Fair Trade Clothing Brands
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What Redditors are SayingFair Trade Clothing Brands
TL;DR
- Asket, Todd Shelton, American Giant, Raleigh Denim Workshop, Freenote Cloth, and Darn Tough are recommended fair trade brands
[1:3]. - Marks and Spencer, Stella McCartney, Frank and Oak, and Kotn are ethical brands with varying price points [4:1][4:2][4:3].
Popular Fair Trade Brands
Several brands have been highlighted across discussions as fair trade or ethically responsible. Asket is praised for its transparency and quality, offering "time capsule" pieces that focus on simplicity [1:1]. Other brands mentioned include Todd Shelton, American Giant, Raleigh Denim Workshop, Freenote Cloth, and Darn Tough, which are known for paying living wages [1:3].
Affordable Ethical Options
For those seeking more affordable options, Marks and Spencer offers a range of clothing at reasonable prices while maintaining ethical practices [4:1]. Stella McCartney is recognized for its sustainability and vegan-friendly designs, although it may be on the higher end of the price spectrum [4:2]. Frank and Oak and Kotn are Canadian brands noted for their affordability and ethical sourcing [4:3].
Evaluating Ethical Practices
When evaluating whether a brand is truly ethical, consider factors such as fair wages throughout the supply chain, use of biodegradable or recycled materials, and overall sustainability measures [3:3][5:7]. Aggregators like Good On You can provide insights into the eco-friendly and ethical metrics of various brands [5:8].
Second-Hand and Slow Fashion
Buying second-hand clothing is another way to engage in ethical consumption, reducing demand for new production [5:3]. Slow fashion brands, which manufacture small batches in countries like the US and Canada, are often a good bet for ethical shopping [5:1]. Examples include Free Label, Lost in Layers, Mate the Label, Encircled, and Buttercream Clothing [5:1].
Additional Resources
For further exploration into sustainable fashion, influencers like Andrea Cheong offer valuable insights through social media, books, and podcasts [5:6]. Additionally, resources like My Green Closet provide lists of slow fashion brands [5:4].
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POST SUMMARY • [1]Summarize
Fair Trade Clothing Part 2: The New Americana
Posted by Hedryn · in r/malefashionadvice · 4 years ago
ORIGINAL POSTIt’s been a couple years since I posted Fair Trade Clothing: A Starter Guide. It was a good start; at the time I had been doing a great deal of research and had assembled a list of brands that looked promising. However, a lot of them I hadn’t yet tried. Two and a half years in and I dress pretty much head to toe in fair trade most days, with the exception of a handful of grandfathered in articles of clothing, and I’ve found a number of brands that work for me. There will be some overlap from the last guide, and the range of clothing brands will be smaller, but I’ll also be able to talk more in depth about each brand and how it’s worked for me. And include the odd fit-pic as well.
I’ve also started focusing heavily on clothing made in America. It’s a great shortcut to fair trade (often - more below), and it’s fun to support American manufacturing. This guide is mostly - though not exclusively - made in America.
Review: What is Fair Trade?
Fair trade generally means that the item - clothing, in this case - was manufactured ethically. That the workers were paid a robust living wage, and that working conditions meet a certain standard of safe and dignified. These two criteria should not be taken for granted. Much of your hip fast fashion is made in sweatshop environments. While a sweatshop is defined by the USDL as a factory that violates two or more labor laws, they often have unfair wages, long hours, and utilize child labor.
Furthermore, while fair trade is generally defined in labor terms, some people also tack on environmental concerns and equate fair trade to both ethical and environmentally-conscious production. I can’t state this strongly enough: in a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, fast fashion is terrible for the environment. The global fashion industry emits 1.7 billion tons of CO2 per year — more than the amount produced by international flights and shipping. Many fair trade clothing companies explicitly adopt more environmentally friendly dying and sourcing practices; even if a fair-trade clothing brand is using the labor definition, just by merit of them having taken a step away from fast-fashion, the clothing is (almost!) certainly going to be more climate-friendly. The higher price-point of fair trade clothing also encourages the consumer to shop more meticulously for longer lasting items of clothing. Own fewer, better things.
A few important addendums.
- “Made in America” is not a perfect filter. Sweatshop environments exist in the United States. I have tried my best to find brands that seem truly on the up and up. For instance, I’ve visited Pistol Lake’s original studio (back in 2013) and their newer space back in 2015. Lady White Co’s storefront I’ve been to and have talked at length with the owner about how they source their material locally. Swrve’s storefront I’ve also been to and I’ve talked with their owners at length. I’ve also done research on websites like GoodOnYou and talked with friends in the Sustainable Fashion Alliance.
- Sweatshops run by multinational corps often pay more than the typical job in the domestic economy. Some have used this to argue that sweatshops are in fact good and empowering. It’s complicated, yes. But it’s also been reported that increasing wages would add a very small markup to a typical garment. And furthermore, sweatshop labor is often dismal, unsafe, and even deadly. There’s really no excuse for companies to not ensure a living wage down the supply chain along with a safe and dignified working environment.
- Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because fair trade is not a simple binary does not mean it isn’t worth engaging with, nor that it isn’t worthwhile to attempt to consume in a manner that is both more ethical and more environmentally conscious.
- On the flip side, capitalism sucks and your resources may be limited. I enjoy knowing where my clothes are made and buying fair trade. You may not, and your money may have to go a long way - making generally higher price point FT clothing untenable. That’s okay too. I would then encourage you to be a “flexitarian” in terms of clothing, and to attempt to introduce more fair trade, when you can, into your clothing diet.
- Less consumption is better than fair trade consumption. If you don’t need it, consider not buying it. If you need it, consider thrifting it. And as a last resort, buy fair trade. The best way to push back against a destructive fast-fashion industry is to simply consume less.
Lastly: a reminder that fair trade is less of a binary and more of a spectrum. Most of the brands listed below manufacture their clothing in the USA. Some of my favorites also use cotton grown and sewn in the USA. That’s fantastic, but some companies have told me they can’t make this work for them but due their best to source ethically from overseas while basing all their manufacturing in the USA. I try to push as far as I can to the “very fair-trade” side of the spectrum, and at the least make sure the clothing itself was cut/sewn/manufactured ethically.
