If there’s one buzzword the fashion industry loves, it is “organic”. In recent years, organic clothing brands have invaded the fashion scene. This has forced companies to rethink their fabric sourcing and selection.
Yet, this concept of organic clothing is ambiguous and hardly ever explained. Why exactly is organic clothing better?
To put it simply, organic clothing is better because it protects your skin from harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Wearing non-organically grown clothing exposes you to chemicals used to make the fabrics. This can cause irritation to the skin, among other things.
Shopping for organic clothing brands is also better for the planet! It means releasing fewer pollutant chemicals into our ecosystems. Fabrics, such as organic cotton, need less water and energy to produce. This leaves more resources available for those who depend on it.
Note from Hailey: We all need a little makeover sometimes. This article was originally published in 2021 and has been updated and revamped for accuracy and consistency.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my site and read more about my disclosure policies here.
10 of the Best Organic Clothing Brands
Knowing why organic clothing brands are better for you and the environment is the first step. Next, comes the inevitable next question: where do I shop for organic fabrics? For you, I have gathered a list of the 10 best organic clothing brands below:
Naadam
Amongst this list of organic clothing brands, Naadam is one of the most committed to ethical and sustainable production. Naadam works directly with herders, allowing the brand to pay them 50% more and charge customers 50% less.
Naadam’s primary supplier is a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified factory. Thus, unlike some other organic clothing brands, Naadam ensures organic production for all of its fabrics. Naadam’s most popular fabric is its recycled cashmere, which is upcycled cashmere from fabric scraps from past collections.
Naadam is committed to organic production through packaging as well. In 2019, the brand started using Breakdown Plastic Technology (BDP) to help plastic biodegrade to leave nothing but organic matter in a couple of years (as opposed to virgin plastics which take 1,000 years).
Back Beat Co.
There are few organic clothing brands that make sustainability as cool and stylish as Back Beat Co. does. This WOC-owned, California-born lifestyle brand designs everyday essentials. They make products with only the highest quality fabrics. The brand specializes in “low-impact” fabrics. This includes recycled cotton, hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, and deadstock.
Hemp is their most popular and marketed fabric, and for good reason. Hemp is a natural plant fiber. It requires little water to grow and even replenishes soil nutrients. This helps improve soil health. It is also biodegradable and one of the strongest textile fabrics.
BBCo allows Consumers to filter by fabric, which is nice if you have your eye on a particular fabric type. The brand has small capsule collections including lounge shorts, sweatpants, hoodies, and t-shirts. These comfort basics help ensures that its stock is not excessive and wasteful.
BBCo prioritizes ethical production by ensuring fair working conditions for its employees. Further, the brand only uses recycled packaging materials. They also use compostable bags.
Harvest & Mill
Harvest & Mill works directly with American organic cotton farmers to source the highest quality materials. Not only does this choice ensure that Harvest & Mill’s products are free of harmful substances, but it also helps to support the communities surrounding these farms.
With regenerative farming comes cleaner, healthier air for the families living on or near these farms. Harvest & Mill is selective in its partners, only working with small, independent American farms, mills, and factories.
Harvest & Mill also avoids harmful chemicals in the dyeing process, only using plant-based ingredients. These sustainable dyes are free of bleach, synthetic chemicals, and other harmful substances.
Amour Vert
Amour Vert takes the concept of organic clothing brands to a whole new level. The brand partners directly with mills to produce its own fabrics. This is unlike other companies that buy pre-made fabrics. This is how Amour Vert ensures its pieces are soft, sustainable, and long-lasting.
One of their most sought-after fabrics is their “cottonseed cupro fabric”. It’s a plant-based, vegan fabric that is repurposed plant seed fiber spun into a new type of cotton. This organic cotton fabric gives new life to what would’ve otherwise gone into the landfill.
The cottonseed cupro is the only organic fabric that the brand produces. They do also produce a Tencel modal fiber. It’s important to know this fabric does not technically count as organic. Tencel has a natural origin because it is made from wood but the finished fiber is man-made. However, Tencel is completely biodegradable. It also requires less water during production. This makes it a sustainable fabric.
Amour Vert’s “Tee For Trees” concert encourages the improvement of air quality. The brand plants a tree in collaboration with every t-shirt purchased. Their sustainability dedication is also represented in product packaging. The brand uses compostable packaging made from recycled materials printed with soy-based inks.
