11 Affordable Clothing Brands For Sustainable Fashion
Ethical Fashion Doesn't Have To Be Expensive & Exclusive
Fast fashion is easy for consumers because it’s just that: fast and inexpensive. Lasting for only a season or so, it’s easy for us to end up with clothes that tatter and rip after a few wears. And when it comes to ethical and sustainable fashion, we know the price tags for quality pieces can be daunting.
That’s why we’re sharing sustainable brands that make shopping for ethical clothing a more affordable experience. Let’s direct our spending towards sustainable fashion that make us feel and look good, without breaking the bank.
For even more affordable and sustainable clothing options, check out our guide to vintage and secondhand clothing shops online. And if you’re making the shift to a completely ethical wardrobe, add a few responsibly made shoes, vintage jewelry, and eco-friendly purses, too!
*Article updated August 2022
1. Pact
Ethics | GOTS certified organic fabrics, Fair Trade Certified, eco-friendly production & packaging, take-back program
Best For | Adult basics (tees, undies, maternity)
Price Range | $9 (baby bodysuit) –$115 (long cardigan)
If you’re on the hunt for super-soft basics that are also fair trade, look no further than Pact; the brand sells organic clothing for everyone in the family, toddlers and babies included. Plus, they’re universally comfortable and made for layering, ideal for year-round wear. Given the affordable price point and high quality, a purchase from Pact is sure to be a win—and when you’re done, you can send it back to Pact to give to those in need with its Give Back Box® program.
Shop Pact
2. Quince
Ethics | BSCI certified ethical production, Bluesign®, GOTS, & OEKO-TEX certified sustainable materials & factories, eco-friendly packaging
Best For | Elevated basics, simple capsule wardrobes
Price Range | $15 (basic tee) – $250 (suede trucker jacket)
Quince believes everyone should be able to afford the best, so the brand has set out to make luxurious pieces at accessible price points. The team responsibly sources sustainable materials like organic cotton and linen, Mulberry silk, and cashmere to create sleek and stylish designs that last. Quince transparently shares about its partner factories, including more about wages and working conditions. The Capsules section is our favorite when we need inspiration—or just to make the shopping experience easier!
Shop Quince
3. Boden
Ethics | Fair trade production, BCI certified & sustainable cotton, eco-friendly practices & packaging, ethical supply chain, gives back
Best For | Workwear, dresses, investment pieces
Price Range | $18 (baby leggings) –$350 (embroidered jacket); also offers sales
Boden is one of the most-loved sustainable British brands. The company, which was founded more than 30 years ago, is renowned for its sustainable clothing collection, which is also ethical and expansive. Customers local and abroad can shop for the whole family, as the brand offers worldwide shipping options for its adult, children, and baby apparel. The clothes even ship in recycled (and recyclable) packaging. Say hi to your new favorite pieces.
Shop Boden
4. ABLE
Ethics | Certified B Corp, female artisan-made, fair labor practices & wages, responsible sourcing
Best For | Denim, jumpsuits, shoes
Price Range | $35 (basic tee) – $385 (leather jacket)
ABLE believes that to end poverty, you must create economic opportunity, so that people, specifically women, can provide for themselves. So, the certified B Corp’s beautiful bags, shoes, and wardrobe staples are made all over the world by women who’ve overcome extraordinary circumstances. ABLE also touts flexibility, with a free virtual styling, a try-before-you-buy program, and free exchanges for any size fluctuations within a year. It’s a thoughtful company through and through.
Shop ABLE
5. For Days
Ethics | GOTS certified recycled & recyclable textiles, SMETA & BSCI certified ethical production in Morocco, take-back & recycling programs
Best For | Recyclable tees & hoodies
Price Range | $16 (onesie) – $158 (jumpsuit)
For Days may very well be the future of sustainable fashion: Every piece here is 100 percent recyclable and made with zero waste principles—and can be returned as part of its closed-loop system once you’re done wearing it. The team designs and produces its collections with end-of-life specifically in mind, and materials include organic cotton, twill, and recycled terry. From easygoing adult tees and simple yet stunning dresses to comfy loungewear for kids, For Days is creating a better tomorrow.