Now let’s get into it.
Tops
LWC is especially cool because not only are their t's cut and sewn in Los Angeles, but the cotton is grown in NorCal and then milled and woven in SoCal. Truly a made in America operation all the way down. I wear their t-shirts all the time. My go-to’s are their white, black, tan/green. I like their classic 2-pack fit the best. I also have a couple of their clark-pocket t’s. They’re expensive but the material is great. A note that the sizing varies between their white t’s and their colored t’s, especially the black. The dying process shrinks the shirts a bit. I wear a large in black, green, and tan, but alternate being a medium and a large in the white. I have both. The white medium is good for more form-fitting days, and the large for more casual days. I roll the sleeves to give the large a better fit.
I still have a ton of love for Pistol Lake. I wear both their more performance eudae fabric, and their standard cotton. I love their long and short-sleeve henleys in cotton (though I miss the unfinished sleeves on the short-sleeve), and I wear the eudae on warm weather days or transitions like frisbee to the bar afterwards. I swear by their minimalist hoodie. Between the hoodies, t’s, and their minimalist shorts, I often find myself in head to (nearly) toe pistol lake. I’ve also snagged a cotton hoodie (love their heavy pullover hoodies) and long-sleeve eudae t’s for chilly running days. I wear my 5-year-old cotton grey sweatshirt to work out in my chilly garage in the mornings. Honestly, they should probably be paying me at this point.
Another new addition to the guide. Blade and Blue is designed in San Francisco and manufactured in SF and Texas. Their long and short-sleeve shirts are fantastic. An incredibly flattering fit without being “black-mannequin” slim. Beautiful fabrics and patterns. In fact, my only issue with B&B is wishing they’d had a few more muted fabrics for the office (remember that place? the office?). But they’ve since rolled out a few more low-key shirts. They’re a bit expensive, but they have sales often, and the shirts are worth it.
Pact’s quality varies a bit. They are definitely the “Target” of ethically produced clothing, but in my opinion that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I like that ethical consumption is made possible at different price points. I would pass on their socks and underwear, but I have a couple long-sleeve t’s that fit quite well and have held up for the last two years.
Bottoms
This is a new one. Literally the only jeans I’ve worn for 2.5 years now are unspun jeans. Created by a handful of Stanford grads (I know, this makes it sound like an instagram ad), they 3D-scan your body and make your jeans to order - for the price point of a typical pair of raws. Each fabric is incredibly sustainable and they go to great lengths to make sure of it. Their mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by 1% through intentional and slower manufacturing and their fabric uses little water, often incorporates recycled bottles, etc. You can 3D-scan from your phone, and if the fit isn’t quite right on the first try, they will modify and remake for free. I can’t say enough good things about them. They’ve literally solved denim for me.
Yes, again. Sorry. The thing is, I have lived in their all-around shorts. I may have a problem. I work out in them in my garage (thanks, Covid). I lounge in the park in them. I play frisbee in them. I lounge at home in them. They’re just that good. I was skeptical of their longer inseam, and true, it’s longer than my other shorts. But it still hits well above the knee, and they have great shape to them. They’re also almost magical in their ability to resist odor and wrinkles. I wash them every couple weeks out of guilt and obligation but they seem utterly impervious to stains and smells. And even when I pull them out of my backpack and put them on, the wrinkles disappear in a few minutes. It’s downright weird. With the longer inseam they’re not my favorite for a hip summer party (parties? remember those?), but for literally anything else under the sun they’re my go-to.
Need shorts? Buy these shorts. These are your well-fitting, shorter inseam, made in America chino shorts you’ve been waiting for. I have them in khaki and navy blue and will definitely be picking up more colors this summer. They look great paired with one of their short-sleeve t’s. Post-apocalypse summer here we come. I also love their cotton drawstring shorts. They’ve got a Chubby’s-style 5” inseam and look great for the park or the pool deck. Sky’s out, thighs out.
Swrve makes rugged and incredibly well-made shorts. They're great for hiking, camping, a thing in the desert, or just biking around your city. They're a touch more utilitarian and a bit less fashion (longer inseam), but I'll occassionally cuff them once and then go for a skate. Side note, Swrve makes far and away the best masks you will find. I own them in 5 different patterns and sent them to my entire family. As an aside - not everything is made in America, but their _blk label clothing is sewn in LA. I've talked to them about their clothing made abroad and feel comfortable that they're bringing the same quality and ethics they bring to their _blk label to their other clothing, but they are quite responsive - feel free to ask them about it!
Socks and Underwear
It’s downright embarrassing how many pairs of socks I’ve bought from American Trench. My favorites are their mil-spec cotton socks and their merino wool activity socks, but they have many more, in retro colorways in patterns, in plain colors, different heights, formality, etc. Their socks are great. I might blow some more money on wool socks today.
In addition, they’re a one-stop-shop for made in America manufacturing, and I’ve found great new brands through them. I’ve bought belts, bracelets, and short and long-sleeve t’s from them as well. While I haven’t yet grabbed any of their outerwear, I’ve been eyeing it for ages now. American Trench has become one of my favorites.
Third time’s the charm. They’ve expanded their eudae underwear from long boxer briefs to boxers and short boxer briefs as well. Their long boxer briefs are tight. A bit tricky for all day wear, but I wear them as less-compressive compression shorts for working out and frisbee. Their boxer briefs are incredibly comfortable, though personally a little baggy for the skinny jeans I’m usually wearing. I would love them for them to drop eudae briefs, personally.
Makes great underwear. I own a bunch of pairs of their briefs and boxer briefs. Classic cotton, extremely comfortable, in a wide variety of colors. A little expensive, but very well made and holds size and shape well upon wash.
Outerwear
A couple years ago I made the hefty purchase of an Iron Heart Deck Jacket. Not cheap, but felt like an investment in something durable, well constructed, and made in Japan to rigorous standards. Been great for colder nights in San Francisco - especially with outdoor dining - and with a heavier sweater and a beanie has also gotten me through New York winter nights.
Thrift
Stole my dad’s old Navy flight jacket (made in the 70s, Nylon and Cotton) and wear that whenever the weather isn’t quite cold enough for the Iron Heart.
