Sustainable Shopping Guide - Women’s Clothing
Women’s Clothing | Jewelry & Accessories | Shoes | Men’s Clothing | Kid’s Clothing | Home & Furniture
Featured Brands
Everlane
Hatch Maternity
M.M.LaFleur
Reformation
ABACAXI
Mindfully constructed women's clothing using natural fibers and traditional techniques. Made to order in NYC.
Ace & Jig
Gorgeous hand-woven women's clothing that's happily sweatshop-free. Ace & Jig's worker-friendly textile studio offers perks like free childcare and organic produce while keeping traditional textile arts alive. Based in Brooklyn, NY.
Adriano Goldschmied
Men's and Women's jeans manufactured in Los Angeles, California with an emphasis on eco-conscious materials and social responsibility.
Alternative Apparel
Laid-back basics with a commitment to sustainability. Alternative Apparel uses recycled materials, non-toxic dyes, and 60% less water than conventional manufacturers, and only employs factories dedicated to fair labor practices.
Amour Vert
Sustainable women's clothing made in San Francisco using non-toxic dyes, sustainable fibers, and a zero waste design philosophy. I own quite a few of their pieces (I espcially love thier silk).
Larger Retailers that Carry Ethical Brands
Bailey 44
Women's clothing designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, California, that specializes in jersey knits, pontes, stretch silks and eco leathers.
Bec & Bridge
Australian line that creates contemporary, feminine pieces I adore (I've worn one of their dresses three holiday seasons in a row). Made with love in Australia.
www.becandbridge.com | Also available at Revolve
Bibico
UK-based women’s clothing line. All of Bibico’s collections are stitched, woven, and knitted from natural materials in fair trade women's cooperatives certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Christy Dawn
Breezy, bohemian women’s clothing that’s ethically made in Los Angeles from deadstock fabric. All of Christy Dawn’s seamstresses are paid a competitive wage and receive health benefits.
Curator
Women's clothing made in San Francisco and built to last. Curator focuses on building strong relationships with their vendors to create quality garments, minimize waste, and prioritize organic fabrics.
Cuyana
Modern and elegant pieces with incredible fabrics and clean lines. Cuyana's “lean closet” initiative helps shoppers get rid of items they no longer need while empowering women around the world. Emphasizing timelessness over trends, Cuyana is all about social change and intentional living.
www.cuyana.com
Edun
New York-based line with a bold, contemporary aesthetic matched by handmade details. By working with artisans from Africa, Edun creates long-term partnerships that lead to stronger communities and economic growth. 85% of the line is grown and sewn in Africa as they continue to promote sustainable businesses.
Eileen Fisher
Women's line that creates fair trade, organic, and Made in the USA pieces, all manufactured ethically at third-party verified factories. A true hertiage brand, Eileen Fisher continues to exemplify her love of simplicity and her commitment to ethical practices.
Eva Franco
Ultra-feminine women's clothing made in Los Angeles, California.
www.evafranco.com
Everlane
Men and women's line that offers a luxurious twist on modern staples. By creating long-term partnerships with their factories, Everlane is able to produce pieces of designer quality and ensure compliance with strict ethical labor standards. You can even take a peek at the manufacturing process for each piece at their website.
Dusen Dusen
Women's basics made in the USA. Ellen Van Dusen's colorful, geometric designs are inspired by "mid-century resort architecture, Italian industrial design, Scandinavian textiles, Google Maps and handwriting." Not a bad combo.
Indigenous
Women’s and men’s clothing line that adheres to strict fair labor practices, and equitably shares their revenue with their indigenous artisan partners. Indigenous' gorgeous sweaters, tees, dresses, and accessories are all made with low-impact dyes and natural fibers, including organic cotton, organic alpaca, Mariano wool, and silk.
IOU Project
Men’s and women’s label that promotes responsible consumption by creating what they call a ‘prosperity chain,’ where products are fully traceable from artisan to consumer. IOU Project's unique e-commerce platform makes it possible to get more money in the hands of the artisans who make their clothes.
Know the Origin
A line of beautiful women’s and men’s basics that follow ethical processes from seed to garment. KTO creates clothing for customers who are uncompromising in style and in values. Read our interview with KTO’s founders to learn more.
Known Supply
Affordable women and men’s clothing that celebrates the people who made them. Each sustainably-made piece is signed by its creator, who receives a fair wage for their work. Known supply also partners with nonprofit organizations to provide education and social services to the makers they employ.
