethically made fashion available to everyone.
A growing number of sustainable fashion brands are starting to offer even lower prices than their conventional/fast fashion counterparts. This makes choosing sustainable fashion easier for consumers.
Best Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands
There is no denying that ethical fashion is slowly but surely gaining traction. More people now realize the importance of being conscious about their clothing choices.
Currently, you can get an extensive range of modern and comfortable clothes for any occasion. This includes anything from stylish jeans to versatile dresses.
But, where can you find affordable, sustainable clothing? Here are 16 brands to consider. They all offer affordable and ethical clothing:
1. Pact Apparel
The Pact is one of the top ethical brand choices today, based in the US. It is an ethical clothing brand, setting the standard for sustainable and eco-friendly fashion.
The brand’s mission is to create stylish, high-quality pieces that are also affordable. And as a result, Pact is changing the way we think about sustainable fashion.
All of their clothing is made from organic cotton and other sustainable materials. Also, their processes focus on minimizing environmental impact. For instance, they source organic cotton from Chetna Organic, a firm in India.
Pact is a certified B corporation, and a large manufacturing portion is in India’s fair trade certified factory. This makes sourcing materials from India pretty easy and economical.
With a variety of stylish and affordable options, Pact is the perfect fashion choice. It’s ideal for anyone looking for eco-friendly, sustainable clothing that looks fabulous.
This versatile high-waisted women’s jegging is an excellent example of Pact’s ethical standards. It’s made of organic cotton and can easily stretch for movement and comfort.
2. Krochet Kids Intl.
Krochet Kids Intl. is a well-known, affordable, ethical clothing brand. It’s known to produce high-quality, sustainable, and comfortable clothing.
The company employs ethical manufacturing and uses eco-friendly materials and pioneering techniques. That way, it ensures that its products are durable and comfortable.
Krochet Kids Intl. is a trustworthy brand based in Costa Mesa, California. And it takes environmentalism and social responsibility seriously.
The firm was launched in 2007 in Uganda by three friends, Kohl, Stewart, and Travis. The three had visited the country and saw the need to transform Northern Uganda.
Since its establishment, Krochet Kids Intl. has been focusing on providing stylish and affordable ethical hand-knit items.
They produce items such as hats, neck accessories, scarves, and teddy bears. In fact, they have apparel options for people of all ages. These garments provide a source of income to the poor communities in Uganda.
Krochet Kids Intl acknowledges ethical and sustainable apparel options can help shift the mindset of people about the actual cost of clothing and its environmental impact. They make high-quality, sustainable clothing accessible to everyone. And by doing so, they advocate for fair trade practices, worker rights, and eco-friendly production.
Their products are made in Uganda and help empower people to rise above poverty.
3. Urban Outfitters
Based in the US, Urban Outfitters tops the list of sustainable clothing brands. They use recycled materials to create sustainable fashion. And their recycling process meets the global recycling standards.
Generally, their material sourcing process is ethical. And they focus on creating garments that anyone can wear – day or night. Urban Outfitters is a brand you can trust to contribute to the world around you positively.
This brand is one of the most affordable brands with a transparent supply chain. It ensures it uses eco-materials with minimum textile waste. Also, it reuses and repurposes leftover fabric, vintage, and old pieces into unique fashionable staples.
If you’re a woman who wants to get a feel of this difference-making brand, you can head over to the Amazon marketplace. Then, get yourself this Urban Outfitters classic ladies’ wear. It is made of 100% cotton and would be a perfect choice of sustainable clothing.
But, to order it, you first need to select the size you want.
See Related: What is Sustainable Fashion?
Tentree is a leading Canadian apparel brand that believes in protecting the environment. And giving back to the community is on their agenda.
All of their products come from sustainable materials. Also, they never use harmful chemicals or dyes in their production.
Tentree is a mission-first company whose name comes from planting ten trees for every product sold. Their apparel is designed to be comfortable and stylish. Also, they always aim to provide affordable, ethical clothing that’s fashionable and environmental-friendly.
Tentree Company provides ethically made clothing for everyone, perfect for all occasions. An ideal selection for a man is this recycled polyester shirt on Amazon. The shirt is made of 100% polyester and has a ribbed neckband and a medium stretch.
If you’re looking for an ethical and stylish clothing option, try Tentree Company. It should certainly be at the top of your list.
5. Passion Lilie
Passion Lilie is a member of the fairtrade international and fair trade federation. This affordable, sustainable clothing brand provides ethically made clothing for women.
