If you're searching the Internet for sustainable clothing brands, chances are, you're keen to cut down on your fast fashion consumption and make your wardrobe a little more eco-friendly.
Shopping ethically is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and overall emissions, especially now that more and more brands are focusing on producing better quality clothes with a seasonless aesthetic, meaning customers won't grow tired of them after a few months.
But with so much sustainable fashion around, knowing how to pick the right brands can be tricky, especially when so many are guilty of greenwashing. With that in mind, here at Marie Claire we've put together a guide to help you.
What is the difference between ethical and sustainable clothing brands?
There is a lot of confusion between the terms 'ethical' and 'sustainable.' No, the two aren't the same. Treating staffers, suppliers and so on in an ethical manner is just one part of being a sustainable business.
There are different ways to produce ethical clothing, and according to the Ethical Fashion Forum, they generally fall into three categories - social, environmental and commercial. The forum specifically tackles these issues:
- Countering fast, cheap fashion and damaging patterns of fashion consumption
- Defending fair wages, working conditions and workers’ rights, and supporting sustainable livelihoods
- Addressing toxic pesticide and chemical use, using and/or developing eco-friendly fabrics and components
- Minimising water use
- Recycling and addressing energy efficiency and waste
- Developing or promoting sustainability standards for fashion
- Providing resources, training and/or awareness-raising initiatives
- Protecting animal rights
(L + R) Fashion Editor Zoe Anastasiou dressed in Omnes and Reformation. (Centre) Health & Sustainability Editor Ally Head dressed in Dai.
What constitutes a sustainable clothing brand?
When it comes to sustainable fashion brands, there are many things to consider including how a brand sources its fabrics, how they manufacture and transport their products, and how they sell items in a planet-friendly way.
As Joanna Dai, founder of the B Corp-certified clothing brand Dai shares, every new product put out into the world has an impact - however, some brands are doing better than others to minimise their mark. We asked Dai for her expertise on how you can ensure a brand is genuine in its sustainability efforts.
How can you spot if a brand is genuine in its sustainability efforts?
Joanna Dai outlines her tips below.
- Accountability - "For real change, brands must be accountable for their impacts and decisions across the entire business," she shares. "Brands that achieve B Corp certification are invested in running a responsible business."
- Fabrics - "Look to brands that are using certified plant-based or innovative recycled materials as much as possible," she recommends.
- End of life - "Sustainability doesn’t end once the customer checks out their basket. Look out for brands that offer repairs and take-back schemes that help increase a garment’s longevity or encourage responsible recycling," she encourages. "We recently introduced Dai’Cycle, a programme where customers can drop off their preloved Dai clothing in exchange for a £25 gift card to use on their next in-store purchase. We will renew and repair the donated pieces and offer them in-store as preloved items to new customers, or donate it to our charity partner Smart Works."
- Building products to last - "Alongside an end-of-life programme, invest in brands and products that are well designed and built to last," she goes on. "This is a founding principle at Dai, I personally road-test each and every product to make sure it performs and functions for our customers now, and for years to come."
- Valuing people - "Sustainability must combine people and the planet. Look at brands' supplier codes of conduct or commitments to paying fair and living wages to ensure the people who are making your garments are being treated well."
Marie Claire UK's Sustainability Editor, Ally Head, agrees, adding that shopping for sustainable clothing can feel like a minefield when you've got brands greenwashing left, right and centre.
Her advice? "Always check whether a brand has a B Corp certification. If they do, it means they've undergone the most rigorous testing - qualifying can take as long as three years (!) - to make sure their practices are plant-friendly across all aspects of their business. They have a detailed directory on their site of all the brands that have qualified."
Secondly, do your research - often, if a brand actually works to sustainable practice, they'll have a whole page dedicated to it on their website. "Do read up and also carefully consider both the eco-claims they are making and how they say their business is structured - do they promote fast fashion, do they rack up air miles like there's no tomorrow, and do they still send products out in non-recyclable or non-biodegradable materials? Even if a brand says they're sustainable, they might be greenwashing - for example, a global company that churns out new designs every day doesn't *sound* sustainable to us."
