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16 sustainable fashion clothing brands you need in your closet

My grandmother both inspired my love of fashion and (unknowingly) introduced me to the power of sustainable fashion (Secondhand in particular as I love wearing her clothing, jewelry and scarves).  Most of my favorite pieces in my closet are hers.

Just a few benefits of shopping sustainably:

  • Reduce landfills and emissions
  • Save water
  • Avoid poor labor practices of garment workers making fast fashion (that you likely dispose of quickly..)

The best part? You don’t even need to shop sustainably if you don’t want to– you can re-wear, up-cycle or mend the clothing you already own. Or shop secondhand clothing stores!

Any step you can make toward living a more sustainable life is better than no step at all.

I highly recommend reading this article, This is Why Sustainable Fashion Matters, here for more detailed (and honestly, alarming) stats.

Ultimately, the truth is- do the best you can do and every small step matters.

My grandma and I wearing (her) dress. 30 years+ apart yet this dress looked like it could still walk off a runway.


BAACAL

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

At BAACAL we also believe you shouldn’t have to compromise on style in the name of sustainability. At our headquarters in Los Angeles, we thoughtfully create every garment to last beyond the fashion seasons and look to be your favorite in your wardrobe for years to come We create the hero pieces of your wardrobe, the ones you’ll reach for every time you want to make a statement. These clothes are lighthearted and fun, but never outrageous.

Our dedication to sustainability doesn’t stop there. 80% of our limited run collections are made in Los Angeles. We use upcycled, vintage, and existing materials – everything from fabric to buttons and trim.

BAACAL is the perfect combination of expert fit, high-end style, and sustainability. Our clothes are designed by women and for women.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $178 – $644
  • Sizes Available: 10 – 24
  • Known for: Elegant dresses
  • Where They’re Based: Los Angeles, CA

Shop BAACAL here.


FKSP

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Stylish, accessible clothing produced in Los Angeles, CA for the everyday woman, that is our commitment. Folake Kuye Huntoon has been designing eye-catching pieces for 10+ years and has doubled down on her signature look with FKSP by Folake Kuye.

A Nigerian, woman-owned business, every single garment is developed from concept to delivery in our office and factory, located in the heart of the LA Fashion District. We strive for the utmost quality in fabric, craftsmanship, and finishing. FKSP prides itself on frequent, exclusive collections, helping our customers build a wardrobe of unique and classic pieces you can find nowhere else.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $39 – $169
  • Sizes Available: XXS – XXL
  • Known for: Beautiful colors
  • Where They’re Based: Los Angeles, California

Shop FKSP here.


JAMIE + THE JONES

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Our studio is based in Nashville, TN.  All of our garments (except for J+J Organic Knits) are designed, patterned, hand-cut, sewn, and packaged right here in Nashville and shipped to you!

All of our remnant fabrics from the cutting table are saved and organized by color on our scrap wall.  We use these scraps to make different garments and projects.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $98 – $328
  • Sizes Available: XS – 3XL
  • Known for: Raw Silk, Hand-Worked Textiles, and garments grown, handwoven, and sewn in the U.S.
  • Where They’re Based: Nashville, TN

Shop Jamie + the Jones here.


HENNING

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

At Henning we believe that luxury shouldn’t stop at a size 12. And since plus-size women are still widely excluded from that realm, our founder, former fashion editor Lauren Chan, is taking matters into her own hands. Here, we’re building a collection of luxury plus-size staples—like tailored blazers and classic coats—and we’re not making any compromises on quality, craftsmanship, or design.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $65 – $1,595
  • Sizes Available: 12 – 24
  • Known for: Chic Workwear in sizes 12-24
  • Where They’re Based: New York City, New York

Shop HENNING here.


BEATON

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

BEATON is a collection of linen basics in season less silhouettes, the designs are versatile, capsule friendly staples, released in small collections. It is a natural progression of Katie’s experience creating functional, comfortable, beautiful and sustainable apparel in her children’s line Red Creek Kids.

The linen is produced in Europe, dyed with eco-friendly dyes in the U.S.

Beaton is run by Katie herself, each order is carefully packed and shipped from her home studio in Lund, BC, Canada.

Beaton works with a very small production team. All garments are made in a small studio or by home sewers in Vancouver, BC.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $32 – $310
  • Sizes Available: XS – 3XL
  • Known for: Linens with practical and simple, often high-waisted, silhouettes
  • Where They’re Based: Lund, British Columbia, Canada

Shop BEATON here.


