Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, there is pressure to find greener clothes for your wardrobe, whether you’re buying from mainstream or indie clothing brands. Unfortunately, fashion greenwashing makes it harder for you and other consumers to figure out which indie clothing brands offer the most eco-friendly garments. So, we had to ask: Which are the most sustainable indie clothing brands? 

The most sustainable indie clothing brands are Mayamiko the Label, The Tiny Closet, and Ilk + Ernie, which source low-impact natural and upcycled materials and reduce waste. In addition, lemlem and LOUDBODIES reduce carbon emissions and commit to giving back. 

Whether you are searching for a new, independently made dress or a pre-loved jacket to add to your wardrobe without negatively impacting the soil, the water, the animals, and other people, there is a brand for you. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about the most sustainable indie clothing brands and how they ensure sustainable, ethical practices. 

Here’s How We Selected the 9 Most Sustainable Indie Clothing Brands

Independent brands are owned and run by individuals rather than some big fashion conglomerate. With their typically small-scale operations, they can be more in control of issues such as waste and resource management, which significantly impact sustainability. 

“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 9 Most Sustainable Indie Clothing Brands

Most Sustainable Indie Clothing Brands

Mayamiko the Label | Visit online shop

The Tiny Closet | Visit online shop

Ilk + Ernie | Visit online shop

lemlem | Visit online shop

LOUDBODIES | Visit online shop

PAPER London | Visit online shop

Threads 4 Thought | Visit online shop

Komodo | Visit online shop

Dilli Grey | Visit online shop

Overall, these indie clothing 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. 

Mayamiko the Label: Sustainably Made Cross-Seasonal Clothes Inspired by African Artisanal Traditions

Mayamiko the Label was founded in London, England, in 2015 by Paola Masperi to grow the vision of Mayamiko Trust—a charity that provides opportunities to the most disadvantaged women in Malawi—in a more sustainable, circular way. Today, they are an award-winning UK clothing brand producing cross-seasonal clothes inspired by African artisanal traditions and prints, with ethical trading and sustainability at their core. 

“Here at Mayamiko we believe the only way to do good business is to do good by our people and the planet too. This is why we are constantly trying out new ways to reduce our footprint and give back to Mother Earth.”


Mayamiko the Label

Mayamiko the Label ensures their sustainability by sourcing a high proportion of eco-friendly textile materials, reducing their carbon emissions, and cutting down textile waste. Specifically, they use low-impact natural fabrics, including GOTS-certified organic cotton, deadstock fabrics (silk and cotton jersey), and linen. Further down the life-cycle in the manufacturing stage, Mayamiko the Label opts for 100% botanical dyes made from food waste, such as avocado stones and pomegranate skins from hotels and restaurants, along with foraged leaves and medicinal plants. All of their packaging—including postal bags, stickers, labels, and tissue paper—is made from recyclable or compostable materials and printed using eco-friendly inks. Additionally, their garments are made with locally sourced materials and in a solar-powered workshop, reducing the climate impact of production. The brand further reduces their ecological impact by minimizing their textile waste.

• Firstly, they employ a zero-waste pattern-cutting technique, meaning that garments are designed to utilize the fabric and avoid waste at the point of cutting. In doing so, they aim to turn all scrap fabric into something new, such as headbands, protective parcel bags, doormats, and reusable sanitary pads for young girls in the community.
• Secondly, their designs are adaptive and can be worn in many ways, so each piece can get more use during its lifespan.
• Lastly, they partner with By Rotation and OWNI to enable the rental and resale of their garments. 

Mayamiko the Label binds their suppliers with a Code of Conduct that covers four of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

• They trace most of their supply chain and visit their suppliers regularly. Mayamiko the Label also ensures that workers in the final production stage are paid well and treated with respect.
• Furthermore, where available, they use living wage or fair trade wage indicators. Where not available, they use measures of the magnitude of the local minimum wage (at least two times higher and often three or four times higher).
• The brand also strives for higher transparency by providing a unique encrypted QR code with many garments, telling the garment’s story and showing the artisans who made it. 

