The best sustainable clothing brands, according to a fashion writer

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

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By their very definition, sustainability and fashion are inherently at odds with one another. The fashion industry thrives through consumption, with each season putting forward a new trend du jour for consumers to buy and just as easily dispose of.

In fact, the clothing space is the third biggest polluter behind food and construction, and responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions – more than shipping and aviation combined. Fashion’s buisiness model relies on keeping prices low, with the large-scale processing of materials creating chemical waste that’s often dumped in water, while cheaper alternatives to synthetic materials are causing widespread microplastic pollution.

And then there’s fast fashion, where clothes manufactured from cotton leads to over-abstraction of water in countries like India and China that are already threatened by droughts from climate change. The human cost is just as dire. Labour exploitation, unsafe working environments and wages not fit to live on are all rife in the fashion industry which has trebled in size in the last few decades. 60 million people are estimated to be working globally, many still in sweatshops.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. The fashion industry is constantly evolving with exciting new designers, slow-fashion labels and innovative production lines that are all helping to clean up fashion’s footprint.

While labels like & Daughter and Herd are restructuring the wool production line, brands including E.L.V Denim and Nudie Jeans are a go-to for organic and recycled denim jeans. For eco-friendly, everyday staples, A-lister favourites Everlane, Ganni and Reformation use low-impact materials, while luxury labels like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood were early adopters of innovative fabrics. Helping you tread more lightly on the planet, shoe brands Veja and Humans are Vain are proving vegan alternatives can look just like the real deal, too.

Above all, sustainability when it comes to fashion is mainly a mindset. Whether it’s shopping second hand via Vinted or Depop, frequenting your local charity shops, embracing the rental market or making considered purchases from eco-friendly labels, it’s up to you to create a greener wardrobe.

While it may seem there’s more choice than ever, the amount of greenwashing can throw some confusion in the mix. So, we’ve rounded up all our favourite sustainable clothing brands below, from vegan trainer labels to trend-led high street brands.

A good pair of denim jeans can prop up your wardrobe for years to come. Swedish brand Nudie Jeans only uses certified organic and fairtrade recycled cotton for its denim offering. This means the brand reduces their enviromental impact from the very first step in making a pair of jeans, as organic cotton is grown without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or hazardous chemicals. Both of its suppliers in Turkey and India are Fairtrade certified, guaranteeing fair working conditions and the correct payment to farmers. As for the collection, expect classic jean silhouettes and length options, as well as retro-inspired skirts, dresses and shirts.

One of the most affordable places to shop more sustainable fashion, Nobody’s Child favours reduced-impact alternatives. From organic cotton and TENCEL lyocell (derived from certified responsible forestry) to ECONYL regenerated polyamide and REPREVE recycled polyester (sourced from pre-and post-consumer synthetic materials like bottles and fishing nets), the label is also transparent about its tier 1 suppliers. While it doesn’t solely use eco-friendly materials, all its fabrics are at least 75 per cent reduced-impact alternatives. Head here for everyday dresses, wedding guest attire and dopamine-including prints and colours.

Designed in Copenhagen, Organic Basics does exactly what it says on the tin. Its range of T-shirts, underwear, hoodies, socks and more are crafted from organic cotton and recycled materials with renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce the climate impact. Costing £16 for tops, £10 for briefs, £24 for tees and £13 for socks, the label is affordable and inclusive (sizes go up to XXXL).

Three quarters of the materials used in B-Corp certified Sezane’s collections are eco-friendly, with more than 90 per cent of its cotton organic and more than 85 per cent of its viscose sourced from sustainably managed forests. The French It-girl label makes excellent knitwear, as well as vintage-inspired denim, bold accessories and classic dresses all infused with effortless Parisian style.

Everlane have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by or before 2050, minimising its impact by using certified recycled, organic, renewable and responsibly sourced materials. The label has also signed up to the Transparency Pledge which means you can see all their factory and supply chain details. As for the clothes, Everlane focuses on high-quality, timeless wardrobe staples that you’ll wear again and again.