Their flagship is their trench coat, which comes with additional liners to make it handle colder weather. I nearly snagged it in wool, but didn’t have the need. They’ve also partnered with Cockpit USA to make a great-looking deck jacket at a less intense price point than Iron Heart, and have released a handful more hoodies and jackets and chore coats. I’m maxed out on outerwear but would be my go-to if I were looking for made in America outerwear.
I’ve been wearing their double-black denim jacket (made in the USA) for about 4 years. For cool but not cold nights, it’s a no-brainer. The only downside is despite the sharp appearance it’s very tight in the chest/back/shoulders, and I bought an XL. I recently discovered that they’ve made major fit mods based off such feedback, and am curious to try on a v2 one of these days.
Shoes: Ethletic
Shoes are where made in America breaks down. To the best of my knowledge, they just aren’t. I’ve seen a handful of interesting collabs at American Trench (mocs) and Lady White Co (but I think those were made in Japan). But I haven’t been able to find a good selection of made in America shoes. I’ve bought all my shoes in the last 3 years from Ethletic, a German vegan and fair-trade shoe company. I’ve found the Brock to be the closest to a slightly more formal shoe, and tended to wear it to work with a button-down in the Before Times. I alternate between their converse-esque hi-top and their SK8-hi esk Hiro shoe nowadays.
There are a good number of fair trade leather shoe companies. I’m pretty ambivalent about leather these days so haven’t looked into it, but if you wanted a fair trade leather boot I’m sure you can find them.
Eclectic Fit Pics
- Work Post Apocalypse: Grad School tee, Unspun denim, Ethletic shoes
- Work in the Before Times: Old-ass OCBD, Unspun denim, Ethletic Shoes, 3sixteen jacket tied around waist
- w o r k o u t: Pistol Lake tank, Pistol Lake shorts, American Trench socks, Ethletic shoes, Swrve mask
- Bar: Blade and Blue shirt, Unspun denim
- Park: Pistol Lake tank, Unspun Denim
- Errands and/or Garage Workout: Pistol Lake minimalist hoodie, Pistol Lake shorts, American Trench Socks
- Park: Thrifted Hoodie, Swrve mask, Blade and Blue shorts, American Trench socks, Ethletic Shoes
- Summer errands: Lady White Co tee, Blade and Blue shorts, AT socks, Ethletic shoes
- Rain: Mission Workshop jacket, AT flannel, Unspun Denim, old Thorogood boots
- Saturdaze: Old band tee, Unspun denim
​
Fin. Thanks for reading!
>Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because fair trade is not a simple binary does not mean it isn’t worth engaging with, nor that it isn’t worthwhile to attempt to consume in a manner that is both more ethical and more environmentally conscious.
Thank you. A lot of people, even a lot of people here, just get this wrong. Yes, it's hard to gauge ethics, most brands lie, and new clothing is, broadly speaking, problematic.
We can still try to do better without guaranteeing we'll be perfect.
I try to buy ethically and from companies that pay a good living wage. So far, I've had good luck with
- Todd Shelton
- American Giant
- Raleigh Denim Workshop
- Freenote Cloth
- Darn Tough (Socks)
- Some of the Filson line
Maybe these are worn out choices, but I feel pretty good about them.
Well-Spent used to be such a great place for finding more ethical clothes/brands. Found many of my now well-loved brands from there. Wish there was something like it.
Excellent! It must have been your original post years ago that inspired me on this same journey. This post here is excellent and does a massive amount of legwork for those interested in being more conscious of their clothing purchases. May I add two?
Asket has been a fantastic place for me. Size and quality has been great. I love their level of transparency and I hope other companies follow. They create “time capsule” pieces, which I love because I enjoy simplicity.
Used and pre-owned clothing. I was very turned off by this at first but I’m slowly finding reputable websites to purchase used clothing (I was loving See You Tomorrow by Nordstrom, but that was a casualty of the pandemic). There are many excellent condition pieces that are economically priced, have no environmental impact and are at least one step removed from labor (but you can purchase Fair Trade second hand clothing from companies like Patagonia).
Asket T-shirts have to be some of the comfiest I've worn. I'm considering slowly replacing all my T-shirts with theirs but at £30 a shirt it is definitely going to be a slow process.
Well, and that’s exactly it. Go slow. Part of buying clothing and being socially responsible is to cut out the frequent buying cloths to just buy cloths. The most socially responsible thing to do is continue to wear what you have and replace when needed. It’s at that time that the $30 cost is easier to handle.
Thanks for reading my first post! I've heard good things about Asket and will take a closer look. And Used sounds cool, I'll check them out.
If there's one thing I've taken away from this sub, it's that a lot of clothing production is unethical, and that I can make better choices about what I buy than I have in the past.
Keep spreading the word!
r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide • [2]Summarize
What are your favorite fair trade brands?
Posted by noidenilec · in r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide · 5 years agoI'm looking for fair trade clothing brands that are also not ridiculously expensive. I've found online a lot of brands that are environmentally and socially responsible, but most of them charge ~$150 for a regular summer dress. I understand that, by definition, fair trade means that the workers are paid fair salaries, the chemicals they use are less harmful to the environment and therefore have higher costs.. but is there no middle ground here? Can't a fair trade company survive and charge a reasonable $80 for a casual summer dress?
Let me know if you have any suggestions!
I found a list of affordable fair trade clothing brands, but I can't personally back any of them. Have you tried thrift stores?
Thanks! Thrift stores are a good idea in general. But sometimes I can't find my size, and it takes a long time to find the exact item that I need. It's cool to do it once in a while but at least for me it's not a systematic solution.
r/ethicalfashion • [3]Summarize
What does an ethical brand mean to you?
Posted by Fashion_lilly · in r/ethicalfashion · 6 months agoWhat brands do you consider ethical? Is it just the lack of production in "cheaper" countries or something more?
It's a brand that practices ethical methods throughout the life cycle of their product including end-of-life disposal.
You guys could also check out our polls (Collaborations) on ethical brands across all industries and give your own opinions on their sustainability measures!!
