Shopping as an ethical consumer in the 21st century can be time consuming and financially draining. Child labor, carbon emissions and plastic packaging seem to be typical at big name brands, making it difficult for consumers to find and purchase clothing from companies that align with their views. Here is your go-to list for a sustainable and ethical closet, from shoes to dresses to loungewear.
PACT:
- Pact makes soft basics out of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton. All of their products come in recycled & biodegradable packaging, and some proceeds go to donation program for used clothes. Pact partners with Fair Trade USA, GOTS and SimpliZero to ensure their products and their processes support the planet.
- Threads 4 Thought makes loungewear and undergarments, including maternity collection. They work with factories that meet global certification standards such as WRAP and Fair Labor, the highest levels of responsible production take place throughout manufacturing. They use recycled packaging, are CO2 neutral, use eco-friendly raw materials and fabrics, and recycle 80% of industrial water.
KOTN:
- Kotn started out as a clothing company aiming to make the perfect t-shirt. Now they have affected 150,000+ lives in Egypt by funding 23 schools and 2,000+ farms. They are Certified B Corp, have safe & fair labor standards, and plastic-free packaging.
- Quince stands out as a slightly more affordable option among the sea of sustainable brands. They are BCSI-certified in ethical production, use sustainable & organic materials, and are completely plastic-free. Check out their website for clothes, home goods, and accessories.
- All Birds specializes in creating shoes & accessories, all while driving their carbon emission levels down to zero. They make their shoes out of natural materials like SweetFoam® derived from responsibly-sourced Brazilian sugarcane and their own Trino® material, made from renewable tree and merino wool.
- Patagonia is one of the earliest and largest defenders of environmental ethics in the clothing industry. They were one of the first to use recycled materials and switch to organic cotton. Patagonia’s selection features a secondhand Worn Wear collection, where consumers can trade in worn clothing.
THRIFT STORES:
- If you are looking for a more affordable and local option, local thrift stores never disappoint. Check out DAV, Goodwill, Salvation Army for inexpensive options and Trashcan Annies, Envied, 563, Emily Found It for cool, vintage clothing.