They avoid harsh chemicals, dyes, and fragrances and use natural fibers. And these ones are sourced responsibly.
The brand also believes in fair labor practices. These include paying fair wages to artisans to support themselves and their families.
Also, they work with various sustainable manufacturing partners to ensure that their clothes are ethically produced and distributed fairly. The brand features sustainable hand-woven pieces for all purposes.
See related: Best iShares ESG Funds | Sustainability Funds to Buy
KOTN is one of the best and most affordable sustainable clothing Brands. They are based in Toronto, Canada, and sustainability is a core pillar of their production.
KOTN provides ethically and sustainably made clothing to people around the world. They use 100% Egyptian organic cotton, fairtrade certified materials, and recycled fabrics. Generally, KOTN Brand is trying to make a difference in the world while providing stylish clothing.
All of their garments are designed in-house. Also, they are committed to working with local artisans to ensure the best quality products
The brand is committed to its employees. And in this light, it regards them as craftspeople with boundless potential, not robots. It pays them fair living wages to impact their quality of life.
7. Tamga Designs
If you’re looking for affordable, ethically-made women’s clothing, try out Tamga Designs. The fashion brand was founded in 2014 and is based in Ontario, Canada. And since then, Tamga has offered a range of stylish and affordable clothing made from water-saving dyes and high-quality, sustainable fabrics.
Tamga advocates for eco-friendly care for their attires. For instance, they urge customers to cold wash, not dry clean.
Also, they urge them to use a plant-based laundry detergent when washing the garments. This helps conserve resources and positively impact the environment
Tamga designs clothing to fit all body types. With that, there’s something for everyone in their lineup.
The brand offers stylish, high-quality pieces sure to make a statement. From organic cotton T-shirts, tank tops, and dresses to skirts, Tamga has it all.
8. Fair Trade Winds
Fair Trade Winds is a UK-based company providing eco-friendly clothing. This family-gift store carries certified fair trade, and it makes quality ethical items. The brand makes everything from jewelry and accessories to kitchen items.
Their jewelry and accessories price ranges are reasonable. And, they have hand-made ethical essentials designed to look good and feel comfortable.
Fair Trade Winds embraces fair trade. That way, it helps improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and laborers worldwide.
In addition, this fair trade fashion brand strives to reduce its environmental impact. Therefore, it uses sustainable materials, works to eliminate hazardous chemicals, and reduces energy consumption.
When shopping for ethical clothing, look for certification labels by Fairtrade International or the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. And you can be sure about Tamga Designs; they never disappoint.
See related: Best Carbon Accounting Software Options
9. Accessorize London
Accessorize is a UK-based brand that makes affordable, sustainable clothes for women and kids. Their designs reflect modern lifestyles. And their clothes are made from high-quality organic and recycled materials.
This is one of the most affordable ethical clothing companies with a range of products from clothing and handbags to jewelry. The brand also takes environmentalism and social responsibility seriously. Consequently, you can be sure that your clothing purchases contribute to positive change.
Their foundations focus on climate change, human rights, and worker welfare. Also, not only do they offer high-quality clothes, but they also donate a portion of their profits to charity. So, not only do you get great clothes that are ethically made, but you also contribute to a good cause.
In the current world, fast fashion is becoming increasingly popular. As a result, it is crucial to look for ethical brands that provide sustainable clothing options.
For Nu-In, sustainability is critical when it comes to clothing. That’s because Nu-In is aware of how this impacts the environment.
The company is located in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded by a group of friends who had worked in the fashion industry for over 50 years. The friends developed a desire to create clothing that was not only sustainable but also pocket-friendly.
The Nu-In clothing is made in fair trade certified factories. Therefore, they provide affordable fashion and aim to reduce waste. They often collaborate with sustainable factories like Clothius and Junius to do so.
The brand buys materials in bulk and creates an entire collection with tons of different shapes. It’s a sustainable fashion brand that drives more eco-conscious innovation across the textile industry.
Choose an ethical clothing brand and help reduce the harmful effects of global warming on our planet. Choose Nu-In!
11. No Nasties
No-Nasties is a sustainable brand that uses 100% certified organic cotton products. This sustainable alternative is a perfect option for anyone seeking responsible clothing.
Based in Goa, India, the No-Nasties brand was launched in 2011 by Apurva Kothari. No Nasties upholds a sustainable, transparent, and trusted supply chain. Their garments are entirely made and designed in India.
