31 Sustainable Fashion Brands to Shop in 2023

Because of the proliferation of “eco-friendly” and “Sustainable Fashion Brands “ clothing manufacturers in recent years, it may be difficult to tell which ones are really making an effort to improve the world and which are just capitalizing on the trend. Truth be told, the fashion industry has a huge waste issue (each American now throws away around 75 pounds of textiles annually; this is an increase of more than 750% since 1960) and businesses can’t magically become sustainable overnight.

It takes years of planning to establish responsible supply chains that have a minimal impact on the environment, and the initial investment in sourcing organic, recycled, regenerated, or innovative materials is much higher than that of the cheap textiles that currently make up the majority of our clothing.

For sustainable fashion brands to shop in 2023, check out these 31 brands:

1. Levi’s

The denim business as a whole is notoriously wasteful, but one iconic jeans label is working to alter that. By the year 2025, Levi’s hopes to have fulfilled several of its commitments, including the use of only cotton harvested in a Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop, the use of only renewable energy in all Levi’s-owned and -operated facilities, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 40% throughout the company’s entire supply chain. The company is also an early adopter of sustainable, high-performance materials like cottonized hemp.

Worker Well-Being at Levi’s is about “partnering with suppliers and local groups to execute initiatives focusing on financial empowerment, health and family well-being, equality and acceptance.” The corporation says that thus far, 80% of its employees are participating in the program.

2. DL1961

DL1961.com is another excellent example of a responsible denim manufacturer. DL1961 claims that to produce one pair of jeans, fewer than ten litres of water are used, when the industry standard is closer to 1,500 gallons. Certainly not an easy task! By handling every step of production in-house, from spinning the yarn and weaving the fabric (using certified cotton and low-impact biodegradable fibers like Modal and Lyocell) to cutting and stitching the garment, DL1961 is able to reduce its carbon footprint to a minimum.

After that’s completed, the Jeanologia machines are used to give the brand’s apparel a signature wash. (For your information, Jeanologia machines employ air and laser technology to generate wash variety without the need of water.)

3. Cuyana

For this reason, Cuyana is redoubling its efforts to manufacture its timeless, high-quality designs in small batches via partnerships with local, family-run enterprises. The point of purchasing from the company is that you will like the product and use it often and for many years. And the company is already keeping its word this year with the launch of its traceable, single-origin cashmere collection — it plans to use 100% sustainably produced products by 2022.

4. Naadam

This DTC business avoids the intermediary by negotiating directly with herders in the Mongolian desert to get their cashmere, allowing them to provide their goods directly to consumers at a lesser price without sacrificing quality. The company places a premium on paying fair salaries to all of its workers, including the herders, and has made significant investments back into their communities.

Naadam is committed to being open and honest about where its materials come from, so it has provided a wealth of information in its Social and Environmental Impact Report, which also includes a thorough breakdown of the company’s 2025 objectives and its current level of progress toward those targets.

5. Girlfriend Collective

Girlfriend Collective creates size-inclusive, budget-friendly athleisure and loungewear in an Instagram-friendly palette of neutrals like sand, sage, and chocolate from recycled plastic bottles, fishing nets, and other trash. The company claims it uses a special, low-impact dye process to produce these hues, and that it subsequently gives the resulting dye mud to “a nearby pavement factory where it is regenerated into sidewalks and roads.”

More information on the brand’s eco-friendliness, such as the materials it employs, the processes it employs, and the facility where everything is cut and sewed, can be found on the About Us website. Girlfriend Collective highlighted the accreditation of the Vietnamese factory to prove that worker safety is a major priority.

6. Outerknown

In 2015, creative director John Moore and 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater founded the California lifestyle brand Outerknown with a commitment to sustainability. In 2020, the brand committed to achieving full circularity (meaning eliminating all waste and ensuring resources are either reused or replenished) by 2030. Details about the design philosophy behind it: Outerknown’s mission is to make essential pieces of clothing (sweatshirts, jumpsuits, outerwear, and so on) that serve many purposes, reduce environmental impact, and provide agency to the people who make them.

7. Adidas

Adidas has been in the forefront of eco-friendly athletic apparel for quite some time, and the company’s primary goal is to eliminate plastic pollution. They are always working with Parley for the Oceans to include their recovered plastic waste and certified textiles into new collections. Half of the company’s current collections are manufactured from recycled polyester, and by 2024, it plans to switch to only recycled materials. Additionally, Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop Stella McCartney has worked with the athletic powerhouse for many years.

8. Nisolo

This company sells its products directly to customers and prides itself on providing a positive workplace for its workers as well as a fair compensation. Less is known about Nisolo’s environmental sustainability than its social commitments, although the company states in its impact report that it is trying to improve the quality of the raw materials it uses.