US label Reformation needs little introduction. Synonymous with silky gowns, feminine summer dresses, statement boots and desk-to-dinner loafers, it counts the likes of Taylor Swift and Hailey Beiber among its devotees. The brand’s collections have been carbon neutral since 2015 (verified by the non-profit organisation Climate Neutral), sourcing its electricity from wind suppliers, using fabrics from mostly recycled, regenerative or renewable materials and having a limited production model.

Born out of frustration with the lack of genuine progress in sustainability on the high street, Omnes was created to make eco-friendly fashion accessible for everyone. Prices start from £14 for a top and £55 for a dress, with the label only using quality fabrics that are grown, sourced and manufactured responsibly.

The brand you’ve seen all over your Instagram feed, London-based Damson Madder creates that leopard print gillet, bow-adorned dresses, statement jeans and boldly printed tops to inject some dopamine into your wardrobe. Using only organic cotton, recycled and re-purposed fabrics in its collection, everything is ethically sourced using supply chains with fair labour practices. Plus, the clothing don’t break the bank.

People Tree is recognised as a pioneer of sustainable fashion since its founding more than two decades ago. The label makes all its garments using enviromentally friendly materials, from Fairtrade certified organic cotton to natural dyes. The low impact materials limit the chemicals, water and wastewater in its supply chain which is certified for paying living wages. Its fashion is all about everyday wearability, from earth-friendly knits to summer linen dresses.

Patagonia is a leading brand when it comes to creating clothing that doesn’t cause unnecessary harm to the planet. It’s made moves such as guaranteeing its clothes for life and providing repairs and using a high proportion of recycled materials, while even going so far as to discourage customers from purchasing too many of its products with its “Don’t buy this jacket” campaign. Head here for outerwear built to last.

Gen Z’s favourite slow fashion label, East London-based brand House of Sunny produces just two collections a year. Its designs use recycled cotton and polyester where possible, as well as using innovative technology in the making of its demin to avoid excess water waste. Make the brand a go-to for baggy demin, statement summer dresses and vegan leather biker jackets you’ll wear season after season.

From the viral buckle ballet flats to its leopard print hero styles, Ganni sets the trend agenda time and time again. While it doesn’t call itself a sustainable brand, it’s pushing the boundries on materials and fabrics in its collections to have a more responsible approach. From carbon-captured yarn to plant-based versions of its bestselling designs (think the bou bag), the cool-girl Copenhagen label have also phased out virgin leather and now only use recycled leather and biotech alternatives.

Luxury slow fashion knitwear and accessories brand &Daughter creates timeless pieces with a contemporary twist; think statement collars, bold colourways, delicate cardigans and thick roll necks. Working with artisan mills in Scotland and Ireland, the label’s collections are made in small batches to avoid waste, using 100 per cent natural and locally-sourced yarns. The flattering fits and long-lasting appeal help justify the heftier price tags.

Danish fashion label Stine Goya is much-loved for its joy-inducing prints and dopamine colour palettes. A go-to for co-ords, evening gowns and statement accessories, it uses recycled polyester, organic cotton and fully biodegradable tencell in many of its collections.

Founded in 2020, Herd is on a mission to revive the traditions of farming for wool in England, in turn cutting the cost of each piece by having a total journey, from sheep to finishers, of just 150 miles. Championing the expertise of farmers, spinners, makers, knitters and skilled craftspeople, it’s aiming to create a knitwear chain that’s beneficial to all. Woven from the wool of Bluefaced Leicester sheep in Lancashire and Yorkshire, this homegrown brand creates pieces you’ll cherish for years to come, from vests to cardigans.

East London based E.L.V Denim transforms denim that’s destined for the landfill into covetable styles. Using low impact materials to limit chemical and water waste, it manufactors clothes in East London to avoid long distance shipping. Its designs are classic with a contemporary spin – think frayed hem skirts, Seventies-style flared jeans and two tone straight leg silhouettes.

