When we think of fashion, we often focus on style and trends, but what we wear also impacts our health, the environment, and the lives of the people who make our clothes! So today, we’re gonna do a deep dive into the topic. From understanding key terms like slow fashion and sustainable fabrics to learning about the best organic materials and non-toxic brands, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make more thoughtful choices in your wardrobe. I’m telling ya, fashion can be both stylish and responsible!
This post contains affiliate links.
This post covers:
- Sustainable Fashion 101 & Why It Matters
- Breakdown of Common Fashion Terminology
- Best Natural Fabrics to Look For
- Tips for a Mindful Wardrobe
- 12+ Sustainable & Natural Fashion Brands
Sustainable Fashion 101 & Why It Matters
Just like with our food, cosmetics, cleaning, and personal care products, it’s important to be a conscious consumer of CLOTHING too! 👕 Let’s highlight some of the main issues and why it all matters:
The clothing we wear can affect our health.
Many clothes are made from cheap synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, which are derived from petroleum and turned into plastic. Contaminants can be added unintentionally throughout the production process too.
Essentially, clothing can contain a slew of unwelcome substances:
- Bisphenol A (BPA): An industrial chemical used to make certain plastics that is linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive issues, metabolic effects, immune suppression, and more. A 2023 report revealed that certain clothing could expose you to up to 40x the safe limit of BPA! Most people are aware of the negative health effects associated with plastic, so why do we wear it all over our skin, the largest organ?
- Formaldehyde: Believe it or not, formaldehyde is sometimes used on clothing to prevent wrinkles and mildew.
- Harsh Dyes: Synthetic dyes, like azo dyes, can release carcinogenic amines, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and contain heavy metals. They can also be irritating to skin. There are gentle, low-impact dyes that can be used instead!
- Pesticides: Although cotton is a natural fiber, it’s often called “the world’s dirtiest crop” due to its heavy use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides while it’s growing. And the textile industry accounts for roughly 10-20% of pesticide usage worldwide. This is why organic cotton is important!
- PFAS: Also known as Forever Chemicals, PTFE, or PFOA. This class of chemicals is used on clothing to provide water, stain, and oil resistance (and is particularly common with water-repellent or waterproof items). PFAS are very persistent in the human body, accumulate over time, and are associated with a higher risk of cancer, reproductive harm, and immune system damage.
- Synthetic Fragrances: Yes, clothes are often sprayed with perfumes or can contain substances that off-gas VOCs! The term “fragrance” can include a combination of about 3,600 different undisclosed synthetic chemicals, including phthalates, and has links to hormone disruption and respiratory irritation (I’m having flashbacks to Hollister circa 2007 IYKYK)
In addition, if you have sensitive skin and suffer from allergies or rashes, switching to cleaner, low tox fabrics can make a world of difference!
Fashion has a huge environmental impact.
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters. It’s estimated that 92 million tons of textile waste are thrown away yearly—yikes!
On top of that, when synthetic fibers go to the landfill, they don’t decompose. Polyester, for example, takes approximately 200 years to break down and leaches chemicals into the ecosystem.
Plus, when plastic-derived clothing is washed, it sheds microplastics into the water! Sadly, around 20-30% of all microplastic that flows into the ocean is due to garments (about half a million tons per year). Once it’s in the water, it moves up the food chain as fish and wildlife ingest it (and eventually, we humans do, too).
[This can be mitigated by using a Cora Ball or Guppybag when you wash your clothes; these catch and filter microfibers before they enter the water system. They’re not a perfect solution, but can help reduce particles!]
Other than microplastics, the harsh synthetic dyes in clothing can run into local water systems causing pollution, algae blooms, and toxicity to marine life.
The fashion industry is notorious for unsafe and unfair working conditions.
Fast fashion often exploits workers with unsafe working conditions, unfair wages, and unreasonably high production demands. It’s estimated that the industry employs about 75 million factory workers worldwide, and less than 2% of them make a living wage! Think about it: If you buy a shirt for $10 and account for the cost of materials, how much do you think the person who made it was paid? Probably not much at all.
