Culture Sustainable Fashion The 14 Best Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands of 2023 Organic Basics is our top pick when shopping for sustainable clothes. By Neeti Mehra Neeti Mehra Neeti is a freelance writer for Treehugger who covers sustainability and conscious living. She has edited three magazines during her career and she is currently a columnist and is a contributor to a host of publications. Learn about our editorial process Updated November 7, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Treehugger / Chloe Jeong Each year, a staggering 100 billion or more items of clothing are made. Out of these, about 20% remain unsold, ending up in landfills, the incinerator or the shredder, with just a small proportion of clothes being recycled. Moreover, fast fashion is a highly polluting industry and often grapples with ethical issues such as exposing workers to dangerous conditions and exploitation. But all is not gloom and doom. Though it’s impossible for a fashion brand to have zero environmental footprint, there are alternatives to fast fashion. These labels are mindful of their impact on workers, the environment, and the consumer. Based on our reporting and research, here are the best eco-friendly clothing brands. The Rundown Best Overall: Organic Basics at Organicbasics.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Pact Apparel at Wearpact.com Jump to Review Best Luxury: Stella McCartney at Stellamccartney.com Jump to Review Best for Outdoor Gear: Patagonia Outdoor Clothing at Patagonia.com Jump to Review Best for Workout Clothes: Tentree Apparel at Tentree.com Jump to Review Best for Office Apparel: Eileen Fisher at Eileenfisher.com Jump to Review Best for Men: Outerknown Apparel at Outerknown.com Jump to Review Best Made in the USA: MATE the Label at Matethelabel.com Jump to Review Best for Size Inclusivity: Hours New York at Itshours.co Jump to Review Best Style: Sézane at Sezane.com Jump to Review Best Overall Organic Basics 5 Organic Basics View On Organicbasics.com With sustainability at its core, Organic Basics’ well-priced and durable garments made from environmentally-friendly fabrics in ethical factories, making it our top overall pick. A certified B Corporation that balances purpose with profit, Organic Basics works with a wide selection of responsible materials such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel lyocell, GRS-certified recycled nylon, and recycled wool and cashmere, among others. Offering everything from elevated basics and circular denim to activewear and conscious accessories, you can clad yourself from top-to-toe in fashion that comes with a sewn-in conscience. Each item of clothing also has an impact index to measure your environmental footprint, and it also brings out a detailed impact report if you want to dig deeper into the nitty-gritties. What’s more, Organic Basics is a member of 1% For The Planet. So, whenever you snuggle in to their soft tees, you’ll know you’re also contributing towards a healthy Earth. Best Budget Pact Apparel 5 Pact Apparel View On Wearpact.com Meet Pact, Maker of the Greatest Organic Cotton Basics Look no further than Pact Apparel for affordable cotton apparel that is responsible too. The family-favorite brand has dreamy cotton clothing for the entire caboodle, and even offers cloud-like bedding to curl up in. Pact uses fluffy GOTS-certified organic cotton (blended with elastane when required). It has partnered with Fair Trade certified factories and also works with safe, ethical manufacturers globally, steering clear of sweatshops. Pact’s thoughtful clothing donation program takes back gently used clothes from any brand. The recyclable packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials. We love that we can buy everything from organic cotton undies for ourselves to cute onesies for the tots under one roof. Best Luxury Stella McCartney Stella McCartney View On Stellamccartney.com Couture with a conscience, Stella McCartney is our go-to conscious label to splurge on. Designer Stella McCartney’s boundary-pushing eponymous fashion house has been at the forefront of sustainability and innovation. Since inception, the label has not used leather, feathers, fur, or skin. Instead, it uses innovative eco-friendly materials such as mushroom-based leather and plant-based faux fur. Committed to social sustainability, it’s a member of the global alliance Ethical Trading Initiative, and their supply chain primarily constitutes small ateliers concentrated mainly across Europe. Stella McCartney is now moving towards a new circular economy, keeping waste out of production and materials in use, while regenerating natural resources. The brand even nudges you to make a difference, too. Clevercare, its smart garment labelling system, helps you look after your clothes tenderly, while