Sustainable Clothing Brands

Sustainable Clothing Brands

I wanted to create this list of sustainable and ethical clothing brands for a long time to be a resource to all who are striving to change their habits around fast fasion and the modern cycle of overconsumption. Every time we need (or let’s be honest, want) a new garment,  it’s easy to fall into a spiral of research, wanting to only invest in pieces that are made with sustainable practices. This process can be overwhelming, disheartening, and most of all discouraging. That’s why I put this list together (for myself, as much as for all of you) to take the guess work out of shopping ethically and sustainably.

Here you’ll find a directory of brands with links *some of which are affiliate links* I’ve come across that meet my standards of being ethical and sustainable; I realize that is subjective but this is my blog, so I make the rules. Below the directory is an outline of what each brand is doing to be ethical and sustainable. I encourage you to save this post to a favorites tab in your browser so you always have it. 

This list is always growing as I learn of more brands, so keep checking back as it will be ever evolving. I am always on the hunt for more sustinable brands, and if there are brands I’ve not yet added that you’d like to see on this list please contact me and let me know!

 

Classic fashion and accessories for women

  • uses recycled/repurposed shipping boxes.
  • low waste leather, jewelry, and denim production.
  • uses recycled silver for jewelry and recycled cotton for clothes.
  • sources materials from ethical/sustainable vendors.
  • uses environmentally friendly alternatives to hash chemicals and prufies water used in denim production.
  • cotton is produced at a zero-waste and GOTS certified facility.

Shop Able here* and learn about their sustainable practices here. 

Fair trade accessories and home decor

  • items are handmade using traditional techniques that preserve cultural heritage in the areas in which they are made.
  • fair trade certified.
  • works with marginalized communities to help them become economically self sufficient.
  • high focus on humanitarian causes and philanthropy.
  • ETHICAL

Shop here* and learn about their ethical practices here. 

Comfy basics for men and women

  • uses recycled cotton and GOTS Certified 100% organic cotton.
  • uses hemp fibers in their fabrics.
  • uses TENCEL™ Modal fibers in their fabrics which are extracted from naturally grown beech wood by an environmentally responsible process.

Shop here* and learn about their sustainanable materials here

Fashion and loungewear for women

  • items are made in limited quantities to eliminate excess waste.
  • they plant a tree for every tee shirt bought.
  • uses sustainable and renewable materials such as TENCEL™ Modal, ethical wool, and Mulberry Silk  which is highly renewable, non-toxic, and has a low water footprint. 
  • packaging is made from recycled materials, is compostable, and uses soy based ink.
  • items are made in California which means smaller carbon footprint for those living in the U.S.

Shop here* and learn about their sustainable practices here. 

Cheerful everyday fashion for men, women, and kids

  • swimwear fabrics are made from ECONYL® which is a regenerated fabric creatred from ocean plastics/waste. 
  • packaging is made from recycled materials
  • offices and warehouses are zero waste. 
  • pledges to use 100% sustainable sourced materials for fabrics within the next 4 years. 
  • all manufacturing partners are “ethically audited” and support ethical practices. 

Shop here* and learn more about their ethical and sustainable practices here. 

High quality clothing and accessories for women

  • uses small family run vendors with emphasis on fair labor conditions.
  • raw materials are sourced close to the factories in which the clothes are made. A tight knit supply chain minimizes carbon footprint of a garment.
  • most of their products are made with environmental certifications for sustainability (70-90%)
  • by 2022 they committ to using 100% sustainable sources materials.
  • products are made in small batches to minimize excess waste.
  • offers repair services for well loved and worn garments to extend its life.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

Timeless high quality basics for women

  • created a clothing take back program, where they buy or take back old/worn designs and use the fabric to remake them into new designs, reducing clothing waste.
  • increasing use of regenerative fibers, which support biodiversity and restores the land.
  • create non trendy, timeless designs that are meant to be worn for many years, reducing clothing waste.
  • offset all of their electricity in their stores and offices.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

Everyday fashions for women and men

  • strong emphasis on using ethical factories with healthy working conditions and fair wages.
  • non trendy, timeless designs, meant to last.
  • transparency across the supply chain so people know exactly what they are paying for.