One of the deadliest fashion disasters happened in 2013 in Bangladesh: the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed, killing 1,134 workers and injuring over 2,500. Beforehand, workers had expressed concern about the safety of the building because of cracks and structural damage (the building was constructed without proper permits). Management threatened their jobs and pay if they refused to continue working.
Lastly, these workers are regularly exposed to the hazardous chemicals used during production. Whether it’s working with chemicals without proper protection or simply not having enough ventilation in their workspaces, it undoubtedly takes a toll.
I highly recommend watching The True Cost documentary, which highlights the grim impacts of the fashion industry and dives further into this issue 📺
Related podcast episode: “Undressing the Fast Fashion Industry with Marissa Biese”
Breakdown of Common Fashion Terminology
When you start looking into this topic, you’ll come across various terms, and there are different avenues you can take! Here’s a quick breakdown of commonly used fashion terms and their differences:
Slow Fashion
- Refers to clothing produced emphasizing quality, ethical practices, and environmental sustainability
- Focuses on small-batch production, timeless designs, and durable materials to reduce waste and overconsumption
Fast Fashion
- A production model prioritizing speed and affordability, often at the cost of environmental and ethical considerations
- Characterized by trendy, mass-produced clothing with short lifecycles, leading to overproduction, waste, and poor labor practices
- Some of the biggest fast fashion brands include H&M, Zara, Shein, and Forever 21
Sustainable or Circular Fashion
- Focuses on minimizing environmental harm through eco-friendly materials, ethical practices, and efforts to reduce waste, water, and energy use
- Encompasses practices like recycling, upcycling, and closed-loop production
Eco-Friendly Fashion
- Centers around environmentally safe practices, including the use of organic or biodegradable materials and reducing resource consumption
- Often overlaps with sustainable fashion but may not address ethical labor issues
Organic or Natural Fashion
- Refers to clothing made from natural fibers like cotton, hemp, wool, or linen, grown or produced without harmful chemicals, pesticides, or synthetic treatments
- Organic certification ensures stricter environmental and health standards, while natural fabrics reduce reliance on synthetic materials and plastic-based fibers
Ethical Fashion
- Prioritizes the well-being of workers, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and no exploitation
- May also involve supporting small businesses or artisans
- Can sometimes refer to cruelty-free or vegan materials
Vegan Fashion
- Avoids using animal-derived materials, such as leather, wool, silk, or fur
- Can include synthetic alternatives, so it’s not always sustainable or natural (for instance, many vegan leather alternatives are polyurethane which is a plastic)
Ultimately, you gotta decide what route you want to take and what appeals most to you. At the end of the day, the fibers that are the healthiest for our bodies are typically best for the earth, too, so it’s a win-win!
Related post: “Decoding Cosmetic Labels: Clean Beauty vs. Green, Natural, Vegan, & More”
Best Natural Fabrics to Look For
Unfortunately, there is a ton of greenwashing within the sustainable fashion industry. It’s crucial to double-check the materials to know exactly what you’re buying and wearing instead of blindly trusting marketing claims. In short, natural fabrics are biodegradable and safer for our bodies. Here are some ideal fabrics to search for:
- Bamboo: The fastest-growing plant in the world and doesn’t require pesticides to grow, plus it uses ⅓ of the water that cotton does. It’s processed into viscose or lyocell, which makes it soft and breathable 🎍
- Cashmere: Made from the undercoat of goats, it’s luxurious and warm 🐐
- Hemp: Requires minimal water and no pesticides to grow; it’s strong and breathable.
- Jute: Comes from the jute plant; it’s a coarse and durable fiber.
- Leather: This one is a bit controversial since it comes from cattle skins, but it is a natural and biodegradable material. When sourced responsibly, leather can be sustainable since it uses excess product that might otherwise go to waste. Conventional leather tanning involves toxic chemicals like chromium, so look for vegetable-tanned leather instead!
- Linen: Made from flax, it’s lightweight and strong.
- Lyocell or Modal: Commonly known by the brand name TENCEL, it’s a semi-synthetic fiber made from dissolving wood pulp and uses less energy and water than conventional fabrics.
- Organic Cotton: The most common! It’s hypoallergenic and soft. Choosing organic ensures no pesticides or fertilizers and requires less water than conventional.
- Silk: Produced by silkworms, it’s lightweight, smooth, and has a natural sheen.