Mayamiko the Label partners with One Tree Planted to offer customers the option to plant a tree with each order. The brand also has an initiative to donate recyclable sanitary pads to girls in refugee camps alongside feminine hygiene programs. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear, unisex
• Product range: tops, dresses, jumpsuits, playsuits, skirts, shorts, pants, jackets, loungewear
• Price range: $$
• Size range: S–XL

The Tiny Closet: Made-To-Order Capsule Pieces for Round the Year

The Tiny Closet was founded as the natural next step after the founder, Natalie Harris, started blogging as a dedicated minimalist. Her vision for The Tiny Closet is to explore creativity and self-expression through clothing without waste, mindless spending, or perpetual clutter. Today, this LA-based indie brand offers a small selection of made-to-order pieces that work all year round. 

“The Tiny Closet is a line of simple, beautiful statement clothing, created to simplify any closet, instill confidence and effortlessness in the wearer, and to be loved and lived in everyday.”

The Tiny Closet 

The Tiny Closet prioritizes sustainability by sourcing low-impact materials, operating on a made-to-order model, and hand-making clothes locally.

• Firstly, they use exclusively deadstock fabrics to create their capsule pieces, reducing the impact on the natural resources to produce virgin fabrics.
• Secondly, every item at The Tiny Closet is made-to-order to avoid excess inventory and minimize fabric waste.
• Lastly, the brand reduces its environmental impact by hand-making all their items locally in Los Angeles. 

The Tiny Closet ensures their ethics by making everything themselves. 

The Tiny Closet is not known to be a part of any giving-back program. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range:bottoms, dresses, jumpsuits, outerwear, robes, tees, tops,e
• Price range: $$ 
• Size range: XS–XL

Ilk + Ernie: Transeasonal Apparel Made From Deadstock 

Ilk + Ernie was founded in Brighton, England, in 2018 by Jessica McCleave. Their vision is to see every wonderful human wearing clothes that not only turn heads but also have a positive impact on the environment. Today, they have emerged as a sustainable indie clothing brand advocating against fast fashion’s overproduction and encouraging trans-seasonal styling through their fun, versatile designs. 

“All our garments are made with surplus fabric and our cut offs are then used to create accessories – eliminating any waste in our production line.”

Ilk + Ernie

Ilk + Ernie ensures their sustainability by running a zero-waste production.

• They achieve that by opting to work with surplus fabric. Recycling deadstock discarded by other brands reduces their carbon footprint and helps divert supposed waste away from landfills. The brand also recycles their own surplus.
• Additionally, their packaging is eco-friendly, either fully recycled or recyclable. 

Ilk + Ernie traces all of their supply chain. Their manufacturing facility in India is certified by SEDEX, ensuring ethical production and safe working conditions. Regarding animal welfare, their entire collection is vegan, using no animal products. 

Ilk + Ernie partners with One Tribe to save trees in the rainforest. For every purchase, they protect 100 square meters of forest. The brand also donates leftover samples and unused garments to people without homes in Delhi. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: skirts, denim, dresses, pants, jackets, blazers, tops, blouses, jumpsuits, playsuits, suits, accessories
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XXS–XL

lemlem: Artisan-Driven Fashion Label With a Social Mission 

lemlem was founded in New York in 2007 by supermodel Liya Kebede to preserve the ancient art form of Ethiopian traditional weaving and simultaneously create job opportunities for local artisans. Today, they are an international brand manufacturing in several African countries. 

“By employing traditional weavers, we’re trying to break their cycle of poverty, while preserving the art of weaving, to create modern, casual, comfortable clothes that we really want to wear.”

Liya Kebede, Founder of lemlem

lemlem takes the slow fashion approach to sustainability.

