9 Organic Cotton Clothing Brands for Men
Organic cotton is a great material for any man looking to be part of the sustainable style revolution.
This guide discusses the benefits of organic cotton and features a list of ethical fashion brands to check out.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer will receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
The first step to learning about the eco and ethical fashion industry is to start by reading labels.
Just like you would with food. Start taking note what type of materials make up a certain piece of clothing and where different apparel brands make their garments.
Here are a few questions to consider when looking through your closet or shopping for eco clothing.
What Should Men Look for When Shopping for Sustainable Men's Clothing?
Look for ethical clothing brands that pay their garment workers a living wage
Avoid synthetic and instead choose natural materials
Try to choose clothes colored with natural dyes
Look for brands that support the circular economy through take back programs or recycling materials
Look for third party certifications such as certified b corp, global organic textile standard (GOTS), Fair Trade Certified, and more.
What is Organic Cotton?
Organic Cotton Plus defines organic cotton as cotton grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture.
What Makes Organic Cotton Clothing a Sustainable Material?
Cotton is a big part of everybody's wardrobe. So when diving deeper into sustainable solutions it makes sense to look at organic cotton.
Conventional cotton is known as a dirty crop because it requires large amounts of pesticides which are harmful to the environment, the farmers, and the end consumer.
Let's look at a reasons why organic cotton has a lower environmental impact.
It's estimated that organic cotton uses 91% less water, 46% less carbon dioxide, and 61% less energy than conventional cotton.
Organic cotton emits 94% less greenhouse gas emission when compared to conventional cotton.
Unlike conventional cotton, only organic or composted manure is used as fertilizer for growing organic cotton. By eliminating toxic chemicals, organic cotton growing also increases soil health as well as promotes more biodiversity in the system. In this way, you buying organic encourages the healthy cultivation of the soil, saves gallons of water, and avoids harsh chemicals!
On top of the lower environmental impacts it's also important to think about the garment workers in the factories through out the manufacturing process and the farmers harvesting the cotton. When they are able to work with organic cotton this reduces their exposure to toxic chemicals.
By choosing organic cotton you are also making a positive choice for your skin.
Pure organic cotton is hypoallergenic.
Organic cotton is less processed than conventional cotton which also means less dangerous chemicals along the way. As it is completely free from chemicals that can cause rashes, it feels much better on the body and is breathable.
9 Organic Clothing Brands for Men
These are a few great sustainable clothing brands using organic materials and crafting clothes for men. This list is a great starting place for launching your conscious closet.
PASSION LILIE’S ORGANIC & RECYCLED COTTON CLOTHING
Passion Lilie is dedicated to style, slow fashion, and sustainability. Community is also integral to their mission and works closely with skilled artisans in India.
To create their beautiful prints and patterns, Passion Lilie makes use of block printing, as well as utilizing the traditional artisan skills of ikat weaving, helping keep the practice alive.
Passion Lilie’s artisan partners use 30% recycled cotton and 70% organic cotton.
Passion Lilie only uses sustainable, non-toxic dyes; utilizes natural fabrics and organic cotton that is GOTS certified and they are part of the Fair Trade Federation ensuring fair trade practices.
Passion Lilie's ethical men's clothing features a wide range of button downs featuring playful patterns. These shirts range from $58-$62.
FAIR INDIGO'S FAIR TRADE ORGANIC CLOTHES
Fair Indigo specializes in fair trade clothing. Fair Indigo uses organic cotton to craft high quality garments crafted to last.
Discover organic cotton clothing for men and women ranging from $26-$50. Fair Indigo's men's organic clothing features polo shirts, t-shirts, joggers, and more.
Fair Indigo also gives back to The Fair Indigo Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to improve educational opportunities for children in the Peruvian communities where their cotton is grown, alpacas are herded, and products are made.
Colorful Standard’s Bright T-Shirts
Colorful Standard focuses on creating colorful sustainable basics. Their cotton is 100% organic and their dyes are all Oeko-Tex Certified, meaning that they have been thoroughly tested for harmful chemicals.
Colorful Standard’s organic cotton t-shirts, shorts, boxers, and clothing come in a range of fun colors such as dusty olive, polar blue, soft lavender, and more.
KNOWN SUPPLY'S ETHICAL CLOTHING
Using GOTS certified organic cotton and Fair Trade Certified factories, KNOWN SUPPLY is a collaborative brand that celebrates the makers of their clothing with each piece being hand-signed.
With a price point of $20-$72 this eco-friendly brand is sure to have something for everyone.
Their sustainable menswear features graphic t-shirts, flannels, beanies, and more. KNOWN SUPPLY also implemented a recycling program with their Take Back Bag, which allows you to send back old clothing furthering this brands sustainable practices.
THE GOOD TEE'S ORGANIC CLOTHES MADE WITH EARTH-FRIENDLY MATERIALS
The Good Tee prioritizes ethical and fair treatment of the cotton farmers they work with.
Using certified Fairtrade organic cotton to give consumers “the greenest tee ever made”, this brand furthers their sustainability practices by using AZO-free and low-impact dyes, biodegradable bags and recycled boxes, and buttons made from coconut and seashells instead of plastic.
The Good Tee is a certified b corporation, uses Fairtrade cotton AND partners with Fairtrade factories.
The Good Tee features organic cotton fashion and basics for men, women, children, and babies. Their price ranges from $19-$95.
The men's organic cotton clothing features t-shirts, hoodies, and more.
PACT'S AFFORDABLE ORGANIC COTTON CLOTHING
Working with Fair Trade certified factories and organic cotton, PACT aims to be “Earth’s favorite clothing”.
PACT offers organic clothing for everyone featuring dresses, t-shirts, sweatpants, underwear, and more. Prices range from $20-$100 featuring affordable options.
Their sustainable practices include the use of recycled and recyclable packing, as well as the option to offset the carbon footprint of shipping.
Nudie Jeans: Organic Cotton Denim
Nudie Jeans provides eco-friendly denim options made with recycled and organic cotton.
Sustainable shoppers can easily select the length and width of the jeans to ensure quality fit. Nudie jeans also offers lifetime repairs on their jeans and takes pride in having an ethical and transparent supply chain.
Their jeans are around $200 a pair.
Hopefully this guide was informative and you've learned a bit about the benefits of organic cotton and discovered some sustainable brands making a positive social impact. Next time you're in need of a new garment try to choose a brand with eco-friendly practices and conscious production processes.
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.