- Wool: Derived from sheep or alpaca, it’s moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and great at regulating temperature 🐑
What About Recycled Fabrics? ♻️
A big trend lately is to use recycled materials such as polyester, ocean plastic, or water bottles. While I think it’s great that companies are finding a way to repurpose these substances and divert them from landfills or waterways, it’s still plastic, which poses the same problems as using regular polyester or plastic-derived materials (unhealthy for humans and detrimental to the planet). In fact, clothing made from recycled polyester can have higher levels of BPA!
Ultimately, it’s a better solution than virgin plastic materials, but opting for natural fibers is still superior.
Related post: “How to Sustainably Discard Old & Empty Cosmetics: Everything You Need to Know”
Tips for a Mindful Wardrobe
Before I share some clothing brands, let’s take a minute to chat about some ways that you can be more conscious about clothing consumption and make more sustainable choices:
- The most sustainable thing you can do is wear what you already own and not buy anything new! (nobody likes to hear this, I know, but it’s true)
- Shopping secondhand creates less demand for new clothing and is more sustainable. Check out your local thrift store, Goodwill, or do a clothing swap with friends. I’m a huge fan of Poshmark where you can buy secondhand items online; I’ve scored SO many amazing pieces at a fraction of what they would cost new. Some other similar sites are ThredUp and Depop. And if you just can’t give up your favorite fast fashion brands, you can at least look for them secondhand!
- Learn how to repair clothing to make it last longer (ex. fixing buttons or stitching a small tear)
- Donate unwanted pieces instead of throwing them away (if they’re still wearable) or find ways to repurpose them (like making cleaning rags out of old t-shirts)
- Overall, focus on creating a minimal, intentional wardrobe with multifunctional pieces that you love
12+ Sustainable & Natural Fashion Brands 👚
Alright, now for the fun part! There is a misconception that natural clothing is ugly or boring, and I’m here to say that is absolutely NOT the case! (no burlap sacks here) Here are some awesome slow fashion brands that use natural fibers, ethical practices, and an eco-friendly approach—that are cute and stylish!
Boody
Materials: Organic bamboo viscose, organic cotton, nylon (small percentage), elastane
Sizes: XS-XXXXL
Price: $$
Made In: China, Vietnam, or India
Certifications: OEKO-TEX, Certified B Corp, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
Boody is an Australian-owned company. Their signature fabric is bamboo, which doesn’t sound comfortable, but it is! It’s the fastest-growing plant in the world and doesn’t require pesticides to grow, plus it uses ⅓ of the water that cotton does.
The company takes a responsible approach to manufacturing, focusing on ethics, fair trade, safe labor, and minimal environmental impact. I like that their clothes aren’t outrageously expensive!
Boody offers a lot of basics for men, women, and babies. You can get undies, socks, bras, activewear, sleepwear, and apparel. I own a couple of the Padded Crop Bras and they’re seriously one of the comfiest bras EVER!
Groceries Apparel
Materials: Organic cotton, eucalyptus TENCEL, hemp, spandex
Sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Los Angeles, CA
Certifications: GOTS-Certified (Global Organic Textile Standard)
Groceries is majorly impressive! The name is so cute because they literally dye each piece of clothing with upcycled food scraps (avocado, carrot tops, onion skins, coffee grounds from a local roaster, and pomegranate peels). Zero chemicals or harsh dyes at all! They also house the entire manufacturing process under one roof in downtown LA, from design to dyeing, sewing, and shipping.
Indigenous Organic Fair Trade Fashion
Materials: Organic Pima cotton, free-range Alpaca wool, TENCEL
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$$
Made In: Peru
Certifications: Certified B Corp
Based out of Petaluma, California. Indigenous uses natural fibers such as organic cotton, free-range Alpaca, and Tencel. They also incorporate low-impact dyes and even have an undyed collection.
They also have a strong focus on fair trade and craft a supply chain based on the needs of their artisans. Indigenous has styles for women and their vibe is definitely more neutral and earthy. I have one of their Alpaca ponchos and it’s sooooo cozy 🦙
Known Supply
Materials: Organic cotton
Sizes: XS-XXXXL
Price: $$
Made In: India, Peru, Uganda, China
Certifications: Certified B Corp, Fair Trade Certified, GOTS-Certified
Clothing for men, women, and kids. Known Supply is based in California and has such a cool mission that aims to humanize the apparel industry. You can literally go online and find the exact person who made your clothing item and learn more about them! So awesome. Their style is casual, comfy, and relaxed.
