Ethical Fashion for Every Budget: 8 Affordable Brands Making a Positive Impact
By Ava Roman - Managing Editor of Revivalist
Fast fashion still has a hold on the clothing industry. It’s not that consumers don’t want to purchase sustainable, fair-trade clothing, but many brands recoup the cost of ethics by increasing the price. However, more are finding ways to make better options for a lower price range. Here are eight ethical fashion companies for every budget so that you can make a positive impact.
Boody specializes in bamboo apparel for women, men and babies. Bamboo is an excellent material for clothing since it regrows quickly, needs minimal processing and customers enjoy its comfort. The business produces its bamboo through a closed-loop process. When not using that material, it uses GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Based in Sydney, Australia, Boody has a published code of conduct that commits to maintaining ethical working practices throughout the entire manufacturing process. It also has a recycling program where customers can return unwanted products to receive new life and avoid sitting in landfills.
Socks and underwear for adults start at less than $20. You can get many of its baby products for under $15. Company bestsellers include its seamless bras, underwear and high-waisted leggings.
2. MagicLinen
MagicLinen began in Europe and specializes in bespoke linen textiles, including clothing. It offers options for women and men as well as accessories. All pieces are certified under OEKO-TEX standards and the enterprise commits to remaining transparent in its business practices. Products are produced in-house and shipped in biodegradable packaging.
Without change, the fashion industry will contribute nearly 20% of global carbon emissions. MagicLinen’s linen is locally sourced and produced in Lithuania, reducing the impact. The company also has a zero-waste goal and commonly uses extra fabric to make accessories or decor items.
Clothing prices start around $20, making them affordable even compared to some fast-fashion products. Many accessories are even less expensive. Some of its highest-rated products are loungewear sets and accessories. MagicLinen offers free shipping for any order of more than $35.
3. Subset
Subset produces organic cotton intimates, loungewear and maternity clothing. It makes all its products in fair-trade certified factories, prioritizing quality working conditions. The brand also has recycling programs in the United States and Canada that offer discounts for participating customers, granting their items new life.
The company works to maintain carbon-neutral shipping practices, and each material processing center has organic certifications to ensure transparency and ethics. Subset strives to continuously innovate sustainably and gives back to the communities around it through volunteerism and donations. Women’s underwear costs $18 and men’s socks are $12.
4. Honest Basics
Honest Basics produces all its clothing in GOTS-certified factories in India and Bangladesh that meet International Labour Organization standards. The business offers men’s and women’s clothing options made from certified organic cotton.
It aims to remain transparent and has photos of its factories available on the Honest Basics website. In addition,the brand is currently working to overhaul its shipping process to use sustainable warehouses only.
You can get tops for under $20. Some on-sale items are under $10.
5. Yes Friends
This UK-based fashion brand focuses on creating ultra-affordable sustainable clothing. Many of Yes Friends’ products are under $11, and include tanks, t-shirts and sweaters.
The business commits to fair pay for all workers, regularly provides bonus wages to garment producers and uses fair-trade organic cotton in its clothing. Yes Friends also incorporates solar power to reduce the number of emissions produced by its factories. The primary factory in India uses the sun for more than half of its energy.
6. Colorful Standard
Colorful Standard produces clothing from 100% organic cotton and 100% recycled merino wool. They produce all their items in-house at their factory in Portugal to ensure ethical standards. Colorful Standard works under the European Labour Law, which holds them to fair working hours and wages.
The company uses environmentally friendly dyes to produce its basics in more than 63 colors. You can choose from many activewear and loungewear pieces, including t-shirts, hoodies and undergarments. With tees under $40, the clothing is relatively inexpensive compared to fast-fashion retailers.
7. Little Emperor
Little Emperor is an Australian-based children’s clothing brand made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and other low-impact materials. It’s also part of the 1% for the Planet campaign, donating 1% of all sales to environmental organizations.
To maintain fair wages and working conditions, Little Emperor partnered with Net Paradigm India Pvt Ltd, which Sedex regularly audits. It uses leftover fabric to make blankets to eliminate waste and avoids plastic in all steps of the production and shipping process.
There are plenty of fun prints in each collection for your little ones. The company features short and long-sleeve tops and dresses, and most items are under $50.
8. Tentree
This Canadian clothing and accessories brand is removing carbon emissions from the atmosphere by planting 10 trees for every purchased item. As of 2023, Tentree reports it grew more than 100 million.
It’s a certified B-Corp company that uses organic, recycled and circular fabrics. Tentree is also working on innovating with recycled nylon, cotton, or naturally dyed and undyed fabrics. It strives to keep customers involved in their mission, with an app showing how many trees their purchase planted and where they are.
Slightly pricier than the other options on the list, most products cost under $100. You can purchase tops, bottoms and undergarments for men, women and children.
Photo: @tributarystudio.co
Choosing Ethically-Made Clothing
Ethical clothing brands work to create an industry that protects workers, customers and the environment. By choosing ethical brands you can afford, you can make a positive difference while finding new clothes to love.