15 Most Sustainable & Affordable Clothing Brands: The Conscious Consumer’s Guide

15 Most Sustainable & Affordable Clothing Brands: The Conscious Consumer’s Guide

By
Quynh Nguyen

Read Time:37 Minutes

CLICK TO
SUBSCRIBE

follow follow
Impactful Ninja is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Learn more .
Affiliate Disclosure

Hey fellow impactful ninja ?

You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.

  • Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.

  • But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.

Why do we add these product links?

First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.

And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What do these affiliate links mean for you?
  1. First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.

  2. When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.

  3. And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.

What do these affiliate links mean for us?
  1. When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.

  2. When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).

  3. And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.

What does this mean for me personally?

You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.

Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.

Stay impactful,

Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe, from the everyday tee to a special occasion dress. Unfortunately, sustainably made clothing items tend to cost more and thus are out of the price range of many. But does this have to be the case? So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable & affordable clothing brands?

The most sustainable & affordable clothing brands are Happy Earth Apparel, Honest Basics, and CHNGE, which prioritize organic materials, minimize waste, and reduce climate impact. In addition, OMNES and Girlfriend Collective strive for textile circularity while adhering to ethical practices.

If you want to build a sustainable wardrobe that doesn’t have a negative impact on the soil, the water, the animals, and other people while simultaneously not breaking the bank, don’t worry—there is a brand for you. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about the most sustainable & affordable clothing brands and how they ensure sustainable, ethical practices. 

Here’s How We Selected the Most Sustainable & Affordable Clothing Brands

Sustainable clothes have a reputation for being expensive. However, there are brands that work very hard to provide high-quality, eco-friendly garments at accessible prices. 

Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”

Oxford Dictionary

The brands on this list were chosen based on their commitment and actions to promote sustainable practices while reducing the environmental impacts of the textile industry. 

They are transparent about their materials, processes, and workforce management within their supply chain. 

Some brands focus their efforts on reducing waste and optimizing natural resources while others strive to reduce the carbon footprint of their clothes. 

All of these brands share the commitment to reshape the textile industry toward a more sustainable and Earth-friendly sector. 

These Are the 15 Most Sustainable & Affordable Clothing Brands

Overall, these affordable brands are sustainable. Yet, they take various approaches to reduce environmental impacts and uphold ethical standards. Let’s dive into each brand and find out more. 

1

Happy Earth Apparel: Earth-First Organic Clothing Brand 

Logo for Happy Earth Apparel
Screenshot of the Happy Earth Apparel front page

“We’re not cool with compromise when it’s at the expense of our world. We’ll find a good way to do something, or we won’t do it.”

Happy Earth Apparel 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Happy Earth Apparel ensures sustainability by sourcing sustainable and organic textile materials, using recycled and recyclable packaging, and reducing waste. 

  • Firstly, Happy Earth Apparel uses a high proportion of organic cotton. For example, their organic sock collection is made with organic cotton that uses a small percentage of recycled nylon and elastane to enhance flexibility and moisture-wicking performance.
  • Secondly, they use 100% post-consumer, recycled plastic to make durable packaging bags that can be recycled again. Also, these bags are lightweight, cutting down on transporting emissions and costs. 
  • Lastly, Happy Earth Apparel has waste-reduction incentives regarding plastic (shipping in bulk), water (wastewater recycling and rain harvesting), and textile (low-waste cutting techniques). Furthermore, Happy Earth Apparel is Climate Neutral Certified for reducing and offsetting their emissions. They also use solar energy in their supply chain to reduce their carbon emissions. Regarding emissions that can’t be avoided, they offset through clean energy projects in the US, Uganda, India, and China. These include providing energy-efficient stoves, capturing methane, and installing biodigesters in rural homes that convert manure waste into gas for cooking. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Happy Earth Apparel ensures their ethics by binding suppliers with a Code of Conduct covering four of ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Happy Earth Apparel actively participates in giving-back programs. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Happy Earth Apparel is committed to donating a minimum of 1% of their revenue to charitable organizations through their Tree Planting, Climate Change, and Trash Clean-Up projects. For example, customers can choose to plant five trees for every purchase.