In my research I wasn’t able to find much about sustainability practices, rather Everlane is focused on transparency and ethical factory conditions, which is still pretty cool and worth celebrating. Shop here* and learn about their ethical practices and transparency here. 

Activewear and loungewear

  • tees and tanks are 100% cupro, a fiber made from waste the cotton industry leaves behind.
  • yarn is made in a zero-waste, zero-emission facility.
  • bras and leggings are made fromrecycled post-consumer water bottles.
  • some leggings are made from recycled fishing nets and other waste using ECONYL® yarn.
  • their manufacturing operation adheres to super strict regulations that keep factory employees well-paid, safe, and living healthy lives.
  • fabric is dyed with eco-friendly dyes and the wastewater is cleaned and cooled before it is released.

Shop here* and learn more about their recycled fabrics here.  They also get bonus points (in my book) for featuring a variety of body types and skin colors across their marketing. Inclusivity and diversity for the win!

Basics for men, women, and home

  • uses direct trade from independent and family owned farmers, cutting out the middle men ensures better prices for customers and higher wages for farmers.
  • going 100% organic cotton within the next 5 years.
  • helping small farms setup systems to go organic so they aren’t left behind.
  • fair and equal pay in factories.
  • cotton used is certified by the Better Cotton Initiative.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable and ethical farmining initiatives. here. 

Activewear for men and women

  • use of sustainable materials such as fabrics made from recycled PET(Polyethylene terephthalate),  ethically-sourced wool, recycled wool,  and cotton certifiefd by Better Cotton Initiative.
  • use of packaging that is both recycled and recyclable such as reusable totes in lieu of paper or plastic bags, 100% recycled paper envelopes/recyclable boxes and replacing poly bags (the plastics that protect clothing in-transit) with paper alternatives.

  • goals: eliminate all waste from community events, with 90% landfill diversion, launch clothing take-back and repair programs, and increase use of  fibers from recycled sources seasonally.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable initiatives here. 

Organic cotton basics for men, women, children, and home

  • uses organic cotton.
  • partners with fair trade factories.
  • carbon offset for all shipped items.
  • all packaging is recycled and recyclable.
  • plastic packaging is biodegradable.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable initiatives here. 

Fair trade everyday fashion for women

  • 93% of People Tree cotton in 2018 was Global Organic Textile Standard Certified Cotton (GOTS) which meets strict environmental and social criteria during processing.
  • only uses natural fibers that use closed loop processes such as Lenzing certified TENCEL. 

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable initiatives here. 

Slow fashion for petites 

  • Work exclusively with one factory as to ensure a high quality environment and (more than) fair wages and benefits.
  • all items are made in the same factory, reducing carbon footprint.
  • repurposes fabric scraps into scrunchies and scarves ro reduce wasted fabric.
  •  small batch priduction of clothing to reduce clothing waste.
  • all items are designed and manufactured in a “slow” process, ensuring high quality to items life spand is longer than the average.

Shop here* and learn more about their ethical and sustainable practices. 

Trendy clothing and accessories

  •  suppliers are required meet standards for social responsibility, safe & non-toxic, and better materials.
  • transparency: the environmental impact of each garment is calculated and shared on each product page. 
  • invests in programs that offset and replace the resources they spend during manufacturing. 
  • Net-zero carbon emissions.
  • source electricity offsets from wind power. 

