The Best Affordable Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Brands
With the rise of fast fashion contributing an estimated 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it’s clear that something needs to be done about the industry's growing environmental impact.
Fast fashion means that we are constantly encouraged to buy more clothes, many of which will only fall apart in a few months, follow the trends, and view clothing as disposable.
As consumers we have a lot of power in where we put our money. By choosing to support brands with sustainable practices and fair labor practices this can create a demand that could push the fashion industry in a more positive direction.
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However, you might have already explored sustainable fashion and noticed these garments can be expensive, which can be off-putting for many. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at why that is, and how you can find some affordable, sustainable clothing for your closet.
Why Is Sustainable Clothing Expensive?
It’s easy to be put off trying to buy sustainable clothing when you see the price tag on some of the items. Especially when you’re used to fast fashion, seeing how much even a eco-friendly t-shirt can cost in some stores can come as a shock.
Why is sustainable clothing typically more expensive? Well there are a few reasons for the higher price point, and when you think about it, the higher price tag can be for a good reason.
Sustainable Materials
Sustainable clothing is generally made from natural materials or semi-synthetic material such as lyocell.
Even within that, in order to be sustainable, natural fibers need to be grown organically, without pesticides, limiting wastewater, and disposing of this water correctly.
To source raw materials sustainably and to promote a circular economy costs money, and that will impact the price for the finished product.
Fair Wages for Labor
Unfortunately within fast fashion there is a lot of child labor. Ethical fashion brands believe in paying living wages to everyone in the supply chain, from the farmers, to those sewing the garments. Too often, fast fashion is responsible for sweatshop conditions, and that’s just not acceptable to anyone creating sustainable clothing.
The cost of these livable wages is usually passed on to the end consumer meaning the ethical brand you're supporting is actually selling clothes for a fair price.
Maybe we should be asking why other brands sell their clothing for such low prices? Who is paying the price...garment works not able to make a living or feed their families?
High Quality is an Investment
Sustainable fashion is designed to be worn again and again, not just for a single 6-month cycle.
Because of this, a lot of care is taken in how each and every garment is made, to ensure that it will stand the test of time. This means that the garment may take longer to make and uses higher quality resources. The increased costs of this manufacturing process is usually passed on to the end consumer as well.
All of these factor into price which is why you won’t find a $5 ethically made t-shirt. For the purposes of this post we’re exploring ethical and sustainable brands that have a good portion of items within the budget conscious $20-$50 range.
What to Consider When Shopping for Sustainable Clothing?
There are a lot of great eco-friendly brands out there, but it’s not always possible to do your research on them all when you’re out shopping with your friends. Here are some tips to help you buy more sustainably at any time.
Check the material. Buying clothes made from natural or sustainable semi-synthetic fiber is the first step in shopping sustainably. Hemp, linen and organic cotton are all great options. Avoid polyester and nylon which are both made from petroleum. If you are searching for a garment made from these materials be sure to look for recycled polyester or nylon. This one change can make a huge difference! Take a look at what dye is used as well, natural dye is always better for the environment.
Buy local and beware of ‘greenwashing’. Many big brands now have signs saying that their clothes are sustainable. While there is a shift towards this, it’s not always as it seems. Check the labels of garments and the materials before making a purchase. Where you can, shopping for locally made and produced garments is always a bonus. Don't be afraid to e-mail a brand and ask for more information about their eco-friendly materials sustainable initiatives, or fair trade practices. Ethical brands who are truly passionate about the greater good will be happy to answer your questions and honored you took the time to ask.
9 Affordable Sustainable Clothing Brands
With the number of brands out there, knowing where to shop for affordable and sustainable clothing can be overwhelming. Here are 6 of my favorite eco-friendly clothing brands that are great for those on a budget. These brands are all a great place to start when building your conscious wardrobe.
Known Supply's Eco-friendly Fashion
KNOWN SUPPLY is humanizing the apparel industry through collaborative partnerships. This certified B Corp is crafting ethical clothing while creating employment opportunities in Peru & Uganda through their partnership with Fair Trade Certified.
KNOWN SUPPLY focuses on organic cotton clothing featuring both minimalist styles and fun patterns. This sustainable brand wants consumers to know and understand exactly who made each item.
That’s why every garment that they sell comes hand signed by the person who made it, so that you can learn more about them through their Meet the Makers site. KNOWN SUPPLY's clothing features affordable prices from $34-$70 and includes clothing for both men and women.
tentree’s Earth Friendly Clothing
tentree makes Earth-First essentials using sustainable (and comfortable) materials such as TENCEL, recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp. Every time you purchase an item, tentree plants 10 trees.
tentree is proud to be a certified B-Corporation and ethically crafts their clothing around the world. Consumers can learn more about the certifications for each individual factory on their Ethical Manufacturing page.
Offering clothing for women, men, and kids their price range features a wide range of items between $20-$88.