Komodo
This men’s and women’s line combines fair trade practices with socially and environmentally responsibile production. Komodo's collection is produced using organic cotton, natural and eco-friendly fabrics and dyes, and local manufacturing whenever possible. You can read the whole story on their detailed About page.
Marine Layer
Men's and women's clothing made in California. Marine Layer's custom fabric is a blend of two yarns: MicroModal (from recycled beechwood) and Pima Cotton. Sustainable and soft as all get out, I'm in love with their t-shirts and cozy sweaters.
Mata Traders
Women’s clothing and accessories line specializing in classic, feminine silhouettes handmade in India and Nepal by fair trade women’s cooperatives and artisan groups. I’ve been a long-time fan of Mata Traders’ beautiful designs, and even collaborated with them on a remix challenge a few years back.
Matter Prints
Women’s and men’s line that support the preservation of artisan prints and techniques. Matter’s pieces are produced in small, limited-edition runs and are meticulously hand crafted by traditional artisans. The cuts are modern, casual, and easy to wear. Check out our review of Matter’s Easy Dhoti pants!
Mayamiko
Each piece in this colorful, feminine line showcases artisan African textiles and the power of ethical production. From environmentally friendly practices to generous and empowering labor standards, Mayamiko believes in changing lives and building communities by creating something beautiful.
www.mayamiko.com
M.M. Lafleur
Tailored, tasteful women's clothing made in NYC. Like having a personal shopper, M.M. Lafleur will assemble a work-ready “bento box” of stylish pieces. These smart collections are designed by women value elegant workwear that doesn't sacrifice ethics.
Mollusk Surf Shop
Laid-back clothing for men and women, made in the USA.Mollusk Surf Shop's muted colors and ocean-inspired prints speak to my So Cal soul.
Nectar
American-made casual line offering cool, breezy basics. Nectar's founders volunteer and donate to charity while creating collections that exemplify California style.
Obakki
Gorgeous, luxe staples featuring clean lines and exquisite fabrics. Inspired by her world travels, designer Treana Peake incorporates unique silhouettes and humanitarian goals into one beautiful collection. The Obakki foundation, Obakki’s philanthropic counterpart, provides clean water and education in Africa.
Passion Lilie
New Orleans-based women's fair trade clothing line (with a Fair Trade Federation membership to prove it). Passion Lilie seeks to empower women artisans by providing meaningful employment opportunities, fair wages, and safe healthy working conditions. They’re environmentally savvy, too - using natural dyes and energy and water conservation techniques.
Patagonia
Men's and women's activewear and outdoor gear with a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Not only does Patagonia have an ethical supply chain, fair trade and labor standards, and environmentally responsible policies, it also give out grants to those actively working to preserve the environment.
www.patagonia.com
People Tree
Slow fashion line that creates beautiful essentials from organic and hand-woven fabrics. Using eco-friendly practices, People Tree works with artisans from around the world, ensuring that hand-crafted textiles at fair trade prices stay a part of the fashion lexicon.
Reformation
Effortlessly cool women's clothing, made in the USA. By using deadstock fabric and manufacturing in downtown LA, Reformation has been able to drastically reduce the environmental impact of creating a new garment.
Skunkfunk
Edgy but cute casual women's clothing with a sustainable production chain. Not only is Skunkfunk committed to socially responsible labor practices, it also supports and curates emerging artists and designers.
Stella McCartney
Women's line that goes a step beyond the usual sustainability practices. Besides using organic fabrics, Stella McCartney also implements wind power, solar energy, and vegan leather. The company's ethical trading practices go hand in hand with their United Nations collaboration to empower female artisans from around the world.
Stone Cold Fox
Sexy and unabashedly feminine women's line based in LA. By designing their own textiles and manufacturing in the USA, Stone Cold Fox is able to be ethical and completely unique at the same time. Their pieces evoke romance and bespoke luxury.
www.thestonecoldfox.com
Synergy
Women's clothing that specializes in cozy, super-soft organic cotton, all with a commitment to ethics and sustainability. Synergy's partnerships with manufacturers in Nepal has strengthened and empowered local communities, offering female artisans financial empowerment.
Viktoria + Woods
Pared-back contemporary line offering wearable, modern pieces in natural textiles. Made in Australia and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, each piece is meant to last and become a staple in your wardrobe.