Everyone in the supply chain gets paid a living wage
biodegradable or recycled materials that haven’t caused environmental destruction to create
No exploitation of animals
Not owned by a company who use their profits for evil
Everyone that contributed to making the product was paid a fair wage, in a place that upholds labor laws. Also a company that doesn't over-produce and then dump their products for nothing during sales.
For me, more than anything they make something that’s meant to be worn for decades. One of my favourite brands, Stoffa, is built with this in mind. They make a couple of items every season, with the express idea in mind that every season should be pairable with previous seasons. They also offer free restorations for any piece of clothing bought from them, for life. Is $400 a tough price to swallow for a pair of pants? Sure. But I know that those pants are made to be kept and paired for decades.
Fair trade practices in manufacturing, using recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable materials, not marking up by an absurd amount just because of their ethical claim.
r/femalefashionadvice • [4]Summarize
Ethical clothing companies
Posted by nervousdaydream · in r/femalefashionadvice · 6 years agoOn this sub I've seen several threads about unethical companies, for example "what unethical company do you refuse to shop from/find it hard to avoid/etc." While these threads have been very helpful to me in opening my eyes to some of the most heinous things still going on in the fashion industry, I would love to also hear the flip side:
-What ethical clothing companies do you love (and find affordable enough for your needs... as much as I would love a Patagonia wardrobe, I need medium-tier options...)
-How do you evaluate whether a company has "good ethics"? What websites/legislation/etc. do you trust to prove a company's ethics to you?
-What facet is most important to you... lack of child labor? Fair pay? Organic/recycled?
-If you do not wear any synthetic materials, I would love to hear your perspective on this choice. I know a couple of (relatively well-off) people irl who do so or at least only choose organic cotton for their babies.
In my area of the US, few people could give a hoot about ethics. I'm thankful for this resource!
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is a designer label known for its sustainability and vegan-friendly clothing. Classic designs include the Falabella bag and platform shoes. The brand ethos is to make great design while keeping fashion ethical. From the designer, a lifelong vegetarian: "I think fashion has to remain fun and luxurious and desirable, and you can live a dream through what we are creating, but you can [also] have a sense of security that you’re consuming in a more conscious way."
Reasons why I consider Stella McCartney to be an ethical brand:
- Stella McCartney is part of the Ethical Trading Initiative and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which pioneered the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module to quantify and standardize environmental and social impacts.
- The company also traces suppliers across the entire supply chain and publicly list the countries of said suppliers.
- They use eco-friendly materials, including recycled plastics and organic cotton. Stella McCartney is also notable for being fur-free and leather-free and pioneering new eco-friendly options for silk, wool, and cashmere. Recently, they co-sponsored the Biodesign Challenge to develop bio-fabricated vegan wool.
- They set a science-based goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water-reduction targets, and a 2020 deadline for the elimination of hazardous chemicals in their production line.
Sources:
Good On You article: https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-stella-mccartney/
Vogue article: https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue-forces-of-fashion-stella-mccartney-sustainable
Had no idea that was a Stella McCartney bag, that might be one of the most faked/imitated bags ever... every TJMaxx and Marshalls I go to is filled with them.
I've been trying to be more conscious of where I am shopping in terms of sustainability and ethics. If the company is Canadian, it's a bonus as I'd like to support more companies from my own country... plus most companies that ethically source that aren't Canada based seem to charge a crazy amount for shipping. I do have a couple brands I buy from, looking forward to more suggestions in this thread!
- Frank and Oak - Their clothes are really reasonably priced, fit well, are good quality and the pricing is really affordable.
- Kotn - This is a brand I just discovered and ordered from, so I haven't tried their clothing yet but I'm excited. They mostly have plain coloured basics... and they have free shipping to Canada! I am so far impressed.
...I don't understand why we need another post if you literally said you saw other people talking about this.
If you type 'ethical' in the search bar, you don't even need to scroll back to three days ago when we last talked about this.
I'm sorry. I did not see a post about ethical companies amidst other posts, perhaps because I only check the sub ~twice a week. What I was trying to describe was that I see many threads about UNethical brands and would like more info/discussion on ethical brands. I also had more specific questions rather than just asking for a list of brands.
There’s a search bar.
Marks and Spencer
M&S is a high street clothing retailer and an ethical alternative to companies like Zara and C&A. Originally based in the U.K., the company has since expanded to a global presence, with locations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Although M&S falls under the fast-fashion umbrella, the company has launched several campaigns--including "Look Behind the Label" and an annual transparency report--to encourage sustainable practices within the industry. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but I consider M&S to be one of the more affordable ethical clothing companies out there.
- In 2007, the company launched the Plan A initiative, which included 100 commitments over 5 years to address key social and environmental challenges facing the industry.
- M&S offers a recycling program for shoppers to reduce waste and avoid the use of plastics. The company set the target to remove 1000 tons of plastic and eliminate all hazardous chemicals by 2020.
- M&S has been certified by the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit, which evaluates companies based on universal human rights in business practices and global supply chains.
Sources:
Ethical Consumer article: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/company-profile/marks-spencer-group-plc
Good On You article: https://goodonyou.eco/how-ethical-is-marks-spencer/
Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marks_%26_Spencer
yeah but helllllaaaa expensive
I just went on the M&S website and saw cotton chino shorts for $20, fitted blazers for $33, and cashmere tops for $59. I guess it’s all relative, but I don’t find that to be prohibitively expensive. What would you consider affordable for sustainable clothing?
r/ethicalfashion • [5]Summarize
Tips to figure out what brands are actually ethical
Posted by ArmyAcrobatic896 · in r/ethicalfashion · 2 months agoI’ve been trying to be more conscious of what I buy and who I buy it from. I’ve been buying way less clothes and love shopping second hand but do like treating myself to buying new and good quality clothes I know will last me.
I’m used to checking the country of origin of clothes but still recognise there can be a lot of variation in human rights respect across factories and countries. The problem is that many brands (including fast fashion) now claim to be sustainable and I find it hard to recognise what brands are actually trying to be.
(If anyone has opinions on the brand Nobody’s Child please share !!)