Passion Lilie’s Affordable Fair Trade Clothes
Passion Lilie is an ethical clothing brand that partners with artisans in India. Clothes are made with organic and recycled cotton, handwoven ikat and playful block prints, and fair trade practices.
Passion Lilie carries fair trade clothing for men, women, and babies. Their clothes range from $16-$110.
Pact's Budget Friendly Organic Clothing for the Whole Family
Pact apparel aims to be Earth’s Favorite™ clothing company. To do that, they’ve dedicated themselves to sustainability, and eco-friendly practices. Using organic cotton, Fair Trade certified factories, and thoughtful packaging, they hope that their products can help to promote a circular textile economy.
PACT apparel is a great place to shop organic cotton basics and sustainable loungewear for the entire family. Their options range from $20-$100 and feature items for kids, babies, women, and men.
For Days Affordable Circular Fashion
For Days cares deeply about creating a good product with high quality, sustainable materials. This sustainable clothing brand works with GOTS materials, recycled materials that meet the Global Recycling Standards, and Cradle to Cradle certified dyes.
This brand also ensures that every item is 100% recyclable and minimizes waste with reusable packaging and company-wide carbon offsets. For Days is focusing on circular fashion with their SWAP program.
That means customers can swap out anything, anytime, for any reason. Everything customers send back gets recycled. Their basics are pretty affordable ranging $28-$65 and with a few fashion forward higher end items in the $100+ range.
The Good Tee’s Affordable Organic Cotton Clothing
The Good Tee want to make a positive difference to the environment, one t-shirt at a time. The Good Tee is a sustainable clothing brand focusing on high quality Fairtrade Certified organic cotton basics.
This socially responsible brand allows ethical shoppers to easily learn about the transparent supply chain and trace the manufacturing process through videos and resources highlighting The Good Tee’s partner suppliers and the materials used.
Not only are their garment factories, Fair-trade certified, but also the actual cotton is Fairtrade. That means they've gone the extra mile to ensure fair treatment and payment of the farmers AND garment workers.
The Good Tee's affordable options range from $17-$80 and include sustainable options for babies, children, men, and women.
GOEX’s Tees Made from Recycled Water Bottles
Sustainable fabrics and living wages are at the core of GOEX. This brand is part of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) , a third party ensuring both their workers in both the US and Haiti are guaranteed a living wage.
GOEX’s basics are made with recycled plastic bottles turned into recycled polyester, USA grown cotton, and more. This affordable sustainable clothes range from $15-$35 and feature shirts for the entire family.
Boody’s Bamboo Viscose Loungewear
Clean, simple, and comfortable, Boody Eco-wear specializes in underwear and loungewear made from bamboo viscose. Founded by two friends from Australia, the pair strive to deliver a brand that is sustainable, responsible, and eco-conscious.
Boody’s bamboo is grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizer, and irrigation, and their manufacturing entails zero waste and is carried out in a closed-loop system that captures contaminated liquids. Boody is also certified by Ecocert, OEKO-TEX, and PETA.
This brand features basics for men, women, and babies with plenty of options in the $24-$35 range.
Fair Indigo’s Organic Basics
At Fair Indigo, all of their t-shirts are made from high-quality organic cotton. Not only is this sustainable, but it means that no harmful pesticides are used! Extreme care is taken in the production of these t-shirts to ensure that they are quality products that are made to last.
Fair Indigo’s organic cotton clothing ranges from $27-$70 and features options for men and women.
LA Relaxed American Made Sustainable Style
LA Relaxed uses sustainable natural fibers to craft high quality clothing. All of their clothing is made in their own factory in Los Angeles and they pay garment workers a livable wage and have healthy work conditions.
This ethical brand aims to minimize waste in the production process by making in small batches, reducing fabric consumption, and using leftover fabric for other goods. Their clothing ranges from $29-$118. Use HONEST20 for 20% off your purchase.
Other Affordable Sustainable Fashion Practices
There are other ways that you can be sustainable with your clothing choices that don’t include shopping for sustainable garments. Particularly if you’re looking to save money, take a look at these affordable alternatives:
Thrifting
Thrifting can be great fun, and you can almost always pick up a bargain. Once you find the best thrift store in your area, you’ll be surprised by how many items you can pick up. Being patient and waiting for the right garment to come in is key, but it’s a great way to stop clothes ending up on the landfill.
Buying Less
It might seem obvious but taking a good look in your closet and really discovering what’s there can provide you with whole new looks you’d never even thought of. Part of shopping sustainably is about buying less often and really making your clothes last. So, go on, time to Marie Kondo your wardrobe and find out what you’ve been missing!
Swap with Friends
Ever had a hand-me-down? Sometimes they’re the best clothes around. Organizing a swap session with your friends can be great fun, plus it will give clothes that have rarely been worn a new lease of life.
I hope that this guide has taught you a little bit about eco-friendly garments, what to look out for when you next go shopping, and how to find affordable sustainable clothing.