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

French fashion for women

  • uses eco friendly materials: 63% of silk is Oeko-Tex 100 certified, 86% of cotton is organic, 54% of viscose is FSC Mix certified, 61% of leather is vegetable tanned, chrome-free or metal-free.
  • All new models in denim are created using organic and GOTS certified cotton, and the water used during their production is recycled.
  • Leisurewear is composed of pieces made from lyocell and recycled polyester or GOTS certified cotton.
  • Cashmere jumpers are composed of recycled fibers that reduce CO2 emissions by 97% compared to conventional cashmere.
  • 100% of shipping boxes are now made from recycled cardboard and/or are derived from sustainably-managed forests.
  • 100% of their locations are powered by renewable energy.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

High end women’s fashion

  • all stores us green energy, sustainable building materials, save water, ensure that waste is recycled.
  • vegetarian company: none of their products contain leather, fur, exotics skins or feathers – and none of the glues used in shoes or bags come from animal origins.
  • utilising cutting edge technologies to create alternative materials that are more sustainable.
  • pushing towards circularity in the fashion industry.

Shop here* and learn more about their extensive committment to the environment here. 

Everyday fashion for men and women

  • suppliers and their supply chains must commit to their Environmental Policy.
  • source natural, sustainable yarns that use less water, fewer pesticides, and create less CO2.
  • upcycle their leftover fabric at source so to reduce waste and create new products.
  • 90% of packaging is recyclable
  • 90% of items are PETA approved.
  • fair trade and GOTS certified teeshirts
  • uses organic cotton, vegan clue, and biodegradable garment bags.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable initiatves here. 

Casual comfy loungewear

  • uses Lenzing Modal, a fabric that is derived from the bark of beech trees and is biodegratable and compostable.
  • use sGOTS certified organic cotton.
  • polyeter and nylon used in their fabrics are made from recycled plastic waterbottles and fishing nets.
  • their factories use less than half of the water typically usef for a garment.
  • 80% of waste water is recycled and reused.
  • transparent about their environmental impact.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

Everyday clothing for women

  • small batch clothing production.
  • consciously sources fabrics.
  • responsible manufacturing practices such as living wages for workers, healthy factory environments, and reasonable hours).
  • quality garments designed to last.

Shop here* and learn more about their sustainable practices here. 

Casual fashion and home

  • uses sustainable sources materials for fabrics such as recycled polyester, Tencel, and Repreve.

Shop here* and learn about their sustainable fabrics here. 

I’ll be honest, their website didn’t go into great detail about their sustainable manufacturing processes or materials. I make a note of this here becuase while it’s worth checking out I am weary of companies greenwashing and making sustinable claims that aren’t substantiated with data and figures on their websites.

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: For The Newly Eco-conscious

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: For The Newly Eco-conscious

I thought it was only fitting for the Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide series to include a gift guide for the newly eco-conscious. Whether you are shopping for someone who has long been a lover of the planet, or just a budding environmentalist, all of these items would make great gifts.I have taken a look at all the things I use in my daily life that help me be more sustainable. Whether it’s using products that help me reduce waste in my kitchen, like using beeswax wrap, or trying to buy items made with recycled materials, there are little ways we can all be a little more eco-conscious with our everyday household things. 

I find one of the things that makes it easier to be eco friendly in your home is to make small substitutiuons rather than sweeping changes. The little every day things add up over time- just imagine how much plastic saran wrap I’ve saved just by using my beeswax wraps!

Low Waste Gifts

I love low waste options for my kitchen. It takes no more effort to use these things becuase they are merely substitutes. My habits didn’t have to change once I got these. And I can honestly say I LOVE the beeswax wraps- use them every day, mainly for cheese…we eat a lot of cheese.

Gifts Made with Renewables

By looking at the materials that make up our every day items we can start to move away from materials that deplete our earth’s resources. While bamboo is a tree (and we don’t like cutting down trees) it grows incredibly fast so it is a rapid self renewing resource. Honestly, I need to do more research on this subject to truly understand if using bamboo is better for the planet, but so far it seems like a better choice than other materials. 

Made from Recycled and Biodegradable Materials

Aside from not purchasing anything new (which to me isn’t that realistic) it’s a great option to start using items that are made from recycled materials. This phone case  is actually biodegradable! It will take 3-5 years to decompose, rather than 500 years that most plastic phone cases will take. Yikes!