There is no ethical consumption. Find brands you like (natural fabrics slay… linen, hemp, cotton, etc…) and buy them used. The only things I buy new are socks and underwear and I’m good on those for a long time. Same with shoes
Mixed feelings on this. While I agree in principal, I think it's important to financially support companies that implement more ethical and sustainable business practices, to show that it is a viable business model and to give those companies a chance to take over more market share from less ethical companies, thus reducing the impact of fast fashion.
Small businesses, yes, but if the item already exists on Poshmark, for example, it’s best to get it used rather than new. We have enough clothes on the planet to cover many generations after us
That's what I do
Typically slow fashion brands manufacturing small batch in US and Canada are a good bet. Search slow fashion on google.
Examples: Free label Lost in layers Mate the label Encircled Buttercream clothing Etc
Here’s a good list provided by a reputable influencer in the space
Check out Andrea Cheong on socials. She is an amazing source for sustainable fashion. She also has a book and a podcast!
aggregators like Good on You etc can be helpful to learn ecofriendly/ethical/sustainable metrics and the language to be aware of (important with so much greenwashing and marketing spins) - and then you can figure out which values you personally prioritize when spending your money.
You can try sites like goodonyou.eco
r/fairtrade • [6]Summarize
Post Your Favorite Fair Trade Brands!
Posted by KennethMarc1 · in r/fairtrade · 2 years agoFair trade and fair trade certifications thrive because of the consumers that support this ethical practice of ensuring fair wages and social equality. This post is here to recognize the brands and retailers that manufacture and sell goods that support fair trade.
Whether it's a local business, online retailer, or major manufacturer, we encourage you to share your favorite brands and a URL in a digital "high five" to these fine people.
Is there a logo of authenticity we can look for on a package for chocolate?
Also, conversely, should we assume any big chocolate like Lindor or KitKat, Mars, etc., uses NON-fair trade cocoa?
There are several third party certifiers that will license their mark/label to chocolate (and other) brands to use on specific products. They include:
Fairtrade America/Fairtrade International: https://www.fairtradeamerica.org/
Fair for Life
Fair Trade USA
The Good Tee Premium websiteSustainable fashion basics that use's certified organic cotton and eco friendly dyes,
SERRV International!!
Endangered species chocolate! Especially the sea salt dark chocolate bar, but they're all amazing :D
From Aventura: "Since 2017, we've prioritized partnering with Fair Trade Certified™ factories because each ensures meaningful, ethical choices for their employees. Our goal is to have 100% of our clothes produced at Fair Trade Certified factories by 2025."
r/bitcheswithtaste • [7]Summarize
Where are the ethical, slow-fashion, natural textile brands?
Posted by justanotherfleshsuit · in r/bitcheswithtaste · 6 months agoI am trying to find a brand of clothes that are ethically made, made with cottons, linens, wools, leathers, with CUTE styles and designs.
I have been searching non stop for weeks, finding countless greenwashing, or brands that charge $150 for a top that doesn’t last 2 washes. The point of natural clothes is that it lasts. I don’t care if it’s $150 for a top made with less than a yard of fabric if it lasts.
Every other post that I’ve seen recommends looking on poshmark or ebay or whatever, but I just want to be able to buy from a catelog without searching through 100’s if not 1000’s of listings.
There are 8 BILLION people in the world, there has to be a brand out there, maybe an indie brand or something. Please can anyone help 😭🥲
Edit: THANK YOU ALL!!! I am going to have fun looking at all these brands!! A lot of you have said thrift stores, which I completely agree is the most sustainable and ethical fashion there is! 90% of my wardrobe is from the thrift store or hand-me-downs that has taken me years to pick out and curate but I’ve recently lost a bunch of weight and now I don’t have more than a pair of pants and band tees to wear out 😭 I also sew my own clothes but that takes time and I need good fitting clothes as soon as I can since I’ve gotten a promotion and the band tees are not cutting it anymore!
I truly appreciate everyone’s suggestions and if I don’t get to thanking everyone individually, know that I’ve read all your replies and really am grateful!! 😁😚
Vintage is the most ethical. For new items here are a few of my favorites.
- Leset
- mate the label
- Eileen Fisher
- Kotn
- Karen Thomas
- the citizenry
- Deiji Studios
- not perfect linen
- Bare Knitwear
I try and buy 90% of my wardrobe as natural fibers. The area I always struggle with is undergarments. I like a supportive bra and all the ethical brands seem to only do bralettes or sports bras. If anyone has a recommendation here, I would appreciate it.
I know it’s a frustrating answer, but truly the most ethical option (besides using what you already own) is to buy secondhand. We have so much clothing that has already been produced, there is really no “ethical” way to consume new clothing. I have found that a lot of “ethical” brands unfortunately still overproduce clothing, or produce in line with fast fashion cycles (new collections coming out constantly), or there is tons of greenwashing going on. I don’t always make perfect choices myself, but I think it’s important to be honest with ourselves and not fall for marketing gimmicks.
The best answer. How can we start a clothing circle so we can cut out a Poshmark middle man? I’d love to find people in my size and share
There’s a Facebook group for this- it’s called Slow Fashion Collective BST. I hate fb but it’s still good for small groups like this
I really recommend the website Noihsaf Bazaar - it was spawned off of an instagram account that had a similar philosophy to this. I've had excellent experiences with it.
My coworkers and I will have random clothes/home item swaps. It’s been super fun and a nice way to get “new” things. There are also clothing swaps frequently in my neighborhood (in chicago)
I love this! I do clothing and beauty product swaps with my close girlfriends, and I try to give stuff away to my neighbors whenever possible (especially my kid’s stuff that she grows out of/stops using). I use to be super active in my local Buy Nothing group on Facebook when my kid was younger and going through clothes/toys/diaper sizes so quickly. We have so much stuff that it’s rarely necessary to buy something new. Like I said I’m not perfect so I don’t get everything secondhand, but I do think it’s important to try!
Not Perfect Linen is my go-to for linen items. They also do made to measure at no extra charge. Some stuff I keep out year-round but really pulling out the linen again for spring/summer now and it felt nice to put those pieces back on.
For leather goods - O My Bag is great.
Loud Bodies also is a good shout, they use mostly natural fibers (or all? Maybe some dead stock) and are also size-inclusive and will do custom orders.