UNIFORM HANDMADE

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Uniform is a minimal collection of thoughtfully and beautifully designed pieces.
Meant to be versatile, simple, and easy, the garments and items that you reach for daily
Carefully envisioned and constructed by owner and designer Veronica Steunenberg in the Fraser Valley, BC.
Sustainable, natural, organic, ethical, and slow.
Each piece handmade, to order, just for you.
We believe in quality over quantity. Live in Uniform.
the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $85 – $310
  • Sizes Available: XS – 3W
  • Known for: Hand sewn liens, hemp cottons, and silks
  • Where They’re Based: Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Shop Uniform here.


VINCETTA

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Since day one, Vincetta has removed the barriers of labels and taken a new approach to fashion. We’re basically the “anti-fashion” fashion brand. A brand more concerned with intellectual conversation, addressing mental illness and body sensitive subjects, and calling out BS when we see it.

The name of the game is :

1) pay people a LIVABLE wage

2) don’t create anything that can be found second hand or in a vintage shop

3) don’t be a pretentious doodoo head. Everyone is cool here. If you’re not digging it, get out.

4) look like a zam stunner with little to no effort. I (Dee) usually like to spend the least amount of time getting ready so I can do more interesting things with my time.

5) quality, fit, function. Good design does not exist without these three elements.

6) you do you. The pieces are intentionally engineered to focus on you, rather than distract from the story you are telling.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $45 – $498
  • Sizes Available: XS – 4X
  • Known for: Inclusivity
  • Where They’re Based: Brooklyn, New York

Shop VINCETTA here.


PROCLAIM

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

PROCLAIM is an inclusive nude lingerie line made in Los Angeles from Earth-conscious fabrics. We are founded on the principles that fashion should represent all women and can be made in a way that does good for people and the planet. PROCLAIM is expanding the definition of nude, one ethically made bra at a time.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $28 – $59
  • Sizes Available: S – 3X
  • Known for: TENCEL™ and recycled polyester lingerie
  • Where They’re Based: Los Angeles, California

Shop PROCLAIM here.


MARA HOFFMAN

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

The aim is to design and manufacture our garments with greater care, to reduce our impact, and generate awareness.

To produce a responsibly made product, we choose each material with intention and care. When sourcing for our designs, we prioritize natural, recycled, and organic fibers and do not use any fur, leather, mulesed sheep wool or feathers. 100% of our swimwear is produced using recycled nylon or recycled polyester.

We prioritize fair treatment of workers and artisans, and aim to minimize waste and energy usage wherever possible throughout the production of each garment.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $70 – $725
  • Sizes Available: XXS – 3X
  • Known for: Stunning prints and bold colors
  • Where They’re Based: New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California

Shop Mara Hoffman here.


DL1961 PREMIUM DENIM

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

We’re a family-owned company that’s been in the denim business for decades. Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to creating the most optimized facility possible for water, energy, and dye use; as well as creating a vertical supply chain, which allows us to control and audit the entire process. There are certainly easier ways to create denim. We’ve always chosen to put in the extra effort because we feel a responsibility to make our garments in the best way possible for people and the planet alike.

What makes us stand out in a crowded denim landscape is the fact that we make everything in-house, from spinning the yarn, weaving the fabric, producing the garment to finishing all in the same facility. Conventional denim can travel multiple places as it is being assembled before it gets to you. A vertically integrated system significantly reduces the amount of energy and emissions needed to produce each garment. Every day we save more water, implement newer technologies, and reimagine ways to up-cycle, recycle, and give back.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range:$90 – $279
  • Sizes Available: XS – XL / 23 – 34
  • Known for: Denim jeans, jackets, pantsuits
  • Where They’re Based: New York City, New York

Shop DL 1961 Premium Denim here.


ALICE ALEXANDER

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Alice Alexander is a size-inclusive, ethically and sustainably made women’s apparel brand. We’re on a mission to radically change the fashion industry to one that is inclusive of ALL BODIES and is respectful of people and planet.

