Ahh.. the humble t-shirt. It’s probably the one piece of clothing *nearly* every person on this planet has. Rich, poor, young, old, urban, rural. You can dress it up, dress it down, layer it, or wear it plain. It is one of those essential wardrobe items. But, have you ever stopped to ask yourself where this t-shirt came from and who made it? Yeah, I’ll be honest, it’s not always the first thing I ask myself either. However, I’ve noticed a serious uptick in ethical fashion brands that are offering wardrobe essentials.
So, what does “ethical fashion” actually mean? In a nutshell, it means putting the well-being of workers and the planet ahead of profits. The fashion industry is infamous for exploiting workers and polluting the environment. Ethical fashion brands typically give their workers, at minimum, a living wage and safe, clean working conditions. They also use methods that are planet-friendly. This includes sustainable materials such as organic cotton and bamboo, as well as non-toxic chemicals and dyes.
So, next time you’re looking to stock up on some wardrobe essentials, be sure to check out these ethical fashion brands!
Pact
Pact offers 100% organic cotton essentials made in certified Fair Trade factories. In addition, they don’t use any harmful chemicals and use significantly less water than conventional cotton. This is my go-to brand for basics from t-shirts to undies. Love them!
photo credit: wearpact.com
Known Supply
The amazing thing about Known Supply is that every item has the name of the actual person who made it on its label. And then you can look them up and find out more about them on their website! Known Supply is humanizing apparel by putting a name and face behind every product.
photo credit: knownsupply.com
Fair Indigo
Using environmentally sustainable methods and fair trade practices, Fair Indigo is all about making timeless, classic clothing essentials that lasts beyond trends. Their items are made in Peru where all of their organic Pima cotton is sourced.
photo credit: fairindigo.com
KOTN
KOTN is a certified B Corp brand that offers high quality, simple essentials at affordable prices. Their pieces are made from amazingly soft Egyptian cotton directly sourced from small farms in the Nile Delta where workers are given a fair wage. KOTN also partners with pro-literacy organizations to support children’s education in the Nile Delta.
photo credit: kotn.com
Everlane
Everlane is all about transparency. They believe customers should know how much it costs to make their clothes and puts it right on the website. They work only with ethical factories, ensuring their workers are paid living wages and work in safe working conditions. The best part: we get high-end quality clothing at a fair and reasonable price.
photo credit: everlane.com
For more ethical fashion brands, check out the Shop Social Good Directory!