[OPINION] Top 5 Most Sustainable Clothing Brands

Top 10 Most Sustainable Clothing Brands

By: Ramisa Sharif

One of the biggest environmental issues of modern times is our obsession with fast fashion. According to Investopedia, “Fast fashion describes low-priced but stylish clothing that moves quickly to retail stores, with new collections being introduced continuously.” (1) These mass-produced garments play a major role in landfills since the majority cannot be recycled as a result of being predominantly made from synthetics (1). As a result, many environmentally-conscious consumers look for the best sustainable clothing brands. Here, we ranked eco-conscious brands by what we think matters the most– how ethical it is, sustainability, and general eco-friendliness, design, and affordability.

5) Etsy
Whenever we think of popular corporations, many tend to think of them as giants of everything unsustainable. While this may sometimes be true, Etsy proves otherwise. Etsy holds a massive marketplace where consumers can find all of their favorite goods for great prices. Many times you can buy items second-hand here, which is great for people who don’t have thrift locations that are accessible to them. Etsy is well known for its vintage, handmade, and custom apparel, but you can pretty much find anything here– even outside of clothing. Etsy has an incredible record of eco-friendliness, such as being “powered by renewable electricity” and “[offsetting] 100% of carbon emissions” (2). Additionally, you can always support small businesses and independent creators through Etsy!

4) Reformation
If you are someone who isn’t ready to give up fashion for the environment, Reformation is another great website for you! Here, you can find a plethora of trendy, yet timeless pieces that are produced using upcycled materials and by workers who are paid fairly and work in safe conditions. In addition, Reformation is Climate Neutral Certified and aims to be climate-positive by 2025. With their incredible motto, “Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We’re #2”, there are so many great reasons why you should buy from them!

3) tentree
If you’re someone who loves to give back to the planet, you should check out tentree. As part of their mission statement, they plant 10 trees for every item purchased. Currently, they have planted a whopping 73 million trees, with the goal of 1 planting 1 billion trees by 2030. tentree is great for consumers who love cozy wear, with their large supply of sweat sets, t-shirts, and other comfortable wear that are produced from only sustainable fabrics. tentree also has a lot of sustainability certifications, such as WRAP, BSCI, and SA8000, as well as certifications that ensure ethical manufacturing (2).

2) Kotn
In our second to last spot we have Kotn, a luxury-esque brand that makes all their clothing from sustainable Egyptian cotton. Not only do they sell both men and womenswear, they also sell home decor in many different colors. With various duvet covers, sham sets, fitted sheets and more, you are sure to find something that will make your home much more classy. Additionally, their clothing doesn’t disappoint either, with various tees, dresses, shorts, and even sweats that are sure to level up your wardrobe. They also have a diverse array of clothing sizes, ranging from XXS to XXL, making it incredibly inclusive. KOTN has free carbon-offset shipping on orders that are $100 and more, plastic-free packaging, fair labor conditions, and many certifications such as B Corp, BCI, and OEKO-TEK. If that wasn’t convincing enough, KOTN also gives back to Egyptian communities.

1) Pact
The #1 spot on this list goes to Pact, an incredibly eco-friendly and budget-friendly option for sustainable clothing. Pact has a large variety of clothing based on occasion– whether it’s for summer vacation, poolsides, weekends, or if you are just going back to the basics, Pact has got you covered. Their prices are similar to that of larger, less eco-friendly corporations, with their clothing ranging around $20-$50 apiece. Pact is best known for its use of fair-trade organic cotton, which is both Fair Trade and GOTS certified. Their cotton is non-GMO, noted for being super soft, and benefits farmers who grow it. They also have carbon offset shipping, recycled and biodegradable packaging, and donation programs where you can give in used clothes. In addition, not only is their clothing sustainable, but it is super comfortable.

Sources
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways-,Fast%20fashion%20describes%20low%2Dpriced%20but%20stylish%20clothing%20that%20moves,in%20the%20fast%20fashion%20field.

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing/