18 Sustainable Fashion Brands to Support

Consumers are more aware than ever of the detrimental impacts of fast fashion on the environment. The industry not only depleted the planet’s resources but also exploits workers to offer fashionable products at extremely low prices. With this in mind, buyers are now looking at less impactful alternatives. Here are 18 sustainable fashion brands that you need to know about.

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More than 60% of fabric fibres are fossil-derived synthetics, which cause microplastic pollution on land and in the ocean. The seemingly eco-friendlier and common leather alternative for handbags – polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – is also a petroleum-based plastic that brings the same environmental impact as other synthetic materials, and it’s not biodegradable. 

1. Wholesome Culture

Based in: USA

Product range: Casual wear, Activewear, Accessories

Price range: $-$$

First on our list of the most sustainable fashion brands is Wholesome Culture, who is on a mission to make the world a kinder and more sustainable place with their eco-friendly apparel. Their designs are printed with eco-friendly water-based ink, made from 100% organic cotton, recycled plastic bottles and bamboo. All orders are shipped in biodegradable or recycled packaging.  Teaming up with local artisans in Bali, their latest sustainable activewear is crafted with recycled fishing nets and nylon. What’s more, they give back 10% of profits to animal rescues and environmental organisations including ranches and sanctuaries. 

2. Christy Dawn

Based in: Los Angeles, USA

Product range: Women’s & Kid’s apparel, Accessories, Footwear

Price range: $$-$$$

Christy Dawn makes sustainable dresses from pieces of deadstock fabric – excess rolls of fabric left over from larger fashion houses. As the brand grows, they are evolving from sustainable to regenerative with their farm-to-closet initiative. The journey in regenerative farming started with land in Erode, India. Together with Oshadi Collective, a community of traditional farmers and craftspeople, they grow their own cotton using regenerative practices. Oshadi processes the cotton using centuries-old methods which don’t require chemicals but work in harmony with nature. With a regenerative supply chain, the brand’s goal is to establish a reciprocal relationship with the planet and minimise pollution.

3. SAYE

Based in: Spain

Product range: Sneakers, Apparel, Accessories

Price range: $$-$$$

In a bid to reduce the planet’s carbon footprint, SAYE uses locally-acquired ecological yarns and natural dyes in the manufacturing of their clothing. The sustainable materials used to make their upcycled sneakers range from recycled mango fruit, organic cotton, recycled Polyurethane (PU) leftovers, to environmentally-certified leather. Currently, new recycled materials are being tested and will be introduced to customers in the near future.  

4. Reformation

Based in: Los Angeles, USA

Product range: Women’s apparel, Accessories

Price range: $$-$$$

Since 2009, Reformation has placed sustainability at the forefront of its operations. It all began by selling vintage clothing out of a small store, quickly expanding into making their own garments. Everything is made from low-impact materials, such as rescued deadstock fabrics and repurposed vintage clothing. They rank different usable fabrics from A (renewable materials) to D (Don’t use unless certified) and aim to make 75% of products with A & B fibres. Reformation is a 100% carbon- water- and waste-neutral company. They infuse green measures into every aspect of the business — from their factory in Los Angeles, to fabrics, packaging and retail stores. They are committed to making the company Climate Positive in 2025 by investing in renewable energy directly in their supply chain .

You may read their 2020 Sustainability Report here.

5. The Classic T-Shirt Company

Based in: California, USA

Product range: T-shirts

Price range: $$

The Classic T-Shirt Company believes in the power of simple pleasures –  a classic t-shirt.

Co-founders Paul and Olga Garibian take pride in offering a full range of premium ethical t-shirts for men and women that bring together quality and integrity. To make them, they source only 100% organic cotton, create handcrafted and durable garments, and provide fair treatment for all farmers and workers. The GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, unlike synthetic fibres, allows skin to breathe. The Classic T-Shirt Company is committed to sourcing organic cotton so that no pesticides or fertilisers are used in production. This protects cotton farmers and water from chemical contamination, preserving a healthy future for the next generation.

6. SassySpud

Based in: Ireland 

Product range: Casual wear

Price range: $$

SassySpud believes clothes can work as great billboards to promote veganism and the positive impacts that a cruelty-free lifestyle can have on the planet, the animals and our health – with a little humour. Their clothes are ethically manufactured in 100% sweatshop-free environments with eco-friendly inks, by using a printing process which uses 7 times less water than standard fabric dyeing. All products are vegan and shipped in recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Join them to raise awareness about a plant-based lifestyle, animal rescue and environmental protection with their light-hearted and humorous designs.