Yes And
Yes And commits to using organic cotton and Tencel throughout its collections. Beyond this, they use regenerative and biodynamic farming techniques. This helps reverse climate change! Specifically by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. Both of which reduce carbon emissions and improve the water cycle.
The brand plants a tree for every purchase made. This reduces its carbon emissions and also follows a circular model through its partnership with Wardrobe. Wardrobe is a site that resells extra inventory.
Unlike the other organic clothing brands on this list, Yes And offers a maximalist take on sustainable fashion, offering pops of color and fun prints. It is the perfect brand for the eco-conscious yet playful shopper.
AG Jeans
We wouldn’t have a complete list of organic clothing brands without a denim-centric retailer. AG Jeans focuses on sustainable denim made with organic materials. Their recently launched “Jean Of Tomorrow” is just that.
These jeans are produced with natural dyes that are derived from earth’s ingredients, such as madder root and myrobalan nuts. Not only do these natural dyes reduce CO2 levels, but also support local farmers, as the brand sources these ingredients directly from a farm collective in India.
Beyond a natural dyeing process, these jeans are also made with traceable organic cotton. This organic cotton is coupled with plant-based elements making these jeans 100% recyclable and biodegradable.
Chinti and Parker
Chinti & Parker is all about sustainable knitwear. The brand has launched a Conscious Cashmere collection, which includes a variety of sweaters made with ethics in mind. The sweaters in this collection are made with recycled cashmere and yarn that saves around 98% in water and 90% in CO2 emissions. For every piece purchased from the Conscious Cashmere line, a tree is planted in collaboration with Tree App.
There are few organic clothing brands that are committed to social responsibility as well as sustainability, and Chinti & Parker is the exception. In addition to their partnership with Tree App, the brand collaborates with Compare Ethics, a business that ensures transparency for employees and customers during production.
Tentree
Tentree does exactly what it says it does. For every order purchased, 10 trees are planted. The brand keeps track of how many trees you have planted by keeping a record of your purchase history.
The brand works with Tencel, recycled polyester, cotton, and hemp. All these are filter options when navigating the brand’s collections. Tentree has a sporty, naturistic aesthetic, offering styles for both men and women.
The brand has created Eco-Log. It’s a calculator that compares the environmental footprint of Tentree’s products to its counterparts. Consumers can navigate Eco-Log to receive a comprehensive view of the ecological impact of their purchase.
Cuyana
Although most organic clothing brands on this list specialize in organic cotton, Cuyana takes it one step further. This brand has three separate strands of organic cotton present throughout its collections.
The first is Pima Cotton, which is Oeko-Tex and WRAP certified, ensuring that no hazardous substances are present in its makeup. The second is poplin cotton, which is GOTS-certified organic cotton. And lastly is french terry, which is also GOTS-certified and therefore made with the highest quality standards.
Beyond organic cotton, Cuyana also produces recycled silk, cashmere, and wool fabrics. Cuyana works closely with suppliers around the world to pay them a higher wage and ensure that the highest quality materials are used.
Aday
Aday focuses on custom-developed sustainable fabrics that are high-quality and long-lasting. A great example is their REPREVE polyester, which is sourced from beechwood trees in a closed-loop production process (meaning no materials, energy, or water is wasted in the process). Aday also created a Biofleece, which is made from TENCEL, a fabric that biodegrades within 90 days. Aday is constantly innovating new ways to protect the environment. All of Aday’s fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified.
In addition, all of Aday’s fabrics are cruelty-free. Two of their fabrics, Better Knit and Seasonless Merino, are responsibly sourced from animals, and maintain the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher features both organic cotton and organic linen throughout its collections. This is unlike other organic brands we’ve introduced thus far. The brand also works directly with farmers! They ensure that the seeds are not genetically modified or treated with pesticides. They also ensure employees are not exposed to hazardous chemicals. In general, the brand works to ensure protection for both the planet and its people.
The brand has exclusive collections for its organic linen and organic cotton. This is rather than trickling in a few of these organic fabrics into its existing collections. Each collection offers a capsule wardrobe. It contains tees, long sleeves, jumpsuits, and dresses. They each with a simple and timeless aura.
Within the organic cotton collection, the brand has three fabric variations. There is organic cotton jersey for smooth and supple fabric. Organic cotton hemp for stretch and comfort. And, organic cotton french terry for quality plushness. Many organic fashion brands boast quality. But not all have the extensive variety that Eileen Fisher offers. This makes them definitely one of the best organic fashion brands to keep on your radar.
