Sustainable clothing is gaining traction to combat the world of fast fashion. The fashion industry is responsible for almost 10% of global emissions and is on pace to double by 2030. Americans toss an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste, or 2,150 pieces of clothing per second, into landfills every year. Studies have found that on average, clothes are discarded after only 7-10 uses.
Fashion culture encourages us to quickly move on to the latest styles and to forever keep cycling through a new wardrobe. And I’m not immune. I love shopping and getting new things, and have succumbed to retail therapy more than I’d like to admit. Join me in slowing down purchasing and move toward adding sustainable clothing to our closets, while keeping old, worn items out of the landfill.
For an in depth look at fashion waste, I recommend this Bloomberg article.
How to minimize your fashion environmental impact
Buy less
Curbing your purchases is BY FAR the most impactful step in reducing your style footprint. Stop and assess whether a new item is really needed. I totally get retail therapy and have done my fair share in the past, but if you take time to stop and honestly evaluate purchases, you will probably find that in reality, you actually don’t need another t-shirt, pair of shoes, or a new purse. Train yourself to be more selective in your purchases.
We are probably all guilty of buying clothes simply because it was too good of a deal to pass up. Or maybe we bought an item with the intention of fitting into it soon, only to have it sit and gather dust in the closet.
I think there’s value in taking a Marie Kondo approach to shopping: Does this item bring you joy? OK, maybe joy is a little much, but do you like how you feel in the clothing? And not only comfort, but does it affect your confidence? Do you love it? Do you love it enough to be really disappointed if they didn’t have any in your size? If there’s any waffling or doubt at all, walk away.
Consider renting clothing that is only needed for a short time. Everyone knows you can rent a tuxedo, but did you know you can rent all types of apparel, too? For formal dresses and gowns, check bridal shops, or search for local businesses that rent dresses. You can also rent maternity clothes, outfits for vacation, or just regular casual clothes from businesses like Rent the Runway.
Make smart clothing purchases
Go for quality over quantity. I’ve always been a firm believer in this approach. I would rather spend more upfront for a well-made article of clothing than one cheaply-made from poor quality materials. You know the ones that morph into a non-human shape, shrink, pill, or just look plain terrible after only a few times through the laundry. Invest in well-made classic pieces that will never go out of style and that can be used for a variety of occasions.
Avoid shopping at notoriously bad fast fashion stores like Shein or Forever 21. These mass clothing producers care nothing for excess, the use of toxic chemicals, or the exploitation of workers. Take time to educate your kids about these issues. I sat my teenage daughter down and explained to her why we won’t be buying clothes from these sweatshops, and she agreed that we should abstain from those options. Research clothing companies and do your best to buy from ethical businesses.
Shop thrift and vintage clothing
Purchasing vintage and thrift clothing extend garment lifecycles, thereby reducing waste and the demand for new production, which in turn lowers resource use, energy consumption, and environmental pollution, making this arguably the most eco-friendly way to shop. And as an added bonus, this is usually a much less expensive way to shop.
Check out your local second-hand stores or shop online at outlets like Vestiaire, thredUP, or Poshmark.
Avoid synthetic fibers
Almost 70% of today’s clothing is composed of synthetic materials, the majority of that being polyester. Other common synthetic fabrics include spandex, nylon, and acrylic. These materials are all derived from fossil fuels, and their production uses more energy and produces more emissions than the processing of natural fibers.
In general, synthetic fibers require more harsh and potentially toxic chemicals in the production than natural fibers.
Because they contain plastic, synthetic materials are not biodegradable and can take centuries to decompose, leaching chemicals into the soil and water in the process.
Synthetic fabrics significantly contribute to the world’s microplastic problem: it is estimated that up to 35% of microplastics in the ocean and 71% of microplastics in rivers come from synthetic clothing. In your own home, textile microplastics compose 33% of dust floating around. Read more about plastics here.
Besides environmental impacts, synthetic fabric can stink in other ways. Literally. Polyester attracts more oil from your skin, requiring more frequent laundering. In fact, one study showed that polyester fibers can absorb odor-causing compounds and not wash out completely, leading to a buildup of odors over time. That explains why I’ve noticed some of my workout wear still smells funky even after washing—glad it’s not just me!
