10 Sustainable Fashion Brands You Need To Know (& Why I Don’t Shop Fast Fashion Anymore)

I always get asked a lot, especially on my Instagram, why my clothes are not on the affordable side. I know that so many bloggers try to bring to their audiences looks that they can afford and I really don’t judge that – on a more limited basis, that’s also what I try to do here. However, as someone that worked (corporate) in the fashion industry for many years, I’ve seen with my own eyes the huge tolls that accelerated consumption take on the environment – and fast-fashion is one of the most impactful business models.

That’s why I always try to make a case for slower fashion brands that not on the cheap side, but that will last for a LONG time, not only because of their quality but also because of their timeless styles.

Without further ado, I put together a list of my 10 favorite sustainable/ethical clothing brands, in the hopes that you guys will also make this transition!

• Reformation

My all-time favorite sustainable clothing brand has to be Reformation. They are always coming up with the prettiest and timeless styles and prints. They also do what so many brands are afraid of: get down to the numbers and tell you exactly how many gallons of water and so on they used to manufacture their pieces.

• Ninety Percent

Ninety Percent quickly became my favorite brand for knit pieces. They manufacture all their pieces with organic cotton and their styles are also really versatile and cool. I’m obsessed with their t-shirts. They also came up recently with some interesting tye-dye styles I’m already dying to get.

• BaYou

It doesn’t seem like it, but the jewelry industry also faces enormous ethical challenges, especially in the mining end (both metals and gemstones). Lately, a lot of brands have made the effort to tighten the control over their sourcing to make sure their materials are 100% ethical and conflict-free.

BaYou is the brand created by actress Nikki Reed in partnership with Dell computers that’s creating jewelry from gold extracted from Dell’s recycling programs. Yes, jewelry made from recycled computer parts. I really loved the idea and the pieces they managed to make are just beautiful and delicate: the opposite of what we would envision when thinking about used computer metals.

• Alternative Apparel

If you want something on the most affordable end, this is it. They offer all the basics for you to set your foundation to your slow fashion wardrobe at really good prices. Their materials are mostly knits and their about page is very interesting, as they claim to be an ethical brand, with certified factories and eco packages.

• Kotn

As a lover of high-quality basics, I also fell in love with this brand. Kotn works directly with family-owned cotton farms in Egypt, make their own fabrics from those fibers, and cut and assemble the pieces in Egypt. The brand is also involved in organizations to stop child labor. The prices range from 22 dollars for a t-shirt to about 50 for cotton dresses.

• Nisolo

Nisolo is an accessories brand that reinforces the message of ethical labor, while also being affordable with pieces that are intentionally designed. I personally like how neutral and versatile their pieces are. Their bags are just perfect and chic for workdays and weekends.

• Future Glory Co

Besides having the prettiest minimalist and effortless styles, Future Glory Co is also highly involved with social programs and charity.

Also, all their products are designed and hand-made in San Francisco to assure the highest possible quality – as a result, their pieces have higher price points (still lower than designer). As much as I love their pieces, I personally think that their e-shop could be a bit more user-friendly (but they also sell on Shopbop, so I guess it’s all good!).

• Everlane

If you know Everlane, you know how they make an effort to be as transparent as possible, by shedding a light on their costs and reduced margins to offer customers lower prices while sourcing the best materials. They are also not a brand that bets on trends and are very focused on slow fashion and want their customers to own and wear their pieces for a long time.

• Vetta

From all the brands I cited above, Vetta is one of the most creative ones. They sell pieces that are part of different capsule collections, which are collections of 5 pieces that can make 30 different styling combinations. With that in mind, they offer different capsules according to the person’s style.

• Cuyana

Another really cool sustainable brand is Cuyana (with the bonus of being founded by two kick-ass female entrepreneurs). They are also focused on statement pieces that are timeless and versatile, allowing customers to build a lean closet with pieces they can wear multiple times. Their products are manufactured across Europe, South America, USA, and China.