• Their collections are handmade by local artisans, which takes longer but helps to reduce the climate impact of manufacturing. Specifically, the cotton fabrics used in their dresses and pants are hand-spun and hand-woven in Ethiopia.
• Furthermore, they have a limited production run to minimize textile waste and fight against fast fashion. Regarding materials, lemlem makes their indie clothing with recycled synthetic fabrics, specifically REPREVE^® (recycled polyester) and ECONYL^® (recycled nylon). Using these recycled materials helps divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans while lessening the pressure on nonrenewable resources used to make virgin synthetic fabrics. They also upcycle excess fabric into accessories or donations to sewing schools, cutting down waste further.
• Lastly, their garments are packed in 100% biodegradable bags.

lemlem partners with independent artisans in Africa, creating jobs and safe workplaces.

• They state that they provide fair wages and benefits alongside worker rights and social protection.
• They also trace most of their supply chain, including all suppliers in the final production stage. 

lemlem pledges 5% of all online sales to lemlem Foundation, a philanthropic organization promoting better access to healthcare and job opportunities for African female artisans. 

• Best for: womenswear 
• Product range: indie clothing, dresses, tops, blouses, pants, shorts, accessories 
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: XS–L

LOUDBODIES: Size-Inclusive Womenswear Independent Brand

LOUDBODIES was founded in Romania in 2018 by Patricia Luiza Blaj with a mission to prove that style has no size. Today, LOUDBODIES is an independent fashion brand offering ethically produced sustainable clothing of all sizes available to people everywhere. 

“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 LOUDBODIES 

LOUDBODIES ensures their sustainability by sourcing exclusively natural and certified fabrics.

• Specifically, all their cotton fabrics carry the organic certification from the Global Organic Textile Standard. Their rayon fabrics (viscose and lyocell) are sustainably sourced and exclusively from Lenzing’s closed-loop manufacturing systems. The brand also opts for eco-friendly packaging materials, meaning no plastic whatsoever.
• Furthermore, they use (recycled) paper hang tags and corn-based compostable mailers.
• Lastly, LOUDBODIES reduces their environmental impact by sourcing fabrics from Portugal, Germany, and France to be near the Romanian base and offsetting the carbon emissions of their shipments. 

LOUDBODIES produces their clothes in-house and commits to paying staff a living wage.

• The starting salary is more than twice the country’s minimum wage. LOUDBODIES also prioritizes the team’s mental and physical health by creating safe working conditions and offering paid holidays.
• Regarding animal welfare, LOUDBODIES doesn’t use animal-derived fabrics and components such as leather, fur, or silk. 

LOUDBODIES donates pillows made from their fabric scraps and manufacturing waste to puppy shelters. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: dresses, blazers, robes, shirts, skirts, jumpsuits, tops, T-shirts, bottoms, pants, outerwear
• Price range: $$
• Size range: 2XS–10XL

PAPER London: Swimwear Made Independently Using Low-Impact Materials

PAPER London was founded in 2011 in London, England, by Philippa Thackeray as a sustainable swim and ready-to-wear label that prioritizes sustainability and innovation. Today, PAPER London is a leading indie brand recognized for meticulously curated designs that blend modern aesthetics with timeless elegance. 

“At PAPER LONDON, we want to build a label that fills us with immense pride in every aspect. Hence, we wholeheartedly commit to a promise: to craft and curate quality clothing that you adore while leaving behind the lightest environmental footprint and generating positive social change.”  

PAPER London

PAPER London’s sustainability efforts are evident in their commitment to sourcing sustainable and responsible materials and reducing textile waste.

• Firstly, they choose low-impact fabrics, including regenerated nylon (ECONYL^®), regenerated polyester (REPREVE^®) and linen. The brand has also pledged to protect forests with Canopy Planet through their responsible paper, packaging, and fabrics choices.
• Secondly, they strive to reduce textile waste and move toward fashion circularity with their PAPERELOVE platform. On it, customers have the option to rent, buy, or resell PAPER pieces. 

PAPER London ensures their ethics by regularly visiting their factories to ensure workers are treated respectfully and offered fair wages, safe working conditions, and standard working hours. 

PAPER London supports Give Your Best, a charity dedicated to connecting pre-loved clothes with people, such as asylum seekers or refugees, who don’t just need them but want them, by allowing them to ‘shop’ for free clothing and accessories of their choice. Their unsold clothes will go straight to Give Your Best every quarter, helping to empower vulnerable women across the UK and to avoid clothing going to waste. Additionally, they offer a 10% discount for customers who donate their unwanted wardrobe pieces to Give Your Best. 

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: swimwear, beachwear, dresses, tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, knitwear, sweatshirts, accessories
• Price range: $$$
• Size range: XS–XL

Threads 4 Thought: Everyday Basics Produced Responsibly 

Threads 4 Thought was founded in California in 2006 by husband-and-wife team Eric and Leigh Fleet to create products that leave an innately smaller impact on our environment, support in-need communities, and assist in changing the narrative and understanding of ethical standards within the fashion industry. Today, Threads 4 Thought has grown into a recognized brand in sustainable indie fashion, offering ethically manufactured apparel you can wear anywhere, anytime. 

“From our original designs to our fabrics to the factory floor, we are committed to leaving an innately smaller impact on our planet.”

Threads 4 Thought

Threads 4 Thought promotes sustainability by sourcing a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including recycled polyester, organic cotton, and modal with Lenzing’s renewable beech tree pulp.

• For example, the Madge Feather Fleece Hoodie contains 95% LENZING™ Modal. Further down the life-cycle in manufacturing, they lower their environmental impacts by implementing a dye technology that eliminates all harmful chemicals and reduces water usage during the dyeing process by 95%. 
• They also recycle 80% of their main factory’s industrial wastewater. Additionally, their packing materials are fully FSC-certified, with 90% being WaveBags, which are 100% recyclable, water resistant, and strong. 
• Lastly, 99% of their products are transported by boat rather than air, reducing carbon emissions during the transportation stage. 

Threads 4 Thought traces most of their supply chain and reduces their impact through Greenstory. They also have a Supplier Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 

Threads 4 Thought partners with the International Rescue Committee to help people displaced due to various conflicts. 

• Best for: menswear, womenswear, kidswear
• Product range: sweaters, dresses, pants, jackets, blazers, shorts, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, tops, blouses, maternity, stockings, tights, jumpsuits, playsuits, sportswear, sleepwear, accessories, plus-size 
• Price range: $$
• Size range: XS–XXL

Komodo: An Ethical Brand Since 1988

Komodo was founded in 1988 in London, England, by Mark Bloom to create clothes that stand out and represent the talented people he and his friends met while traveling in Asia. Today, they have evolved into a sustainable indie clothing brand focusing on cleaner fabrics and better processes. 

“We are passionate about protecting and nurturing our planet, but we also love fashion and don’t believe the two need to be mutually exclusive.”

Komodo

Komodo ensures sustainability by sourcing eco-friendly materials for their clothing items and using renewable energy for their production.

• Firstly, they use a medium proportion of eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), linen, hemp, TENCEL^TM, and recycled synthetic fabrics. Specifically, their unisex socks are made mostly with organic cotton (90%) and some recycled nylon for durability.
• Regarding packaging material, Komono has removed single-use plastic from their supply chain, a commitment they decided on in 2019. Further down the life-cycle in the manufacturing stage, they use renewable energy to reduce their climate impact.
• Lastly, they partner with OMNI to facilitate the selling and buying of Komodo’s pre-loved items, striving toward circulating clothes and reducing waste. 

Komodo has a Code of Conduct that covers all of the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. They trace most of their supply chain and visit their suppliers regularly. Additionally, the majority of factories they use are audited according to GOTS or SEDEX.

As a member of 1% for the Planet, Komono commits to donating one percent of their sales to the Sumatran Orangutan Society, which works to restore natural rainforests and ecosystems through purchasing and repurposing palm oil plantations. They have also donated to various charities and social projects, including but not limited to Tibet Relief Fund, Sunrise Orphanage Kathmandu, Water for Africa, and Inspirasia Foundation. 

