Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands

10 Affordable Sustainable Clothing Brands We Love

Ethical or sustainable fashion is more than just a trend or buzzword. It is a fashion movement that demands accountability for our fashion choices. The prevalent ideology of ‘more for less’ has negatively impacted the environment. In response, ethical fashion is concerned with fair trade issues, a humane working environment, environmental impact, and sustainability. These are issues that are neglected in the fast fashion industry. 

Sustainable clothing brands consider the financial costs of ethical practices to determine their price points. Of course, there are high-priced ethical clothes, but there are many others that are not as pricey. Moreover, these brands prevent a cost from being passed on to people and the planet. Below, we list some of our favorite ethical fashion brands that produce high-quality, ethical clothing that retails within the ‘affordable’ price range. 

Why you should choose ethical fashion brands

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You'll find two main reasons to join if you are not already on the ethical clothing train. Read more in our deeper dive over at: how to shop ethically for clothes or find out more about sustainable fashion and why it matters.

Social cost

The fast fashion industry has exposed garment workers to exploitation, abuse, and danger. Many workers in low-cost countries like China, Cambodia, and Bangladesh barely earn enough to live on. It forces them to work under inhumane conditions.

Documentaries like The True Cost show us just how much-unrewarded toil and sweat go into the ridiculously cheap clothes we buy at fast-fashion stores. Even affordable, sustainable clothing brands ensure that they pay garment workers fairly and do not violate their human rights.

Environmental cost

Waste, pollution, and unsustainable resource use are the major environmental challenges that fast fashion has created.

Sustainable brands make eco-friendly clothing from sustainable materials with the environment in mind. Ethical clothes are environmentally sustainable from the production of raw materials to the manufacturing and usage stage.

10 Affordable Sustainable Clothing Brands

1. The Road

The Road Affordable Ethical Fashion
Photo Credit: The Road.

For: women and men
Product range: T-shirts and underwear for men and women
Ethical practices and values: GOTS, ICEA, Fair Trade certification, transparent supply chain, toxic-free, health care and retirement benefits for workers
Clothing size range: S-XL
Store location and shipping: based in Australia and offers worldwide shipping

The Road is spreading the message that ethics in fashion is no longer a luxury. The brand says it costs them $13.64 to make one t-shirt, and that's the floor price on ethics.

They believe no one should buy a shirt at that price or less. When you do, it means someone along the supply chain was not paid fairly for their labor. Most often, that person is the garment worker or the farmer. The brand bases its price point on the belief that everyone should be able to buy high-quality, ethical clothing at an affordable price.

The brand uses 100% organic cotton sourced sustainably and GOTS-approved inks and dyes. It sources and produces its clothing transparently and ensures it only works with certified fair trade farmers. To produce certified eco-friendly clothing, The Road works with manufacturers who use a zero-discharge system to prevent wastewater runoff. Moreover, The Road runs housing, retirement, and health care programs for its Indian garment workers.

This eco-friendly clothing brand promises to deliver your order to your doorstep anywhere in the world. Delivery within Australia may take up to 7 business days, while international shipping may take slightly longer.

Shop The Road

2. Boody

For: men, women, and babies
Product range: underwear, t-shirts, activewear, socks, pajamas
Ethical practice and values: bamboo fiber, Ecocert approved, Oeko-Tex certified, PETA Vegan approved, WRAP certified, eco-friendly packaging
Clothing size range: XS-XL
Store location and shipping: Australia, 

Boody’s philosophy is minimalistic versatility. The brand offers comfortable & classic clothing basics to consumers. Boody’s price range for women's underwear is between $19-$11.

Their fiber of choice is bamboo. They use bamboo fiber for sustainability, low water consumption, and hypoallergenic quality. The fiber production process is a closed-loop system that produces zero waste. The packaging is made with recycled material and printed with vegetable-based ink. Championing its environmental impact, the sustainable fashion brand claims it has saved over 400 million liters of water since 2016.

Boody also sells a South African-made bracelet and donates all the profits to Goodbye Malaria and the Relate Organization.

Shop Boody

3. Made Trade

Made trade ethical fashion
Photo Credit: Made Trade.

For: men and women
Product range: clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, homeware
Ethical practice and values: fair trade, vegan, carbon offset shipping, support artisans, member of 1% For the Planet, recycled materials
Clothing size range: XS-3XL
Store location and shipping: USA-based and ships internationally

This sustainable clothing brand features an integrated collection of artisan-made clothing and American designs. They have a large collection of basics, athleisure, dresses, bathrobes, and so on.

The men’s tee costs $45. The brand produces its clothing using sustainable fabrics that are recycled, ethically sourced, or designed to have almost zero environmental impact. The brand considers locally harvested materials, recycled or reclaimed plastic or fabrics, natural materials and fibers, and dyes sustainable materials. Its swimwear line is made from eco-friendly fabrics like Repreve and Econcyl. 