And thirdly, use your common sense. "Buying secondhand, shopping in vintage stores, using pre-loved fashion sites or renting clothes are all great ways to shop sustainably and lower the impact that creating new clothes can have on the environment," Ally explains.
Keep on scrolling to discover our favourite sustainable clothing brands - and while you're here, check out our favourite ethical jewellery brands and sustainable sports brands, too.
The best sustainable clothing brands you need to know about:
Dai is a B Corp-certified clothing brand founded by Joanna Dai. Not only is the brand using performance 4-way stretch, machine washable, wrinkle resistant fabrics and designing some of the most comfortable clothes ever, but they are also committed to doing good for people and the planet. Sustainability is woven into every fibre of their brand DNA. They use over 60% recycled or plant-based yarns and recently introduced Dai’Cycle, a programme where customers can drop off their preloved Dai clothing in exchange for a £25 gift card to use on their next in-store purchase. The brand will renew and repair the donated pieces and offer in-store as preloved items to new customers, or donate it to their charity partner Smart Works.
Editor Verdict:
"I am OBSESSED with this brand. I met the founder Joanna earlier in the year and loved hearing about her journey of launching a fashion brand that's genuinely sustainable, too (they're a certified B Corp). Their suit trousers and navy striped shirt are my personal favourite items from their collection, but everything is gorgeous." - Ally Head, Health & Sustainability Editor.
OMNES means all, with the brand's ethos being that we are all in this together. The brand is aware that fashion is one of the worst polluters, so even when sketching clothes, designers think of styles and fabrics that you will wear as long as possible. The brand also uses offcuts in accessories to minimise waste, and audits its factories in Romania, India and London to make sure they comply with Health and Safety, Environment, Business Ethics and Labour Standards.
Editor Verdict:
"When it comes to chic dresses and understated event wear, Omnes is one of my favourites. I love the brand's signature cowl neck slip dresses, which are often made from recycled polyester, Ecovero Viscose or deadstock fabric. The shapes are so flattering and they're the kind of dresses you can wear for years to come for all manner of different occasions." - Zoe Anastasiou, Fashion Editor
Ninety Percent gained its name thanks to its unique business model, which sees the brand sharing 90% of its profits between its people and charitable causes that prioritise the planet. In addition to this, the brand also prides itself on transparency and traceability, as well as the use of sustainable materials.
The label focuses on the use of natural, renewable and certified organic materials, including Linen, ENKA Viscose, Tencel, Micro Modal and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton. And also uses low-impact finishes like plant-based buttons and nickle free metals.
With a slogan that reads, "Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We're #2," you could deduce that Reformation is a brand that prides itself on its sustainability efforts. The brand hopes to achieve Climate Positivity by 2025, with a goal that includes sourcing 100% of its fabrics from either recycled, regenerative or renewable materials.
Reformation recently released a circular denim collection and is even working to develop vegan, plastic-free leather made from Mycelium (which is the root-like structure of a mushroom).
As a B Corp-certified brand, you can guarantee that With Nothing Underneath is prioritising the planet and is conscious about its environmental impact. The brand thrives on the ethos of buying less and buying better, offering a whole host of timeless wardrobe staples that are guaranteed to stay in your wardrobe for years to come. In terms of materials, the brand uses Organic Cotton, Tencel, recycled Silk and even its buttons are made from Corozo nuts.
Editor Verdict:
"There is, in my opinion, no shirt brand that compares to With Nothing Underneath. I own three of the brand's shirts and wear them season in, season out. Not only is the quality exceptional, but the fit is second to none—nailing that laid-back, casual vibe that still oozes luxury and expense. They're not wildly expensive in the grand scheme of things, but still more than your average £30 Zara buy. However, when I think about the cost per wear compared to high-street alternatives in my wardrobe, With Nothing Underneath comes out on top every single time." - Shannon Lawlor, Acting Senior Beauty Editor
Arkitaip is focused on creating clothing that will last, with timeless designs and well-crafted construction. Created in Europe, Arkitaip utilises 100% Masters Of Linen-certified linen and can pinpoint where 95% of its raw materials originate.