9. Veja

It’s no secret that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are fans of the white tennis-style sneakers made by French fashion label Veja, but did you know that wearing them has a smaller impact on the environment? The organic cotton and wild rubber it employs can both be tracked back to their original farms. And since it “meets social Sustainable Fashion Brands and environmental performance requirements,” Veja is recognized as a B Corporation as well. The Veja website claims that its staff spends a great deal of time in the field checking working conditions and making sure that no child labor or discrimination is taking place.

10. Mara Hoffman

Mara Hoffman has been working to lessen the ecological footprint of her swim and resort apparel and pay her craftspeople fairly since 2017. Colorful one-pieces and bikinis from the label are crafted from recycled polyester and nylon, while the designer gives top priority to eco-friendly fabrics like hemp, organic cotton, and linen when creating her vacation-ready dresses, shirts, and knits.

Also, the Mara Hoffman Full Circle program allows you to purchase and resell products so that nothing is ever thrown away in a landfill, which is great news if you have a piece you want to get rid of (or want to shop from the brand secondhand).

11. Cariuma

Cariuma’s mission is to design eco-friendly, long-lasting footwear that doesn’t break the bank. All of the raw natural rubber and certified organic cotton used by the company comes from clean, ethical facilities.

12. Reformation

Through carbon offsets and the increased usage of regenerated fibers, Reformation plans to become a climate-positive business by 2025. Additionally, Ref has an online collaboration with ThredUp, a clothes recycling firm, and the company backs California’s SB62, the Garment Worker Protection Act, which would require companies to pay their subcontractors a living wage (thus eliminating wage theft for garment workers and piece-rate pay).

13. Lacausa, number thirteen.

The boho-chic company established in Los Angeles is dedicated to ethical fashion and production practices, so it does most of its cutting, sewing, and knitting in local factories and pays its workers a living wage and provides safe working conditions. In addition, Lacausa disclosed all the charities that had received donations from the company in the past.

14. Naked Cashmere

Naked Cashmere is a great place to get luxurious pajamas that are ethically sourced and easy to track down. Additionally, the Cashmere Reborn line is the company’s first foray into recycling, marking a significant step forward in their commitment to environmental responsibility. Pullovers, dusters, tanks, and joggers are all created from 100% recycled cashmere yarn that has been separated by fiber length, shredded, and respun.

15. Sézane

Though Sézane is known for her eye-catching gowns and luxurious knits that make customers stand in line for hours, the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility may not be the first thing that comes to mind. The B-Corporation is committed to a variety of sustainability goals, including as using only certified, environmentally friendly products, being completely transparent with their operations, and providing a safe and healthy workplace for its workers.

16. Kalita

Kalita takes many measures toward its environmental aims, including small-batch manufacture, timeless design, azo-free low-impact dyes, and fabric offcuts. The London-based, all-female design company also has modest workshops in Bali and India, where it collaborates with local craftspeople to make their dreamy garments. Kalita places a strong emphasis on sustainability, which is why they utilize muslin bags for shipping that can be reused and tags made from recycled or certified paper. They also employ carbon offsetting to ensure that their delivery impact is zero carbon.

17. Faithfull The Brand

Faithfull When asked what brands are long-lasting and popular, The Brand is often cited as a top option. The fashion label, with roots in Bali, provides vacation-ready apparel made possible by skilled local craftspeople.

18. Pangaia

Pangaia combines cutting-edge technology and bio-engineered materials to guarantee that all of its clothing (from down jackets made from dried flowers to T-shirts produced from eucalyptus pulp and seaweed fiber) are crafted with as many eco-friendly and recyclable components as possible. C-Fiber, Flwrdwn, and Grape Leather are just a few examples of the Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop materials Pangaia uses and develops with an eye toward furthering the company’s goal of being a climate-positive brand.

19. Eileen Fisher

No introduction to Eileen Fisher is necessary. This is one of the best Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop, The Horizon 2030 program for her company outlines some of her current sustainability aims, such as a focus on regenerative farming and the discovery of innovative strategies to recycle resources. Her promises and accomplishments are summarized in bullet points, detailing the company’s current standing, its ambitions for the near future, and its long-term aspirations for the turn of the next decade.

20. Jade Swim

Check out Jade Swim if you want eco-friendly swimwear. Black-owned Jade Swim employs organic and recycled materials like Econyl (or regenerated nylon) to make simple one-pieces and bikinis; the company was founded by Brittany Kozerski Freeney, a former fashion editor and stylist. In addition, the firm only produces in tiny quantities, so there is never any waste.

