If you’re like us, you’re always looking for eco-friendly places to shop. When your closet needs a green makeover, you’ve come to the right place! We know a thing or two about sustainable ecommerce with our ever-growing clientele of ethical brands. While they might not be EcoCart customers (yet), we love these women’s sustainable clothing companies!
What Makes Sustainable Women’s Clothing
It can be tough to know which brands are legit and which are jumping on the eco-conscious bandwagon without doing the work. And we know that sustainability in the fashion industry is a big issue. Just look at these trends — we now consume 400% more clothing than we did 20 years ago, and fast fashion brands are pumping out massive amounts of low-quality clothes that get thrown out way faster than before.
That’s where sustainable clothing comes in. A company is sustainable when it accounts for the economic, social, and environmental impact of its clothing production.
Sustainable brands will ensure that the raw materials they source are grown with low ecological impact processes; the people who work on the farms and in the factories are paid a living wage and have healthy working conditions. They’ll use energy-efficient technology during manufacturing and ship in eco-friendly packaging along the most efficient shipping routes. Finally, once the buyer no longer wants the garment, they’ll either find it a new home via a resale market, or recycle it into something else. As you can see, sustainability spans the total lifetime of an item!
The difference between fast and slow fashion brands is huge. Trends like these mean it is up to us eco-conscious consumers to vote with our wallets and support slow fashion and carbon-neutral clothing brands.
If you run a clothing brand yourself and are looking to add an eco-friendly checkout option to your online clothing store, EcoCart can help. Our Life Cycle Analysis will show you exactly where your emissions are coming from in your supply chain and give you detailed recommendations on how to reduce emissions in that area. We offer carbon offsetting for emissions that you cannot reduce. We also have an app for sustainable clothing brands that will show your customers how you’re eco-friendly, making them feel good about their purchases.
What is sustainable clothing?
Sustainable clothing means the garments are created in harmony with the planet. The companies avoid using excessive amounts of water or other natural resources during manufacturing. They’ll use high-quality natural fibers to max out the longevity of each piece of clothing. And, they’ll make sure the people making the products work in safe conditions, and are fairly compensated for their labor.
54 Trendy Sustainable Clothing Brands For Women
If you’re researching what brands are actually eco-friendly, look no further. We’ve compiled this list of our favorite women’s sustainable clothing brands for you!
Best for Athleisure
Avocado
Made in LA, Avocado is a trendy athleisure brand carrying sizes from XS-XL. They offer international shipping for their collections, including bralettes, leggings, and bodysuits for the eco-conscious customer to train in — or watch Netflix; we’re not judging!
Girlfriend Collective
If you want high-quality athleisure made from recycled materials in sizes XXS-6XL, look no further than Girlfriend Collective. We adore the collective, who deliver their certified fair trade and sustainable dresses, leggings, sweatshirts, and outerwear to the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Wolven
The women-founded, slow fashion brand Wolven is climate-neutral certified, Global Recycled Standard certified, Workplace Conditions Assessment certified… You get the picture! Shop their activewear basics in sizes XS-XXL and a trendy range of solid colors and prints.
LACAUSA
Comfy, minimalist basics are LACAUSA’s specialty. Check out their loungewear in sizes XS-XL, made in downtown LA and shipped internationally. The name “La causa” is Spanish for “the cause,” and this brand supports the causes they care about with donations to humanitarian causes every season.
Best for Business Casual
Cleobella
When you check out from Cleobella’s cart, pick a charity you’d like to support, and they’ll donate to it. The non-profits they’ve selected work to offset carbon emissions or empower girls and women — this sustainable brand doesn’t hesitate to demonstrate its values. The shop stocks a range of work-ready knitwear, dresses, and trousers in sizes XS-XL for the eco-minded professional.
Eileen Fisher
The Eileen Fisher circular fashion model involves low-waste designs, reselling the clothing second-hand, and finally, when a garment can be worn no more, reusing the fibers into something else. Nothing goes to waste! This eco-friendly pioneer carries suiting, knitwear, dresses, and basics in XS-3XL, so you’re sure to find a great outfit for your next big meeting.
LEZE the Label
This sustainable brand is creating a new way to dress for work — super stretchy, comfortable, and eco-friendly. LEZE the Label carries matching sets of cozy business casual clothing in sizes XS-3XL. They also offer international shipping, so you can have pajama-like comfort at work no matter where you live.