Shop For Days
6. Kotn
Ethics | Certified B Corp, BCI certified organic cotton, safe & fair labor standards, plastic-free packaging, OEKO-TEX certified nontoxic dyes, gives back to Egyptian communities
Best For | Loungewear
Price Range | $24 (tank) – $110 (denim)
Known for its soft and remarkably breathable Egyptian cotton apparel, Kotn makes some of our favorite wardrobe staples in a fair and safe environment. Working directly with farmers, the brand pays fair prices for cotton and assists suppliers in making the switch to organic. With affordable basics and cozy lounegwear (we love the classic white tees and ribbed bottoms), Kotn is crafted with quality and comfort in mind. So long, ratty tees. 👋
Shop Kotn
7. VETTA
Ethics | Some made in the USA, deadstock, GOTS certified organic, & sustainable materials, ethical production practices, recycled packaging
Best For | Chic, versatile capsules
Price Range | $49 (convertible tee) –$198 (convertible trench coat)
If you want to explore the world of capsule wardrobes, look no further than VETTA (and see our honest VETTA review here). The California-based brand creates ready-to-buy mini wardrobes made up of five versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create a month's worth of outfits. Or you can shop a la carte and build your own! From sweaters and skirts to basics and blazers, VETTA is committed to using sustainable fabrics for its pieces—like linen, recycled polyester, and Tencel—and crafting them in responsible factories.
Shop Vetta
8. tentree
The Good Trade Partner
Ethics | Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, sustainable & recycled materials, WRAP, BSCI, SA8000, or Fair Trade certified ethical manufacturing, environmental initiative
Best For | Graphic tees, activewear, outerwear
Price Range | $20 (kids tee) – $298 (men’s parka)
tentree is rooted in the belief that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the world we live in. This earth-first apparel brand celebrates its commitment to our planet with ethically crafted and sustainably designed products, all while planting 10 trees for each item purchased. With a motto of “buy one, plant ten,” tentree believes that you don’t have to be a hardcore environmentalist to make a difference. The brand has now planted over 73 million trees around the world and is well on the way to its goal of planting one billion by 2030.
Shop tentree
9. Ref Jeans
Ethics | Some made in the USA, Climate Neutral Certified, OEKO-TEX certified sustainable & regenerative fabrics, safe & fair working conditions, living wages
Best For | Women’s denim
Price Range | $78 (denim shorts) –$248 (denim two-piece set)
Ref Jeans is tackling denim waste. Launched by Reformation in 2017, the apparel collection uses the fashion brand’s same eco-material standards, as well as its sustainable and ethical practices. Ref Jeans is making affordable denim available to everyone—and it’s doing so with only a third of the water used by comparable companies. With dozens of styles, this is the place to find sustainable and fashion-forward jeans for your capsule wardrobe. (See more sustainable jeans here).
Shop Ref Jeans
10. Girlfriend Collective
Ethics | SA8000 certified ethical production, recycled & sustainable materials, circular & take-back initiatives, inclusive sizing, recyclable packaging, eco-friendly dyes, gives back
Best For | Inclusive activewear
Price Range | $36 (crop top) – $258 (puffer jacket)
We love Girlfriend Collective for its line of inclusive, sustainable, and affordable activewear. With sizes ranging from XXS through 6XL, the brand offers bras, shorts, leggings, and more made out of recycled materials—like old water bottles and fishing nets. This brand makes its clothes in Vietnamese factories, where workers are given safe conditions, fair wages, and standard working hours. GC also launched the ReGirlfriend initiative to recycle old pieces and you’ll receive site credit as a thank you. Sounds like a win-win to us.
Shop Girlfriend Collective
11. Levi’s
Ethics | Ethical production & sourcing, sustainable practices & materials, gives back, inclusive sizing, secondhand shop
Product Range | Men & children’s denim, jean jackets
Price Range | $12 (baby bodysuit) – $398 (overcoat)
There’s no brand more quintessential to denim than Levi’s, a decades-long staple in closets all over the world. Its sustainability has grown to match the quality, too: The majority of its cotton is sustainably sourced or recycled, and six billion liters of water have been reused and recycled so far. In addition to its range of jeans, jackets, and jorts, Levi’s also stocks a secondhand shop with discounted pricing—so you can find your favorites, without contributing to landfills.
