A [non]-exhaustive list of my favorite ethically made brands.
Different styles, different price points, with size inclusive options.
Everyday I get asked “what brands do you recommend?” And I’ve struggled on how to answer that question because no brand is perfect and every brand focuses on their own values, so really it’s up to you to decide what’s important to you and pick who you support accordingly. But the brands below are a great start if you’re trying to be a more conscious consumer and want your clothes to last longer than your last Hinge relationship. So here are some of my favorite ethically made, high-quality brands that I think are worth checking out.
**also I am currently building a platform that will make discovering conscious, ethically-made, independent brands much easier. The goal is to be able to search and compare products from hundreds of independent brands and find amazing fashion that fits your values (eg. women-owned, size-inclusive, natural-fibers etc…) I would be extremely honored if you signed up for the waitlist here, it will be launched in April. Thank you!
1. Bastet Noir
Bastet Noir is top of this list for a reason. Every piece is made-to-order in North Macedonia by single moms, and everything is made with meticulous care, ensuring fair wages. They use fantastic fabrics, offer custom sizing, and have incredibly fast turn-around time. Their designs are also incredibly chic. I cannot recommend them enough!
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2. Sisterhood
If the name doesn’t already give you all the warm fuzzies, their process will. Sisterhood whips up small-batch clothing, mostly using natural fibers like linen and cotton. The style is reminiscent of Aritzia, but without the fast fashion aftertaste.
3. Cou Cou Intimates
I don’t know about you, but comfy undies are basically my love language. Cou Cou Intimates nails it with organic cotton in a style that rivals the Brandy Melville Intimates section. Plus, they’ve got a super transparent supply chain, so you can parade around in your skivvies without any guilt.
4. Girlfriend Collective
If you’ve been within a 10-foot radius of me lately, you’ve probably heard me rave about Girlfriend Collective’s leggings. They are basically indestructible (I literally fell on my roller skates and busted my whole knee but the leggings got a *tiny* hole). They’re truly the workhorse of activewear. The brand’s all about inclusive sizing and letting you send back old pieces to get recycled again.
5. Sophie + Lucie
Sophie + Lucie is all about that polished, feminine vibe, like something you’d wear to a fancy garden party, except it’s still cool for everyday life. Everything is made in small runs at family-run factories, so each piece feels super special. It’s giving Reformation vibes, but actually sustainable and won’t fall apart after 1 wash.
6. Spell Collective
Spell Collective is my top alternative for Free People. They’re from Australia, and they use eco-friendly dyes and incredible fabrics. Think flowy dresses and dreamy prints that make you feel like you’re on permanent vacation.
7. Etica
Etica changes the denim game with ethical production, water-saving methods, and fair wages, oh, and their jeans actually fit like a dream. Thank goodness, because life’s too short for uncomfortable pants.
8. Mate the Label
Two words: organic essentials. Mate the Label has those perfectly soft tees, sweatshirts, and joggers that you just want to live in. Everything is made in Los Angeles with non-toxic dyes and minimal waste. If “Netflix and chill” were a clothing brand, it’d be Mate the Label. They also have a lot of natural fiber activewear options.
9. Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn pieces look like they just stepped out of a fairy-tale wardrobe. They use deadstock or regenerative fabrics for these dreamy, vintage-inspired dresses and tops and are one of the OG sustainable brands (who never lost their values…). Picture frolicking through a meadow of wildflowers, that’s the vibe
10. Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher has been doing the whole “sustainable fashion” thing longer than many of us have been into fashion, period. Their designs are simple, timeless, and built to last. They also offer a take-back program, so when you’re done with a piece (in, like, a decade), they’ll figure out how to recycle or upcycle it.
Threads and Tribulations is a reader-supported publication. Your support allows me to continue spending countless hours putting together the most informative posts I can. Please consider becoming a paid or free subscriber.
11. Armedangels
Based in Germany, Armedangels is basically that cool European friend with a capsule wardrobe full of effortlessly stylish basics. Everything is fair trade, organic, and done with total transparency. So if you’re tired of your tees shrinking into crop tops after two washes, give them a shot.
12. Boyish
Consider this your official permission to break up with your old denim brand. Boyish is based in LA and focuses on vintage-inspired jeans made with recycled fabrics. They also use less water and fewer harmful chemicals in the process. So now you can rock that “cool girl in jeans” look without feeling like you’re messing up the planet.
13. Ace & Jig
Ace & Jig’s signature move? Custom, colorful woven textiles that are like art pieces you can wear. They partner with artisans in India, ensuring fair wages and safe conditions. Each piece feels super unique, and you’ll probably get used to strangers saying, “Omg, where did you get that?!”
14. Kotn
Last but definitely not least, Kotn is a certified B Corp that works directly with cotton farmers in Egypt. Super soft basics that actually hold up wash after wash. Plus, they’re investing in the communities they partner with, building schools and supporting local economies.
Switching to ethical brands might sound a bit overwhelming, but trust me, it’s way easier (and more fun!) than you think. With these 15 brands, you’re not just stocking your closet with clothes you’ll actually wear; you’re also supporting fair wages, sustainable materials, and good vibes all around.
Did I miss your favorite brand? Let me know.
xx, Olga
Follow along on my Instagram and TikTok and shop my recs here.
*please note some links in this post are affiliate links and allow me to earn a small commission from the brand/store should you choose to make a purchase (at no additional cost to you). This ensures I have the means to continue spending time curating these posts as well as creating the vast amounts of content I put out onto the interwebs. I appreciate your support!
Cover photo from Sophie + Lucie, all other photos are from respective brands.
Amidst all our awful news, this made me really happy to read this morning. Shopping ethically is something I CAN control….thank you for this wonderful list 🩵
Thank you!!! I LOVE this post!!!! Thank you for the thought and care you put into this ❤️