Armed Angels
Armed Angels take organic materials seriously. Similar to other organic clothing brands, Armed Angels primarily executes organic production by cultivating organic cotton. For Armed Angels, this is a methodical process. Following the regulations of organic farming, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are avoided, and less water is used overall.
Instead, the farmers use natural aspects of the soil (manure, compost, etc.) as fertilizers. This makes the soil not only more fertile but also capable of storing more water and CO2.
To ensure that these regulations are followed and to share education surrounding organic cotton, the brand founded the ARMEDANGELS Organic Farmers Association. This foundation supports more than 500 small-scale farmers in India, guiding them through the transition from conventional to organic production.
Pact
Focusing only on organic cotton, Pact makes a big impact in the pool of organic clothing brands. Every single item created by Pact is made with organic cotton.
They offer those with high fabric standards a comprehensive collection of sustainable apparel. Pact’s products are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This confirms there is no use of toxic chemicals in the production process.
Pact also allows shoppers to offset the carbon footprint of their shipments. This calculates the shipment’s distance, and the carbon footprint created. It also calculates the cost to offset that carbon. Further, the brand minimizes waste through its Give Back Box. This is a donation program that delivers your used clothing to various nonprofits.
Being made entirely made from organic cotton gives Pact a unique edge in the sustainable fashion community. If you are someone who wants organic cotton incorporated into a wide range of apparel items, Pact could be the brand for you.
Allbirds
Amongst this list, Allbirds is one of the most innovative organic clothing brands. The brand has invented its own sustainable fabrics. One of the best examples of this is the brand’s TENCEL Lyocell fabric, which is sourced from wood grown in South Africa. These specific trees depend on natural rainfall, which means that no artificial fertilizers are used during cultivation. Compared to cotton, this fabric uses 95% less water and cuts Allbirds’ carbon footprint in half.
Allbirds also has created sustainable wool, a fabric they have named Trino. Trino is sourced from eucalyptus tree fibers as well as ZQ Merino Wool, the highest standard of ethically sourced wool fabric.
Nimble Activewear
This Australian activewear brand focuses on both recycled and organic fabrics. Among Nimble Activewear’s top fabrics is the CompressLuxe Eco, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. In addition to being sustainable, this fabric molds to the body and is 100% sweat-resistant.
Although some organic clothing brands only focus on organic cotton, Nimble takes on both organic cotton and organic polyester. This is exemplified by the brushed fleece fabric, a warm fabric that is made using organic farming techniques.
Beyond fabric selection, Nimble follows a sustainable model through its partnership with GuppyFriend. GuppyFriend is the creator of the washing bag, which is a bag that filters microplastics out of the washing process.
Reformation
Reformation produces various fabrics that are made with conservation efforts. One of their most used fabrics is TENCEL, a popular fiber amongst this list of organic clothing brands. TENCEL has a closed-loop process, meaning over 99% of the solvent is reused in the system rather than wasted. It is also Oeko Tex 100 certified, ensuring low levels of harmful chemicals.
Beyond choosing safe fabrics, Reformation also recycles, composts, and donates its textile scraps. The brand’s goal is to eventually reach zero waste, but currently, the brand recycles around 75% of all of its garbage.
Vetta
Vetta is a brand that strictly follows a capsule wardrobe system. The brand creates mini-collections that can be mixed and matched to create a month’s worth of outfits. This not only reduces waste but instills the habit of curating pieces over time. This is great to build a comprehensive wardrobe, instead of buying more than you need all at once.
Further, the brand creates knitwear at its partner factory in Los Angeles. This factory gets 70% of its energy from solar power. It also ensures fair working conditions for employees. In terms of fabric, the brand uses Tencel, organic cotton, and deadstock fabric. Deadstock is the leftover fabric saved from landfills and given a new life). For its packaging, the brand only uses recycled materials.
Vetta commits to sustainability through both fabric selection and its business model. This makes them stand out amongst other organic clothing brands.
Boden
Boden is making organic fashion a family affair. The brand creates clothing for men, women, and children. All with sustainability and ethics in mind! Currently, 60% of the cotton used by Boden is organic and made sustainably. The brand commits to making this number 100% by 2023. All the cotton used in the Newborn Baby Boden range is organic. This ensures the protection of the most delicate skin.