Love this! I’m so glad someone is getting use out of my recommendations—it’s become a bit of an obsession for me. Totally agree—natural fabrics just feel and wear so much better over time. I’ve definitely streamlined my purchasing and started to invest more in pieces, but cost per wear makes it all balance out in the end. That’s what I tell myself at least.
You have such a great mix of brands! I’ve been eyeing a few Gabriela Hearst pieces but haven’t pulled the trigger yet—so good to hear the quality lives up to the hype. And I am OBSESSED with Zazi after looking them up! I hadn’t heard of them before, but their coats are to die for. Did you go for a coat or a vest?
Also, I completely get the vacation splurge—half the fun of a trip is planning outfits in advance!
And yes, swimwear and activewear are such a struggle. I spent an hour the other day searching for a 100% cotton tennis dress or skirt and couldn’t find anything!
I should also mention- not sure if you are close to NYC, but Century 21 reopened a year or so ago and they always have a large selection of newer Ganni styles marked down.
Going to provide a link to a fantastic resource that rates sustainable brands: https://goodonyou.eco/
And from me. If you want something cute, Lucy & Yak have cute designs (don’t buy their jeans though; they rip easy).
My go to to genuinely follow an ethical/slow fashion model follows this method:
- fix/tailor/adjust what I currently have first
- buy second hand at my local shops (I just moved to a place where this is easy, it used to be impossible for me)
- buy new from ethical brands like Daughters of India, Arms of Andes, Patagonia, Danner (look for shoes you can resole and fix to extend their lifespan) depending on what I need
I know you're probably tired of hearing "buy second hand" but reducing consumption and reusing items is really critical to sustainability and I also find it contributes to a sense of calm in my life to consume less overall. Ultimately the ethics of your consumption are going to be reflected in the amount of waste produced through the life of the product.
It's kind of like reusable bags, its only ethical and sustainable to use totes if they're reused.
I hope this helps!
River Goddess is a great alternative to Daughters of India. Prices better, great quality and super cute. I always get compliments when I wear their dresses
r/ethicalfashion • [8]Summarize
What are some affordable NON-fast fashion brands/stores
Posted by SpringPedal · in r/ethicalfashion · 6 years agoLet’s face most of us can’t afford luxury brands and don’t want to spend $40+ on a Free People shirt
secondhand is always the most ethical option - no new resources were used, and the item wont be shipped to a poorer country or put in a landfill. Is there anything in particular you are looking for? Might help us suggest other brands, although i've seen some good ones listed already
One option could be consignment/2nd hand. There's a consignment place near me called greene street and they have free people etc all the time, for like 50+% off. Some of the other consignment places that have nice stuff here are clothes mentor and style encore. Plus it's very environmentally friendly to buy used clothes rather than new ones.
Most items under $50 (These stores are more fashionable)
​
Most items under $100 (These stores are more aligned with active/outdoors wear)
Thanks for posting these. I had never looked at Aventura before, but their clothes look really cute! Do you know if they're good quality?
I love Pact!!
Not sure where you are based but this is really hard to find in my country where clothes are already marked up.
Heres some recommendations. not sure if they are pricier for you: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/affordable-ethical-fashion-brands
If I was in the US I'd try thredup, online consignment. The best way to use it is to search for specific items or brands.
I use depop and poshmark to get second hand designer for really cheap.I also find local clothing markets, garage sales are goldmines, especially in affluent areas. I've been able to find really cheap designer clothes.
It's a lot harder to find affordable brands and it requires effort, but it pays off so much in the long term.
Just wondering how do you use Poshmark in Australia? I'm in Australia and couldn't seem to find a way to use it.
Sorry I phrased my comment incorrectly, I’ve used Depop but you’re right that posh mark isn’t available in Aus. I was just recommending similar Buy/Swap/Sell apps.
I think here in Aus it’s pretty much Depop, eBay and Facebook marketplace.
I’m not sure which city you live in but I’ve found Facebook clothes selling groups for second hand designer, vintage, really good for finding bargains.
Charity shops are the way to go! It’s win win for all involved and you’ll get some great finds! Even if you want something in particular you’ll find it! Can ask staff if they’ve noticed certain type of clothing in the back (eg black dress/suit). extra win: so cheap!
I went from sustainable clothing and mainly charity shops to only charity shops and now I’m trying to not buy any clothes at all and just mend when need to, just to challenge myself really. I get everything but food, cleaning stuff & underwear/socks from charity shops: all furniture, plates/ bowls, paintings, etc and it’s the best thing for the environment and helps those charities �� Saving all that money from only buying from charity shops means I can afford to shop sustainably for those other items like nice plastic free soaps/shampoo etc ✌️
r/Austria • [9]Summarize
Erfahrungen mit Fair Trade Kleidung?
Posted by Grand-Parsnip-3140 · in r/Austria · 1 month agoTLDR: Gibt es gut aussehende Fairtrade Kleidung mit hoher Qualität?
Eine Frage, die mich schon länger beschäftigt: Wenn sich bei Lebensmitteln wie Kaffee, Bananen, etc. Fairtrade bereits einigermaßen durchgesetzt hat, wieso findet dieses Thema nicht auch bei unserer Alltagskleidung mehr Aufmerksamkeit?
Ich war persönlich nie ein großer Marken-Fritzi, finde aber auch Fast Fashion ziemlich problematisch. Und ich bin mir auch nicht sicher, ob die großen Kleidermarken so viel besser sind, wenn es darum geht, Produkte herzustellen, ohne dabei Menschen auszubeuten. Auch die Qualität von Markenkleidung ist nicht immer besser. Sie bleicht oft genauso schnell aus oder verliert ihre Form.
Es muss doch auch Kleidung geben, die den folgenden Punkten entspricht:
- Sie soll schon gut aussehen und bequem sein. Ich rede hier von T-Shirts, Hemden, Pullis, Schuhen, Hosen, etc.
- keine Kinderarbeit, keine ausbeutende Arbeit und allgemein Fairness in der gesamten Beschaffungskette bis zum kleinsten Sub-Sub-Sub-Sub-Subunternehmer.
- Qualität, damit das T-Shirt oder Hemd oder die Schuhe bei entsprechender Pflege und schonender Reinigung auch nach Jahren noch gut aussehen
- ein geringer CO2 Abdruck wäre natürlich noch das Tüpfelchen auf dem i.