 

Just a friendly reminder the items I have linked here are affiliate links that I use to help support the time I dedicate to researching and writing for you all. This is NOT a sponsored post and I was not gifted any of these items. I only share products here that I either use myself, or hope to purchase one day because I either LOVE what the brand stands for or find the product conducive to living well and sustainably. This is no extra expense to you, just a way for brands to say “thanks, Caroline!” when I send my readers their way. You can read more about it in my affiliate disclaimer. 

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: The Weekend Adventurer

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: The Weekend Adventurer

I initially wanted to make a gift guide focused on the traveler, but since none of us have major travel plans and time soon I decided to focus this guide on the weekend adventurer. Since the pandemic hit we all have been finding different ways to safely get out and explore. Whether that is taking a road trip to an airbnb, checking out some nature trails you never tried, or exploring what your region has to offer over a long weekend. I know I was able to explore areas here in Virginia that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. 

All of the brands I have included in this guide either use sustainable materials in their products, eco friendly processes for manufacturing/distribution, or has a strong ethical component to their brand. I’ve curated this list to include items from Everlane, Coyuchi, Jenni Kayne, Rothy’s, Girlfriend Collective, Summersalt, and ABLE. You can read all about their ethicical and sustainable practices in the links I’ve privided. 

Bundle Up

For Covid friendly travel, a warm coat is a must this winter. I imagine we will be spending more time outdoors whether at restaurants or visiting with friends, so bundle up! These coats from Everlane are made from recycled and renewd textiles and look oh so cozy, and I think this is the year I finally invest in a cashmere beanie, this one from Jenni Kayne is so luxurious!

Pack Your Bags

Weekend or day trips are always elevated by a cute bag, whether a backpack or diffle. I’ve got my eyes on these ones from Cuyana, Everlane, and ABLE are next level gorgeous, and of course sustainable.

Dress Comfortably

When adventuring to new areas you definitely want to be dressed appripriately. Chic yet comfortable is always my motto when traveling. These pants from Summersalt and Girlfriend Collective (my personal favorite), and shoes from Rothy’s and Everlane are the perfect combo of both!. 

 

Just a friendly reminder the items I have linked here are affiliate links that I use to help support the time I dedicate to researching and writing for you all. This is NOT a sponsored post and I was not gifted any of these items. I only share products here that I either use myself, or hope to purchase one day because I either LOVE what the brand stands for or find the product conducive to living well and sustainably. This is no extra expense to you, just a way for brands to say “thanks, Caroline!” when I send my readers their way. You can read more about it in my affiliate disclaimer. 

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: For The Decor Obsessed

Sustainable & Ethical Gift Guide: For The Decor Obsessed

As someone who is a bit decor obsessed at the moment, but also mindful of making sustainable and ethical purchases I though I would put together a sustainable & ethical gift guide for the decor obsessed, like me, but who also want to shift toward buying more sustainable and ethical products. 

 All of the brands I have included in this guide either use sustainable materials in their products, eco friendly processes for manufacturing/distribution, or has a strong ethical component to their brand. I’ve curated this list to include items from Pottery Barn, Parachute, and Accompany. You can read all about their ethical and sustainable practices in the links I’ve provided here. 

  

Sustainable Gift Ideas For The One

Who Loves to Decorate

Just a friendly reminder the items I have linked here are affiliate links that I use to help support the time I dedicate to researching and writing for you all. This is NOT a sponsored post and I was not gifted any of these items. I only share products here that I either use myself, or hope to purchase one day because I either LOVE what the brand stands for or find the product conducive to living well and sustainably. This is no extra expense to you, just a way for brands to say “thanks, Caroline!” when I send my readers their way. You can read more about it in my affiliate disclaimer. 