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7. SAMARA

Based in: Toronto, Canada

Product range: Bags, Accessories 

Price range: $$

Run by two sisters Salima and Samara, SAMARA creates elegant, cruelty-free and minimalist bags and accessories. Their products are created with premium eco-friendly materials. Most vegan handbags on the market are made out of PVC but SAMARA limits their use of PVC and uses water-based PU and microfibres, which are less toxic for the environment. Believing that fashion doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment, SAMARA uses a wide range of sustainable materials, including recycled ocean plastics, recycled plastic bottles and bamboo. Their latest product, apple-leather totes, are created with apple skins (the by-products of the juicing industry).

8. Tove & Libra

Based in: Hong Kong

Product range: Women’s apparel

Price range: $$-$$$

Representing Hong Kong on our list of the most sustainable fashion brands, Tove & Libra firmly believes that the widespread practice of disposable, fast fashion has to be halted. Prioritising quality over quantity, co-founders Ivan and Christine take great pride in selecting the highest-quality yarns and textiles such as top-grade cotton, cashmere and wool. They put a keen focus on natural and premium materials. This is to ensure the excellent quality of products so that the clothes can be preserved for decades to come. Their recent collection uses Lyocell – a sustainable modern fibre that requires less water and energy than cotton production. Moreover, 50% of their collections make use of upcycled materials from other brands, which would otherwise become waste! 

9. Wolven

Based in: Los Angeles, USA

Product range: Activewear, Swimwear

Price range: $$

Wolven is a team of artists and activists working to reduce carbon footprints on Earth. They celebrate creativity, diversity, body positivity and sustainability through colourfully designed activewear. Their fabrics are produced from a cellulose fibre derived from beechwood pulp that’s twice as soft as cotton, and sustainably harvested wood-pulp fibres. These carbon-neutral fibres also require no toxic pesticides, no clear-cut farm land to grow, and substantially less water than cotton. Wolven also gives plastic bottles a second life by transforming them into new thread, weaving them into non-toxic fabric. All the orders are wrapped in reusable, 100% recycled poly mailer or a biodegradable paper box.

10. Plant Faced Clothing

Based in: London, UK

Product range: Streetwear, Accessories

Price range: $$

Founded in 2015, Plant Faced Clothing wishes to spread the awareness of vegan and ethical fashion and preserve our planet through cool streetwear designs. The brand uses organic or recycled materials. Their production chain benefits from the strictest environmental certifications and labels in the market – more than 75% of their garments are made with eco-friendly fabrics including organic cotton and recycled water bottles. The entire range is screen printed using eco-friendly water-based inks. They also have a Buy 1 Plant 1 scheme, where they will plant a tree on your behalf for each purchase across the globe, with their official partner Eden Reforestation Projects.

11. Vipop

Based in: Hong Kong

Product range: Clothing, Swimwear, Jewellery 

Price range: $$-$$$

Launched by Venezuelan natives Lenia Pérez and Fabiana González, Vipop sources conscious resort-wear and swimwear from small label and well-known designers in Latin America and Europe. They strictly only work with brands that have eco-friendliness and fair trade at the forefront. From vegan materials and carbon-neutral manufacturing to supporting local hand makers and seamstresses in the countries the clothes are made in, their ethically made vibrant evening gowns, bikinis, and coord sets make you look like you just stepped off a sunbathed cobblestone street in Colombia. Vipop’s boutique Artezano is in the Soho district located right on the famous Graham Street which also houses an adorable café and Mediterranean grocery store.

12. Afends

Based in: Australia

Product range: Apparel, Accessories, Bags

Price range: $-$$

Having spent years researching, Afends favours hemp as an eco-friendly fabric alternative. As a renewable resource, hemp takes as little as 90 days to cultivate, requiring 80% less water than cotton, and produces significantly more fibre per acre. It also needs no toxic chemicals, pesticides or insecticides to grow. Additionally, the brand is striving towards making 100% of products with ecological and fibres. Their clothing is now certified by The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), meaning that at least 70% certified organic natural fibres, and The Organic Content Standard (OCS), meaning that their products are made from between 95-100% organic material. 