21. Sleeper

As the hipster label that popularized feather party pajamas, Sleeper is making remarkable efforts toward its aim of being totally circular by 2030. Linen, EcoVero Rayon viscose, and recycled polyester are just a few examples of the low-impact, certified, and biodegradable fabrics that the business favors. Kyiv, Ukraine is home to the brand’s sewing studios, where local seamstresses make everything to order and provide a notecard signed by the artisan responsible for your dress or loungewear.

22. Christy Dawn

This ethical and Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop label has a wide variety of stunning dresses and shirts. Each item from Christy Dawn is made using eco-friendly materials including organic cotton and industry scraps. The website also has biographies of all of the brand’s garment makers, and the company is preparing to unveil a Farm-to-Closet line built from regenerative farming (it’s been two years in the process!).

23. Ozma of California

Ozma of California is a prime example of the “slow fashion” movement. High-quality, long-lasting garments are the emphasis of this label, which employs Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop materials like raw silk noil, alpaca, and linen in its limited manufacturing runs. Buy just something you will wear and adore until it is threadbare; this is Ozma’s credo. All of its garments are made here here in Los Angeles, in small, family-run factories that have been thoroughly screened to guarantee that the people making them are paid properly, treated with respect, and given a safe place to work.

24. Another Tomorrow

The materials used in Another Tomorrow’s premium basics can all be easily accounted for, and they all have a minimal ecological footprint. Consider materials such as upcycled Levi’s, FSC-certified viscose, recycled cashmere, organic cotton, organic linen, wool, and Levi’s denim. Additionally, a QR code provides information on the origin of the fabric when scanned from the garment’s label. The company makes its animal rights, carbon offset, living wage, and chemicals policies easily accessible to the public.

25. Mate the Label

Mate the Label, founded in Los Angeles, is on a mission to encourage people everywhere to Dress Clean with its collection of casual basics. Organic cotton is used for all of their products, including jersey, terry, thermal, and linen, and they maintain their factories near by so they can inspect them on a weekly basis to make sure everything is done properly. In 2021, the corporation aspires to achieve carbon neutrality.

26. Behno

Behno (which means “sister” in Hindi) is a brand of ethical handbags founded by Shivam Punjya, whose business philosophy extends beyond just using Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop. The brand’s creation of The Behno Standard is a direct result of its interest in improving the economic standing of India’s textile workers. In 2015, Punjya and the Behno team established its own factory, MSA Ethos, in the Indian state of Gujarat.

This allowed them to develop a production method that met their specifications. The company’s core values center on empowering women and ensuring them access to economic opportunity, safe drinking water, quality education, and safe working conditions.

26. Knickey

The whole of Knickey’s supply chain is organic and/or certified. From the GOTS-certified organic cotton (meaning no pesticides were used to cultivate the cotton) to the Fair Trade facility in Tamil Nadu, India, where its underwear is woven, knit, cut, and sewed, the whole process is ethically and sustainably conducted. Most exciting? Give in a package of used underwear and the company will send you a free pair in exchange.

28. Ética

Ética (which literally translates to “ethical” in English) is another Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop a denim company worth keeping an eye on. Both Alessandra Ambrosio and Jessica Alba are lovers of the brand, and the company’s commitment to sustainability is seen in its vertical integration, which results in lower water and chemical use, as well as lower waste generation. This Los Angeles-based denim label also claims to “give employees with living salaries, health insurance, on-staff physicians, free lunches, and take-home vegetables produced in our on-site garden,” demonstrating a commitment to ethical business methods.

29. Sensi Studio

Sensi Studio, well known for its wide variety of Panama hats and wicker baskets, is committed to social responsibility. In the Andes area of Ecuador, designer Stephany Sensi supports traditional crafting practices and provides economic opportunities by collaborating with indigenous artisans, the vast majority of whom are women.

30. Everybody.World

Everybody.

The world moves at its own speed and does what it wants. The company promotes itself as a “experiment” in the market for Sustainable Fashion Brands To Shop. The process is unclear to me. To begin, it creates its year-round, gender-neutral clothing using 100% recycled cotton jersey and fleece fabrics sourced from post-industrial waste (without the use of any synthetics, chemicals, or water). Its employees get more than the federal minimum wage and are headquartered in Los Angeles. To learn more about the company, go here.

31. Still Here

Maybe you’ve heard of Still Here, the vintage-inspired denim label started by Sonia Mosseri and famous for its hand-painted stripes and hand-stitched embroidery. The Still Here Café is the result of a collaboration between the company’s fabric mill and a coffee farm in Guatemala to produce its signature Still Here coffee bean, with soil fed by waste products from the denim manufacturing process.