Instead of synthetic fibers, select clothing made from natural, biodegradable, sustainably sourced materials, such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo, wool, silk, cashmere, or Tencel (aka Lyocell and Modal). Clothing made from recycled materials is generally a good option.
Learn more about natural vs synthetic fabrics, as well as environmental considerations for each type of common fabric here.
Choose non-toxic clothing
Adding color to fabrics is a very water-intensive process, responsible for 20% of global wastewater. In addition, toxic chemicals are often used, which find their way to both waterways and our skin. According to a scientific review on ecotoxicological and health concerns of textile dyes, “Textile wastewater has been found to contain a wide range of toxic dyes, heavy metals, such as mercury, chromium, cadmium, lead, and arsenic which are required in the production of textile dye color pigments, as well as aromatic compounds.” Of these substances, some are toxic, known carcinogens, and/or have mutagenic (DNA-altering) properties for both aquatic life as well as humans.
Finishing processes also utilize a large number of harmful chemicals. Perhaps the chemicals of most concern are the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS resist grease, oil, water, and heat, which is useful in many applications but do not degrade in the environment, thereby being dubbed as “forever chemicals.” They enter the food chain, ultimately reaching us; most people in the United States have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. These are associated with numerous serious health effects.
PFAS is most commonly found in performance fabrics, which are labeled as stain or wrinkle resistant, waterproof or water-resistant, flame resistant, or antibacterial or antifungal, have undergone processing with chemicals to achieve these characteristics.
You can protect yourself from harmful chemicals by choosing clothing that is bluesign or OEKO-TEX certified. There are safer alternatives to PFAS, but that will likely require some research on your part. Check for specific chemical names, azo-free dyes, PFC-Free or PFAS-Free labels, product information about the technology used, company sustainability information, or contact customer service and ask.
Alden Wicker of EcoCult highlights 17 Cheap Non-Toxic Fashion Brands You Can Find at the Mall on her website. She is also the author of To Dye For, a well-researched book detailing use of toxic chemicals by the fashion industry. If you are interested in learning more about this subject, I highly recommend this fascinating and sobering read.
Buy ethically made clothing
The fashion industry employs around 60 million people worldwide. About 80% are women of color, an already marginalized population. Asia is the global center for textile production, with China leading in textile exports. India and Bangladesh are other major textile hubs. Environmental regulations in these countries are poor, and enforcement of labor laws, if they exist, is pitiful.
Sadly, unethical treatment of textile workers is nothing new, and runs rampant even today, with fast fashion at the core. These companies prioritize speedy, inexpensive, mass production of clothing to keep up with the latest fashion trends and are largely responsible for clothing production doubling over the last 15 years.
Workers face poverty level wages with 14-16 hour workdays, 6-7 days per week, with mandatory overtime (which often goes unpaid). They face sexual harassment or assault, verbal or physical abuse, retaliation for union workers, or being forbidden from taking breaks. Women may be denied maternity leave, or fired just for being pregnant.
Unsafe working conditions are another threat. There’s no workers comp. You get hurt on the job, you are left without an income. All those toxic chemicals discussed earlier? Garment workers are exposed to those in very high amounts, in addition to extreme temperatures and unstable or otherwise unsafe buildings. Add in child laborers to these awful conditions.
And finally, modern slavery and debt bondage are other commonplace among all stages of the growing, harvesting, or manufacturing processes.
Look for clothing made by companies with transparent sourcing and manufaturing information, as well as certifications such as Certified B Corp, Fair Trade, or Fair for Life.
Properly care for your sustainable clothing
- Read care labels for clothing and follow care instructions to prolong the quality and life of your clothing.
- Don’t automatically toss worn clothing in the hamper. Consider how long the item was worn (synthetic fabrics needs to washed more frequently) and if not visibly dirty or stained and passes the old sniff test, maybe it can stand another wear.
- Find a good tailor or seamstress (unless you know how to sew) to repair your clothing to give it more life.