reducing your environmental footprint. With a strong give back policy, it’s opulence with a green heart. The 8 Best Vegan Coats and Jackets of 2023 Best for Outdoor Gear Patagonia Outdoor Clothing 5 Patagonia View On Patagonia.com Patagonia is our pick for rugged, durable and environmentally conscious outdoor gear, carrying forth the minimalist style of climbers and surfers. Patagonia’s passionate about protecting the environment and has leveraged its functional, durable and repairable clothing to bolster this cause. In fact, Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard is also the co-founder of global environmental powerhouse 1% For The Planet that funds vetted environmental nonprofits. Since 1985, Patagonia itself has granted over $100 million for environmental causes, including protecting grassroot communities, supporting terrestrial and water ecosystems, and preserving biodiversity. Extending the life of your gear through their Worn Wear program is a big part of their environmental commitment. You can get your scruffy gear repaired, or trade-in your much-loved Patagonia garments for credits to grab a spanking new one or a refurbished tog. The 8 Best Hiking Boots of 2023 Best for Workout Clothes Tentree Apparel Tentree View On Tentree.com Break in to a sweat without guilt in Tentree’s stretchy and soft activewear that’s made from eco-friendly materials. Whether you love hikes, practice pilates, or workout regularly, the activewear made from recycled polyester from discarded plastic bottles, upcycled polyester from post-consumer waste, and Tencel lyocell from wood pulp fiber (all blended with elastane), help movement. Each item’s environmental impact is documented in an Eco-Log by sustainability and carbon specialist, Greenstep. We love that you can offset your lifestyle through their Climate+ packages, be it your annual toilet paper needs or not-so-local avocado obsession. Moreover, for every item sold, Tentree plants 10 trees (explaining the name). To date, this certified B Corporation has planted over 50 million trees, partnering with charitable organizations such as One Tree Planted and Trees for the Future. Best for Office Apparel Eileen Fisher Eileen Fisher View On Eileenfisher.com Eileen Fisher’s effortlessly stylish silhouettes are perfect for the boardroom, while the company's support of women’s rights, and multi-faceted approach to environmental and social issues make it a true leader. A certified B Corporation, the brand is focusing efforts on building thriving communities, pursuing regenerative fibers, and strengthening climate action. The company's commitment to sustainability also extended to external facilities in its supply chain. Eileen Fisher works with its suppliers to help them improve their sustainability profiles. Fashion is timeless and for the label, a lifelong commitment. Their take-back program Renew and their circular system effort Waste No More have given a second and a third lease of life to clothes that left the rack a long time ago. Till date, the label has taken back at least 1.4 million articles of clothing, either reselling them or remaking worn out threads into shiny new ones. Next on the radar for the brand is Horizon 2030, a timeline set to up the ante on its sustainability efforts. Best for Men Outerknown Apparel Outerknown View On Outerknown.com Founded by world champion professional surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown balances sustainability with a laid-back style, keeping the principles of fair labor at the forefront. They offer a great selection of sustainable fashion for men, as well as causal basics for women. At least 90% of the fibers sourced by Outerknown are regenerated, organic, or recycled. The label is Fair Labor Association accredited, meaning it protects workers’ rights. Some of our favorite menswear items include the super cozy organic cotton blanket shirt, and the lifetime-guaranteed S.E.A Jeans made from organic cotton in Fair Trade facilities. The ocean is the soul of the brand. So naturally, the spotlight falls on its super comfy non-chafe swimming trunks made from 100% recycled or renewable fibers, a nod towards its ethos. Best Made in the USA MATE the Label 5 Mate the Label View On Matethelabel.com If you’re a U.S. reader keeping a watchful eye on miles that fashion brands are racking up, thanks to their supply chains spread across the globe, then Mate the Label might be for you. Though the yarn usually comes from India, the company is mindful of the greenhouse emissions emitted at every step of the supply chain. Each process thereafter, right from knitting, cutting, sewing, dyeing, packaging, and shipping is done within 10 miles of the company's base in Los Angeles. Working with organic and non-toxic material, it brings out a detailed impact report for you to see the strides