Natürlich darf die Kleidung dann auch mehr kosten.
Meine Frage lautet: Gibt es so eine Marke? Natürlich habe ich im Internet gesucht und ich habe sogar einiges gefunden. Leider kann ich aber nicht beurteilen, ob die jetzt wirklich die Wahrheit sagen, oder einfach nur Temu-Ware mit extra Marge verkaufen.
Habt ihr Erfahrungen? Könnt ihr vielleicht eine Marke oder einen Shop empfehlen?
Danke im Voraus!
Ja sicher gibt es diese Marken, aber viele Menschen können sich einfach keine 140 Euro Biobaumwollhose von Armedangels leisten bzw. haben andere Prioritäten. Deswegen wird das in der Art und Weise auch nie gesamtgesellschaftlich ankommen. Als Alternative zu neuer Fast Fashion für eine breitere Masse setzt sich Secondhand durch.
*wollen sich nicht leisten
Aber so st hast du recht
Ne Designerhose kostet auch 140€ und alle lieben Designersachen, warum laufen nicht alle Leute in Designerhosen herum?
Weil die meisten sich keine Hose für 140€ kaufen können.
Was heißt wollen? 140€ für eine Hose KÖNNEN sich tatsächlich viele nicht leisten. Vielleicht mal bissl Realität zulassen.
Hier meine Liste:
- https://zerum.store
- https://www.avocadostore.at
- https://www.armedangels.com
- https://erlich-textil.de
- https://www.apflbutzn.at
- https://chic-ethic.at
- https://twothirds.com
- https://colorfulstandard.de
- https://www.nudiejeans.com
- https://ecoalf.com
- https://passenger-clothing.com
- https://vresh-clothing.com
- https://www.fjallraven.com
Manche davon sind Stores in Österreich, manche generelle Marken.
Habe persönlich von allen diesen Marken Kleidungsstücke. Würde die meisten auch als qualitativ hochwertig bezeichnen.
Danke schön!!! Top! 👍
Wenn mein Gwand Fair Trade ist, dreh ich es normalerweise um damit es wieder richtig ist
Ich glaube du hast meine Worte Fair Trade 😂
Keine Ahnung wie vertrauenswürdig die jeweiligen Zertifikate sind, aber mit der Qualität von Grundstoff bin ich sehr zufrieden. Man muss es halt mögen, dass die absolut „plain“ sind. Keine Logos oder aufwändige Drucke.
Danke schön! Sieht auch vergleichsweise günstig aus!
Ja! Gibt es (hab selber in einem fair trade fashion shop gearbeitet).
Armed Angels, Lanius, People Tree, Greenbomb, Kuyichi....gib wirklich wirklich tolle Kleidung, und das sind nur ein paar Marken. Schau dir mal die Webseite von Chic Ethic in Graz an, die haben wirklich viel und können dir auch zu jeder Sache was dazu sagen. Oft bekommt man wenn man will eine Karte dazu wo draufsteht wo das Produziert wird etw.
Ich muss auch sagen, das meine liebste Kleidung tatsächlich die Fair Trade Marken sind, hält alles ewig, nix verzieht sich, Nähte sind top und das Material fantastisch.
Edit: muss dazusagen das meine beiden ehem. Chefs auch persönlich vor Ort sich alles anschauen und es prüfen ob es auch WIRKLICH fair trade ist. Auf deren Webseite findet man auch Infos dazu auf welche Sachen man achten muss wenn man sicher sein will.
Wow, danke für den Tipp! Beim nächsten Mal in Graz schaue ich fix vorbei. 🤩
r/SustainableFashion • [10]Summarize
Sustainable vs. Ethical Clothing Brands: What's the Difference?
Posted by juliemay_lingerie · in r/SustainableFashion · 7 months agoIn recent years, the fashion industry has seen a growing demand for brands that are more responsible—whether that means reducing their environmental impact or ensuring fair treatment of workers. But when shopping for conscious fashion, you may come across two key terms: sustainable and ethical. While they are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to different aspects of responsible fashion.
So, what exactly is the difference between sustainable clothing brands and ethical clothing brands? And why does it matter?
Sustainable Clothing Brands: Prioritising the Planet 🌱
Sustainable fashion focuses on minimising the environmental footprint of clothing production. This means using materials, processes, and practices that reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower pollution.
✔ Eco-Friendly Fabrics – Sustainable brands prioritise natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, hemp, TENCEL™, and recycled fibers over synthetic fabrics like polyester, which contribute to microplastic pollution.
✔ Low-Impact Dyes & Non-Toxic Processing – Many sustainable brands use plant-based or OEKO-TEX® certified dyes to reduce water contamination and limit chemical exposure.
✔ Reducing Waste – Many brands focus on zero-waste production, recycling materials, and upcycling fabric scraps to prevent excess landfill waste.
✔ Slow Fashion Over Fast Fashion – Rather than mass-producing trendy, low-quality clothing, sustainable brands create timeless, high-quality pieces meant to last for years, reducing overconsumption.
✔ Lower Carbon Footprint – Sustainable brands aim to reduce energy use, invest in renewable energy sources, and choose local production to cut down on emissions from transportation.
Ethical Clothing Brands: Putting People First 🤝
Ethical fashion is all about fair treatment of the people who make our clothes. Many fast fashion brands exploit workers by underpaying them, forcing long hours, or making them work in unsafe conditions. Ethical brands prioritize human rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
✔ Fair Wages & Labor Practices – Ethical brands ensure their workers receive living wages rather than just minimum wages, often following Fair Trade guidelines.
✔ Safe & Healthy Work Environments – Many fashion workers operate in dangerous factories with little ventilation, exposure to harmful chemicals, and extreme heat. Ethical brands commit to safe workplaces and reasonable working hours.
✔ No Child or Forced Labor – A shocking number of garment workers are children or people forced into labor under exploitative conditions. Ethical brands work with certified, audited factories to ensure humane treatment of all workers.
✔ Transparency & Accountability – Ethical brands are open about their supply chains, sharing information on who makes their clothing, where factories are located, and how workers are treated.