Boden is one organic clothing brand most committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing. The brand does not strictly use organic cotton yet. It is working towards that goal and is expanding its eco-consciousness to other areas.
Boden signed up to the Better Cotton Initiative (or BCI). This is a non-profit that helps cotton growers employ more sustainable farming methods. This means for every order placed, Boden creates demand for ethical farming through BCI. This contributes to the overall improvement of the production of cotton.
Aside from organic cotton, the brand also utilizes Lenzing Ecovero. This is a fabric derived from wood and pulp, as a replacement for artificial silk. For its cashmere products, Boden is a partner of the Good Cashmere Standard. This organization commits to animal welfare and sustainability in the production of cashmere.
Monki
Monki stands out amongst the plethora of organic clothing brands with its authenticity and honesty. This Monki is transparent about the fact that they cannot source the amount of organic cotton required for their collections. Rather than giving up on organic cultivation completely, Monki uses cotton from farms that are in the process of converting, also known as in-conversion cotton.
It takes an average of three years for a farm to convert to organic production. So although the farmers Monki works with do not have certified organic crops, the farmers follow the principles of organic farming by avoiding pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. By buying in-conversion cotton, Monki helps to push its organic production forward as well as support farmers making that transition.
People Tree
People Tree offers a plethora of sustainable fabrics. This includes an organic cotton and Tencel lyocell. The brand is FLO (Fairtrade International) certified when it comes to cotton production. This ensures sustainable production. It also ensures paying a fair trade price for the farmers involved in cotton production.
The brand also offers fair trade, sustainable denim collection. It uses 87% less water than the industry standard. This collection is made from organic cotton and is GOTS certified.
People Tree works with small producer groups in Bangladesh and Nepal. They use their hand skills to produce handwoven fabrics and hand-dyeing techniques. This eliminates machinery altogether. The brand also wishes to promote the use of traditional crafts and handmade textiles. These are two forgotten arts in the ever-evolving, industrious world of fashion.
Girlfriend Collective
Unlike other organic clothing brands on this list, Girlfriend Collective primarily focuses on recycled fabrics. However, they do produce GOTS-certified organic cotton and implement this fabric into recycled materials. The best example of this is the popular Mauve 50/50 Classic Jogger. These comfy pants are made with 50% recycled cotton and 50% organic cotton. They are 100% biodegradable and produced with eco-friendly dyes.
Girlfriend Collective is unique amongst other organic clothing brands, as the brand provides a sustainability report on every product description page. This report tells shoppers how many gallons of water were saved, how much CO2 was prevented, and how much energy was conserved in the production of said product.
Thought
Thought offers the widest variety of fabrics amongst this list of organic clothing brands. The brand produces organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, Tencel, modal, recycled polyester, and wool.
Thought’s bamboo is organically planted. It is an important piece of the brand’s sustainable movement. It can absorb as much as 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and releases 35% more oxygen into the air than hardwood trees.
Beyond organic fabrics, the brand is committed to animal welfare. The brand does not commission or condone the use of animal testing or animal abuse. It also offers a comprehensive vegan section. This selection is made with plant-based fabrics and fibers. This is perfect for those who do not wish to wear animal products.
Encircled
Encircled is a Certified B Corporation which legally verifies its commitment to high standards of performance, regarding both working conditions and environmental protections. The majority of Encircled’s fabrics are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning they have been tested for unsafe substances. This is a rare and prestigious label to obtain, which makes Encircled unique amongst this list of organic clothing brands.
Amongst its most used fabrics include Tencel Lyocell, a fabric that ensures no harmful wastewater, chemicals or by-products re-enter the ecosystem. Encircled also produces non-GMO cotton.
Rothy’s
Although organic clothing brands are the most popular, we cannot forget organic footwear brands. Meet Rothy’s, one of the most popular sustainable shoe brands on the market. Organic production is all about maximizing the earth’s natural resources, and Rothy’s does just that.
The brand produces shoes using plastic bottles, which are transformed into durable styles. For the base of the insole, Rothy’s collects harmful algae from waterways and converts them into a supportive foam. For the outsole, the brand uses natural, renewable rubber from plants.
Final Thoughts
I think it is safe to say that if you made it to this point in the article, you are well on your way to a sustainable fashion journey. It is easy to stick to conventional brands.
Above all else, I encourage you to consider organic fashion brands during your next purchase. It can only help you and the planet. And what could be better than that?
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