British label Ninety Percent creates everyday staples that ooze elegance, from drop waist maxi dresses to fine knit cardigans and sleek white trousers. Using a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including organic cotton, a renewable viscose alternative, a natural wood pulp alternative to fine silk and biodegradable linen, the label even achieved a 100 per cent water circularity in its Bangladesh factory in 2024.

Harry Styles is an invester in London brand SS Daley, which is famed for its animal print knit sweaters and cardigan (Styles worn one style in his Golden music video). Focusing on long-term sustainability, the designer prioritises responsibly-sourced materials for designs, as well as upcycled fabrics for his Orange Label range of one-of-a-kind styles.

British fashion designer Stella McCartney is a pioneer of sustainability in the luxury fashion realm.The brand is fully vegetarian, with no leather, fathers, furs or skins found in their collections, while its clothing is also PVC- and Angora-free. As part of the label’s sustainability initiatives, it uses innovative materials like grape-based leather and forest-friendly rayon in its collections, as well as organic cotton where possible. It’s also baned cotton from China, Syria, Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan where child and forced labour are rife and doesn’t source viscose from ancient or endangered forests.

This British knitwear brand works with two types of handpicked wool: from merino sheep in Australia and New Zealand, and lambs in South Africa. Each knit is 100 per cent natural and biodegradable in a bid to create pieces that transcend trends and which will last for generations. Cut in classic styles and made in limited quantities to avoid excessive waste, the pieces are carefully woven in a female-led factory in Porto, Portugal. The knits all come in plastic-free packaging and are shipped using carbon-neutral methods.

True to its name, the wool origins of your knit are included with every purchase from Sheep Inc – the world’s first carbon-negative knitwear brand. The label pledges to mitigate 10 times the carbon footprint of every purchase, with the aim of fixing some of the environmental damage done by the fashion industry. Each of the brand’s designs come in colours from moss green to pacific blue, with the aim of putting you back in touch with nature – Tom Hardy is among its fans. And these pieces are intended to last you forever, as they come with a lifetime guarantee.

Loved by the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Kate Middleton, Veja uses innovative materials (think plastic bottles and natural rubber) to make its sustainable shoes. The brand offers recycling to customers to reduce waste while its supply chain is traceable right back to the harvest of raw materials. There’s a trainer style for everyone in Veja’s roster, from chunky “dad” styles to streamlined minimalist designs.

Founded in Hawaii in 2015, Alohas’s shoes are now designed in Barcelona and crafted by local artisans in Spain and Portugal to reduce the impact of shipping. The label has a pre-order model that aims to limit overproduction and waste, with styles crafted from eco-friendly animal leathers (made from the byproducts of the meat industry, or from animals that have died of natural causes) and plant-based materials like cactus, corn, and as of recently, apple. From dainty ballet flats to colourful trainers, the buzzy brand is at the top of its game.

Nudea is one of the most exciting names around when it comes to sustainable underwear, with its matching sets and seperates striking the perfect balance between everyday comfort and sexiness. The brand is B Corp certified and only uses recycled, sustainable and innovative fabrics. Plus, it has a bra recycling scheme so you can dispose of your old bras responsibly. Kind to both the planet and the wearer, the designs are comfortable, supportive and flattering.

Away That Day is a fashion editor’s worst kept secret for stylish swimwear. From flattering high waisted bikinis with gold hardwear to body sculpting swimsuits that easily double up as bodysuits, the brand’s designs are made by small manufacturers in the UK, Europe and India. As part of its sustainability pledges, the brand uses regenerative waste including ocean plastics, nylon scraps and ghost fishing nets, as well as viscose alternatives, recycled polyamide and biodegradable linen in its styles.

Swimwear label Hunza G features a one size business model that ensures its designs can see you through a lifetime and all of your body’s changes. Putting an emphasis on timelessness, its signature crinkle pieces are buy-now and love-forever pieces. In its traceable supply chain, all waste water if purified to drinking water quality while 86 per cent of electricty in production is from renewable energy sources

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