• Best for: womenswear, menswear
• Product range: tops, T-shirts, shirts, dresses, sweaters, coats, jackets, jumpsuits, dungarees, skirts, denim, pajamas, socks, shoes, bags, accessories 
• Price range: $$
• Size range: S–XL

Dilli Grey: Hand Block Print Clothes Made by Artisans 

Dilli Grey was founded in London, England, in 2015 by Vickie El Rayyes with a mission to bring ethically and beautifully handmade designs of both homeware and fashion from India to the UK as transparently as possible. Today, they are an award-winning, purpose-driven, ethical lifestyle brand celebrating artisan-made womenswear, sleepwear, and homeware using heritage Indian textile techniques, including block print, Chikankari embroidery, and sourcing vintage finds. 

“At Dilli Grey, the people are at the heart of everything we do. From the amazing artisans in India to the ever supportive customer community around the globe, and our small but mighty UK team. As an ethical business, we aim at positively impacting every individual within our value chain and we are constantly accessing our practices to improve the impact we have on every individual involved.”

Dilli Grey

Dilli Grey’s sustainability efforts focus on sourcing eco-friendly materials, moving toward “zero-waste”, and reducing the climate impact.

• Firstly, they use a high proportion (95%) of low-impact plant-based fabrics. These include organic cotton, linen, and lyocell. They further lower the sourcing impact by using deadstock, such as in their vintage kantha jackets. Regarding printing materials, they opt for low-impact, uncoated recycled paper. 
• Secondly, they ensure none of their end-of-season stock is sent to landfills by operating on small production runs. They also ‘buy conservatively’. Moreover, remnants from the production of hand-block printed sleepwear and accessories are used to create journals and small cotton accessories to minimize unnecessary wastage. 
• Lastly, their carbon reduction strategy covers shipping by boat whenever possible, sourcing and manufacturing within India to avoid unnecessary long-distance shipments, and manufacturing by hand instead of power-hungry machines. 

Dilli Grey suppliers are required to sign their Supplier Code of Conduct, which covers standard safe and responsible workplace practices, such as health and safety, living wages, responsible sourcing, and no child labor. They also visit their manufacturing partners seasonally. 

Dilli Grey donates £1 from every purchase on their site to the work of The Circle to economically empower women and girls and end the pandemic of violence they face. The brand also supports a wide range of humanitarian and climate-focused charities through fundraising sales, customer donations, and charity products where 100% of the profits go to their chosen charities. The list of charities includes Indian COVID Relief Fund, Summer of Love Appeal, Ukraine Red Cross Appeal, and The One Foundation. Additionally, Dilli Grey has pledged to plant one tree for every purchase and has planted 6,299 trees throughout the campaign.

• Best for: womenswear
• Product range: dresses, jackets, shirts, tops, resort wear, sleepwear, loungewear, accessories
• Price range: $$$ 
• Size range: S–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 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 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:

• Forest Stewardship Council: An FSC certification ensures that the wood (or wood-like material) comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
  
  There are two types of FSC Certification: 
  • FSC Forest Management Certification, with a focus on the origin of the wood—the forest. 
  • FSC Chain of Custody Certification, which focuses on the path from the forest to the customer’s home. 

• 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

Independent brands are owned and run by individuals rather than some big fashion conglomerate. With their typically small-scale operations, they can be more in control of issues such as waste and resource management, which significantly impact sustainability. Yet, it is important to keep such issues in mind when buying from an indie clothing brand. 