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear, menswear
  • Product range: shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, bottoms, dresses, pants, leggings, shorts, socks, accessories 
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XXS–XXL
2

Honest Basics: Sustainable and Affordable Basics Made Transparently 

Logo for Honest Basics

Honest Basics offers maximum sustainability at affordable price points. We focus on basics, not on hype driven products, because here we can make the most impact.

Honest Basics

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Honest Basics ensures their sustainability by sourcing low-impact materials, minimizing waste, and reducing climate impact. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Honest Basics upholds high ethical standards, ensuring transparency about their manufacturing partners and their honest prices

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Honest Basics donates unused clothes to charities such as the Berliner Stadtmission. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: menswear, womenswear 
  • Product range: T-shirts, tops, underwear, shocks, dresses, knitwear, sweaters, pants, long-sleeves
  • Price range: $
  • Size range: XS–2XL
3

CHNGE: GOTS-Certified Apparel From a Climate-Neutral Certified Brand

Logo for CHNGE
Screenshot of the CHNGE front page

With a commitment to climate neutrality, responsible materials, and minimizing waste it is our mission to prioritize the planet over the maximization of profit.”

CHNGE

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

CHNGE ensures their sustainability by using low-impact materials, minimizing waste, and committing to carbon neutrality. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

CHNGE partners with a Fairtrade Factory, ensuring safe working conditions, fair wages, the right to form trade unions and collectively bargain, and no forced labor. Their suppliers are also GOTS-certified. Lastly, CHNGE traces most of their supply chain. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

CHNGE is fully committed to philanthropic work, supporting causes including women’s empowerment, Black Lives Matter, and combating the climate crisis. So far, they have worked with their customers to donate $760,402 to increase the impact of organizations and movements like Planned Parenthood, Stand for Trees, The Okra Project, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: unisex
  • Product range: T-shirts dresses, graphic tees, tanks, long sleeves, sweatshirts, crop tops, bottoms, hats
  • Price range: $
  • Size range: 2XS–4XL
4

OMNES: A Climate-Positive and Affordable Women’s Fashion Brand

Logo for OMNES
Screenshot of the Omnes front page

“Our goal is to only use biodegradable, recycled, or existing materials that can fit into a circular economy.”

OMNES 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

OMNES prioritizes sustainability by designing with longevity and circularity

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

OMNES ensures their ethics by being transparent about their producers

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

OMNES supports the Greener Earth Project, a UK-based charity committed to offsetting carbon, by donating 50% of the profits from selling their charity T-shirts. They also donate items of clothing to aid in Smart Works‘ mission of helping women succeed in the workforce. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear
  • Product range: dresses, knitwear, swimwear, shorts, pants, denim, tops, shirts, skirts, jersey essentials, coats
  • Price range: $$ 
  • Size range: XS–4XL
5

Girlfriend Collective: Essential and Timeless Activewear Made Out of Recycled Materials

Logo for Girlfriend Collective
Screenshot of the girlfriend collective front page

We make everything locally in small batches to make sure we don’t have a negative impact on the environment.”  

Girlfriend Collective

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Girlfriend Collective’s sustainability efforts start with using recycled and recyclable textile and packing materials

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Girlfriend Collective’s facilities are fully certified by Social Accountability International – SA8000. An SA8000 certification guarantees safe working conditions, the right to unionize, and no forced or child labor. They also ensure all workers in their supply chain are paid fair wages and provided with free lunches and guided exercise breaks. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Girlfriend Collective is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear
  • Product range: dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, activewear, sportswear, maternity wear, tops, blouses, T-shirts, stockings, tights, shorts, lingerie, plus-size
  • Price range: $$ 
  • Size range: 2XS–6XL
6

Boody: Fit-For-All Everyday Essentials Made With Eco-Friendly Materials

Logo for Boody
Screenshot of the the Boody front page

“Boody emphasises quality and simplicity. We bypass trends and fads as we believe they lead to overconsumption and waste.”

Boody 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Boody ensures sustainability by sourcing organic bamboo and organic cotton for their fabrics, reducing manufacturing waste, recycling all water used in production, and using recycled packaging

  • By sourcing plant materials from organic farms, Boody helps to keep out synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. 
  • Furthermore, their bamboo lyocell, LYOLYTE™, and bamboo viscose are manufactured in closed-loop systems where liquids and solvents are recycled, reused, or safely removed. Their cotton fibers are organically grown and certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard. Boody also has a zero-waste design, which enables knitting garments in tubes, leaving behind very little fabric wastage. 
  • Lastly, Boody encourages recycling of their ready-to-retire apparel by partnering with UPPAREL to launch The Goodness Loop. This platform enables consumers to buy a return shipping label, which starts the recycling process, and get a gift voucher to redeem on Boody’s new products. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Boody enforces fair labor practices by upholding suppliers to their Code of Conduct, which covers four of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. They also trace most of their supply chain. Lastly, the suppliers in their final production stage are certified by the Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

As a 1% for the Planet member, Boody donates 1% of all their online sales to non-profits who help protect the environment. Additionally, they give 10% of all online beanie sales to the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, a not-for-profit hospital and research institute dedicated to transforming cancer care. They also work with Thread Together to provide new clothing to less privileged Australians.

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear
  • Product range: underwear, activewear, maternity wear, socks, stockings, tights, shorts, plus-size
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XXS–XXL
7

Wolven: Multifunctional Activewear Made From Recycled Bottles 

Logo for Wolven
Screenshot of the Wolven front page

“Sustainability to us means every decision we make is rooted in our intention to protect our planet and create a more equitable and Earth-centered future for all.”

Amanda Lapham, Co-founder of Wolven 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Wolven ensures their sustainability by sourcing a high proportion of low-impact fabrics.

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Wolven traces part of their supply chain. Furthermore, their manufacturing partner is based in China and assessed by Intertek as conforming to the requirements of the Workplace Conditions Assessment

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Wolven gives back 1% of their annual revenue to nonprofit organizations. For example, each purchase from their Neutral Collection gives back to Climate Neutral through their 1% for the Planet membership. They also partner with CleanHub to organize events to pick up plastic bottles and clean up places like beaches, rivers, and canals. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear, menswear
  • Product range: one-piece swimwear, bikinis, tops, tees, sweatshirts, leggings, flares, shorts, joggers
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XL
8

Mighty Good Basics: Certified Fairtrade and Organic Basics for Men and Women

Logo for Mighty Good Basics
Screenshot of the Mighty Good Basics front page

We place the importance of people, planet and animals at the forefront of our business because protecting our natural environment while pursuing universal human rights are inseparable for MG/B and our operations.”

Mighty Good Basics

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Mighty Good Basics prioritizes sustainability by sourcing eco-friendly textiles and dyestuff materials. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Mighty Good Basics ensures their ethics by being fully transparent about their supply chain, including cotton farms, fiber/yarn production, fabric production, dye house, and cut/make/trim. They exclusively source Fairtrade organic cotton, meaning that farmers are paid living wages and have safe working conditions. Additionally, they trace all of their supply chain and visit their supplier regularly. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Mighty Good Basics is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: menswear, womenswear
  • Product range: tops, underwear 
  • Price range: $
  • Size range: XS–XXXL
9

Colorful Standard: Non-Toxic Apparel Made With Organic and Recycled Materials

Logo for Colorful Standard
Screenshot of the Colorful Standard front page

Our brand centers around the fact that we don’t care much for seasons or trends, instead, we create timeless and long-lasting products to avoid the downward spiral that is over-consumption.

Colorful Standard

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Colorful Standard ensures their sustainability by sourcing low-impact materials, minimizing waste, and striving to extend the product lifespan. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Colorful Standard traces most of their supply chain. Their final production stage happens in Portugal, a medium-risk country for labor abuse. They also manufacture in-house at their own manufacturing center, RTG Textiles, to ensure ethics in the supply chain. On top of that, they state that they work under the European Labour Law, which ensures that all employees at their manufacturing center work fair hours for fair wages

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Colorful Standard is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: menswear, womenswear
  • Product range: hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, shirts, tank tops, pants, shorts, underwear, activewear, socks, accessories
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–2XL
10

Kotn: Affordable and Quality Essential Designed in Canada and Made Ethically in Egypt

logo for Kotn
Screenshot of the KOTN front page

“A world of timeless designs that honour the people who make them and the places they’re made.”