People Tree
Support the people making the products with People Tree’s commitment to fair trade. Support the planet with their commitment to only using natural fibers, including TENCEL™ and GOTS-certified organic cotton. If you’re in the market for sustainable dresses, sweaters, and trousers in sizes 8-16 (UK sizes), this slow fashion brand is worth a visit.
Best for Basics
Edify
Featuring effortless casual clothing for women, Edify is a sustainable retailer to know! They carry a variety of brands that create intentional basics for everyday wear in sizes XS-2XL and ship to the US and Canada. The shop is “a place for the conscious consumer that wants style—but not at the expense of someone or something else.” Sounds like our kind of place!
Honest Basics
With possibly the aptest brand name we’ve ever seen, Honest Basics is a must-shop for the eco-conscious consumer seeking timeless styles to wear for years (sizes S-2XL). They have climate-neutral international shopping, GOTS certification, photos of the working conditions in the factories, and annual reports published on the website, all with a level of transparency that lives up to their ‘honest’ name.
Fair Indigo
Everyone needs a collection of solid basics — you can stock up on tees, tanks, and turtlenecks in sizes XS-XL at Fair Indigo. They exclusively trade in ethically produced, GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton and ship only to the US (for now).
Kotn
Including free international carbon offset shipping on orders over $75, certified B-Corp Kotn is on a mission to simplify your wardrobe with timeless pieces made from all-natural fibers. Designed in Canada and ethically produced in Egypt and Portugal, Kotn is a go-to for sustainable t-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, and bottoms in XXS-2XL.
Best for Extended Sizes
Known Supply
No body should be excluded from affordable, ethical clothing. That’s why we love Known Supply; they provide unisex, size-inclusive sustainable basics in sizes XS-4XL. They’re also a B-Corp, and Fair Trade certified, in case you need more reasons to check them out!
Wray
If you’re looking for current, size-inclusive fashion, Wray is one of the best trendy sustainable clothing brands on the market. Carrying dresses, denim, matching sets, and outerwear in XXS-6XL, we love them for their fair trade and ethical operations.
Able
Here’s a unique idea — your clothes should fit no matter how your body changes. That’s the philosophy behind Size Swap at Able. Along with their lifetime guarantee, if you shop with them once, you’ll have the garment forever. Not only that, but the brand is fully wage transparent with a focus on empowering women (especially garment workers). They offer dresses, sweaters, skirts, and leather handbags (upcycled from discarded hides) in XXS-3XL now, with a roadmap to include more bodies by fall 2023.
Whimsy + Row
Committed to maintaining its carbon-neutral status, Whimsy + Row only produces limited quantities of locally made items from deadstock and upcycled fabric, certified organic cotton, and TENCEL™. Using waitlists helps to accurately access demand for their denim, matching sets, dresses, and outerwear in standard 0-12 and extended 1X-3X sizes.
Sotela
With custom sizes 0-10 (roughly XS-6XL) or made-to-measure, whatever your size, you can find sustainable clothing! Sotela only uses natural fibers and non-toxic dyes made in LA and shipped internationally. Carrying loungewear, dresses, skirts, basic tops, and outerwear, you’re sure to find the eco-friendly outfit of your dreams.
Best Denim
Everlane
Eco-friendly jeans are a staple in every sustainable closet. If you’re looking for your perfect pair, visit Everlane. The company uses only certified organic cotton and clean Roica® V550 yarn (for stretch) in their denim factories. With international shipping, sizes 23-33, and transparent pricing (including the cost of labor), you can feel good about buying denim again.
Wearwell
Among women’s sustainable fashion brands, Wearwell is a leader in giving back with its pledge to 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of profits to sustainability charities. The brand also carries sizes XS-5X (denim in 24-32) for shoppers in the US. And, if you’re looking to score some affordable, ethical clothing, they have a second-hand clothing program too!
Reformation
If you need new jeans but want to cut out the toxic dyes and wasteful fabric processing, look no further than Reformation. Their factories use only 1/3 of the water and eliminated harmful chemicals from the finishing process. That’s not all; the company is climate-neutral certified and will be climate positive by 2025.
Amour Vert
Do you love green jeans? Amour Vert is the sustainable retailer for you! Currently, only shipping within the US, this brand specializes in items made from low-impact, natural fibers like TENCEL™. You can find denim in sizes 24-34 in the online store or the ReAmour resale marketplace. Did we mention, with every purchase of a t-shirt, the company plants a tree via its American Forests® partnership? What’s not to love?!
