Sustainable brands continue to grow despite the effects of the pandemic. More and more people are getting conscious of what kind of materials they are wearing. We’ve seen the effects of our actions towards nature and as we know the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters. Air, land, and sea are polluted with plastics and materials that cannot be easily broken down.
As previously explained in our first sustainability article.
Sustainable brands reduce the use of materials that are harmful to our environment. Being sustainable also means being ethical, which focuses on fair labor and equality to all the supply chains. So choosing sustainable and ethical brands, not only are you saving our planet but also supporting small and local businesses which in the current pandemic is very helpful.
In the US, the demand for sustainable products is getting higher and a lot of fashion brands are also changing their processes. Not only to follow the trend but to be responsible for our impact on the environment. Buying sustainable and ethical products does not only benefit the laborers and our nature but you as the consumer.
If you are in the US and want to know what are the brands that are sustainable and ethical, here are our top 10.
Website: https://www.vitaminaswim.com
Price: $$
Location: California
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 5 out of 7
What’s unique about them: Swimwear collections are from recycled and plant-based materials.
Made locally in California, Vitamin A’s collections of swimwear use a high proportion of eco-friendly materials, including recycled nylon. The brand also uses a waterless process to print its designs, reducing its chemical and water usage! Vitamin A has been making environmentally friendly choices for nearly 20 years. They are the first to trademark a sustainable swim fabric made of recycled nylon, with their signature EcoLux designs. The most recent addition to their Eco fabric line is the plant-based BioRib collection
Website: https://www.patagonia.com/home/
Price: $$
Location: California
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 7 out of 7
What’s unique about them: Uses eco-friendly materials and has good policies to audit suppliers in its supply chain.
Patagonia was one of the earliest defenders of environmental ethics in the activewear fashion industry. They are also one of the first adopters of using recycled materials and switching to organic cotton. Patagonia is expanding its commitment to labor ethics and works with US factories as often as it can, including in Texas and North Carolina.
Website: https://www.eileenfisher.com
Price: $$-$$$
Location: New York
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 7 out of 7
What’s unique about them: This luxury brand is a leader in sustainable fashion and takes a full lifecycle approach.
EILEEN FISHER is an industry leader in an ethical and sustainable fashion. The company believes social and environmental injustices are a reason to do business completely differently, and carefully oversees its supply chain to ensure fair working wages. By 2025, the brand’s vision is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions created during the production and shipping of our garments by 25 percent. We love the company’s dedication to size inclusivity as its options range from XXS through 3X, and includes many petite selections.
Website: https://www.alternativeapparel.com
Price: $-$$
Location: Georgia
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 7 out of 7
What’s unique about them: Alternative Apparel focuses on using organic cotton and recycled materials.
Alternative respects and values the rights of workers in all countries. They also believe in the right to fair and safe workplace conditions. The factories by the Fair Labor Association guidelines and Alternative Apparel make over 80 percent of the garments with sustainable materials and processes. The pieces have a worn-in, vintage look that’s timeless so they won’t go in and out of style. The brand also uses more sustainable packaging and low impact dyes, and it follows strict ethical standards for the factories it sources from.
Website: https://www.thereformation.com
Price: $$-$$$
Location: California
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 5 out of 7
What’s unique about them: This brand creates products only from sustainable and upcycled materials in a fair wage environment.
For the sustainable fashionista, Reformation offers on-trend pieces that will still be stylish long after the season is over. This Los Angeles-based brand creates products only from sustainable and upcycled materials in a fair wage environment. Reformation’s dedication to sustainable production is extensively explained on its website in its signature bold and unabashed style. Plus, each item comes with a description of its environmental footprint.
Website: https://www.fairindigo.com
Price: $-$$
Location: Wisconsin
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 5 out of 7
What’s unique about them: It produces long-lasting and quality products.
Fair Indigo is committed to creating clothes that will last upwards of five years—like the Forever Organic Tees (available in a variety of styles and earth-friendly dyes). The brand’s garments are made with organic Peruvian Pima cotton, grown on a family farm and harvested by hand. With an emphasis on quality apparel, sustainable and ethical practices, and free shipping options, it’s one of our go-to shops for affordable organic basics and artisan-made accessories.
Website: https://amourvert.com
Price: $-$$$
Location: San Francisco
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 5 out of 7
What’s unique about them: For every tee you buy, the company plants a tree!
To avoid waste, this brand says it makes smaller quantities in the US. It sources fibers from all over the world and focuses on choosing more sustainable options. The company starts with natural fibers and materials like hemp, ethical wool, and certified organic cotton, and partners directly with mills to develop sustainable fabrics like Tencel Modal and Tencel Lyocell. The designs range from basics to more stylish pieces and there are a few baby styles available as well. On top of that, the company plants a tree for every tee that’s purchased, with over 220,000 trees planted so far. You can even opt to have an extra tree planted for $1.
Website: https://petitestudionyc.com
Price: $$-$$$
Location: New York
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 5 out of 7
What’s unique about them: Aim to make collections with slow-fashion principles so that the garments will last for their customers
At Petite Studio, it takes an average of 20 hours to produce a single garment. That’s because the NYC-based brand is passionate about creating capsule wardrobe items and small-batch staples. This petite-focused clothing collection is carefully crafted in an ethical factory, located in Jiangshan, China (the founder’s hometown). Employees work 40 hours per week (with hour-long lunch breaks), receive health care and vacation time, and are even obligated to take a 30-minute nap break every shift.
Website: https://wearpact.com
Price: $
Location: Colorado
Ship to: Worldwide
Rating: 7 out of 7
What’s unique about them: All of the cotton garments from this brand are certified organic by GOTS
Pact is pretty obsessed with making clothes that make the world a better place. The Certified B Corp goes to great lengths to make sure its entire supply chain, from the growing and harvesting of the organic cotton to the final sewing and all the processes in between, are as clean and responsible as possible. They’re also Fair Trade Certified, which looks at ethical factors like wages and working conditions. The clothes themselves are mostly soft and comfy staples that you can wear every day, but there are also pajamas and underwear so you can opt for organic 24/7. The super-soft tees, dresses, and underwear are 100 percent cotton. The non-GMO cotton is great for you and the farmers growing it.
Fast fashion industry depletes the earth’s resources so let’s shift to sustainable and ethical brands. Not only that we are helping our environment and communities, but you are also buying high-quality products that can last for years.
If you want to see our other list of sustainable fashion brands, check here:
TOP 10 WOMEN FOUNDED SUSTAINABLE FASHION BRANDS
TOP 10 SUSTAINABLE FASHION BRANDS IN EUROPE
If you have suggestions and want to add your favorite sustainable brand feel free to send them to us at contact@v2.bonanza.design.
Receive handpicked content on design, UX, Innovation and sustainability every week
BACK TO BLOG
