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Unless you’re all about the boho/hippie look, you’ve probably had some frustrations with the ethical clothing brands available to you. I know that the last thing you want to do when you decide to start shopping ethically is to sacrifice your personal style to do so.
Quite frankly, this is probably why a lot of people just look the other way when it comes to knowing how your clothing was made. Accepting personal responsibility for the role each of us play in the fast fashion industry can be really hard when it feels like doing so also means no longer being able to express ourselves the same way we used to.
Though there is a small grain of truth to this, there are also a lot of really great brands out there that could easily replace at least half your wardrobe, if not all of it. And I’d say even half is a pretty good start. So here’s a list of my top 10 favourite brands that I can rely on to provide fashionable, classy pieces for the modern woman.
1. Reformation
This is the first place I go if I want modern dresses that are shorter, or tighter, or show a little more skin. Cute sundresses are nice, but sometimes you just want something with a little more oomph, and little more edge, and unfortunately that can still be tough to find in the ethical fashion industry.
On top of their wide selection of beautiful dresses for nearly any occasion you can think of, they also have tops, bottoms, jumpsuits, sweatshirts and outerwear.
Another bonus? Free world-wide shipping.
2. Mainline Basics
Though they don’t have the largest collection or the most variety (16 items total), what they do have is basic, modern staples that can easily be a part of anyone’s wardrobe.
3. Zady
Zady concentrates on neutral colours and easy-to-wear, comfortableย clothing that will still make you look put together. They’re also probably one of the most timeless ethical clothing brands I’ve come by. Some pieces may be investments, but you’ll be wearing them for years and years to come.
In addition to women’s clothing, they’ve also got menswear, beauty products, items for your home, and jewelry.
4. Everlane
Everlane has so many various cuts and styles to choose from that almost anyone is bound to find something they love. They place a lot of emphasis on transparency – you can actually see how much it cost to make each product (including materials, labour and transportation costs), as well as find out exactly which factory each piece was made in.
5. Cuyana
While bags and accessories are a strong focus for Cuyana, they also have a line of women’s apparel that draws inspiration from very timeless and classic pieces, but makes them a little more exciting and new again. To quote their website, Cuyana is:
Timeless yet fresh, romantic yet pragmatic, essential but never basic.
6. Monsoon
Some of the pieces here can veer a little towards boho, but there are a lot that can be styled differently than shown on their website to be a part of a more modern, chic look. They definitely cater to a slightly different crowd than the previous ethical clothing brands mentioned on this list (think late-20s suburban almost-mom-but-not-quite-yet), but this shouldn’t stop you, regardless of your age! They carry more colourful and patterned prints rather than neutrals and basics, so if that’s up your alley you’re sure to find something you love here.
7. Bead & Reel*
Defining themselves as an ethical boutique, Bead & Reel carry everything from clothing, jewelry and accessories, to shoes, bags and gifts. They also have more patterns, colours and cuts than your typical ethical clothing brands. They also carry leggings, tights, yogawear and sleepwear. A one-stop-shop if you’re planning on making a bulk order.
Also, you get 15% off your first order, which is pretty awesome.
8. Me to We Store
You may notice that I went a little crazy with the pictures for the Me to We store. That’s because they are one of my favourites and the clothing doesn’t look any different from something you would find at the mall. Of course, it’s targeted towards a younger crowd (teens and young adults).
9. Threads 4 Thought
This is another one that has some pieces that can be a little bit hippie-like. But, they also have active-wear and cute tee’s, so it’s worth a look.
10. Amour Vert
Amour Vert, I feel, has managed to find the perfect balance between clothes that is relevant and beautiful today, but also classic and timeless enough that you can easily wear it 5 years down the road. I especially love how their looser-fitting clothing tends to drape rather than appear boxy and shapeless, which I find happens far too often with other ethical clothing brands. Also, if you love stripes, you’ve got a pretty great selection here. Amour Vert loves stripes.
Are there any other modern, ethical clothing brands you love? Share them with me in the comments below!
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Yireh! I love their dresses, they are comfortable and stylish.
Have you heard of Symbology Clothing? I really love their work. I’ve ordered a dress for my sister’s wedding and the fabric is really nice. It is soft with a nice sheen. Any way, check it out. I think it would be a good fit.
Really love some of the tops but on some I only saw the back or just the front didn’t get to see front or back. would love to see all of the top and if they come in different colors!!!
Hey Kathy, if you click through to the brands’ websites then you can take a closer look at them all! Also note that this post was written a while back so exact items in the photos might no longer be available.
Great post ! There’s another brand from India called MOBORR. They use locally sourced organic cotton, that’s handwoven by artisans and dyed with natural colours (sans chemicals). They are end-to-end planet friendly brand from their fabrics, to display (Bamboos and wooden logs), to hangers, to carry bags, to stationery and everything else. Their collection is just awesome. Do check out their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BrandMOBORR/?ref=bookmarks
This is such a wonderful list! I want to give a shout-out to the company I work for, Texture Clothing. https://www.textureclothing.com/ We are a small label that designs and manufactures our clothing using hemp and organic cotton here in the U.S. We love seeing more and more people interested in ethically made clothing and more companies manufacturing responsible pieces. Thank you for sharing your list!