This brand works with artisans and manufacturers in a system that complies with fair labor practices. The workers get a fair price for their labor and work in a conducive environment. They also encourage their manufacturers to source materials locally.

Made Trade offers its consumers the option to purchase carbon offsets for delivery and returns. The brand supports Fibershed, a non-profit dedicated to researching and promoting regenerative farming practices. 1% of made trade’s profits go to Fibershed.

Shop Made Trade

4. Warp+Weft

Warp + Weft sustainable denim and more
Warp+Weft Sustainable Denim for all body sizes. Photo Credit: Warp+Weft.

For: men, women, and children
Product range: denim jeans, jackets, underwear
Ethical practice and values: recycled materials, eco-friendly production
Clothing size range: over 70 sizes available
Store location and shipping: New York, USA. International shipping is not available 

Warp+Weft caters to the whole family, offering premium quality at a fast-fashion price. Its price point is based on its vertical production system, eliminating third parties and non-vital markups. Warp+Weft places a high value on the perfect fit and design for 75 sizes and body types. It even has a maternity line for eco-conscious expectant mothers. Warp+Weft complies with International Social, environmental, and quality Standards.

This affordable, sustainable clothing brand makes its jeans from scratch using locally sourced materials. Twenty percent of its clothing is made from recycled denim, plastic, and cotton. Warp+Weft says it uses 1400 fewer gallons of water per jean than regular denim, which means it only needs about 10 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans.

They also conserve water by treating and recycling their wastewater. Warp+Weft jeans do not undergo bleaching, rather they are processed using Dry Ozone technology.

The brand is open about all the details of its production process and uses an energy-efficient system that includes solar panels. The company claims to have saved over 500 million gallons of water as part of its accomplishments.

The family-owned sustainable fashion brand clearly states its commitment to maintaining positive working conditions and paying fair wages.

Shop Warp+Weft

5. Swoon Swimwear

For: women
Product range: swimwear
Ethical practice and values: locally manufactured, recycled materials, ethically sourced, supports a non-profit
Clothing size range: S-XL
Store location and shipping: based in the USA and ships worldwide

Eco-friendly swoon-worthy swimwear just adds to the good feeling of relaxation at your favorite beach or pool, doesn't it?

Kristy Kleist, the owner of swoon swimwear, sews 90% of her products herself. Her handmade bikinis come with the added advantage of being reversible. That feels like getting two bikinis when you buy one. The brand’s small range of designs is youthful and comfortable.

Swoon products usually have one side made with recycled fabric. One of Swoon’s latest designs is completely made with silky soft Repreve fabrics. Repreve fabrics are made from recycled polyester and are 100% recyclable as well.

The Milwaukee-based swimwear brand is proud to be homemade and support its local economy. The brand works with works with suppliers that steer clear of child labor and worker exploitation. Swoon Swimwear supports ‘Simply From The Heart,’ a non-profit that offers bedside beauty services to raise the esteem of hospitalized individuals. The non-profit focuses on patients with terminal or life-threatening diseases, making them feel beautiful regardless.

Shop Swoon Swimwear

6. Mata Traders

Targeted at: women
Product range: clothing, earrings
Ethical practice and values: a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Green America certified, supports women's empowerment
Clothing size range: 1X-2X
Store location and shipping: based in the USA, ships only to Canada

Inspired by the beauty of Indian block printing, hand embroidery, and screen printing, Mata Traders began importing dresses and jewelry made by local artisans.

This ethical fashion brand collaborates with several fair trade organizations in Nepal and India to source its products. Local artisans in India and Nepal make Mata Traders clothing. seamstresses create complete garments in their small workshops rather than being a part of a factory production line.

Some of their clothes are made with handwoven fabrics like ‘ikat’ and ‘khadi.’ Mata Traders' clothes are made with organic cotton, although some designs contain about 5% spandex. Their designs are modern, with some elements of Indian artisan culture.

The brand works with artisan cooperatives to provide professional, literacy, and computer literacy training for local women. Mata traders also allow women to earn directly from the fashion brand. And by providing work for women, the brand ensures that their children don't have to take on the responsibility of providing for the family. It is the brand’s way of combating child labor. The workers earn above local minimum wages and work flexible hours. You can check them out on their website:

Shop Mata Traders

7. Alternative Apparel

For: men, women, and youths
Product range: basics, loungewear, and accessories
Ethical practice and values: recycled materials, fair trade factories, eco-friendly packaging, member of fashion revolution
Clothing size range: XS-3XL
Store location and shipping: based in Atlanta and ships only to US environs.

This sustainable clothing brand offers designs suitable for all ages. Alternative apparel uses eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, hemp-blend, and recycled cotton to produce its classic and affordable lines.