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13. VEJA

Based in: Brazil

Product range: Sneakers

Price range: $$-$$$

A pioneer on our list of the most sustainable fashion brands, VEJA is the first sneaker brand to create light, breathable and waterproof sneakers with fabric entirely made from recycled plastic bottles: B-mesh, a fabric made entirely out of recycled polyester (polyethylene terephthalate or PET). Plastic bottles in Brazil are collected, sorted and transformed into plastic flakes and turned into polyester fibre. On average, 3 plastic bottles are upcycled to make a pair of VEJA shoes. They also use cotton recycled from textile industry cuttings according to season and designs. All leather parts of VEJA sneakers come from tanneries certified Gold by the Leather Working Group (L.W.G.),an independent group of tanneries and manufacturers working on sustainable practices to ensure no hazardous chrome, heavy metals or acids are present during the tanning process. All VEJA sneakers boxes are made out of recycled cardboard.

14. BEEN London

Based in: London, UK

Product range: Bags, Accessories

Price range: $$-$$$

Founder Genia Mineeva, an ex-journalist at BBC, believes that the climate crisis is driven by the relentless extraction of virgin materials. As such, BEEN London only sources materials destined for landfills and turn them into timeless, classic designs – discarded leather trimmings are reborn as premium totes and crossbodies; single-use plastics bottles are revived as silky linings and zips; pineapple leaves and apple peels are repurposed into vegan leather. With functionality and durability in mind, they don’t follow trends but create trend-proof designs that work in all seasons. They ship materials by sea to minimise the carbon footprint of transportation. Recently, with the support from the Peru-based NGO Camino Verde, they have started to support the reforestation of the Amazon Rainforest by planting trees! 

15. FAITHFULL THE BRAND

Based in: Bali, Indonesia

Product range: Women’s fashion, Accessories, Bags

Price range: $$-$$$

Choosing handmade over mass production,  FAITHFULL THE BRAND works with home industry suppliers who rely on less machines for less energy emissions. Believing in being community minded and family focused, the brand allows most sewers to work from home in husband/wife duos so they can work whilst taking care of their families. This helps empower the disadvantaged in Indonesian society. Each garment is designed, sourced and produced in Bali using techniques such as hand-dying and hand printing. 80% of the fabrics they use are certified “Ecovero” fibres from renewable wood sources that use an eco-responsible production process by meeting high environmental standards. The brand aims to educate customers on proper garment care and repairs on their website to prolong the product life, thus reducing negative environmental impact. 

16. Mila.Vert

Based in: Slovenia

Product range: Women’s fashion, accessories 

Price range: $$-$$$

Slovenian ethical fashion brand Mila.Vert offers custom-fit orders tailored to their customers’ body measurements, taking a stand against excessive production in fashion and reducing unnecessary waste while offering their customers a personalised and planet-friendly fashion experience. It also produces its goods locally, cutting down on carbon emissions associated with transportation of goods. Additionally, Mila.Vert uses only environmentally friendly fibres, mainly certified organic cotton, but also tencel, and certified linen, bamboo and hemp fabrics. Their collection of accessories in the vegan imitation of suede is made from recycled waste polyester. All of Mila.Vert’s collections are animal- friendly and their vegan products have also been officially PETA-approved. The brand also uses fabric bags made from their own leftover fabrics.

17. Stella McCartney

Based in: London, UK

Product range: Women’s and kid’s fashion, Accessories, Bags, Footwear

Price range: $$-$$$

Last on our list of the most sustainable fashion brands, Stella McCartney’s commitment to advocating for sustainable and ethical fashion has made it one of the eco-friendliest luxury brands on the market. The fashion label has long been using eco-conscious materials, non-toxic dyes and polyester recycled from plastic bottles. It is on track to replace nylon with eco-nylon made from recycled fishing nets. Stella McCartney uses organic cotton which comes from farms developed by social entrepreneurs, farmers and NGOs who eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. They are also reducing the use of oil-based synthetics, and are working only with suppliers that meet the brand’s standards of quality and sustainability.

The excessive use of leather, fur and silk in traditional luxury brands can take a heavy toll on the environment. As an eco-conscious consumer, we should pay extra heed to the materials used and its production process when shopping high-end. We hope that this list of the most sustainable fashion brands will help you in your pursuit of more ethical, yet quality clothing.

18. Kitdo