Best for Outerwear
Thought Clothing
Is it any wonder a UK company has amazing sustainable jackets? If you’re tired of getting caught in the rain, check out Thought Clothing’s timeless outerwear, crafted from organic cotton, wool, and recycled materials in UK sizes 6-20.
Sezane
Now this company takes sustainability seriously — Sezane is a B-Corp with GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and FSC certifications, uses ¾ eco-friendly materials, has a recycling program, and is powered by 100% renewable energy. The brand also offers international shipping on its collections, so anyone can shop its women’s sustainable clothing in sizes XXS-2XL.
Best for Boho Chic
Christy Dawn
Featuring pretty, feminine floral prints and cozy knits, Christy Dawn is a slow fashion brand to watch. The company creates sustainable clothing from deadstock fabric and regenerative cotton or alpaca in sizes XS-3XL. You can even grow your own dress — by investing in their land stewardship program that helps farmers grow the regenerative cotton the brand uses in its clothing.
Fair Trade Winds
For jewelry, dresses, and organic cotton clothing Fair Trade Winds is a great place to shop, with handmade products sourced from 150 artisan organizations using primarily recycled or reclaimed materials. Not to mention the market is a Fair Trade Federation member and a Green America-certified business.
Lovanie
For petite eco-conscious shoppers, Lovanie’s made-to-order clothing is for you! Each item is produced only after it’s purchased, reducing waste and overstock that contributes to excessive consumption. The pieces are made from deadstock cotton (saved from hitting the landfill), and deliveries in the US are carbon offset.
Tonlé
Tonlé is one sustainable retailer changing the fashion industry. Investing in circular fashion, with zero-waste designs and manufacturing, eco-conscious shoppers can feel good about the longevity of their garments. The brand carries clothing made with GOTS-certified organic cotton or upcycled natural fibers in sizes XS-3XL.
Best for Underwear
Boody
Did you know that growing bamboo doesn’t require pesticides? It’s naturally pest-resistant! Plus, bamboo forests create 30% more oxygen than the same area of trees — and absorb more greenhouse gases. This is why B-Corp Boody uses bamboo for their sustainable bras, socks, underwear, and PJs. The company is certified harmful chemical free, PETA Vegan Approved, FSC® plantations, and Ecocert, so you know they’re legit.
Made Trade
Here’s another sustainable women’s clothing brand that is climate neutral certified. Find bras, bodysuits, tanks, and undies in XS-4XL at Made Trade, and get free carbon offset shipping too! Be sure to visit them for sustainable women’s (under) garments.
Pact
Shop Pact if you’re looking for organic cotton underwear sewn in a fair-trade factory. Pact is
Zero Net Carbon, GOTS-certified, Fair Trade Certified™, and one of our go-to brands for sustainable bras, underwear, socks, and PJs in XS-XXL sizes.
Best Ready to Wear
Gabriela Hearst
In 2020, designer Gabriela Hearst presented the first-ever carbon-neutral runway show. Now, the ready-to-wear house creates its designs using deadstock fabrics and packages them in bio-based plastic alternatives. Eco-conscious fashionistas will love Hearst’s colorful suiting and chunky knitwear.
Mara Hoffman
In an effort to encourage “mindful consumption,” Mara Hoffman’s resort, swim, and ready-to-wear collections are designed using recycled nylon and polyester, organic cotton, and hemp. The company is also climate-neutral certified and circular — with its own resale market, Full Circle!
Nicholas K
A unique designer of high-fashion streetwear, Nicholas K is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s eco initiative. The designer creates outerwear, dresses, streetwear, and accessories using GOTS-certified natural fibers selected for their low environmental impact.
We-AR4
New York-based design house We-AR4 is in the business of excess — using existing excess fabrics, AKA deadstock, to produce their clothing, that is. The surplus fabric makes up 85% of the textiles used for the sustainable brand’s classic outerwear, trousers, shirting, and skirts. For an even more eco-friendly shopping experience, try the resale market RE-AR4 and its carbon offset shipments.
Stella McCartney
Whether you’re in the market for functional activewear or effortless ready-to-wear, Stella McCartney’s sustainable collections or resale market has something for everyone. The brand reduces its environmental impact by using only MIRUM® (plastic-free vegan leather), regenerative cotton and wool, organic cotton, and recycled polyester and nylon.