The brand's garment workers are also treated with the utmost care and protected by the EU's European Employment Strategy. Everything is created in Portugal in a small, family-run factory. In addition to all of this, Arkitaip is also a member of 1% for the planet, an initiative which commits to donating 1% of a brands profit to environmental causes.
As another young brand founded just last year, MyCashmere is bringing sustainable practices to the cashmere sector. The brand produces its clothing in Italy, using either 100% SFA (Sustainable Fibre Alliance) certified yarn or Re-Verso Recycled Cashmere, which is made from post-factory leftovers. The label even takes its sustainable ethos into its packaging, using grass paper packaging which is biodegradable and free from plastic. Ultimately, each of MyCashmere's pieces is created to become a timeless addition to your wardrobe and the kind of classic item you will keep for years to come.
Sézane has become one of the first-ever French brands to obtain a B Corp certification. With its origin in vintage, Sézane believes the pieces that we wear today should become the vintage of tomorrow. From the transformation of their production methods and choice of materials to reducing their delivery and packaging footprint, Sézane is committed to concrete sustainability measures.
Today, three-quarters of the materials in their current collection are eco-friendly. They have obtained 5 certifications (GOTS, Oeko-Tex, FSC, RWS and RMS ) and released their first 100% eco-friendly denim line. Since 2018 Sézane has raised over 4.5 million euros for the philanthropic program DEMAIN. On the 21st of every month, 10% of global turnover and 100% of the proceeds from a dedicated design are donated to programs which support access to education and equality of opportunity for children all over the world.
Editor Verdict:
"Nothing says French girl chic, quite like Sézane. The brand offers timeless staples that you will want to wear for years to come. After all, aside from manufacturing and fabrication, another true test of a sustainable wardrobe is ensuring you wear and re-wear your clothes again and again. Nothing is more sustainable than the clothes already in your wardrobe." - Zoe Anastasiou, Fashion Editor
O Pioneers proudly describes themselves as a brand that represents the 'antithesis of fast fashion.' Made from dead stock or end of season fabrics, O Pioneers works with local seamstresses and craftswomen here in the UK to create all of its products, thereby minimising its carbon footprint.
In addition to this, the brand advocates for investing in classics that will stay with you for several years and not just a season. The brand creates wearable dresses that are made to be utilised for the everyday, and not just on special occasions, meaning you can definitely lower your price per wear.
Founded by Jeanne Damas, Rouje is a brand that recognises sustainability is about constantly improving. The brand is working to become more sustainable with each collection. Currently, 94% of the brand's range is created in Europe meaning the brand lowers its environmental impact. They also choose to use ground transport where ever possible.
When it comes to fabrics, 74% of the brand's Spring/Summer collection is made from certified materials, while the brand also chooses to produce in limited quantities to avoid overproduction.
Nobody's Child has pivoted to become a go-to fashion label that is sustainable as well as affordable, without compromising on design. Through 2021, its mission was to become a more responsible brand and now 90% of the collection is made from certified sustainable materials. Nobody's Child has also partnered with Canopy on the PACK4Good initiative, and its tags are FSC certified, with packaging made from 100% recycled plastic.
"What others see as waste, we see as a starting point…" this is the bold proclamation on Fanfare's website. The brand was built on a circular fashion model, using rescued, up-cycled and recycled materials to create new products.
The brand manufactures its products locally, either in East London or at a short distance away, thereby minimising its carbon footprint while also creating new job opportunities in the local community.
As a brand that offsets its entire carbon usage, you can guarantee that Deiji Studios is conscious about its impact on the planet. The brand designs using natural and sustainable fibres including linen, GOTS cotton and more, utilising materials that are biodegradable or recycled. Deiji Studios has also partnered with 1% for the planet, meaning that the brand contributes at least 1% of its annual revenue to environmental causes.