I have a couple of pieces from them, some of which have been discontinued, but I do recommend their jumpsuits (which feel like pajamas)! And it’s nice that it fits me even though I’m petite.
Leena & Lu
Materials: Organic Peruvian Pima cotton
Sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Peru
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Fair Trade Certified
Luxury sleepwear meets comfortable, everyday loungewear. Leena & Lu uses makes pieces for women and they’re proud to partner with women-run factories too. Most of their pieces are pajamas that can crossover to daily wear. I have the Pima T-Shirt Dress and it’s so lightweight and breezy.
The brand was founded by two sisters Ofelia and Kathya and is based in Georgia. Their style is basic, comfy, and versatile.
Code BECCA15 gets you a discount on your order 🏷️
Madewell Denim
Materials: Cotton
Sizes: 23 to 33, 14W to 28W, Petite, Tall, and Taller
Price: $$$
Made In: Indonesia, India, China, USA
Certifications: Fair Trade Certified, Regenagri®-Certified Cotton
So I don’t consider Madewell to be one of the most sustainable brands out there, but they do have some social responsibility initiatives in place and a Responsible Sourcing program which includes fair trade.
The majority of my jeans are from here, they’re soooo good! 👖 They have a lot of petite styles which I appreciate. You can usually find their jeans secondhand, too.
MATE The Label
Materials: Organic cotton, linen, TENCEL, spandex
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $$$
Made In: Los Angeles, Peru, India
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral
MATE is a trendy woman-owned brand with impeccable quality! Most of their manufacturing happens in Los Angeles, but some production is ethically and fairly outsourced. They’re super transparent, and you can view details about their materials, factories, and supply chain. For example, they uphold a strict list of restricted substances that includes 31 chemicals and 49 dye products, including pesticides, BPA, PFAS, formaldehyde, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens. Nice!
The clothes are a tad more expensive, but you can feel that they’re well-made and have a durable feel! Not to mention, they’re totally plastic-free. They have options for women, men, and kids.
I have the Organic Stretch Sports Bra (runs a bit small so size up!), Organic Stretch Racer Tank, Biker Shorts, TENCEL Tank, and Poplin Pants. I’m obsessed!
Miakoda New York
Materials: Organic cotton, bamboo, soy, modal, lyocell
Sizes: XS-XXXXL
Price: $$$
Made In: New York
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP)
Such a cute brand! They make bras, bralettes, yoga pants, crop tops, tanks, and other women’s apparel and accessories. I love the Gray Tank Crop Top and it’s extremely comfy. Miakoda is an ethical brand that uses low-impact, eco-friendly dyes.
The fabrics are all made in factories that abide by Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) regulations which essentially means fair wages and a safe environment. All based in New York! Miakoda even uses leftover garments to make things like scrunchies and headbands. All of the packing materials are 100% recycled, too!
Related Blog Post: “The Cutest Headband Brands for Women (Sustainable & Ethical Materials!)“
Organic Basics
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL, recycled nylon, Lenzing Ecovero (made from renewable wood sources)
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $
Made In: India, Portugal, Vietnam
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, OEKO-TEX Certified, 1% for the Planet® Member
Organic Basics is a Danish brand from Copenhagen! But they have a warehouse in the United States too. The brand believes in Earth and people-friendly clothing; you can learn more about the factories that they partner with worldwide on their website, including stories from the workers!
They have budget-friendly timeless basics (tees, bras, socks, undies) but incorporate playful styles and colors too (for women and men). I have a pair of briefs, triangle bra, crop tank, and crop tee.
Code ORGANICALLYBECCA gets you a discount on your purchase 🏷️
Pact Apparel
Materials: Organic cotton, elastane
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $$
Made In: India
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Fair Trade Certified™, SimpliZero Carbon Neutral
I adore Pact so much! In fact, they are one of the brands that dominate my wardrobe. They have simple basics for men and women. They are also my go-to brand for yoga pants, underwear, and socks 🩲
Some of my faves from Pact:
- Pocket leggings (these are what I wear to work out; they are not see-through!)
