The feeling of getting a new piece of clothing can be a temporary high — until you realize the negative impact a certain piece of clothing has on the environment and those who made it. But that doesn't mean we can't outfit ourselves with the latest and greatest digs — we just need to make shopping for sustainable clothing brands a priority. After all, it's important to consider the impact our habits have on the environment in order to preserve our beautiful natural landscapes for generations to come.
Countless clothing brands now aim to be more responsible and ethical in their production, with efforts that include traceable manufacturing processes, the use of plant-based, organic, and recycled materials, support for climate activist organizations, and so much more. We all need gear and certain clothing to enjoy nature's beauty, so support these sustainable and ethical brands to preserve our environment while you shop.
1. Patagonia
Patagonia has so many programs and initiatives that aim to help save the environment that we struggled to decide which ones to highlight! For starters, Patagonia has donated over $89 million to grassroots activist organizations over the past 35 years, including those working on land, water, climate, biodiversity, and communities. Their Worn Wear program ensures that your gear is high-quality and repairable (so it lasts longer), and provides a pathway for you to trade in clothing for credit toward purchasing another item, both new and used. Recycled clothing = less production.
Plus, they monitor every step of the manufacturing process to ensure a minimal environmental and social impact, which includes using organic cotton and traceable goose down, among others. This sustainable clothing brand is a top pick in our book!
➥ Shop These Patagonia Faves
2. Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend Collective began with one goal in mind — to be as transparent about its company as possible. Over the past couple of years, they've definitely delivered. What began as a legging brand quickly grew into a full line of activewear, intimates, and even loungewear.
Not only is the company committed to creating pieces from what would otherwise be trash (after all, its slogan is “don’t make waste, wear it”), but they are entirely open about paying fair wages to all of their workers and ensuring that their manufacturing process is as ethical as possible.
Creating clothing from recycled water bottles does reduce waste, but Girlfriend Collective is aware that because their pieces are essentially made of fabric, they need to be clear about microfibers that may shed from the clothing in the wash. To help collect (and hopefully divert) these little fibers, they developed a washing machine attachment that acts as a microfiber filter. And if you ever decide to part with your Girlfriend pieces, you can send them back to be recycled through the ReGirlfriend recycling program. (They have the whole process covered, huh?)
➥ Shop These Girlfriend Collective Faves
3. Fair Harbor
After growing up spending summers on the beaches of Fair Harbor, a small beach on Long Island, New York, siblings Jake and Caroline Danehy were devastated by the amount of litter and trash they saw accumulate on the shoreline as years passed. They knew they wanted to do something to protect this place that was so special to them, and they also wanted to pay homage to the home that made them who they are today.
The two combined their love of caring for the beach and surfing by creating a line of swimwear out of upcycled plastic bottles. Right now, the line focuses on men's and boy's clothing made of nearly 90% upcycled bottles. At the time of writing this article, the company has diverted more than 10 million plastic bottles from the ocean.
➥ Shop These Fair Harbor Faves
4. Allbirds
Mother Nature made them do it — or at least that's what Allbirds says about why they decided to create a shoe made entirely out of natural materials. Founder Tim Brown, a New Zealand native, was no stranger to the beauty of merino wool: It kept you warm when you needed to stay warm, but it also magically wicked away heat and moisture that was unwanted. Why hadn't the shoe industry made shoes out of it yet?
After creating the original Allbirds wool sneaker, the company set out to make even more shoes and clothing out of natural materials. Now, Allbirds is known for a whole range of footwear, activewear, and even everyday clothing, all made from sustainable materials like wool, eucalyptus, and hemp.
➥ Shop These Allbirds Faves
5. Thesus
Thesus shoes show us that there is beauty in simplicity — and that the road to being more sustainable starts with a single step. Pared-back designs put function over flashiness, all ensuring comfort and sustainability in each of their shoes. Probably best known for the Weekend Boot — a hiking boot with a recycled-nylon upper and natural rubber sole — the company has branched out into creating clogs and accessories like laces and insoles for its customers.
The founders Sofi Khwaja and Nick Horekens began their journey doing relief work in North Africa. Knowing that not everyone could do the same kind of work they were doing, they set out to create a product that's friendly to both people and the planet — and they found themselves in a community of like-minded people along the way.
Each shoe is virgin-plastic-free and made with sustainably sourced rubber. They're held together by a vegan, water-based glue, and all of the necessary materials for the shoes are 90% sustainable and traceable. In fact, they're aiming for 100% sooner rather than later.
➥ Shop These Thesus Faves
6. Knickey
Knickey's bottom line is creating underwear that's faultless. In the pursuit to make underwear more sustainable and comfortable, the founders Cayla O'Connell Davis and Lauren Sagadore wanted to create an Earth-conscious product that deserved to be worn daily.
From the start, the company has sought out the most environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, using low-impact fabrics like organic cotton, and following ethical manufacturing guidelines. Thanks to them, you can fill your underwear drawer with oh so soft undies and bralettes — all of which are ethically and responsibly made.
➥ Shop These Knickey Faves
7. Parks Project
After hosting a volunteer day for those interesting in helping to restore public lands, Parks Project knew they could do more to protect the green spaces we know and love. While they still hold plenty of volunteer days and house a list of opportunities on their website, they've also launched an online store full of gear for outdoor lovers. You can snag swag that's themed after your favorite parks (like this Yellowstone collection), and you can also grab gear that you might need for your next hiking or camping trip, like coolers or camp chairs.
Most importantly, the Parks Project is committed to being transparent about how they work, and how the money from sold products goes to help parklands throughout the United States. Right now, the money is being used for programs like youth education, wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and visitor programs. You can read more in-depth about what these programs do on the Parks Project website.
➥ Shop These Parks Project Faves
8. Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is a Salt Lake City-based brand that creates innovative outdoor products that fund sustainable poverty alleviation, moves people to do good, and inspires adventure. In fact, 2% of the company's annual revenue is donated to support efforts that address the most persistent needs of people living in extreme poverty by focusing on the pillars of health, education, and livelihood. They also employ hundreds of refugees from war-torn countries right here in the United States.
They have sustainability initiatives that guide their production process, including an aim to leave no scrap of fabric behind with the sustainable clothing in their Repurposed Materials Collection. Extra materials are gathered from their factories after production, and high-quality, limited-run gear is created from those scraps to minimize waste. Genius!
➥ Shop These Cotopaxi Faves
9. Fjallraven
Fjallraven has been making incredibly high-quality gear since its inception over 50 years ago in Sweden. Its sustainability mission centers around the founder’s belief that “If you care about nature and protect it, future generations will also be able to enjoy it.”
Their Eco-Shell items are waterproof, and breathable hard shells are made from a blend of new and recycled polyester fibers. These shells have a DWR (Durable Water Repellant) treatment that's free of fluorocarbons, and all emissions that occur during production and transportation are climate-compensated, which means that Fjallraven supports a number of renewable energy projects that are examined, verified, and certified by the E.U.
➥ Shop These Fjallraven Faves
10. Dakine
Makers of stylish and functional hard and soft goods for watersports, cycling, and snowsports, Oregon-based Dakine is now also partnering with the bluesign system to ensure responsible manufacturing. Bluesign eliminates harmful substances right from the start of production.
They also set and control standards for an environmentally friendly and safe process so that consumers can rest assured their gear has met stringent sustainability standards. Dakine's bike apparel line now features bluesign-approved items, too!
➥ Shop These Dakine Faves