Best Dresses
Autumn Adeigbo
Looking for eco-friendly fashion for date night? Check out the retro glamor of Autumn Adeigbo’s dress collection, available in sizes 00-16. Each item is made-to-order by female-owned production facilities in NYC, and the brand sources 90% of fabrics from living-wage supply chain countries.
Boden
Sustainable dresses abound at Boden! Take your pick from timeless silhouettes in solid shades to flowing forms in flirty florals. The collection (sizes XS-XL) is made of organic cotton and sustainable cashmere and is produced in responsible factories using the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code.
Hackwith Design House
Slow fashion shoppers have their patience rewarded with sustainable made-to-order clothing like those from Hackwith Design House. The designers use only local second-hand fabric to create modern basics in sizes 0-28. If circular is what you’re after, the Sustain Shop has pre-loved Hackwith garments waiting for their second life!
Mata Traders
Fairtrade is the name of the game at Mata Traders — the marketplace for artisan-created clothing is a Fair Trade Federation member working closely with its partners to stock high-quality, ethical products. Shipping to the US and Canada, you can find sustainable dresses (XXS-3X) for all occasions.
Best for Swim
Carve Designs
Created for active women, Carve Designs uses fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles for its swimwear. Five bottles = one suit! Bikinis, shorts, and rash guards made for sustainable surfers come in sizes XXS-XL and are shipped internationally in biodegradable, compostable, plant-based packing.
For Days
While some sustainable brands recycle their own clothing, For Days takes back all textiles, regardless of their origins. The Take Back Bag collects unwanted textiles to be turned into insulation or carpet — a new life as something useful! The sustainable brand also has a line of one- and two-piece swimsuits made from 100% recycled materials.
lemlem
We deserve a vacation! If you need to get beach ready, check out the fashion swimwear from lemlem. Meaning to “bloom and flourish” in Amharic, this sustainable retailer is committed to paying fair, living wages and benefits, using only natural fibers from certified suppliers, in small batch collections handmade by textile artisans in Ethiopia.
Summersalt
For sustainable swim in sizes 0-24, flip over to Summersalt! The bikinis and one-piece swimsuits are made of 78% recycled polyamide recovered from nylon waste—like old fishing nets—recovered from the ocean.
Best Travel
Aday
Bon voyage! Whether for work or leisure, you can travel in sustainable style with Aday’s capsule wardrobe. Did you know most articles of clothing are only worn 7 times? Aday wants to change that with its mix-and-matchable basics (sizes 0-18) made from cruelty-free natural fibers like Better Knit and Seasonless Merino.
Encircled
Here’s another sustainable capsule wardrobe company we love! B-Corp Encircled’s studio saves all scrap fabric to upcycle into accessories. The rest of the collection is made of eco-friendly natural fibers like Modal®, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and organic non-GMO cotton that meets Oeko-Tex Standards for no harmful chemicals. Sustainably made in Toronto, the travel-ready collection is available in sizes XS-XXL.
MATE the Label
Climate-neutral certified brand MATE the Label is made sustainably in LA with non-toxic, natural, and organic materials. These sustainable staples are a must-have to travel in style, featuring clean and cozy sweatshirts and pants, sweaters, and loungewear.
Best for Knitwear
Babaa
To reduce their carbon footprint, the founders of Babaa use only local and natural materials dyed in eco-friendly ways by artisans at a local factory in Spain. They use 60% less water than the industry standard, involve no bleach, and create no toxic waste. The brand offers international shipping if you’re in the market for sustainable cardigans, heavy knits, or turtlenecks.
Cuyana
Trying to prevent overproduction, Cuyana creates its alpaca and cashmere sweaters in small batches so nothing goes to waste. The company uses certified sustainable materials for 99% of their collection, and to preserve the longevity of your item, they offer repairs. For a wallet-friendly shopping experience, visit their resale market, Cuyana Revive.
Indigenous
Specializing in handcrafted sweaters made in Peru, Indigenous offers timeless casual sweaters knit with 100% organic cotton and free-range alpaca wool. Keeping its impact low, most garments use either no dye or low-impact dye and are fair trade.
M.Patmos
There’s a reason why traditional weaving techniques have endured since before industrial manufacturing; the quality and longevity are unparalleled by mass-produced garments. M.Patmos works with small, family-owned workshops to create classic and colorful sweaters in sustainable, natural fibers.
