Here’s a list of ethical brands I’ve learned about as I wean myself off fast fashion and strive for more sustainable and ethical choices. Brands that I’ve personally tried have a * next to them. I’ll continuously update this list.
However, the more sustainable way to shop is buy secondhand. I shop at thrift and consignment stores, but also search on Poshmark. (Use my referral code MELISSITA to get $10 off.) More brands are also setting up secondhand shops featuring items from their own brands, whether sold by the brand itself (like Eileen Fisher Renew) or from individual consumers (like Amour Vert’s ReAmour). Even fast fashion brand Madewell is getting in on this.
A shopping tip: Check return policies before buying so that you don’t end up with something that doesn’t work out. For instance, some businesses don’t allow returns on sale items.
But the most sustainable thing to do is to consume less in the first place. Use and mend what you already have! So, a caveat: this list will be updated slowly because I’m trying not to shop that much.
UPDATE 6/17/20 – See also this list I put together of Black-owned ethical fashion brands.
** Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of my affiliate links, I may make a commission. Using one of my referral codes may result in a coupon or store credit for me. Thanks for supporting my little blog. **
Apparel – Feminine
ABLE – Bags, shoes, and apparel. A bit of everything from button downs to leather jackets. They employ and train women with the goal of promoting economic change.
Aliya Wanek – By day she works as a speech therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. By night, Aliya Wanek makes comfy womenswear out of natural fibers.
Amour Vert* – As its name implies, Amour Vert is inspired by French style. This San Francisco-based company makes basics as well as feminine pieces, like floral silk dresses and tulip hem skirts. The majority of their goods are produced locally. In addition to their own clothes, they also carry accessories by other brands.
Carol Young | Undesigned* – Young studied architecture and her attention to design is evident in her clothes. She creates seasonless clothes out of sustainable, recycled, or deadstock fabrics. Her Moth series was designed for travel; many of the pieces can be worn backwards. Made in Los Angeles.
Christy Dawn – Ethically-made clothing inspired by vintage clothing. Flowy boho vibes. Petite sizing and extended sizing too. Get 10% off with DAWN10.
Curator SF* – Small batch women’s clothing in an array of colors. Made in San Francisco.
Dynasty George – This zero waste clothing brand serves romantic looks. Handmade in Brooklyn from vintage and recycled textiles.
Eileen Fisher* – The OG of sustainably-produced women’s clothing. Petite sizing available.
Elizabeth Suzann – Earthy minimalist garments in linen, cotton, silk, and wool. Made to order in Nashville.
Esby Apparel – This Austin, Texas-based company makes their clothing in L.A. and New York in small factories. Natural fibers, earthy colors, and low impact dyes. Extended sizes available.
Everlane* – In case you haven’t noticed, I review a lot of Everlane around here. That’s because they make basics at reasonable prices in ethical factories. As someone on a budget, I’m appreciative. New to Everlane? Please consider using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Set up your account first before browsing.)
Gracemade – A fashion-forward interpretation of modest apparel. Think cocoon dresses and jumpsuits. Made in downtown Los Angeles out of locally sourced and deadstock fabrics. Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ for 15% off.
Hackwith Design House – Clothing with a simple, clean aesthetic made in-house in a Minnesota studio. Plus sizing available.
Jaime + The Jones – Boxy fit garments in silk or cotton. Made to order in Nashville.
Jenni Kayne – California-based lifestyle brand. Women’s clothing, home items, and shoes. Known for their cozy cocoon sweaters.
Kotn – Canadian maker of cotton basics like tees, button-ups, jeans, and shirt dresses.
Laude the Label* – Clothing in earthy colors produced with minimal water and low-impact dyes. Uses women-owned or co-owned factories where workers are paid fair wages.
Local European – Their Instagram bio says, “For the elegant street girl.” Cargo pants, but make it fashion! Made in Los Angeles out of deadstock fabric in small batches.
MATE the Label – Sweats, tees, and comfy things made with organic yarns and low impact dyes. Made in Los Angeles, Peru, and India.
Mott & Bow* – Denim and tees.
Naadam – Cashmere sweaters and accessories.
Nau – Performance wear and outerwear.
Nordstrom* – Yes, Nordstrom is a big department store and not an ethical retailer, per se. But they do carry Eileen Fisher, Rachel Comey, and Reformation. It’s great to see a large company supporting ethical brands. I also keep an eye out for these brands at Nordstrom Rack.
Pact* – Casual wear, loungewear, and underwear made of organic cotton in a fair trade factory. Includes maternity wear. (See my review of some of their summer styles.) Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 for 15% off your first order.
Quince* – Basics like cashmere and washable silk made in factories that pay fair wages. Offers some styles for maternity.
Reformation – Many sustainable brands have a minimalist aesthetic, but not Reformation with its high-slit dresses and flirty tops. Petite sizing available.