Kotn 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Kotn ensures their sustainability by sourcing some eco-friendly materials and minimizing textile waste. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Kotn ensures their ethics by working directly with responsibly run facilities to ensure fair wages and treatment throughout their supply chain, better prices for their customers, and 100% traceability from farm to hanger.

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Kotn donates a portion of their annual proceeds to fund and build primary schools in the Nile Delta and Faiyum, Egypt, investing in their farming communities’ long-term economic growth. So far, they have funded 21 schools.

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear, menswear
  • Product range: T-shirts, tanks, tops, bottoms, dresses, suits, socks, accessories knitwear
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XXS–XXL

NATASHA TONIC: Making Plant-Based Swimwear to Reduce Microplastic Pollution 

Logo for NATASHA TONIC
Screenshot of the Natasha Tonic front page

We make everything locally in small batches to make sure we don’t have a negative impact on the environment.”

NATASHA TONIC 

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

NATASHA TONIC prioritizes sustainability through eco-friendly materials, low-impact processes, and low-footprint practices. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

NATASHA TONIC puts protecting workers and nature at the core of their operations. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

NATASHA TONIC donates 5% of every swimsuit sold to 5 Gyres to support fighting plastic and microfibre pollution. Additionally, they contribute to the cause of social movements, including Tree People, Black Lives Matter, and Downtown Women’s Center. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear
  • Product range: swimwear, tops, blouses, bodysuits, lingerie
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XL
12

Noctu: Affordable Sleep and Loungewear Made Exclusively With Organic Cotton

Logo for noctu
Screenshot of the Noctu front page

We strive to minimise our ecological footprint, promote ethical practices, and inspire positive change within the fashion industry.

Noctu

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Noctu promotes sustainability by sourcing low-impact materials and reducing their carbon emissions. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Noctu traces most of their supply chain. The last stage of production happens in England, where the brand prioritizes good wages, safe working conditions, and workers’ rights

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Noctu contributes to the World Land Trust and donates money from each sale to purchase 10 square meters (~108 square feet) of endangered wildlife.

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear, menswear, kidswear
  • Product range: bottoms, tops, nighties, jumpsuits, accessories
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XXL
13

Pact: Non-Toxic Essential Clothing Made Ethically and Sustainably 

Logo for Pact
Screenshot of the Pact front page

“We believe the planet, and the people on it, should always come first in fashion.”

Pact

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Pact ensures sustainability by using low-impact textile and packaging materials, offsetting the carbon impact of all their products, and facilitating the donation of used clothes to reduce waste.

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Pact uses Fair Trade CertifiedTM factories, providing safe working conditions, community support, and additional development funds to workers in their supply chain. They also trace most of their supply chain, including the final stage of production. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Pact is not known to be part of any giving-back programs. 

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear, menswear
  • Product range: dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, activewear, sleepwear, maternity wear, T-shirts, underwear, jumpsuits, playsuits, plus-size
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XXXL
14

Amour Vert: Stylish and Environmentally Friendly Clothing Made in the US

Logo for Amour Vért
Screenshot of the Amour vert front page

Our sustainable practices address all aspects of our business operations and the full lifecycle of the garment: the fibers and production processes used, how workers are treated, how it gets to the consumer, and finally—whether it can be recycled or is forced into a landfill.”

Amount Vert

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

Amour Vert ensures sustainability by using traceable, eco-friendly materials and promoting circular fashion. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

Amour Vert traces part of their supply chain, including suppliers in the final stage of production, which happens in the US. 