By purchasing new or pre-loved pieces from indie clothing brands that commit to sustainability, 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 indie clothing brands:

• Mayamiko the Label
• The Tiny Closet
• Ilk & Ernie
• lemlem
• LOUDBODIES
• PAPER London
• Threads 4 Thought
• Komodo
• Dilli Grey

To make your use of these independently made clothing items even more sustainable, follow these steps:

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

Stay impactful,

Sources

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• The Tiny Closet: Home
• Ilk & Ernie: Home
• lemlem: Home
• LOUDBODIES: Home
• PAPER London: Home
• Threads4Thought: Home
• Komodo: Home
• Dilli Grey: Home
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Silk Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Mayamiko the Label: OUR PROMISES
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• OWNI: Home
• Mayamiko the Label: Our Promises
• International Labour Organization: ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
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• Mayamiko the Label: SPONSOR A POSITIVE PAD – HELP EMPOWER WOMEN
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• Lens of Jen: 22 Ethical Brands Owned by Women
• Good On You: Brand Directory | The Tiny Closet
• Ilk + Ernie: Sustainability
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Ilk + Ernie
• Ilk + Ernie: Ethics
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• One Tribe: How it Works
• One Tribe: ILK AND ERNIE
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• Good On You: Brand Directory | lemlem
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are ECONYL Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Recycled Nylon Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Rayon Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Viscose Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Lyocell Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• LOUDBODIES: VOWING TO MAKE A CHANGE| LOUDBODIES is fully sustainable
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are ECONYL Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Canopy Planet
• PAPER London: PAPER LONDON Commitment to Protect Forests Through Our Paper, Packaging and Fabrics Choices
• PAPER London: PAPERELOVE
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• Give Your Best
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Threads 4 Thought
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• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Modal Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Threads 4 Thought: Materials
• Threads 4 Thought: Madge Feather Fleece Hoodie
• Threads 4 Thought: Ethical Manufacturing
• WaveBags: Home
• Threads 4 Thought: About Threads 4 Thought
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• International Labour Organization: ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• International Rescue Committee: Home
• NEWSWIRE: Threads for Thought Donates $200,000 to the International Rescue Committee
• Good On You: Brand Directory | Komodo
• Komodo: Linen
• Komodo: Hemp
• Komodo: TENCEL
• Komodo: Unisex Socks
• Komodo: Sustainability
• OWNI: Komodo
• Komodo: Code of Conduct
• International Labour Organization: ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• Komodo: Our Suppliers
• Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit: Home
• Komodo: Our Projects
• Komodo: Quick guide: Komodo’s journey towards zero plastic
• Komodo: Sunrise Orphanage, Kathmandu
• Tibet Relief Fund: Home
• Water For Africa: Home
• Inspirasia Foundation: Home
• Dilli Grey: Artisan Techniques
• Dilli Grey: Process
• Dilli Grey: Planet
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Organic Cotton Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Linen Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Impactful Ninja: How Sustainable Are Lyocell Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• Dilli Grey: Vintage kantha jackets
• Dilli Grey: Supplier Code of Conduct
• Dilli Grey: People
• Dilli Grey: Dilli Grey Charity Initiative 2020-2024
• European Parliament: The impact of textile production and waste on the environment (infographic)
• Science Direct: The challenge of “Depeche Mode” in the fashion industry – Does the industry have the capacity to become sustainable through circular economic principles, a scoping review
• Science Direct: Carbon Footprint of Textile and Clothing Products
• European Parliament: Environmental impact of the textile and clothing industry
• European Parliament: What if fashion were good for the planet?
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning fashion’s future
• McKinsey: Style that’s sustainable: A new fast-fashion formula
• Forest Stewardship Council: Home
• Our World in Data: Deforestation and Forest Loss
• Our World in Data: Renewable Energy
• Peta: Animals Used For Clothing
• The Guardian: Child labour in the fashion supply chain
• BioPreferred: WHAT IS THE BIOPREFERRED PROGRAM?
• European Commission: Environment | EU Ecolabel
• Forest Stewardship Council
• FSC Forest Management Certification
• FSC Chain of Custody Certification
• Textile Exchange: The RCS and GRS are designed to boost the use of recycled materials
• Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification
• Ninja: How Sustainable Are Semi-Natural/Semi-Synthetic Fabrics? A Life-Cycle Analysis
• OEKO-TEX: Certification according to STeP by OEKO-TEX
• B Corp Certification: Home
• C2CCertified: Home