the company is taking. A member of 1% For The Planet, we can lounge day-to-night in comfy and cute joggers, crop tops, and jumpsuits. The 8 Best Organic Cotton T-Shirts of 2023 Best for Size Inclusivity Hours New York Hours View On Itshours.co NYC-based Indie fashion house Hours designs chic, sustainable womenswear catering exclusively to sizes 14-28. Co-founded by sisters-in-laws Naaz Gulati and Harroop Kaur, Hours focuses on season-less styles and well-crafted silhouettes in inclusive sizes. Working with upcycled materials, they produce limited amounts of clothing ethically in factories that are WRAP certified (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), and packaged in 100% plastic-free packaging. If you’re unsure of the fit, set up a personalized styling session with Naaz, who will help finding the perfect piece for you in sync with your personal sense of style. The Best Sustainable Plus Size and Extended Size Clothing Brands Best Style Sézane Sezane View On Sezane.com Sézane’s offerings of achingly cool and effortless style are not only quintessentially Parisian, but they are also refreshingly sustainable. Turn to them for t-shirts, dresses, skirts, belts, jewelry, blouses, knitwear, and shoes that are sure to be stylish for decades. The brand’s fabrics include organic cotton, FSC-certified viscose, and recycled ployester. The majority of the silk used is OEKO-TEX 100 certified, which means it’s free from environmentally harmful chemicals. The company has also worked to reduce its environmental footprint by using renewable energy and recyclable packaging. The website offers free shipping on orders over $200, and there are physical stores in a number of major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London, and Madrid. Sézane is a Certified B Corporation. Best for Knitwear Frank And Oak Frank And Oak View On Frankandoak.com If you’re looking for a warm sweater to layer, turn to Canadian brand Frank And Oak. The company’s collection of gorgeous sweaters for men and women, many made from organic cotton or cruelty-free wool, will keep you in good stead. The retailer also sells a wide range of stylish and eco-friendly garments, including outerwear, denim, blazers, tops, and pants. We also particularly like the company’s outwear, which features waterproof coating that’s free of forever chemicals, and often have recycled materials. You can even find garments made with hemp and SeaCell, a high-tech material that’s made from seaweed and is biodegradable. Frank And Oak has physical stores in Canada, the United States, and China, and also ships to U.S. and Canadian addresses (but not internationally). The company is a Certified B Corporation. Amour Vert Amour Vert 4.8 Amour Vert View On Amourvert.com This brand is best described as California cool meets Parisian chic. Founded by a French native and made in the United States, Amour Vert offers dresses for just about any occasion, from casual beach days to dressy black-tie affairs. The fabrics include washable cottonseed cupro and Paris Rib, a deforestation-free Tercel fabric spun from beechwood. We also love their classic tees, both for their timeless cuts and because the sale of each one plants a tree. Amour Vert has three boutiques in California, or you can shop online. “I’m happy to say there are a lot of Amour Vert items in my closet. My two favorite items are a long-sleeved striped shirt (part of the Tees for Trees collection) and the other is a wrap dress that’s the perfect wedding guest outfit.” ~ Margaret Badore, Treehugger Assistant Editorial Director Best for Kids Infantium Victoria Infantium Victoria View On Infantiumvictoria.com Covering the entire gamut of little people fashion from adorable babies’ bloomers and dreamy baby doll dresses to mommy-and-me styles and pre-loved clothing, Infantium Victoria is passionate about creating organic and PETA-approved vegan couture for babies, kids, and pre-teens. Founded by Julia Gaydina and Dinie van den Heuvel, the label is steeped in nostalgia, with intricate detailing and impeccable craftsmanship. Transparent about its supply chain, Infantium Victoria is GOTS-certified and partners with ethical suppliers across Europe and India. Just one look at the beautiful buttons plucked from trims’ specialist Knopf & Knopf or gorgeous lace from exquisite lace maker Société Choletaise de Fabrication makes us want to be children again. Best Casual Toad & Co. 5 Toad & Co. View On Toadandco.com Toad&Co Is a Leader in Sustainable Fashion For hoodies with thoughtful details, everyday dresses, and plenty of plaid, our editors turn to Toad & Co. The brand makes its clothes from some of the most sustainable fabrics around, including hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, and Lenzing Modal, a soft material made from fast-growing beech trees. You can shop