This clothing brand focuses on making ethically conscious products – free from any nasty ingredients. They have chosen to steer clear of harmful components and toxic dyes. As such, they focus on creating stylish and sustainable garments that will last.
12. Lucy and Yak
Lucy and Yak is a leading ethical clothing brand that operates solely on a sustainable model. The company manufactures all its garments from organic cotton and Fair Trade certified materials.
This UK-based brand produces various garments from organic cotton, including;
The brand also ensures that workers are paid a livable wage, have health insurance, and can retire with dignity. It is committed to being a responsible company.
In fact, it believes that protecting the environment and ensuring fair working conditions are essential to creating sustainable businesses.
See related: What Are the Three E’s of Sustainability?
CHNGE is a New York, US-based unique, and innovative line of clothing. It’s made with love, care, and respect for the environment.
They use environmentally friendly methods to create their clothes. And they never compromise on quality or style.
CHNGE, founded in 2017, ensures every step in the clothing supply chain is sustainable. This includes everything from manufacturing to packaging.
In addition, they use recycled packaging materials; everything is eco-friendly. There’s zero waste in the entire process.
Whether you’re looking for basics like crop tops, tees, sweats, jeans, or something a little more special, CHNGE has something for you.
14. The Great Beyond
This Australian-based clothing brand makes its products from bamboo. The Great Beyond is a slow fashion brand that produces products made of the finest fabrics. And the result is the highest quality ethical clothing.
The brand is devoted to promoting environmental and social responsibility. As a result, all its products are made of organic, ethically sourced materials.
They make high-quality clothes perfect for work and weekend casual wear. Their collections feature versatile and comfortable clothes that you can style in various ways.
Whether you’re looking for something official, classic, or a little more daring, The Great Beyond brand has a collection that will suit your needs.
See related: Ways Climate Change Affects Personal Finance
15. Alternative Apparel
The Alternative Apparel brand should be top of your list when looking for a sustainable alternative option. Their garments are made of eco–friendly fabrics with sustainable practices.
This US-based affordable and ethical clothing brand offers different styles and options for you. From eco-friendly and sustainable brands to socially conscious ones, you can find exactly what you’re looking for without spending a fortune.
Alternative Apparel clothing produces casual and comfortable pieces everyone can wear. The company supports independent artists and creators. It also gives back to the communities in which its apparel is made.
16. Mata Traders
Mata Traders in the USA is one of the most popular ethical clothing brands. It was established in 2007 by three great friends after a trip to India. Mata Traders company is known for its high-quality and ethically-made products.
All of the clothes manufactured by Mata Traders are Fairtrade. This means that they have been made sustainably without damaging the environment.
Their artisans are based in the world’s poorest communities in India and Nepal. But, the company offers them fair living wages. This ensures a steady source of income for the families.
The materials used are also environmentally friendly. And the manufacturing process is designed to minimize waste.
Are you looking for ethically made clothing brands that offer affordable prices? Mata Traders is definitely one of the best options out there.
What is Ethical Fashion?
Ethical fashion is apparel made with respect for the environment, social justice, and human rights. It is made with sustainable materials and aims to create jobs in the regions of origin.
Many ethical clothing brands go beyond the basics of being environmentally friendly. They also focus on social and ethical issues. These include issues like human rights, animal welfare, and worker safety.
Generally, ethical fashion is clothing made with natural materials. Also, it shouldn’t involve the exploitation of workers, environmental damage, or child labor.
Many popular ethical fashion brands today are made from organic cotton, recycled plastic bottles, recycled and upcycled materials, and ethically produced yarn.
By supporting these sustainable brands, you are helping fight climate change, improve worker safety, and give people in developing countries a chance at a better life.
Why Choose Ethical Fashion Brands?
Choosing ethical fashion brands helps you feel good about your ethical choices. Additionally, it helps to improve the environment.
By choosing sustainable and eco-friendly fashion brands, you are helping to reduce the amount of waste created. You might also be encouraging other companies to do the same.
Your choice also helps to support the livelihoods of small-scale producers and artisans. These are often marginalized and treated unfairly in the global supply chains.
Ethical fashion brands are committed to using environmentally responsible practices. They ensure that the garments they produce do not damage the environment. They also use ethical labor practices, ensuring that their employees are treated fairly and have safe working conditions.
By choosing an ethical fashion brand, you are supporting a company that cares for the planet and the people who work on it. So, next time you’re looking for a new piece of clothing, choose an ethical brand that will make you feel good about your choices and help improve the environment.