They also recycle 1.8 million plastic water bottles yearly to create their alternative eco-fabrics, which is an impressive amount of plastic waste put to good use. They use low-impact dyes and water-conserving production methods. The brand’s choice of packaging is an oxo-biodegradable mailer bag.

They work with suppliers that have WRAP certification and comply with Fair Labor Association guidelines. The brand ensures that the workers who produce for them work in a safe environment and earn a living wage.

Shop Alternative Apparel

8. People Tree

People tree affordable fashion and sustainable
Photo Credit: People Tree.

For: women
Product range: clothing and accessories
Ethical practice and values: fair trade certified, eco-friendly, responsible sourcing, GOTS certified organic cotton, supports artisans
Clothing size range: UK 6-18
Store location and shipping: UK-based and ships only to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US.

The People Tree brand had produced sustainable clothing since 1991 when award-winning social entrepreneur Safia Minney founded it. The women’s clothing brand has contemporary, playful, and versatile designs. It offers a range of stylish T-shirts, dresses, denim, and yoga wear. The brand bases its price point on affordability while respecting the people who make the clothing and caring for the planet. The price point for its T-shirts is $55-$86.

The brand manufactures using a completely ethical production process. It features organic cotton clothing, TENCEL lyocell, and ethically sourced wool. It is certified by GOTS, the soil association, and PETA vegan-approved.

People Tree was the first fashion company to receive the World Fair Trade Organisation product label for its adherence to ethical principles. People Tree’s denim is produced with 87.2% less water than regular jeans. All the clothes are dyed with low-impact dyes that have no azo chemicals. 

The brand works with artisans to produce handmade clothing with low environmental impact, creating jobs in rural areas and toxic-free clothes. The brand is dedicated to paying fair wages, supply chain transparency, providing good working conditions, and promoting gender equality. 

Shop People Tree

9. Beaumont Organic

Beaumont organic affordable ethical fashion
Photo Credit: Beaumont Organic.

For: women and babies
Product range: clothing accessories and homeware
Ethical practice and values: GOTS-certified organic fabrics, eco-friendly packaging, traceable supply chain, recycled materials, zero waste
Clothing size range: XS-L
Store location and shipping: based in the UK, offers worldwide shipping

This sustainable clothing brand launched in 2008 and has been creating contemporary, eco-conscious clothing for modern women. Their clothing collection features loose dresses, dress shirts, baby rompers, baby knickers, and napkins. 

Beaumont Organic uses GOTS-certified organic materials, including cotton, linen, Tencel, lyocell, and non-mulesed wool in its products. The brand operates a traceable clothing supply chain and only sources wool compliant with ethical farming rules from in the EU. The brand uses recycled yarns as much as it can.

The packaging is made with recycled eco-friendly materials; consumers are encouraged to recycle the box. Beaumont Organic manages the textile waste in its factories by putting end-of-roll fabrics, which are usually thrown away, to use. They create a limited number of unique styles with end-of-roll fabrics, further demonstrating their sustainable practices.

Another featured ethical brand, Beaumont Organics, promises to only work with factories that pay fair wages and provide good working conditions for its workers. They do their best to maintain daily communication with their suppliers and manufacturers.

Beaumont organic also ensures that the production schedule is fair to the workers. The brand donates 1% of its earnings through the Beaumont Organic Foundation to provide good education, healthcare, and hygiene for the Taveuni people of Fiji.

Local orders are supplied within four working days, while international shipping takes about 10-14 days.

Shop Beaumont Organic

10. Bibico 

For: women
Product range: clothing and accessories
Ethical practice and values: fair trade, women empowerment, WFTO certified
Clothing size range: 8uk-16uk
Store location and shipping: UK-based, international delivery is available.

Bibico is a sustainable women’s clothing brand that has been in business since 2008. It offers timeless, easy-to-wear clothing. The brand's founder, Nieves Ruiz Ramos, known to her customers as ‘Snow, ' creates fuss-free designs. Bibico makes dresses, skirts, pants, jumpers, gloves, and hats. It uses organic and fair trade fibers like hemp, cotton, and wool in its clothing. 

Presently, the brand empowers women by working with two women’s cooperatives in its major supply area, India. These cooperatives provide training, education, and work opportunities for women and ensure that the workers are paid a fair price for their labor and have a safe place to work.

Bibico encourages customers to contact the brand if they have any questions regarding their products and processes. Orders within the UK take no longer than 3 working days, while delivery to other parts of Europe, the USA, and Canada can take up to 7 working days. For other parts of the world, shipping takes about 10 working days.

Shop Bibico

Conclusion

Fast fashion trends have proved unsustainable, but you can make a difference when buying ethically made clothes. Ethical practices are not cheap, so ethically made clothes may sometimes be pricey. However, this list will help you find some affordable, sustainable clothing brands so that you can be ethically dressed without breaking the bank.

If you want to buy ethical clothes even cheaper, you can always check your favourite online thrift store to prevent new items from requiring manufacture in the first place.

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