for sweaters, vests, pants, underwear, and accessories designed for both men and women. In addition to being a member of 1% for the Planet, the Toad & Co. partners with a range of environmental NGOs, including Community Environmental Council, The Conservation Alliance, and the Environmental Defense Center. Final Verdict Organic Basics is a one-stop shop with sustainability at the core of its everyday essential lines for men and women. For affordable and versatile clothing for the whole family, Pact Apparel is committed to creating environmentally-friendly, fair fashion from clean and comfy organic cotton. What to Look for When Shopping for Sustainable Clothing With sustainability hogging fashion headlines in recent times and no clear one-size-fits-all definition, it can be confusing for a responsible shopper. To make things simple, so you can avoid buying into greenwashing, we help you navigate the world of sustainable fashion. Materials Take a close look at the materials, because not all materials are created equally. It’s good to check if the jeans you’re eyeing are made from conventional cotton that’s grown at a tremendous environmental and social cost, as compared to organic cotton. Or if that comfy hemp t-shirt you want to buy is sustainable or not. (Hemp is a low impact crop that requires much lesser water than conventional cotton and is considered a potentially good alternative to it). It’s always good to dig deeper. Today there are many options when it comes to eco-friendly materials, such as plant-based leathers (think Piñatex made from pineapple leaf waste), Tencel lyocell (made from wood pulp), as well as synthetic fibers such as upcycled or recycled polyester, Econyl (made from regenerated nylon such as fishing nets) and much more. Certifications Shop for brands with third-party verified credentials, where ever possible. A good guide to check a brand’s credentials is to look for credible third-party certifications. However, smaller, indie labels might not have the requisite certifications. In that case, look for other factors, such as transparency, that bolster their claims. We look at the most common certifications you will come across. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): A leading global textile processing standard for organic fibers, it takes into consideration defined ecological and social criteria, supported by certification of the entire textile supply chain. Textiles carrying the GOTS label contain at least 70% certified organic fibers, whereas a product labelled 'organic' contains a minimum of 95% certified organic fibers. Fair Trade: A Fair Trade seal implies that clothes have been produced meeting strict economic, environmental and social standards. That includes environmental protection, safe working conditions, funding for community development, and sustenance of livelihoods. STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX: This certification indicates that textiles, from yarn to finished product, have been tested for harmful substances and subsequently, the clothing is harmless for human health. Bluesign: A Bluesign seal is a sign of a responsible textile product that offers the highest degree of safety for consumers. It indicates that it has been manufactured by using resources responsibly, with minimal impact on people and the environment. Transparency Check how transparent a brand is – we love transparent brands which share detailed information about their ethos, their give back policy, and their supply chains, right from the farms to the finishing factory. A good place to start is by reading the brand’s FAQs and the impact reports. Quality Buying long lasting, high-quality clothes in limited quantities will make you happier than piles of fast fashion that fall apart in a few washes. You may pay a higher price upfront, but in the long term it's likely that you'll get a better cost per wear. You can lounge in sustainable sweats or slacks, which are kind to the environment and animals, equitable to workers, and safe for you skin, knowing that in some small way you’ve made a difference. Why Trust Treehugger? Treehugger has been reporting on sustainable design and green living for over a decade. For this list, we highlighted brands known for their sustainability, ethical, and quality credentials. Our criteria includes sourcing materials responsibly, using sustainable textiles, following ethical business practices, conserving resources, embedding transparency in to the supply chain, committing to fair trade practices, and giving back to the community. Writer Neeti Mehra is a slow-living coach and a sustainability consultant who also has years of experience writing about luxury markets. She prefers wearing hand spun and organic cotton clothing, and hangs on to her clothes for a long time. The Best Sustainable Swimsuits of 2023