Quince
Want an affordable, ethical shopping experience? Meet Quince, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand creating timeless and versatile knitwear from Mongolian cashmere, alpaca, cotton, and merino wool in sizes XS-XL. The company is GOTS, Oeko-Tex, Global Recycled Standard, and bluesign certified, meaning it can back up its sustainable claims.
Best On-Trend
Back Beat Co.
Intentionality over quantity is the motto of Back Beat Co., a sustainable, slow fashion brand focusing on small-batch manufacturing of seasonal staples in deadstock fabrics, organic and recycled cotton, hemp, and linen.
Dazey LA
Fortune favors the bold should be Dazey LA’s slogan. The brand features maximalist styles with bold graphics and colorful modern silhouettes in sizes XS-3X. Everything is handmade to order in LA, ensuring the garment workers are paid a living wage and work in safe facilities.
Plant Faced Clothing
For every item you buy from Plant Faced Clothing, they’ll plant a tree via Eden Reforestation. For trendy “streetwear without the sweatshops,“ all the brand’s facilities are either Fair Wear Foundation or Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), creating certified organic garments that are Fairtrade and 100% cruelty-free.
Why Shop For Sustainable Clothing
An astounding amount of clothing and textiles ends up in landfills each year. The equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing is dumped in a landfill each second, or 92 million tons worth of garments, in fact. These are scary statistics, but as intentional consumers, we can commit to sustainable shopping online with retailers that are committed and transparent about their environmental practices.
By supporting sustainable DTC brands, we can make it more profitable and more common to do right by the environment while getting fewer, higher quality, and longer-lasting garments in the process! It’s a win-win if you ask us.
Things To Look For In A Sustainable Women’s Clothing Brand
Since the fashion industry hasn’t come to a consensus on what makes a brand sustainable (yet), we have some tips on what to look for to ensure your purchases are as green as possible — thank us later!
Sustainable carbon footprint or shipping
The environmental impact of ecommerce is massive. Clothing and footwear generate up to 10% of global carbon emissions — more than aviation and shipping combined.
When shopping for sustainable clothing online, try to purchase from brands offering emissions reduction options like carbon offsetting for shipping emissions. Some brands go even further, and you can offset the carbon emissions created throughout your item’s product lifecycle — effectively mitigating the emissions from your entire purchase.
Ethical sourcing and quality labor practices
Sustainability is often talked about in terms of carbon emissions and the ecological impact of business. But the human impact is just as important. Every person on the planet deserves dignity and the opportunity to live and work without being exploited. Unethical labor practices abound in the fashion industry, so be careful only to support anti-sweatshop brands. Look for reputable certifications like WRAP to be sure.
Environmental impact in production
There are many widespread, harmful practices in fashion manufacturing. For example, non-organic cotton is one of the most damaging crops we grow, using 11% of the world’s pesticides and 24% of insecticides. Not only that, up to 20% of industrial wastewater pollution comes from textile dyeing and finishing.
This is major. Also, it’s why we recommend looking for clothing that has recognized certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fairtrade or Wear Fair, Bluesign, SA8000, or Oeko-Tex. You can be certain any garment bearing one of these is ethically made, sustainable, and a green choice!
Minimization of potentially toxic impacts
The planet is polluted with harmful and arguably toxic microplastics. Plastic, while useful and even sometimes necessary, is pervasive. It’s literally everywhere. Even in our clothing! Polyester, nylon, acrylic, and polyamide make up almost 64% of our clothes.
And while the plastic itself isn’t going to harm us, when we wash those plastic-derived fabrics, microplastics (toxin-attracting disease carriers) get into the water supply. All that is to say, when you’re shopping for new clothes, the sustainable choice is natural, organic fibers.
Offset Emissions Per Purchase With EcoCart
In a world where the fashion industry significantly impacts our planet, choosing sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. For e-commerce business owners who share this vision, EcoCart offers an unparalleled opportunity to align your brand with eco-conscious values and practices.
By integrating EcoCart’s solutions, you not only reduce your carbon footprint but also connect with consumers who prioritize environmental responsibility. Our Life Cycle Analysis and carbon offsetting options equip your business with the tools needed to make genuine, impactful changes. Start making a difference now by requesting a demo to see how easy it is to offer an eco-friendly checkout option. Your brand, your consumers, and the planet will thank you.