5 Ways to Shop Ethically and Sustainably This Holiday Season

5 Ways to Shop Ethically and Sustainably This Holiday Season

It’s important to be a conscious consumer all year round, but in particular the holidays are a really easy time to be swept up in the holiday hustle of shopping and stressing. I know I am really trying to shop ethically and sustainably this holiday season. Reasons why one would want to be a more conscious consumer include saving money, wanting to support small businesses and ethical/sustainable brands, and protecting the environment from waste, pollution, and loss of resources. 

Most consumer habits are unknowingly harming the planet by wasting resources, creating packaging waste, producing excess carbon emissions to ship items …and GIRL, we don’t want that!

First, let’s define what a conscious consumer is and isn’t: 

A conscious consumer is someone who: 

  • knows what they like
  • knows what they need
  • knows what’s safe for the planet and their body
  • makes deliberate and informed choices
  • is confident that they can rely on themselves to make good purchasing decisions.
  • is comfortable paying a little bit more for a higher quality item that will last longer.

A conscious consumer ISN’T someone who:

  • is cheap
  • is easily swayed by deals/sales
  • going to the mall or online shopping out of boredom
  • uses retail therapy to treat their emotional problems (ok I’m very guilty of that!)

Now, I want to share what I’m doing to try to shop sustainably and ethically this holiday season, and maybe you can get some ideas that fit your lifestyle!

1. Intentional Holiday Gift Giving for Your Littles

For your kids use the blueprint: want – need – share – read. Now, I don’t have kids yet, but I love this concept. Four gifts…so simple. Something they need like clothes or a new backpack; something they want like a craft kit, legos, or a bike; something to share for the family like an experience, tickets to a sporting event/concert, or a gift card to their favorite restaurant; and something to read like a box set of their favorite book series or a monthly magazine subscription.

2. Educate Yourself on Where Your Dollars Are Going 

More and more lately I’ve been doing a little bit of research whenever I am buying something. Since we’re furnishing our home I’ve been researching how sustainable the furniture is, and how far it has to travel to get to me. Obviously it’s most ethical and sustainable to purchase locally made items from small business owners, but if you are making purchases from big-box stores it’s nice to see what their mission is, whether they are focusing efforts on sustainable production or giving back.

Support your values with your dollars. Maybe you buy from companies that give back, or you use companies that use sustainable packaging, or perhaps you support brands with lifetime warranties that replace parts so you don’t have to constantly buy new items..

Where do you find conscious companies?

Go to the Environmental Working Group  and look up the products that you are interested in purchasing and it will tell you what impact is has on the environment, and how safe it is for you.

BuyMeOnce.com is a website that sources and seeks out products that are both ethically and sustainably made. They also highlight products that are made to last as long as possible.

Finally, right here on Bloom & Spark. I have been pouring so much energy into creating resources here on my blog that show different brands and how they are being more sustainable. I’ve been making lots of sustainable and ethical gift guides too so be on the look out for those!

3. Shop Vintage & Thrift

It use to be rather uncool to get your clothes second hand, but with people being more mindful about clothing waste there is now a renaissance of thrift, vintage, and consignment shopping. It’s grown past the Salvation Army (or “Sally’s” as my family likes to call it) to become a huge industry in both the online space and brick and mortar stores. I am most excited about the Luxury consignment market on websites such as The Real Real and Poshmark. Here are some more great online thrift stores: 

 

4. Shop Local

We all know the importance of shopping local, but in the midst of a pandemic it’s more important than ever for us to support our local businesses. There’s lots of ways you can do this. Maybe you make a pledge to yourself to only shop at local botiques for gifts, or maybe you just make a point to stroll down your town’s business district once a week instead of online shopping. However you do it, know that shopping from locally owned small businesses is one of the best ways to be a conscious concumer this holiday season.

