Hey, hey, hey!! Welcome to Part 4 of the “Sustainable and Ethical Fashion 101” series, “Where to Shop.” The number one question I have been asked since starting this series has been “where can I shop?” Today’s post is going to answer that question. This list is, by no means, an exhaustive list of sustainable and ethical brands for you to shop. But, it’s a REALLY good starting point.
How to Use this List
The list that I’m going to share includes a number of sustainable and ethical fashion brands that you can shop. The commitment to sustainability and ethics displayed by the brands varies. This means that some brands are fully committed to sustainability producing the entirety of their collections. Others may choose to solely focus on one aspect of sustainability or ethics, like recycling materials instead of creating waste or sourcing directly from artisans to ensure fair wages. Make sure you check out each brand to learn about their commitment and how it might align with your own personal values.
In the list, I will include the name of the shop, a brief description of the items they sell, and an average price range for the items. I will also highlight if the brand is size-inclusive, women-owned, black-owned, and/or minority-owned.
$ = $1-50
$$ = $50-100
$$$ = $100-$200
$$$$ = $200+
I’m not going to make you wait any longer. Let’s dig right in!
My Personal Faves
The following brands are companies that I personally know, love, and shop. With a couple of them, I even have a personal relationship with the owner. I am not able to vouch for all of the companies on this list (I simply have not shopped all of them); but for these three companies and I can and I will.
Fashionkind by Nina Farran
https://fashionkind.com/
$$$$
Women-owned
Fashionkind is a new way to discover and shop for luxury fashion online. Fashionkind showcases a unique curation of exquisite pieces by the leading sustainable luxury designers from around the world, each of which we have hand-selected based on their design aesthetic and positive social and environmental impact.
What I love:
The fantastic thing about shopping on the Fashionkind website is that you can shop by Cause/Impact or by Region. So no matter how you choose to be sustainable and ethical, you can find something that aligns with your personal values.
Prota Fiori
https://protafiori.com/
$$$$
Women-owned
PROTA FIORI is a luxury women’s footwear brand sourced and made in Italy created on the ethos of sustainability. The brand was conceived with the principle that business can be a catalyst for change and they are committed to building an authentic and socially impactful company with sustainability at the center of it all.
What I love:
You don’t have to sacrifice luxury for sustainability. There is a reason that Manolo Blahniks Jimmy Choos, Salvatore Ferragamos, and other luxury footwear come with a hefty price tag – the quality. These shoes are impeccably made and worth every penny you will spend to own them. Prota Fiori footwear is made with the same pedigree but with sustainable materials and manufacturing. It feels good to get the best of both worlds.
Lezé the Label
https://lezethelabel.com/
SSS
Women-owned, Minority-owned, Size Inclusive (up to 2XL)
Lezé makes recycled workwear that feels like pajamas and is made for women to navigate their career journeys more freely. Their clothing is made with coffee waste and an assortment of eco-friendly materials, like plastic bottles and fishing net, to promote functional fashion with integrity.
What I love:
I can look and feel good at work (or working from home) while also doing good. The clothes are comfy, comfy, comfy and are still very much work and office appropriate. I also love that they’re starting to create low-waste collections where they collect pre-orders for new garments and only produce what they need, cutting down on inventory and storage cost, as well as fabric waste.
The Best of the Rest
Sancho
https://sanchosshop.com/
$$-$$$
Black-owned, Women-owned
Sustainable clothing and lifestyle stores that source clothing that is fair-trade and constructed from sustainable natural materials, as well as accessories and gifts from organic and fair-trade producers.
Bôhten
https://bohten.com/
$$$
Black-owned
Bôhten produces lightweight handmade frames sourced from sustainable material in Africa carefully designed to give you maximum comfort and fit.
Harper Wilde
https://harperwilde.com/
$
Women-owned
A collection of comfortable and quality bras from a company dedicated to comfort, convenience, and cause.
Poppy Row
https://www.poppyrow.com/
$$-$$$
Women-owned, Size Inclusive
Poppy Row’s capsule collection of modular clothing ensures every woman feels effortlessly chic and comfortable in her own skin, regardless of her body type. A proud supporter of the slow fashion movement, the line is produced in L.A. under the tenets of social consciousness and fair trade.
Dynasty George
https://www.dynastygeorge.com/
$$$
Women-owned
Ethically made and sustainably sourced clothing handmade in Brooklyn, NY using natural, recycled, and vintage textiles.
The Tiny Closet
https://www.thetinyclosetshop.com/
$$$
Women-owned, Black-owned
This small-business manufactures and sells clothing from outsourced fabrics. The Tiny Closet doesn’t have any inventory, all clothing is made-to-order using dead stock fabric, and the business operates with a low-waste model.
Béyu
https://www.shopbeyu.com/
$$
Women-owned, Black-owned
In 2018, Béyu began to transition to an ethical and sustainable business model by producing products made from eco-friendly and/or repurposed fabrics. Béyu represents the woman who is chic but conscious, sexy but sustainable.
RE ONA
www.reona.ca
$$
Black-owned
RE ONA is a women’s ready to wear brand offering transitional, functional and clean designs. Clothing is designed in Toronto, Canada and ethically produced in Bangladesh. .Clothing is produced in small batches and hand-made by fairly paid workers who work in a clean, safe environment and receive full benefits.
Gracemade
https://www.thegracemade.com/
$$-$$$
Black-owned, Women-owned
Gracemade is a faith-driven lifestyle brand that delivers a fashion-forward interpretation of modest apparel. Each Gracemade piece is designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, using ethical standards with the utmost respect for people, the local community, and the environment.
Loud Bodies
https://loudbodies.com/
$$-$$$
Women-owned, Size Inclusive
An ethically and sustainably produced clothing line designed to show that style has no size. From production to waste management to shipping, sustainability has been at the forefront of this brand.
As I have mentioned, this list is by no means exhaustive. I’ve actually found dozens of “sustainable and ethical” brands. However, I personally research each brand before I recommend them to you guys and I weed out any that I can’t verify are actually sustainable or ethical in some capacity. I still have several more brands to evaluate before I will share them. That’s why I urge you to follow Your Chic is Showing on Instagram (www.instagram.com/yourchicisshowing) and to turn on “post notifications” and watch the InstaStories. IG will be the first place I post about brands after I evaluate them.
Next week, I’m going to answer some FAQs and talk about “what’s next” as we continue on this sustainable and ethical fashion journey. Be sure to share this post, and the entire series, with others you think would enjoy the information. Stay chic!
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