Revtown – Denim from a mill with environmental practices and restrictions that they claim are strictest in the denim industry. (This is what they say, though I’m not sure how to verity this.) Milled in Italy, constructed in Guatemala, designed and developed in the US.
Sotela – Clothing made from fabrics that have minimal environmental impacts such as tencel, modal, and linen. Made to order in California. Sizes 0-30.
Solo Six – Sweaters made from natural fibers and inspired by traditional knitting techniques.
Universal Standard – Minimalist and size inclusive, though they don’t share where exactly things are made.
Tiny Closet Shop – Made-to-order capsule clothing crafted out of deadstock fabric in Los Angeles. The clothes are minimalist, drapey, and arty — what I imagine an art gallery owner would wear.
tonlé – This zero-waste brand creates handmade clothing and accessories in Cambodia out of reclaimed fabrics. They also stock second-hand pieces through their Open Closet program.
Tradlands – Menswear-inspired women’s staples.
Vetta* – Convertible clothes that can be worn several ways. Released as capsule collections, but you can buy the pieces individually. See my Vetta reviews here. Sadly, Vetta closed at the end of March 2023. But you may be able to find secondhand pieces through the Vetta Archive Shop or other online sites.
World of Crow – Flowy, breezy clothing made from handmade fabrics, with a goal of showcasing Indian heritage art and supporting small-scale handloom artisans. Sizes XXS to 4X.
Zuri – Zuri makes only one dress in an array of bright, bold prints, but it’s a dress that can also be worn as a duster. Ethically and sustainabily made in Kenya, Ghana, and India.
Apparel – Masculine
Esby Apparel – This Austin, Texas-based company makes their clothing in L.A. and New York in small factories. Natural fibers, earthy colors, and low impact dyes. Extended sizes available.
Everlane* – Wardrobe basics with modern cuts.
Kotn – Canadian maker of cotton basics.
Mott & Bow* – Denim and tees.
Naadam – Cashmere sweaters and accessories.
Nau – Performance wear and outerwear.
Pact* – Casual wear, loungewear, and underwear made of organic cotton in a fair trade factory. Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 for 15% off your first order.
Quince* – Basics made in factories that pay fair wages.
Revtown – Denim from a mill with environmental practices and restrictions that they claim are strictest in the denim industry.
Taylor Stitch – Classic men’s apparel made from upcycled and recycled materials. Based in San Francisco.
Apparel – Kids
Bash + Sass – Minimalist, gender neutral tees, hoodies, and rompers for babies and toddlers. Made in San Francisco
MATE the Label – Made with organic yarns and low impact dyes. There’s a small selection of onesies, T-shirts, and sweatpants.
Quince* – Baby and kids clothes from ages 0-12.
Pact* – Casual wear, sleepwear, crib sheets too. As of summer 2023, they are winding down their apparel for babies and kids. Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 for 15% off your first order.
Swimwear
Everlane* – In 2021, Everlane branched out into swimwear. New to Everlane? Please consider using my referral link to make your first purchase. (Set up your account first before browsing.)
Hackwith Design House – This Minnesota studio also makes swim wear. Love all the high-waisted options.
lemlem – Founded by supermodel Liya Kebede, lemlem offers swimwear and other apparel for women, men, and children made entirely in Africa. A portion of sales go to the lemlem foundation, a nonprofit that connects women artisans in Africa to healthcare, education, and jobs.
Natural Swim – Luxe swimwear with “coverage options for all” made from recycled fishing nets. Designed in the USA and ethically manufactured in Indonesia.
Summersalt – Swimwear made out of eco-friendly materials including recycled materials. Not much info on where and how things are made, though.
Bags
ABLE – They employ and train women with the goal of promoting economic change.
Baggu* – My favorite reusable bag! I always have one on me. Baggu also make purses, backpacks, wallets, and pouches.
Cuyana – Luxe, classic leather bags. Known for their leather totes. (But, are they just greenwashing?)
Day Owl – Backpacks made from recycled materials. They also sell secondhand bags.
Graf Lantz* – Bags, laptop sleeves, accessories, and housewares made from merino wool.
Everlane* – Most days, I can be found carrying one of my simple Everlane totes. They also make leather bags, like this one that I reviewed. In 2022, they started making bags out of cactus leather.
Lo & Sons* – This New-York based, family-run business makes stylish travel bags with thoughtful details. Read my review of some of their backpacks and this cute crossbody bag.
Minor History – Vegetable-tanned leather bags with no plastic parts in simple shapes.
Nisolo* – A Certified B Corp, Nisolo owns their own factory in Peru, which allows them to provide a living wage and a healthy working environment to workers. They also provide health insurance. They make leather and canvas bags. Read my review of the canvas tote bag. Use my code WO20 for 20% off your first purchase.
Tree Fairfax – Minimalist leather goods made in Roanoke, Virginia. They also have an Etsy shop.