Peopletree !! I have been buying the majority of my clothes from there for almost 10 years.
What happened to Me to We online??? I keep finding an organization, not an adorable clothing line like the pictures you posted!
Oh no, looks like you’re right! I guess they’ve stopped making them ๐ If you’re looking for more brand suggestions though, take a look at the Ethical Clothing Brands Directory: http://the-curious-button.com/ethical-clothing-brands/
I live in my Reformation dresses. The fit is perfect and the styles are super sexy, plus I have a clear conscious while wearing them.
I have yet to own one myself, but they’re definitely on my wishlist! Glad you like them ๐
Thank you! Such cute clothes. I’m really interested in buying ethically, but so much of what I’ve found so far is just ugly.
It can take some time to search around and find ethical brands you love, but there are lots out there, don’t give up! ๐
Awesome post! Another brand is Modernation. They upcycle using vintage/deadstock fabric. http://www.shopmodernation.com
Great, thanks for sharing! ๐
Hello! Love the gorgeous photos! Like Bead & Reel, Liberation Threads is not a brand, but a curated, one-stop-shop for ethically sourced and fair trade clothing and jewerly that can’t neccesarily be bought direct-to-consumer — at a very accessible price point! Hope your website guests will pop over for a peek ๐
Hi Rebecca, thanks for sharing, I’ll take a look!
Grana.com is another one from Singapore.
Thanks for sharing, Cassandra, I’ve never heard of them before! I took a look at their website and they don’t seem to have much information regarding their ethical standards. Hopefully this is something they can work towards in the future!
This is my favorite blog I found from posting in the Blog + Biz group! I was surprised how many people put their blogs without keeping in mind what I wanted to read (I got a lot of motherhood blogs) but this one is right up my alley! I even bookmarked this post and I can’t wait to read more!
Awe thanks Kirsten!! I’m so glad you like it ๐
We love this !! Thanks for inspiring people to shop ethically. We’re right there with ya. โ๏ธ
Thanks, Nadine! ๐
Awesome stuff! Do keep up the great work.
We are a green horn in this industry, just launched globally online. Yet, what we show case is the tireless work of awesome artisans, that has been sustained across hundreds of years. All Natural, ethical and sustainable fashion lovingly created by artisans, unknowingly.
What a great post – love discovering new brands to check out. Mainline’s t-shirts are so nice, gunns have to get me one of those! Other responsible brands I’ve recently discovered are Oshadi, Eight Hour Studio, Vegethreads, seeker x retriever and diarte. For shoes I love Veja and Starch Slides. Amour vert stripes are beautiful and I agree with you that they’ve hit the nail on the head there with their product offering! I wrote a whole post about ethical and sustainable stripes recently for the huff post in the UK – check it out if you have a spare minute or two!
Thanks Eleanor, I’m glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for sharing some brands – I’ve heard of Veja, when I need new sneakers I’ll look into buying a pair.
Hi! I love style saint and there ethically made beechwood tees are super versatile and affordable! They also carry lace and silk
Awesome, thanks for sharing! I’ll look into them ๐
I love PACT for organic cotton shelf bra camis. I live in them, so it’s the first thing I had to source!
I’ve heard of PACT before, I’ll have to look into them some more next time I need camis ๐
Love this blog! Keep it up! Where should we be shopping for kids clothes?!
Thanks! I haven’t looked into kid’s clothes yet, but maybe I will in the future!
Shared your post on my FB page, https://www.facebook.com/evanescentescape/
Thank you for your recommendations!
Thanks for sharing, Shan! And you’re welcome!
Check out JADEtribe.com
Socially responsible brand employing women in SE Asia creating organically dyed and handwoven textiles and hand embroidered tribal textiles that are upcycled into fashionable bagg.
Hi Heather, that sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing.
Great list! I design a small collection of evening dresses. Everything is made-to-order to eliminate waste. The utmost care is taken to use energy efficient machines and recycle scrap fabric. Made in the USA our sewers are in safe environments and paid well for their work ๐
That’s awesome, Elaine! Glad to see many designers starting to adopt this approach! ๐
Some of those are almost irresistible (although living in the UK helps a bit)!
Yes I’m sure it does! Living in Canada definitely does not haha.
Oh nice; I haven’t heard of a lot of these brands! Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome, Erin!
This is a fantastic list. Some of these have just the perfect style for me. I live in Madagascar so it’s important my clothes are basic (to accessorize or blend in) and well-made. Thanks for this!
Thanks Ivanna, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
LOVE this post! I haven’t heard of many of these brands, but I’ll definitely be checking them out!
Thanks Allison! ๐