✔ Supporting Local Artisans & Communities – Some ethical brands work with artisan cooperatives, helping traditional craftsmen and women preserve their skills while earning fair wages.
Can a Brand Be Both Sustainable & Ethical?
Yes! Many brands strive to be both sustainable and ethical, but it’s not always guaranteed. Some brands may use eco-friendly fabrics but still exploit workers, while others might focus on fair wages but still rely on synthetic materials that harm the planet.
If you want to support brands that care for both people and the planet and avoid greenwashing, look for certifications that prove a brand's commitment such as:🌿 GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – Ensures organic fabrics and environmentally responsible production.🤝 Fair Trade Certified – Guarantees ethical labor practices and fair wages.🔍 B Corp Certification – Recognizes brands that meet high environmental and social standards.♻ OEKO-TEX® – Ensures textiles are free from harmful chemicals.
How to Shop More Consciously
When shopping, ask yourself:
✅ Who made this? (Is the brand transparent about its labor practices?)
✅ What is it made from? (Are the materials sustainable and non-toxic?)
✅ Will it last? (Is it well-made, or will it fall apart after a few wears?)
✅ What does the brand stand for? (Are they actively working to reduce their impact?)
By choosing brands that align with both sustainability and ethics, you can feel good about where your clothes come from and how they were made. 🌍✨
What matters most to you when shopping for responsible fashion—sustainability, ethics, or both?
Who are your favourite ethical and sustainable brands?
I would say what gives me pause about the sustainable and ethical labels is having a hard time determining if those claims are factual versus just being said. And then what happens when I try to take advantage of a companies sustainability efforts.....like all those times I tried to bring in clean but no longer wearable clothes for upcycling/recycling. The hassle just never ended, I ended up pissed off, and just filled a dumpster.
It absolutely can be tricky to determine whether a brand is being honest or just using green catch words like 'responsibly sourced' and giving no proof to their claims in form of third party certifications as mentioned above.
These certifications are an incredible resource for helping customers determine the truth behind the claims but can be a double edge sward for smaller businesses as they can be quite costly and even if a brand is doing everything above board, sometimes it can take a while to get the paper to show it.
On the other side of that, massive corporations who don't have any certifications, you can rest assured, it's not because they can't afford it.
Working with smaller recycling programs and give back charities is often a great way to support sustainable and ethical change, as the people who set them up put the hours in and do the work, have chosen that path to make a difference.
Great post! Would you mind sharing brands that are both sustainable and ethical? I struggle to find those, and from what I’ve seen, most of the time they’re small and local brands, so it’s a bit harder to find them. I was able to find a couple in my home country, the only downside is that usually the clothing is very expensive… I understand that good quality and ethical clothing can’t be cheap, but at least here where I live it’s impractical for the majority of people to buy it. I can afford some, but also for me can be quite expensive :(
Price is definitely a consideration when buying new clothing in any shop.
Some questions to check are:
Am I buying a quality item or paying for the brand label?
Will I see the return on this investment? (Will I be able to get lots of wear out of it and is it a better option than others on the market?)
When buying things that are more expensive, we tend to think more carefully and do more research before we commit to the purchase. This mentality helps to reduce our spending in the first place and means we only buy something if it meets our checklist.
Sustainable shopping isn't just about buying from sustainable brands - it's about reducing our consumption, buying less but buying better, looking second hand first, looking local rather than online where possible.
Some great brands that make clothing sustainable and ethically are:
Lucy and Yak
Humphries and Begg
Huet Jeans
JulieMay Lingerie (that's us!)
Kit and Clogs Studio
If you know any others, pop them down below!
A great option if you are not sure which brands to try and searching for specific products that meet your ethical and sustainable needs, is to look on marketplaces that vet these brands for you!
Done Good
Our Common Place
Ethical Clothing .com
Generous Ape
There is so much information out there and resources to help people get their foot in the sustainable door. It's just about knowing where to start.
Gaala Paris is an example of both sustainable and ethical brand for me
this is such a good breakdown! honestly didn't really think about the difference between sustainable vs ethical before but makes total sense when you explain it like that.
been trying to find brands that do both lately. stumbled across Q for Quinn when I needed new underwear and socks. they seem to check both boxes? they use organic cotton and work with family-run factories which sounds good for workers too. plus they have those GOTS certifications you mentioned. not sure if they're perfect but at least they're transparent about their stuff.
I think for many people it is all wrapped up in one green bundle of positive impact, but understanding how the impacts actually work is so important. It's great to hear more brands are taking a step in the right direction with both ethical and sustainable practices.
I have some polyester clothes that wear like iron, wash well, are color fast, don’t shrink and are well over 10 years old and I still wear them.
Next time you get AI to write your posts, I suggest looking into the environmental impact of using AI because it’s certainly not sustainable nor ethical.
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AI Answer
What are some fair trade clothing brands?
Here are some notable fair trade clothing brands to consider:
Patagonia: Known for its commitment to environmental sustainability and fair labor practices, Patagonia offers a wide range of outdoor clothing.
People Tree: A pioneer in sustainable and fair trade fashion, People Tree provides stylish clothing made from organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials.
Eileen Fisher: This brand focuses on ethical production and sustainable materials, offering timeless styles that prioritize fair labor practices.
Mata Traders: Specializing in vibrant, handmade clothing and accessories, Mata Traders partners with artisans in India and supports fair wages and safe working conditions.
Fair Trade Winds: A retailer that curates various fair trade brands, offering a selection of clothing and accessories that support ethical practices.
TenTree: For every item sold, TenTree plants ten trees, and they prioritize sustainable materials and fair labor practices in their production.
Pact: This brand focuses on organic cotton basics and loungewear, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers.
Key Takeaways:
Look for Certifications: Brands that are certified by organizations like Fair Trade International or the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) ensure ethical practices.
Research Brand Practices: Check the brand's website for transparency about their supply chain and labor practices.
Support Local Artisans: Many fair trade brands work directly with artisans, helping to support local economies.
Recommendation: When choosing fair trade clothing, consider your personal style and needs, and look for brands that align with your values regarding sustainability and ethical labor practices. Supporting these brands not only helps promote fair wages but also contributes to a more sustainable fashion industry.
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