| Each ethical brand featured on The Wellness Feed are independently selected by our editors for its environmental and ethical impact. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. |
Is supporting an ethical brand a luxury? Do affordable fashion brands exist so that no one feels forced to support cheap labor that is costly to our planet and our health? Over the last few years there have been more conversations about ethical brands being a luxury. For many shopping itself is a luxury and not something that can can be afforded with a high price tag, however sustainable the brand is. Yet, one thing that many within the industry agree on is that over time as consumer demand grows and technology adapts, there will be more sustainable fashion brands to choose from.
Yes, Affordable Non-Fast-Fashion Brands Exist. Here Are 10
In the meantime, sales from ethical brands are one way for consumers to support the brands whose morals match their own, but offer prices that are more budget friendly. If you’ve ever shopped at Zara or Mango you might find these brands to be just the ethical upgrade from fast fashion that you need this summer.
Amour Vert
The California-based brand offers effortlessly luxurious basics… or cool everyday pieces depending on how you style them. Loose boyfriend jackets like the Silk Blazer are definitely eye catching. Other pieces in their collection are just loose enough to be comfortable, but fitted enough for a feminine flair. Shop the SALE.
Environmental Impact: You can’t help but love a brand that plants a
tree for every tee sold. Cute world play isn’t it? To date Amour Vert has planted
240,000+ trees thanks to its customers and collaborations with American
Forests. Tencel, silk and organic cotton are fabrics that you’ll see this brand
use regularly. Most pieces are made in Los Angeles to reduce the brand’s
carbon emissions.
Laud The Label
This ethical brand is made by women for women. It has emerged as a sustainable fashion brand known for its core values. With star pieces like 100% organic cotton handwoven dresses and pants, they seem to be on the right track. Founder Carly Burson makes her playful basics with artisans based in Guatemala or India in an effort to empower women from a disadvantaged background. Shop the SALE.
In countries where we operate, a fair-trade wage is 2 to 3 times more than the minimum wage. Being paid fairly & promptly means our artisans can support themselves and their families. A fair-trade wage means dignity and opportunity.
Carly Burson
Environmental Impact: As mentioned before, Laud the Label is made my female artisans. The brand ensures that wages are fair, daily work hours are never longer than 8 hours and that toxic chemicals and dyes never make it near their clothes.
& Other Stories
The H&M sister brand was initially designed to focus on beauty products to accompany the European retailer’s clothing line. That was in 2013. Fast forward several years and it’s a full-blown collection of cozy on-trend basics. With an eye for pleasing designs it’s easy to fall-in love with this brand. But, with a big sister like H&M, its shout-out to sustainability isn’t easy to take seriously. Thankfully, & Other Stories puts its dark environmental past behind it to focus on organic fabrics and a commitment to regulate its carbon emissions. But, according to the Good on You app, its sustainable rating is only ‘ok’ meaning that this ethical brand still has a lot of work to do. Shop the SALE
We reached 97% recycled or other sustainably sourced cotton and will not source conventional cotton for collections from 2020 onwards. We achieved 57% of our materials to be either recycled or sourced in a more sustainable way thereby taking steps towards our 100% goal for 2030.
H&M
Environmental Impact: H&M now shares its sustainability report and highlights which you can read on the website. While it doesn’t specify which brand is achieving true sustainable status, there are steps that the fast-fashion behemoth is taking to limit its environmental impact.
Wolven
Wolven wants to make sustainability sexy with their sustainable active wear and swimwear made with recycled or natural fibers. Since their launch in 2016, they’ve amassed a cult following in yoga, fitness, health, wellness, festival, resort and sustainable lifestyle markets. Woven are known for their super fun designs and stand-out prints inspired by the founder, Kiran Jade’s, Pakistani-Indian heritage. Shop the SALE
Environmental Impact: Wolven has partnered with Climate Neutral to offset the emissions they’ve created since they started their operations. In 2020, the company offset its entire carbon footprint of 1,045 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, making them carbon-neutral. These carbon credits support a range of projects such as rainforest conversation and landfill methane-capture.
According to Goodonyou, Wolven’s environmental rating is ‘good’ but its labor rating is ‘not good enough’. Wolven makes most of its clothes in China but it also has a strict Code of Conduct that it doesn’t share publicly. To improve their rating, Wolven could provide evidence that they pay living wages.
Pact
Pact is on a mission to be an affordable, ethical brand for all. They design comfortable and affordable essentials made out of organic cotton which is often softer, more durable and better for the environment than conventional cotton. Pact goes the extra mile to make sure its entire supply chain is sustainable, from the farming and harvesting of organic cotton to cutting and stitching in their factories. Shop SALE.
Environmental Impact: PACT is committed to reducing their environmental impact and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Their apparel is made in Fair Trade Certified factories in India – this guarantees fair payment to workers and incentivizes more farmers to adopt sustainable practices in cotton farming.
PACT is rated ‘Good’ on the Good On You website. The brand partners with
Free Trade Certified factories to ensure that all of its products are GOTS certified organic and sustainably made. There is no evidence it has a Code of Conduct but it has a formal statement covering workers’ rights.
Learn more about ethical and fast fashion:
Turns Out Most Fast Fashion Clothing Is Made From Plastics
Q&A: From Fast Fashion To Ethical Designer
11 Dirty Fast Fashion Statistics You’ll Want To Know
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