13 Ethical & Sustainable USA Made Clothing Brands
Ethical and sustainable fashion is on the rise due to consumers learning about the impact the fashion industry has on the world.
While a lot of clothing brands manufacture their clothes abroad, there are some brands leading the way for sweatshop free clothes made in America.
However, if you were under the impression that "made in the USA" automatically meant ethical, we are sorry to say it doesn't!
Pin this American made clothing brand list for later!
This guide will explore the ethics of USA made clothes and provide a list of responsible American made clothing brands.
This post does contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase The Honest Consumer may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Is Made in America clothing ethical?
While “made in the USA” is usually put on a pedestal for local job creation, unfortunately, American made clothing is not always ethically made.
An ethical brand ensures that employees are fairly compensated for their work, treated well, have rights, and employee safety is of utmost concern.
Over the years, there have been several U.S. brands, especially those on the West Coast, have been called out for worker abuse and mistreatment.
In 2016, investigators found that 85% of reviewed Los Angeles factories were involved in unfair labor practices, with some even paying employees as low as $4.50 an hour.
Unfortunately, it’s popular for American factories to take advantage of undocumented workers paying garment factory workers just cents per piece that is sewn. Sweatshops do exist in America.
Clothing Made with Prison Labor
There have been a handful of brands that have used prison labor as a way to save money. If the prisoners are not fairly compensated for their work this resembles sweatshop type settings.
It’s reported that UNICOR (a division of the Federal Bureau of Prisons) utilizes more than 12,000 inmates and operates in 80 prison factories for all of its product segments.
Sales of clothing and textiles reached $177 million last year, and UNICOR made a profit of $16 million.
Meanwhile UNICOR paid prison inmates slightly more than 23 cents an hour. Popular brands such as Victoria’s Secret, JC Penney, & other big name retailers have used prison labor in the past.
Child Labor in the USA
While child labor is much less common with American made clothing, unfortunately child labor can still take place.
Unlike some countries the USA does have child labor laws.
This is something to be aware of with the overconsumption and fast fashion industry.
Just because USA is in the brand name doesn’t mean the clothes are made in America
We see popular brands that have names such as Calvin Klein USA or Liz Claiborne USA.
This leads consumers to believe their clothes are crafted in America, but often times this is quite deceiving and the clothes are actually made overseas.
13 Sweatshop Free American Made Clothing Brands
If you're curious about shopping ethical American-made clothing brands, look no further. We've created a list of the best sweatshop-free USA made clothing brands for you to love and support.
You can wear this high-quality clothing with confidence knowing it was responsibly crafted.
People of Leisure’s Classic Vintage Fashion & Loungewear
People of Leisure is a slow fashion brand that crafts small batch clothing using deadstock fabric, hemp, and organic cotton.
People of Leisure clothes are ethically made in Los Angeles. This sustainable clothing brand offers a variety of clothing styles from casual loungewear to vintage classic fashion.
Their ethically made band tees made with organic cotton are a unique item that sets them apart from other eco-friendly clothing brands!
LA Relaxed: Colorful Clothing Made in the USA
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.
From their design studio, to pattern room, to the sample sewer, the cutting table to the production line and finally though inspection and our packing line, it takes under 100 steps to complete a garment.
They source third-party certified plant based fibers, like GOTS Organic Cotton, that are as safe for the growers as they are for your skin.
Fite Fashion’s Formal Wear
Fite Fashion is a woman owned formal wear brand that prioritizes ethics and sustainability. Fite Fashion creates gowns, dresses and separates that are made to order.
This slow fashion brand uses natural eco-friendly materials such as silk and cupro. Fite Fashion’s high end formal wear is handmade in Philadelphia using fair labor practices.
Fite Fashion's core mission is to combat the extreme wastefulness, pollution, and labor exploitation in the fashion industry.
They source the most sustainable fabrics available and prioritize those produced with clean dyeing techniques and non-exploitative labor.
They believe that sustainability and beauty are not mutually exclusive. Fite Fashion wants their designs to make you feel beautiful and amazing, while also supporting the fight against fast fashion.
Whimsy + Row’s Slow Sustainable Fashion
Whimsy + Row is a slow fashion brand focusing on limited runs and garments locally made in California. Whimsy + Row clothing is made with low impact fabrics like Certified Organic Cotton, Linen, TENCEL™, Cupro, Silk and Deadstock/Upcycled Fabric.
This ethical fashion brand visits their factories weekly to ensure fair wages are given and the workers are being treated fairly. Use the discount code HONEST10 for 10% off your purchase.
Taylor Jay’s California Made Clothing
Taylor Jay is a Black owned sustainable fashion brand creating an intersectional approach to fashion through ethics, sustainability, and inclusion. Taylor Jay partners with a factory focused on ethical sourcing and fair labor in Oakland, CA to produce environmentally safe garments from certified eco-friendly textiles.
Taylor Jay focuses on the versatility of clothing ensuring single Taylor Jay piece can be combined into multiple outfits. Conscious consumers can shop jumpsuits, dresses, tops, and bottoms all made in the USA.
Use the discount code HONEST for 15% off your purchase.
Amour Vert: Modern Eco-friendly Fashion
Amour Vert focuses on sustainability and effortless style. Amour Vert apparel is ethically crafted in California using eco-conscious materials such as organic cotton, mulberry silk, TENCEL, & beechwood fabric.
Amour Vert has both more minimalistic pieces and fun patterns.
Amour Vert also has sustainable initiatives such as planting a tree with each t-shirt bought, compostable bags, and working to minimize waste within their supply chain.
They partner directly with mills to develop their own fabrics that are sustainable, soft, and stand the test of time. They always start with the most sustainable, traceable, and eco-friendly raw fibers and materials available.
The Amour resale marketplace is where you can browse, buy, and sell high-quality pre-loved styles at lovable prices. Being truly sustainable means keeping timeless AV clothing in circulation and out of the landfill.
SANDMAIDEN SLEEPWEAR MADE in the usa
Launched in 2007, Sandmaiden Sleepwear makes 100% handmade sleepwear, knitwear, and lingerie in their workshop in Bellingham, WA.
They offer made-to-order sleep and loungewear made from natural materials like bamboo and linen. They also offer a wide range of sizes, including plus sizes.
Sandmaiden Sleepwear is available through Etsy.
Ash & Rose: Boutique Style Made Locally
Ash & Rose is an ethical, sustainable mother-daughter owned boutique and design studio that sources local and global brands that are sweatshop and child-labor free.
Ash & Rose carries a wide range of amazing fair labor brands and has their own collection of locally handmade pieces is an excellent example of what it means to sell sustainable clothing made in the U.S. in a creative and repurposed way.
Ash & Rose's co-founder designs and crafts every piece of the collection, which is composed entirely from antique, vintage, recycled, and remnant materials.
They're inspired by nature and obsessed with all things feminine, romantic, and pretty - especially flowers.
They choose mindful packaging, from recycled gift boxes to jewelry bags, made from their own scrap fabrics.
Ethically styled in Los Angeles Apparel Floral Crop Top, Wide Cotton Twill Pants, and earrings from Ash & Rose
Lovanie: American Made Petite Clothing
Lovanie is a sustainable fashion brand based in Seattle, WA. Lovanie creates clothing for petite women.
Garments are ethically made in small batches in Seattle using 100% linen and deadstock cotton.
The brand name LOVANIE is a combination of the word "Love" and "Avani" which means Earth in Sanskrit language. Their mission is to create clothing that are kind to people and the planet to inspire conscious women to live the life of their dreams.
All the styles in their collection are made from eco-friendly linen fabric. Linen is a natural and biodegradable fiber that is highly breathable and perfect for the warm summer days.
Use THEHONESTCONSUMER for 10% off your first purchase. I was recently gifted the Lily Dress which I’ve been loving. This dress features pockets and a flowy fit perfect for summer.
The Checkroom’s American Made Wool Coats
The Checkroom creates timeless & functional coats for women.
This socially responsible brand partners with American Woolen, one of the few remaining wool mills in the United States to bring consumers USA-Made, wool/cashmere blend coats crafted to last at reasonable prices.
The coats are ethically made in Chicago & feature size inclusive options.
Founder Liz Williams's vision is modern women's outerwear that could be cherished for years to come, not only because of its timeless style but also because of its quality craftsmanship.
Hackwith Design House
Hackwith Design House is a womens apparel and accessories brand that prides itself in making long-lasting versatile outfits that are unique to their wearers. Everything is made in their Minnesota studio by their talented team of sewers. To reduce waste, the majority of Hackwith's items are not made until ordered.
Hackwith Design House began with the goal of making long-lasting and versatile clothing that is as unique as its wearer. In September 2013, they launched with just one limited-edition design. They've grown to offer additional size-inclusive seasonal collections, swimwear, and a buyback program in The Sustain Shop.
Altar: Sustainable Clothing Made in Portland
Altar focuses on providing a sweatshop free alternative by focusing on made in USA & sustainable fashion.
This socially responsible clothing brand sources organic and naturally dyed textiles and works with deadstock fabrics and American milled textiles as often as possible.
Altar is a clothing company and retail store with a brick-and-mortar location in Portland, OR.
They celebrate independent manufacturers and artists from across North America, with a focus on the stories that are woven into their work. They use the phrase, “objects with meaning” because they believe in sharing the unique stories behind these pieces.
Ethical manufacturing guidelines and sustainable practices take many forms and narratives, and Altar is always committed to discovering new ways to improve upon both. Their store is committed to diversity and inclusivity: in their hiring practices, their product sourcing, their visual content, and their core values.
Are clothes made in USA more sustainable?
When evaluating the sustainability and environmental impact of a garment there is a lot to consider such as materials, durability, and chemicals and waste from production.
If you are based in the states, shopping for sustainable clothing made in the USA means that you can avoid items being shipped overseas, lessening the item's overall environmental footprint.
However, depending on the materials used to craft the garment, those fabrics could come from abroad.
Shopping small local brands or thrift shops is typically an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. However, that's not always an option, and it can easily become overwhelming to try scouting out ethical brands on your own amidst the thousands available online and in stores.
You can also promote a sustainability-forward fashion industry by buying less frequently - remember, quality over quantity - and taking care of your clothes so they last longer.
Every small action you take contributes to the pressure we can put on unethical fashion brands to make a responsible change!
American-made goods, like a good pair of jeans and dress shirts, don't have to come at the cost of others' quality of life and can even be found with affordable prices (considering the value of the product).
We hope you discovered some amazing sweatshop free brands to shop next time you’re looking for new clothing. The great news is that the number of sustainable made-in-the-USA brands is slowly rising, so they'll become easier to find with time!
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.