- Check out these additional clothing care tips from H&M and Nordstrom to help make your clothing last longer.
Important clothing eco-labels to know
Look for these eco-certifications on your clothing to ensure they are, in fact, made sustainably.
The Global Organic Textile Standards, or GOTS, evaluates the processing and manufacturing of textiles on the basis of both environmental and social criteria. There are 2 GOTS label grades: ‘organic’ requiring a minimum of 95% organic fibers and ‘made with organic materials’ requiring at least 70% organic fibers.
The mission statement of the Better Cotton Initiative is “to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.”
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the most creditable independent certifier of
responsibly managed forests. Their certification ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.
‘100%’ means the product is made from all virgin material; ‘Mix’ products are a mixture of FSC virgin fiber and recycled materials. ‘Recycled’ indicates products are made from 100% recycled fiber.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is an alternative certification option to the FSC. The NRDC isn’t a fan, however, calling it “a far weaker system that misleads consumers into thinking their products are sustainably sourced.”
OEKO-TEX 100 certified items have been tested for harmful substances and have been deemed harmless for human health. Products with their Made In Green certification goes beyond this standard, promising that items have been manufactured in environmentally friendly facilities under safe and socially responsible working conditions.
The Leather Working Group (LWG) is a not-for-profit organization that drives best practices and positive social and environmental change for responsible leather production.
Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certifies feathers and down come from geese and ducks that are raised on certified farms in compliance with the principles and criteria of animal welfare.
Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) farmers and ranchers must meet animal welfare, land management, and social requirements.
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) developed the Higg Index, a tool that measures environmental and social & labor impacts throughout a company’s practices. With this data, the industry can address inefficiencies, resolve damaging practices, and achieve the environmental and social transparency consumers are demanding. By joining forces in a Coalition, they are addressing the urgent, systemic challenges that are impossible to change alone
The bluesign certification is earned when a company works with this third party organization to decrease overall water, energy, and chemical use in factories and meet their standards for pollution control; they must also eliminate hazardous chemicals and implement safety practices, protecting workers and consumers.
The Certified B Corp designation may be the best comprehensive business sustainability certification. It is a “designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.”
A Fair Trade Certified product promises that a labeled item meets rigorous standards that protects both the livelihoods of those involved in its production as well as the environment.
The Fair for Life certification values respect of human rights and fair working conditions; respect of the ecosystem and promotion of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture practices, and respect and betterment of local impact.
Best sustainable clothing brands
The number of companies centered around quality sustainable clothing is growing, and even some big players are jumping on board. This list is by no means comprehensive, but is a great place to start.
Sustainable activewear
Activewear can be especially tough to find in natural fibers. Tencel modal or lyocell are great options. There are quite a few sustainable companies with sustainable yoga clothing and other workout wear. I am a big Athleta fan, or more accurately, an addict. Many of their products are made with natural fibers, and these can by found by filtering fabric material. Other great options include Girlfriend Collective, Vuori, Patagonia, and Nordstrom brand Zella.
- Athleta – Certified B Corp, Fair Trade certified. Shop earth-conscious products that are made with at least 30% organic cotton, Tencel, or recycled nylon/polyester. Surprisingly, their parent company, Gap Inc., is making great strides with their initiatives. The Gap has many clothing options made from organic cotton and recycled polyester.
- Cotopaxi – Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified, Fair Trade certified, 1% for the Planet member. Currently 94% of their products contain repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials; by 2025 they plan to have all products do the same.
- KÃœHL – This notable outdoor brand remains a privately and independently owned company. They use ethically sourced and produced materials, utilizing third-party certifications to ensure production facilities meet high standards in their practices. For example, down and wool is RDS and RWS certified and the company has commendably eliminated PFAS from their textiles. The corporate office houses a sew, sample, and repair room to extend the life of their products.
- Girlfriend Collective – OEKO-Tex certified. Clothing and packaging are made from recycled materials.