- Hi-waisted undies
- Joggers
- Bed sheets and pillowcases
- Bath towels
- Jumpsuits
- Tees
- Socks
- Sweaters
They are based in Denver and have one of the more affordable price points compared to many sustainable fashion brands. They also make bedding and bath towels. You can learn more about Pact in my blog post about them!
Coupon code ORGANICALLYBECCA saves you 20% on your first order 🏷️
People Tree
Materials: Organic cotton, TENCEL, wool, linen
Sizes: 8-16 (UK)
Price: $$$
Made In: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkey
Certifications: GOTS-Certified, Fair Trade Certified
If you’ve seen the True Cost documentary, then you might be familiar with the founder Safia Minney. She is one of the pioneers in the sustainable fashion industry and has super high standards for the clothes they sell. People Tree is dedicated to fair trade, transparency, fair wages, and environmental responsibility.
Their clothing is made for women and they have some really fun prints and styles! But also pieces that are more appropriate for the workplace. You can find dresses, trousers, blouses, underwear, denim, coats, skirts, and more.
The only downside (if you live in the US) is that they are based in the UK so shipping prices can be steep. But if you happen to catch when they are having sales, it’s worth it!
tentree
Materials: Recycled polyester, recycled nylon, organic cotton, TENCEL, elastane
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$$
Made In: China, Indonesia, Vietnam
Certifications: Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, Fashion for Climate, Textile Exchange Member
Based out of Vancouver, Canada but also have a US-based website. Clothing for women, men, and kids. They have loungewear, activewear, socks, undies, tops, bottoms, jackets, so much! Plus accessories like hats, bags, and scarves. Their name is quite literal because they plant 10 trees for each purchase, and you can actually track where the trees get planted which is neat.
Tentree uses ethical manufacturing processes—you can actually see a factory ledger on their site for specific info about each location!
I own their Festival Hat which is made of recycled wool with a cork band, some cropped shirts, and a long-sleeve tie shirt.
United by Blue
Materials: Organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, wool, bison wool, linen, spandex
Sizes: XS-XL
Price: $$$
Made In: China, Vietnam
Certifications: Certified B Corp, Organic Content Standard (OCS)
Another brand that is a staple in my wardrobe (my husband’s too)! They make clothing for men and women and are based in Philadelphia. It definitely has a very outdoorsy, rugged hiking vibe, so it’s not for everyone, but I love it, and they do have some cuter pieces, too!
I also really like their outdoor wear like hats, jackets, and gloves. I wear the Bison Snap Jacket and it’s soooo warm yet lightweight and not bulky.
United by Blue is committed to ethical manufacturing, plus they give back: each purchase removes a pound of trash from the oceans 🌊 You can read more about United by Blue in this blog post.
You might also enjoy these posts:
9+ Organic & Sustainable Activewear Brands (Sports Bras, Leggings, & More!)
Where to Buy The Best Organic & Sustainable Bras, Socks, Undies, and Undershirts
What are your favorite fashion brands? I’d love to hear in the comments! And remember, pleaseeeee don’t feel like you have to throw away all your clothes or go on a shopping spree to buy all-new organic clothing. You can slowly replace what you own with a few purposeful, mindful pieces!
Sources:
- Center for Environmental Health
- Environmental Working Group
- Essential Fast Fashion Statistics
- Materials That Linger: An Embodied Geography of Polyester Clothes
- McKinsey State of Fashion 2020
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety Presence of Bisphenol A in Clothing
- Statistics About Fast Fashion
- Update on the Health Effects of Bisphenol A: Overwhelming Evidence of Harm
Do you know of a company that sells more professional clothing? I am about to enter interview season for new jobs and I am in need of a suite jack and blouses. However I want my purchases to follow my values of sustainable and supporting businesses that support fair wages. Any suggestions?
Yes! People Tree which I have listed above has a “Work wear” section with blazers, blouses, etc. Otherwise, check out Reformation or Amour Vert but they are kinda $$$!
EVERLANE !!!!! They have a wonderful mix of casual and business. Love them!
Thanks for sharing Britt! I have a bodysuit from them and it’s pretty great!