Shoes
ABLE – They employ and train women with the goal of promoting economic change.
Allbirds* – Comfy sneakers made from wool or eucalyptus. Read my reviews of the Wool Loungers, Tree Skippers, and Tree Breezers flats.
dr. Liza* – Liza Egbogah is a Canadian chiropractor and osteopath who created her own line of stylish and comfy shoes for her clients. The shoes have orthotic insoles and are ethically made in Brazil. She also designs bags. Do note that orders to the U.S. can be exchanged, but not returned. My review of dr. Liza’s flats and her ankle boots.
Giesswein* – Merino wool shoes and slippers from a family-owned business. They say that 0% of their wool is wasted and 90% of their production water is recycled. They also make shoes from recycled plastic and cactus leather. See my review of Giesswein’s wool sneakers.
Everlane* – Yes, them again. Their shoes are hit or miss for me, mostly misses.
Hopp Studios*– Cushiony minimalist shoes. Read my review of the wedge slip-ons.
Nisolo* – A Certified B Corp, Nisolo owns their own factory in Peru, which allows them to provide a living wage and a healthy working environment to workers. They also provide health insurance. See my review of their flatform sandals. Use my code WO20 for 20% off your first purchase.
Thesus (formerly Alice + Whittles)* – Outdoor boots and shoes made from natural and recycled materials. The brand is now transitioning to a collaboration model with the goal of regeneration and circularity. Thus, they have put their current stock on sale. Use my code WELCOMEOBJECTS15 for an additional 15% off sitewide through May 23.
Zou Xuo – Small-batch shoes handcrafted by Argentinian shoemakers.
Cruelty-Free Beauty & Skincare
Cirque Colors* – This Brooklyn-based cruelty-free company makes nail polish in fun colors and finishes.
Londontown* – Cruelty-free, 9-Free nail polish brand. (Read my review.)
Juice Beauty – Organic, natural skincare.
Stratia* – I’m a fan of their Liquid Gold moisturizer which strengthens your skin barrier. Get $10 off your first order with my referral link.
Home
Avocado Mattress – Mattresses and bedding made from non-toxic, natural, and organic materials.
Coyuchi – Minimally processed and ethically sourced bedding and textiles.
Graf Lantz* – Bags, laptop sleeves, accessories, and housewares made from merino wool in Los Angeles.
Hook & Stem* – Makers of midcentury modern style plant stands. (I love mine!)
Kotn – Canadian maker of cotton basics, including bedding.
Looma – Bedding in neutral colors made from organic long-staple Himalayan cotton.
Pact* – This clothing retailer also makes bedding and bath. Use my coupon code WELCOMEOBJ15 for 15% off your first order.
Parachute Home – Bedding and bath, Oeko-Tex and Responsible Down Standard certified.
Photowall* – Wallpaper, wall murals, canvas prints, and posters — all printed on demand and made with FSC-certified paper and biodegradable inks and glues. (Read my review of their posters.)
Quince* – Bedding and bath made in factories that pay fair wages. I am a fan of their Turkish spa towels.
Saatva* – Mattresses and pillows made with organic cotton and eco-friendly foams. Made in the USA. I sleep on a Saatva mattress and here’s the review. Use my referral code to receive a $100 off your order of $1,000 or more. When you click through to the site it should say, “View Your Extra $100 off at Cart or Checkout” at the top. The referral stacks on top of other promotions.
Electronics
House of Marley* – Headphones, speakers, turntables and other audio products made from recycled and sustainably-sourced materials. (My review of a pair of headphones here.)
Reebelo – Secondhand refurbished electronics, phones, and tablets.
Low-Waste Living
Beeswrap – A natural, sustainable alternative to plastic wrap for food storage.
Blueland* – Eco-friendly cleaning products with no single-use plastic. Read my reviews.
Dental Lace* – Plastic-free dental floss.
Fillgood* – A refill and low-waste shop based in Berkeley, CA.
LA Miss Apple* – Plastic-free shampoo bars, soap, and creams, as well as home cleaners like dish soap blocks and laundry powder. Their shampoos lather up nicely.
Mable* – Bamboo toothbrush with a minimalist tapered design that allows it to stand on its end. This brand has a smaller brush head than others, which I prefer. They also make plastic-free floss.
Marley’s Monsters* – Reusable goods for the home like washable “paper” towels, personal care items, and baby care. See my review of their reusable facial rounds.
Package Free Shop* – A one-stop shop for toiletries, cleaning supplies, reusable goods, and more.
PAPR – Natural deodorant in biodegradable paper packaging.
Stasher Bag* – Reusable silicone bags for food storage. (I use them to carry snacks in my purse as well as store food at home.)
S’well* – My favorite reusable water bottle. Read my review of their S’ip bottles.
Who Gives a Crap* – Toilet paper and tissue made from recycled paper or bamboo. Read my post about the environmental problem with conventional toilet paper.