5. Support Your Friends Who are Business Owners

If you scroll through your facebook feed chances are you’ll come across a handful of high school or college friends who are in the business of selling something. Makeup, skincare, exercise programs, vitamins, nailpolish, jewelry, clothes, the list goes on! Whether they are independent crafters or selling for a larger company like Beauty Counter, I highly recommend doing your holiday shopping from your friends. Supporting people you know in your immediate community feels so good, it helps them, and you can get some great gifts!

Edible Gifts for Minimalists Who Don’t Want More “Stuff”

Edible Gifts for Minimalists Who Don’t Want More “Stuff”

No, not those kinds of edibles, but rather homemade consumable gifts straight from your kitchen, made with love. It can be hard to shop for the minimalist in your life. You want to give them a lovely gift, but you know they don’t want more stuff.  Edible gifts for minimalists are intentionally made to be used, they will be functional, enjoyable, and most importantly they won’t collect dust on a shelf. Also, edible gifts are a great opportunity to put your chef skills on full display, or just to pretend you have chef skills, because some of these are so easy! 

Edible Gifts for Minimalists:

Homemade Granola

edible gift ideas

Homemade granola is super easy to make and can be made into a lovely presentation when put in a glass jar with a simple robbon and tag saying what it is. If you are looking for a simple granola recipe check out my Banana Walnut Granola recipe. 

Homemade Jam 

edible gift ideas

Jams, jellys, and marmalades require a little more effort but they can be so special, especially if you are using fruits you grew yourself. The easiest jam recipe I’ve ever done is this strawberry jam that uses chia seeds to create the jelly like consistency. It’s super healthy, but becuase of that it doesn’t keep for long (the downside of not using preservatives).  I also heard that Kate Middleton herself gifted the Queen some homemade jam for Christmas one year, so you are in great company. 

Infused Olive Oil

edible gift ideas

Infused olive oils are great becuase of how personalized you can make them. Get a large Costco size of olive oil and a few jars  and add herbs and spices depending on the recipeint. You can make a bunch at once so they are great to have for last minute on the go gifts for a hostess, your kids teacher, a hairdresser, dog walker, etc. I can’t think of anybody who wouldn’t appreciate this gift. 

Here are a few ideas of things you can add to a jar of olive oil:

  • roasted garlic cloves
  • rosemary sprigs
  • basil leaves
  • crushed chillis 
  • sliced lemon, orange, or blood orange
  • jalapenos
  • sun dried tomatoes
  • truffles (if you’re feeling fancy!)

 

Seasoned Salt

edible gift ideas

This is the gift that nobody realized they needed until they recieved it. Specialty salt is a unique treat that we don’t usually buy for ourselves, but it can absolutely transform a dish. Introduce this to your friends and you will be forever known as a culinary genious. 

Here’s how to make it:

  1. Buy good quality sea salt. My favorite is Malodon. 
  2. Add in whatever combination of dried herbs you like. Some ideas are: paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, dried rosemary, dried thyme, dried basil, onion powder, the list is as endless as your spice cabinet. 
  3. Put your salt mixture in a nice jar with a bow and a little tag that says what is in it. 

Soup-in-a-Jar Kit

edible gift ideas

I love recieving these types of gifts becuase a soup-in-a-jar kit is a great thing to have on hand on a cold winter evening when you don’t feel like cooking. I consider it a luxury to not have to think about what I am making or go to the store and prepare dinner. These gifts are especially great for busy parents who would welcome a night off from making dinner, especially during the holiday season where days can be a bit hectic. 

Here’s is a very general and flexible blueprint so you can make it unique to the recipeient. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1-2 cup of a small pasta
  • 2-3 cups of some type of dried beans (go for 2-3 types so the layers look nice and colorful)
  • ¼ cup dried parsley flakes
  • 1/3 cup dried diced onion
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp. black pepper

Directions: First layer is the pasta, then put all the spices in a plastic baggie and layer that on top of the pasta, next layer the different types of dried beans in the jar one on top of another. Remember to include some directions which should say to add the beans and spices to water or broth and boil until the beans are cooked through, then add the pasta at the very end for 5-10 minutes.