Kate's Favorite Ethical Clothing Brands
Hi, it’s Kate! I’m constantly on the lookout for sustainable and fair trade clothing and accessories, and the list below includes some of my current favorites.
Everlane is a fair trade clothing line that focuses on transparency in the working conditions of their factories. They rate the factories they use on factors like fair pay, reasonable hours, and environmental impact to ensure quality working conditions, and include a profile of all of the factories that they use on their website. While their pieces are on the higher-priced side, they are also made to last out of high-quality materials. Everlane also has a More-Sustainable collection of clothing made from sustainable materials like organic cotton, low-impact denim, and recycled plastic bottles.
My picks:
The Forever Sneaker: $65
These sneakers are made using recycled cotton and recycled polyester laces, and can be machine washed so you can keep on wearing them. Even better, when you’re done with them, the whole shoe can be recycled.
The Soft Cotton Square Crew: $74
This cotton sweater comes in black, white, grey, or pink.
These jeans are made with organic cotton, recycled polyester, and ECOVERO, an eco-friendly viscose material. Furthermore, the jeans are made in a factory that uses renewable energy and air drying to reduce CO2 emissions.
As a maximalist, THE KIT is my personal favorite on this list. Their tagline is “You have enough basics,” so why not try some of their sustainable clothing featuring bold prints and patterns. THE KIT reduces waste by consolidating its facilities under one roof and only making garments once they have been ordered. Creator Daniel Vosovic spent a decade in the fashion industry witnessing the wastefulness that typically comes with clothing production and promises to continue to move the brand in a sustainable direction.
My picks:
Mountain Postcard Turtleneck: $68
This beautiful turtleneck is machine washable and primary made from bamboo and cotton. It’s soft, slim, and stretchy.
The Maya dress has an oversized tee fit and it’s recommended to size down if you’re looking for a more traditional fitted look. The dress is made from viscose material.
Jean Jacket in Sunset Marble: $118
I am obsessed with this slouchy cotton jean jacket. It’s machine washable and it’s amazing. What more can I say?
Pact has become my go-to for wardrobe basics. All of their clothing is made of organic cotton from fair trade factories, and even their shipping includes carbon offset options and recyclable packaging. Their products are Certified Organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), meaning the farming process for their cotton includes no toxic chemicals and uses 91% less water than non-organic cotton. Their factories are Fair Trade Certified™, ensuring they meet rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. When Pact says that their mission is “to build Earth’s favorite clothing company,” they mean it.
I love a Pact pack. Get a week’s worth of comfy shrink-resistant organic cotton undies and save 23.7 gallons of water.
Stretch-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee: $20
This wardrobe essential comes in black, heather grey, and white.
Ok, one more Pact pack, because that’s what I come to Pact for. You can get this three-pack of tanks in all black, all white, all grey, or the matched set shown above.
Garbage NY creates my favorite playful and stylish sustainable jewelry. Their pieces are made-to-order out of recyclable gold or silver that won’t tarnish so you can keep them forever. On top of that, all of their materials are sourced from the U.S. and assembled locally, and the brand ensures that their vendors are paid fairly. The cost of their pieces reflect the extra effort put into their production, but the result is a product that you can keep throughout your lifetime.
My picks:
Pussy Power Charm: $48 - $128
Like all of their pieces, this charm is handmade by artisans in NYC. The cost of the charm depends on the choice of material: Sterling Silver, 10k Gold, or 10k Rose Gold.
Howdy Partner Charm: $49 - $128
If you have the spirit of a cowboy, this is the charm for you.
BB Angel Studs: $75 - $150
These super cute cherubs are available in Sterling Silver or 10k Gold.
ASOS is at the bottom of this list because ASOS is, in general, a fast-fashion retailer. The vast majority of the clothing they sell is made from unsustainable materials and they are not necessarily fair trade given that their supply chain is not transparent. That said, the ASOS Responsible Edit is much more affordable than many of the other brands in this list. ASOS’s Responsible Edit is a collection that uses some lower-impact materials, and their private label clothing within this collection is made with fair trade partners in Kenya.
My picks:
ASOS DESIGN Low Rise Kick Flare Pants: $23
These pants are made with ECOVERO viscose and indicates that it saves water and reduces greenhouse-gas emissions.
ASOS DESIGN Ultimate Midi Tea Dress with Collar: $29
This dress is primarily made of cotton meeting the standards of the Better Cotton Initiative.
ASOS DESIGN T-Shirt with Sun and Moon Yin-Yang Design: $20
This t-shirt is made of cotton meeting the standards of the Better Cotton Initiative.
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