10 Sustainable (and Affordable) Clothing Brands That Align with Your Eco-friendly Values

If you’re anything like us, your relationship with shopping has changed over the years. Malls are replaced with screens. Questions about fit are swapped with questions about fabric. And supporting sustainable clothing brands is far from an afterthought; it’s a priority. 

All this to say, we aren’t looking for flings with flimsy shirts we wear once, but want clothes made with longevity and Mother Earth in mind. And while there are many brands for men and women with meaningful missions, it can be a challenge to find sustainable clothing brands that also fit in our budget. 

Our advice: keep a mental checklist of questions that will help you shop more mindfully for clothes (and really everything!).  

A  Checklist When Searching For Sustainable Clothing Brands: 

(*this is non-exhaustive, but a good place to start!)

• • What are the materials? Stay on the lookout for materials like organic cotton, recycled materials, Econyl, and bamboo. If vegan products are important to you, we also suggest avoiding materials like silk, wool, leather, suede, and fur. 
  • Does the brand have any certifications? Certifications like B-Corp, Wrap-Certification, and Fair Trade are good indicators the company is accountable for responsible and ethical production.  
  • Does the clothing brand give back? Do you see a mission rooted in giving back to the planet? Are they members of 1% for the Planet? We always recommend reading the mission of a clothing brand to ensure it aligns with your eco-friendly values.  
  • Is the packaging thoughtfully designed with Earth in mind? Take a peek at the packaging processes. If you see the word “compostable” that’s a gold-star! Recyclable and reusable packaging are also good things to look out for. 
  • How are humans represented and treated? Do you see diversity among the models, “about” team pages, and images on the Instagram feed? Do you see any language on the website for working conditions and wages? All good things to ask while shopping! 

**A note on sustainable clothing: the most sustainable thing we can all do is wear and re-wear the clothes already in our closet! However, if you’re in need of new pieces, here are some sustainable clothing brands to keep in mind on your search. 

 10 Sustainable (and Affordable) Clothing Brands That Align with Your Eco-friendly Values

1. Pact

When it comes to sweater dresses, maternity clothes, and baby clothes, we’re huge fans of Pact. The brand is known for using eco-friendly materials such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) cotton and being Fair Trade certified. They also state clearly on their website that all of their clothing will “always be sweatshop-free and child-labor-free.” 

$: The price point is typically between $15- $60.

2. Tentree

Who wants to plant trees and shop at the same time? We do! Every item sold from Tentree plants 10 trees. And as of the winter of 2021, they’ve planted more than 51,000,000 trees with a goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2030! They also use recycled materials, TENCEL, hemp, and organic cotton. 

We’re partial to the accessories collection (beanies, scarves, and headbands, but they also have an extensive clothing collection full of cardigans, jumpsuits, and PJS for men and women. 

$$: The price point is typically between $30 – $90. 

3. People Tree

Ever since 1991, People Tree has been offering stylish and mindfully-made pieces made of TENCEL and organic cotton. (Note: some of the pieces are made of wool, which is not vegan-friendly.) Read more about their commitment to environmental responsibility. 

We love their Vegan Clothing Collection, which is full of dresses, jumpsuits, and quirky socks. 

$$$: The price point is typically between $40 – $130. 

4. Amour Vert

With a motto like “GREEN LOVE,” it’s no surprise Amour Vert is committed to sustainable practices. According to their website, 97% of their products are made in California, and they use materials such as organic cotton and Tencel Modal. (Note: Amour Vert does use wool and silk, which are both not vegan-friendly.) They also use compostable protective bags and recycled materials in their packaging. 

Amour Vert offers a little bit of everything from dressy work-wear to comfy loungewear, but we gravitate most towards the jeans, jewelry, and turtlenecks. 

$$$: The price point is pretty wide! But most of the items typically fall between $40 – $150. 

5. Boody

Boody is all about bamboo! Whether you’re shopping for baby clothes or bodysuits, you can feel confident your piece will be made of bamboo. Read more about their commitment to eco & ethics, here. 

While they’re known for their undies and loungewear, we love the Boody Giving Bracelet that donates 100% of profits to Goodbye Malaria and the Relate Organization. 

$$: The price point is typically between $30 – $80.

6. Alternative Apparel

Alternative Apparel uses OEKO-TEX certified and GOTS-certified organic cotton and has made a pledge to replace all virgin polyester with 100% recycled polyester. They also ensure “fair, safe & clean workplace conditions on a global scale.”

Their bestsellers include zip-up hoodies, tees, and other solid staples. 

$$: The price point is typically between $30 – $70. 

7. Kotn

Kotn, a certified B Corp,  shows commitment to safe working conditions, fair and equal pay, and sourcing quality cotton. We love the ribbed turtlenecks, puff sleeve sweatshirts, and mockneck sweaters. Kotn also has an extensive sale collection worth taking a peeking at!

$$: The price point is typically between $25 – $90. 

8. Conscious Step

When it comes to socks, Conscious Step is our #1 choice! The designs are fun, the material is vegan-friendly and sustainably-sourced, and they’ve donated more than $500,000 to nonprofits ranging from The Trevor Project to Water.org. And they’re members of 1% for the planet. All this to say, they have a lot to be proud of! 

All of their socks are cute and donate to amazing causes,  but we love the Socks That Plant Trees and the Socks That Promote Breast Cancer Prevention 3-pack. 

$$: The price point is typically between $15 – $35. 

9. Mate The Label

Mate The Label uses organic cotton, non-toxic dyes, and only vegan materials. Their loungewear cozy looks include Henleys, joggers, and thermals in beautifully simple shades. However, this is one of the pricier brands on the list with sweatshirts coming in at over $100. But you can get some better ideals in the $30 dollar range if you peep at the styles on sale. 

$$$$: The price point is typically between $70-$130. 

10. Wholesome Culture (if we may say so ourselves!) 

At Wholesome Culture we’re proud to have made a lot of changes in 2020 and 2021 to be more sustainable. We’re not only Wrap-certified and exclusively vegan, but we also have an organic cotton collection and products made of bamboo + recycled materials like water bottles and recycled fishing nets. Plus, we donate 10% of profits to animal rescues. So far, we’ve donated more than $71,000! 

Our bestsellers range from tees and hoodies with kind messages to bamboo bras and underwear!  

$: The price point is typically between $15-$50. 

BONUS:

11. Thred Up

Embrace ThredUp, an online consignment store on a mission to inspire shoppers to “think secondhand first.” It’s a great way to give pre-loved treasures a second life while getting like-new products in your closet. 

And while you’re here, checkout our blog: 16 Thrifting hacks to get the second-hand steals of your dreams

12. Rent the Runway

Need something for a special occasion? Rent the Runway is a beautifully practical option that will help you avoid buying something that sits in your closet 364 days out of the year. You know the feeling? 

 You can shop by price (under $50, under $100) and category (dresses, jewelry, etc) to filter the options into something more manageable! 

Read more: 20+ Affirmations for Cultivating More Self-Love, Today and Every Day