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

Amour Vert partners with American Forests® to plant trees in North America: with every purchase of a tee, they plant a tree

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: womenswear
  • Product range: shirts, denim, sweaters, dresses, pants, tops, blouses, T-shirts
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XXL
15

MagicLinen: Made-to-Order Linen Clothing With a Focus on Sustainability and Longevity

Logo for Magic Linen
Screenshot of the MagicLinen front page

Our commitment to doing no harm is of utmost importance to us

Vita Murauskiene, founder of MagicLinen

🌎

How do they ensure their sustainability?

MagicLinen upholds sustainability by specializing in linen, as it is an environmentally friendly material harvested from flax plants, which requires minimal water and pesticides. 

🌐

How do they ensure their ethics?

MagicLinen produces their linen clothing in Lithuania, an EU member country upholding the group standards about fair wages and safe working conditions. Additionally, MagicLinen partners with third-party agencies to conduct regular ethical audits.

🤝

Are they part of any giving-back programs?

MagicLinen continuously supports local communities and occasionally drives new social initiatives. Their team members also volunteer in different organizations.

🛍️

What is their product range?

  • Best for: kidswear, menswear, womenswear
  • Product range: shirts, skirts, pants, shorts, jumpsuits, loungewear 
  • Price range: $$
  • Size range: XS–XXL

Why Is It Important to Buy Products Made of More Sustainable Fabrics

It is important to buy products made of more sustainable fabrics because a sustainable textile industry has a lower carbon footprint, helps save natural resources, and is better for forests, animals, and humans. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces Your Carbon Footprint 

The production of clothing and footwear is estimated to contribute 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions—more than all international flights and shipping combined. If the fashion industry were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide

One way to reduce the carbon footprint of the clothes you buy is to opt for sustainable fabrics. Sustainable fabrics, which are often made with natural or recycled fibers, have relatively low carbon footprints compared to petroleum-based fabrics. For example, organic cotton made in the US has a carbon footprint of 2.35 kg CO2 (per ton of spun fiber)—a quarter of polyester’s carbon footprint.

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Reduces the Demand for Natural Resources and Waste Management

The textile industry uses water and land to grow cotton and other fibers. It is estimated that 79 billion cubic meters of water were used for the sector worldwide in 2015. For example, producing a single cotton T-shirt requires as much water as one person drinks for 2.5 years (2,700 liters of fresh water).

Worse yet, the textile economy is vastly more linear than circular: the largest amount of resources used in clothes ended up in landfills (instead of being recycled to remake clothes). According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation,

  • Less than 3% of materials used in the textile economy in 2015 came from recycled sources.
  • In other words, more than 97% of the resources used in making clothes are newly extracted. 

When clothing items are disposed of within a short period of time—under a year in the case of half of the fast fashion clothes—the natural systems that provide raw materials for fabrics don’t have enough time to recover and regenerate, which could lead to ecological breakdown. 

Sustainable fabrics are made with less water and emissions while lasting longer:

  • Because they are durable, you don’t need to buy new clothes too often. 
  • Thus, you help reduce the pressure to extract more resources for making new items. 

Similarly, making and consuming sustainable fabrics made with recycled materials reduces the demand for virgin materials while helping tackle waste management. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Sustainable Management of Forests

Sustainable natural fiber fabrics are made with raw materials from forests and plantations that are sustainably managed, such as complying with FSC standards

When you buy sustainable natural fiber fabrics, you discourage unsustainable forestry practices like illegal logging. You can help reduce deforestation, biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change. 

Buying Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Animals 

The fashion industry is rife with animal mistreatment when it comes to making animal-based fabrics like wool or silk. Every year, billions of animals suffer and die for clothing and accessories.

Buying sustainable vegan alternatives can help to reduce the pressure on raising more and more animals to meet the demand for animal-based fabrics while sacrificing their well-being and lives. 

Suppose you have to buy fabrics made with, for example, wool or silk; make sure you only choose brands committed to cruelty-free products. In that case, you help advocate better treatments for animals raised within the textile industry. 

Using Sustainable Fabrics Encourages Fairer Treatment of Textile Workers 

Recent statistics from UNICEF estimated as many as 170 million child laborers worldwide, many of whom were engaged in some form of work in the textile industry. They don’t get paid minimum wages and often work long hours. 