EVARAE ensure a fully transparent supply chain of materials and production. Consciously choosing materials that are made through more sustainable processes that lower their environmental impact. 100% of swimwear is made from the regenerative fabric ECONYL®, while their ready-to-wear collection is crafted in 100% earth-friendly fibres. The ready-to-wear collection is produced in small production runs, cutting down on waste and minimising the environmental impact. EVARAE uses a small family-run atelier in Rimini, Italy, who have over 20 years of experience producing swimwear, meaning the brand can guarantee the safety and job security of those involved in creating its garments.
DAY 6 is a new independent womenswear brand focusing on the growing gap between fast and designer fashion. Designed, milled and produced in the UK, DAY 6 put an emphasis on small, minimum-waste production that is climate and customer conscious. DAY 6 creates playful designs with a high-fashion attitude at an attainable price point.
This contemporary sustainable womenswear brand celebrates individuality, authenticity and sustainability. In just 13 years, Amy Powney has gone from sweeping the cutting-room floor at Mother of Pearl to taking the helm as its Creative Director. Sustainability has been a life-long passion for Amy and she’s been on a mission for Mother of Pearl to reduce its impact on the planet. Clothes are made from organic and natural materials, with a transparent supply chain, putting social responsibility, respect to animals and low-environmental impact first and foremost. Their website is set up so you can see the sustainable attributes of each piece.
Founded in Indonesia in 2012, Faithfull the Brand has care, quality and authenticity weaved into its fabric. From day one, co-directors, Sarah-Jane Abrahams and Helle Them-Enger have collaborated with Bali’s best manufacturers to create their hand-made garments, and have continued to live and work closely with their local community ever since. At the heart of the brand are thoughtfully produced designs that evoke a sense of summer and a spirit of travel. Faithfull is known and loved for its vintage inspired prints, flattering shapes, and unique pieces, made for sun-seekers and romantic dreamers.
As a B Corp-certified brand, you just know Aspiga takes its sustainability credentials very seriously. Last year, the label moved away from using new polyester in its products, choosing instead to use recycled polyester and other yarns made from recycled plastic such as EcoVero. Aspiga has also stopped using plastic in any of its packagings. Its clothing now comes in garment bags made from 100% cornstarch, which is compostable. The label also works with fair trade factories and repurposes all scrap fabric to create sustainable gift bags, scrunchies and face masks, thereby minimising waste.
The MARFA STANCE concept is based on buildable, adaptable, reversible and personalised clothing. Each piece can be worn in multiple ways and with multiple functions, promoting a buy less and buy better approach. Unique, buildable elements are available in each collection to evolve key styles, offering the ability to update and sustain your signature wardrobe season upon season. In addition the collection has a modular element where if a customer buys multiple items from the collection, the pieces can button into each other and create new ways to wear for different times of the year. Seasonless, timeless design and colour palette encourage forever wear, focusing on the garment's longevity and functionality as an investment piece.
Founded earlier this year, KJINSEN is a label that puts sustainability at the forefront of each business decision. In order to reduce its carbon footprint, the brand creates its pieces here in an atelier in London. Additionally, KJINSEN works exclusively with biodegradable fabrics, such as GOTS-certified organic cotton and cashmere. They pride themselves on utilising a traceable supply chain and often use deadstock fabric, excluding synthetic fabrics from their offering entirely.
Operating from their London Atelier, BITE makes and produces everything on-site in their east London factory space, using only natural, certified organic fabrics with a record of social and environmental responsibility. The collection consists of a maximum of 20 fixed and updated styles each season, an evolutionary archive, which is now stocked at over 10 global retailers.
Responsible fashion label ASKET is perfecting one garment at a time, throwing out all the unnecessary fuss and focussing on what matters: quality and fit. Recently, the first three garments of its womenswear permanent collection launched: the white t-shirt, the white shirt and the standard jeans. Each piece joining the permanent collection is 100% traceable and created to last and designed to fit - with 54 sizes in the denim.
