Best Brands for Ethical Fashion
Outfit from Kotn
For many years it was a well-kept dirty secret that America’s fast fashion industry was built upon the labor of thousands of workers who were underpaid and overworked, often in developing nations. As a feminist, it’s imperative to also note that these laborers are many times women and children, and in many cases these same laborers are being forced to work in clothing factories throughout the globe on account of human trafficking. While the Western World has the privilege of buying $15 shirts at our leisure, we sometimes forget that these affordable trends are often supporting a horrific form of modern day slavery for the workers who are forced to labor in global clothing factories.
For decades the fashion industry also kept silent of the devastating effects their mass production was having on the environment—for example, the fast fashion industry is the world’s second largest consumer of water, and also the world’s second largest polluter of water (to learn more about the detrimental effects the fashion industry has upon the environment, read Impakter’s article here).
In recent years shoppers have become more aware of the labor and resources required for those cheap articles of clothing, but many don’t believe they are in a place financially to afford ethical fashion. Here I’ve compiled a list of ethical fashion brands, including many affordable options for the budget-conscious.
1. Pact
Based In | Colorado, USA
Ethics | Fair Trade Certified, GOTS certified organic cotton, carbon-offset shipping, recycled & biodegradable packaging, donation program for used clothes
Best For | Fair trade organic cotton basics
Price Range | $–$$
SHOP PACT
2. Kotn
Based In | Toronto, Canada
Ethics | Certified B Corp, BCI certified organic cotton, safe & fair labor standards, plastic-free packaging, OEKO-TEX certified nontoxic dyes, gives back to Egyptian communities
Best For | Egyptian cotton wardrobe staples
Price Range | $–$$
SHOP KOTN
3. VETTA
Based In | California, USA
Ethics | Deadstock, GOTS certified organic, & sustainable materials, ethical production practices, recycled packaging
Best For | Capsule wardrobes
Price Range | $$–$$$
SHOP VETTA
4. Quince
Based In | San Francisco, CA
Ethics | BCSI-certified ethical production, sustainable & organic materials, OEKO-TEX certified, virgin plastic-free
Best For | Silk & cashmere basics
Price Range | $–$$
SHOP QUINCE
5. Sézane
Based In | Paris, France
Ethics | Certified B Corp, fair labor standards, GOTS & OEKO-TEX certified organic & sustainable materials, recycled packaging, recycling program
Best For | Women’s knitwear & dresses
Price Range | $$$
SHOP SÉZANE
6. Reformation
Based In | California, USA
Ethics | Climate Neutral Certified, sustainable & regenerative fabrics, safe & fair working conditions, living wages
Best For | On-trend sustainable clothing
Price Range | $$$
SHOP REFORMATION
7. ADAY
Based In | New York, USA
Ethics | OEKO-TEX & Bluesign approved recycled & responsibly sourced fabrics, responsible production, recycling program
Best For | Comfortable, elevated workwear
Price Range | $$–$$$$
SHOP ADAY
8. ABLE
Based In | Tennessee, USA
Ethics | Certified B Corp, female artisan-made, fair labor practices & wages
Best For | Feminist brand supporting women
Price Range | $–$$$
SHOP ABLE
9. Summersalt
Based In | Missouri, USA
Ethics | Recycled fabrics, recycled packaging, WRAP-accredited factories
Best For | Swimwear & activewear
Price Range | $–$$$
SHOP SUMMERSALT
10. tentree
Based In | Vancouver, Canada
Ethics | Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified; WRAP, BSCI, SA8000, or Fair Trade certified ethical manufacturing
Best For | Cozy, casual essentials
Price Range | $–$$
SHOP TENTREE
Editor’s note: much of this information comes directly from www.thegoodtrade.com.