We are a vertically-integrated, direct-to-consumer company, where we design, pattern, cut and sew each item in our collection on a made-to-order basis. In other words, we make the clothes right here in the US and sell them directly to our customers. Working in this manner allows us to create clothing for women of every size and shape, using incredible materials, and working as sustainably as possible. Learn more about our commitment to sustainability and ethics here.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range:$75 – $425
  • Sizes Available: XS – 4X
  • Known for: Made in the USA
  • Where They’re Based: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shop Alice Alexander here.


FREE LABEL

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Every Free Label garment is cut and sewn in Canada. While supporting the local economy is hugely important to us, the reason we choose to produce locally in Toronto and Vancouver is because this allows us to ensure our garments are made by happy hands.

Our Vancouver factory partners are all within a 10 minute drive of our home. We visit with them nearly every week to discuss new designs, check in on production, and sometimes just to drop by with coffee or treats!

When we go into production, we don’t send our patterns overseas and cross our fingers that everything works out. We pass our patterns and fabric off by hand, visit our factories often, get to know the folks that make our garments, and verify that they work in clean safe environments.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $52 – $148
  • Sizes Available: XS – 4X
  • Known for: Small batch and inclusive sizing
  • Where They’re Based: Toronto and Vancouver, Canada

Shop FREE LABEL here.


MAYTA COLLECTION

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

MAYTA Collection is a boutique ethical fashion label fueled by a love of travel, culture, and high quality artisan craftsmanship.  Founder and designer Maggie O’Reilly travels frequently and has connected with artisans on her journeys.  Inspired by the colors, textures, and materials she encounters and the relationships developed with artisans as she explores marketplaces worldwide, Maggie launched MAYTA Collection in 2016 to share her unique designs with the world.

Our line of fashion accessories and home goods is unique, colorful, and high quality. Each piece is handcrafted in small batches using up-cycled, found textiles and raw materials. We work with artisans in Morocco and Peru to source fabrics that would otherwise have been discarded, then create pieces that will breathe new life into the materials. Each step of the creative process is done with care, from the very first sketch to source the materials, cutting and sewing the fabric, hand stamping the leather, and putting the finishing touches on each piece.

We believe in disrupting the fashion industry by designing items that are not mass produced. That’s why every item in our collection is one of a kind: we want to inspire our customers to express their personal style through each item they purchase.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $14 – $1,150
  • Sizes Available: N/A
  • Known for: Handbags, Totes, Rugs, and Pillows
  • Where They’re Based: Chicago, Illinois

Shop MAYTA Collection here. 


PEOPLE TREE

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

A pioneer in sustainable Fair Trade fashion, our story started in 1991. The core mission has stayed the same over the past three decades since award-winning social entrepreneur Safia Minney founded the company. Every product is made to the highest ethical and environmental standards from start to finish. Contemporary, versatile designs and playful, exclusive prints inspired by the V&A archives create stylish, innovative and affordable fashion while respecting people and the planet. Collections featuring organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell and responsible wool, are made using traditional artisan skills such as hand weavinghand knittinghand embroidery and hand block printing.

We launched our first fashion range to meet the Global Organic Textile Standard certified by the Soil Association and were the first fashion company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation product label. These certifications guarantee People Tree’s dedication and compliance to the principles of fair trade, covering fair wages, good working conditions, transparency, environmental best practice and gender equality.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $9 – $335
  • Sizes Available: S – L / 4 – 12
  • Known for: Fun prints and colors
  • Where They’re Based: London, England

Shop People Tree here.


SAIGE COLLECTIVE

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Ethically made accessories handcrafted on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Our collections are unique, one of a kind, and inspired by everything around us. They are simple, sleek and really easily paired with so many styles.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $23 -$25
  • Sizes Available: N / A
  • Known for: minimalist jewelry
  • Where They’re Based: Vanisle, British Columbia, Canada

Shop SAIGE Collective here.


VINCENT JAMES

This sustainability brand declares themselves as such: (taken from their about page)

Vincent James is a collection of elevated essentials with a sustainable approach.  The brand creates the foundational pieces for a chic, timeless and minimal capsule wardrobe that allows you to get dressed with confidence and ease every time and for everything your day brings.  Each piece is made using the highest quality natural fabrics and sourced and sewn sustainably and ethically.

the brand at a glance:
  • Price Range: $85 – $285
  • Sizes Available: XS – L
  • Known for: Neutral tone tops, jumpsuits, and dresses
  • Where They’re Based: Chicago, Illinois

Shop VINCENT JAMES here.

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