When you buy sustainable fabrics from brands transparent about the working conditions at their factories, you discourage the use of child labor and help promote better working conditions for textile workers.

How Can You Generally Buy More Sustainable Fabrics

The key to sustainably buying fabrics is to check on relevant environmental and original certifications. 

For natural fabrics

  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A globally recognized certification system that ensures a certain threshold of organic content has been met. It covers manufacturing, packaging, labeling, transportation, and distribution (but not what happens in the fields where crops are grown). 
  • USDA Certified Biobased Product: The USDA BioPreferred® Certification is a voluntary certification offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The certification identifies products made from plants or other renewable materials.
  • Ecolabel: Ecolabel is the official European Union voluntary label recognized worldwide for certified products with a guaranteed, independently verified low environmental impact. The label requires high environmental standards throughout the entire life-cycle: from raw material extraction through production and distribution to disposal. It also encourages companies to develop innovative, durable, easy-to-repair, and recyclable products. 

For natural fiber semi-natural/semi-synthetic fabrics:

  • Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification: PEFC’s approaches to sustainable forest management are in line with protecting the forests globally and locally and making the certificate work for everyone. Getting a PEFC certification is strict enough to ensure the sustainable management of a forest is socially just, ecologically sound, and economically viable but attainable not only by big but small forest owners.

For recycled fabrics:

  • Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): The Textile Exchange RCS was originally developed as an international, voluntary standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled input and chain of custody. 
  • The Global Recycled Standard (GRS): The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is an international, voluntary, full product standard that sets requirements for third-party certification of Recycled Content, chain of custody, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. It can be used for any product with more than 20% recycled material.

For all types of fabrics:

  • STeP by OEKO-TEX®: STeP by OEKO-TEX® is an independent certification system for brands, retailers, and manufacturers from the textile and leather industry. It communicates organizational environmental measures, including reducing carbon footprint and water usage.
  • OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: OEKO-TEX® labels aim to ensure that products pose no risk to human health (i.e., containing banned chemicals). 

Some certifications that are signaling brands’ efforts toward lowered environmental impacts and a circular economy are: 

  • B Corp Certification: The label B Corp is a certification reserved for for-profit companies. Certified holders are assessed on their social and environmental impacts. 
  • Cradle2Cradle certification: Cradle2Cradle provides a standardized approach to material circularity. It assesses whether products have been suitably designed and made with the circular economy in mind covering five critical categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

Final Thoughts

Sustainable clothes often come with the reputation of being expensive. However, there are brands that work very hard to provide high-quality, eco-friendly garments at accessible prices. 

By purchasing new or used items from brands that commit to sustainability and affordability, you support their mission to create a fairer and less harmful textile industry for all lives on Earth. 

Here is the list (again) of the most sustainable & affordable clothing brands:

  • Happy Earth Apparel
  • Honest Basics
  • CHNGE
  • OMNES
  • Girlfriend Collective
  • Boody
  • Wolven
  • Mighty Good Basics
  • Colorful Standard
  • Kotn
  • NATASHA TONIC
  • Noctu
  • Pact
  • Amour Vert
  • MagicLinen

To make your use of these brands’ clothing items even more sustainable, follow these steps:

  1. Buy recycled or upcycled clothes. 
  2. Keep your clothes for as long as possible.
  3. At the end-of-life of your clothes, upcycle the materials to extend their usage and arrange for them to be recycled or properly disposed of.

Stay impactful,



Sources

Photo of author
Did you like this article?

Get the 5-minute newsletter that makes reading impactful news enjoyable—packed with actionable insights to make a positive impact in your daily life.

Newsletter Form - After Content

Three Related Posts

One Unrelated Post

Illustration of our Impactful Ninja logo, which is a ninja holding a green heart and has a light-green outline here
Become more impactful, one email at a time
Get the 5-minute newsletter that makes reading impactful news enjoyable—packed with actionable insights to make a positive impact in your daily life.
Illustration of our Impactful Ninja logo, holding up a newsletter with a green heart
Become more impactful, one email at a time
Get the 5-minute newsletter that makes reading impactful news enjoyable—packed with actionable insights to make a positive impact in your daily life.
0