All of Anny Nord’s gorgeous shoes (based on a clean Scandi aesthetic) originate from the brand’s design studio outside the coastal town of Båstad in Sweden. The brand believes in quality over quantity and to slow things down they only present two collections per year. Production is kept as close to home as possible in order to keep transports shorter and in turn the CO2 footprint smaller. It works closely with a few quality factories in Portugal and Spain where shoe-making is a handcraft and good and ethical working conditions are a given. All plastic packaging has been removed, and the label works with premium leathers that are from Leather Working Group (LWG) audited members within Europe in order to ensure a supply chain of superior environmental performance.
Swim and resort wear brand, Boteh works with plant-derived fabrics or 100% cellulosic fabrics, as the brand describes. Their products are constructed from organic cotton, European flax linen and more. Cellulosic fabrics are not only more sustainable, but they also tend to be a more durable option.
When it comes to swimwear, the brand creates its swim collections in regenerated Econyl, which is a fabric made from recycled waste (such as fishing nets). Boteh works with certified factories in India and China, who uphold quality and ethical production standards.
Hunza G’s production process begins and ends locally in the UK, amidst a small group of individuals passionate about quality knit fabrics and considered swimwear construction. The crinkle fabric is knitted in a local mill in the Midlands, then processed and dried before being sent to their Central London studio where each garment is cut and made, limiting any possible unnecessary fabric consumption. They also resourcefully produce small run-off quantities of headbands and scrunchies with small cuttings of excess fabric – reducing wastage and providing a long-lasting alternative.
1 People, a revolutionary Danish apparel and lifestyle brand that is globally expanding, has a mindset to introduce a new meaning of sustainable luxury. They have now launched the Minimalist Edit - your solution for sustainability. 1 People have curated a variety of effortless luxurious looks, so you can be confident that you are consciously styling yourself in timeless, ethical, high-quality fashion. Minimalism is at the heart of the brand, which is why the Ready To Wear Edit pays attention to detail, offering ten simplistic and versatile designs that can be styled up to 30 diversified looks. This collection along with every 1 People product sold will benefit charity Business For Planet and its efforts to support the education of the social entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
White Stuff’s women’s jeans and dungarees are designed consciously, using lower impact materials and manufactured with recycled water and renewable energy. All of their new styles feature recycled cotton (between 5% and 20% of the total fabric mix) and recycled polyester thread. The pockets are made from a recycled polyester and organic cotton blend. Additionally, the different washes of jeans have been created without pumice or stone washing techniques, which can be damaging to factory workers’ health. The denim factories they work with all take steps to mitigate their environmental impact.
GANNI has pledged to focus on four areas, the planet, people, the product and prosperity. These goals include reducing CO2 emulsions by 30% per kg of clothing, a gender equality policy, using more sustainable fabrics and investing in innovative projects to support the planet.
Editor Verdict:
"GANNI makes up a lot of my wardrobe - in fact, you could call me a super fan. The super-soft beanies, the huge collars, the oversized coats and the chunky boots. These cool fashion staples are classic and timeless, and the quality of the clothing means that you'll have them for decades. The Scandi brand is the ultimate cool-girl uniform in London this season, but it's also the sustainable choice, becoming B corp certified just this Autumn." - Jenny Proudfoot, Featured Editor
Created and led by couple Pavel and Teodora Lozanov, Bogdar expands on its family’s fashion legacy in Bulgaria – a country with a rich history in clothes manufacturing. It remains true to its roots with 100% of Bogdar pieces produced in their family-owned facility in Vidin, Bulgaria, with a hand-picked team of just 16 members, while building on, and contributing to the emerging style of the New East.
Le Kasha's mission is to make beautiful and timeless clothing suitable for every place and every season, using only natural and noble material, at the Le Kasha Eco label factory.
Joanna Dai founded Dai in 2017. The brand has always had sustainability as a part of its ethos and even achieved B Corp status in 2020. Dai uses eco-certified textiles and offsets the carbon created by its shipments.