- Patagonia – Consistently ranked as one of the most sustainable companies in the world. They are Fair Trade certified, FSC certified, and a Bluesign member. All products meet Responsible Down Standard and Responsible Wool Standard, all cotton used is grown organically. Their Worn Wear program allows you to trade in and buy used Patagonia gear.
- REI Co-op – Fair Trade certified. I love that they stopped providing shopping bags in their stores. Read more about more steps the company is taking to combat climate change, including eliminating waste, responsible sourcing, and more. You can also buy or trade in used gear.
- WÅ«ru – Sources the merino wool used for their clothing from sustainable and ethical farms in New Zealand. The wool is woven in a Bluesign & Global Organic Textiles Accredited Facility, spun in an OEKO-TEX Accredited Facility, and sewn locally.
Check out EcoCult’s list of plastic-free activewear for more brand options.
Casualwear
- Cariloha – Certified B Corp, Fair Trade, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, FSC certified, OEKO-TEX 100/Made in Green certified, CertiPur certified.
- Eileen Fisher – Certified B Corp. Fabrics are bluesign certified and many are Fair Trade or GOTS certified. All wool is RWS certified. Their Renew program offers clothing take-back, which they resell, repair, or transform into new designs.
- For Days – Their clothing is 100% recyclable; they take your old clothing and create new materials.
- Good Tee – Certified B Corp, Fairtrade certified organic cotton.
- Madewell – Fair Trade certified. By 2025, 100% of key fibers (60% at end of 2021) used in their products will be sustainably sourced and free of non-recycled plastics. Their thredUP program resells, repurposes, or recycles old clothing.
- Magic Linen – OEKO-TEX certified, no pesticides used. Linen is biodegradable and recyclable. Biodegradable packaging.
- Marine Layer – Certified B Corp. Their Re-Spun program recycles old t-shirts.
- MATE – Certified B Corp. Climate Neutral certified. Organic fabrics and dyes, no synthetic fabric. Has a recycling program. Cut, sewn, dyed, packaged, and shipped by in LA.
- Nordstrom Sustainable Style – use this filter to shop for many of these sustainable clothing brands.
- Pact – GOTS certified, carbon neutral with Simpli Zero, Fair Trade certified, sustainable packaging. Give Back Box program to donate clothing to charity.
- tentrees – Certified B Corp and climate neutral certified. The company plants 10 trees for each item sold.
- United by Blue – Certified B Corp. They use fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials in their clothing. For every product purchased, they remove a pound of trash from the ocean.
Handcrafted clothing
- Novica – Certified B Corp. Similar concept to MadeTrade, but Novica offers handmade items from artisans across the globe, partnering with organizations like Kiva, National Geographic, and UNICEF. You can also shop by cause or region of the world.
For sustainable children’s clothing brands, head over to the Kids & Babies page.
Sustainable clothing, by type
Bras
Where to donate bras
For bras in good condition, donate them to a charity that will pass them on to women in need.
- Homeless shelters
- Support the Girls provides needed supplies to women experiencing homelessness. Besides bras, they need new underwear, menstrual supplies (individually wrapped), and toiletries.
- The Bra Recyclers supplies bras to those in need, including women entering shelters, uninsured breast cancer survivors, and girls in Title I schools or foster care.
Bra recycling
Hanky Panky will take your unwanted bras, underwear, and socks for recycling and give you $10 towards your next purchase.
Knickey will take women’s, men’s, and kid’s ready-to-trash bras, undies, socks and tights to recycle and give you 15% off your next purchase.
Sustainable underwear
Look for underwear made from 100% organic cotton or other natural fibers. Besides being biodegradable and eco-friendly, these fabrics are more gentle on skin, breathable, and absorbent than synthetic fabrics, which trap heat and moisture. This can increase odor and create a perfect breeding ground for yeast infections.
Natural fabrics are also less likely to contain toxic chemicals, which nobody wants in the vicinity of their…business.
Sustainable underwear brands
- Subset (formerly Knickey) – Offers GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton underwear. The company also maintains Fair Trade International and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certs. You can also recycle old undies through their mail-in program.
- Pact – GOTS certified organic cotton, Fair Trade certified. Carbon offsets through SimpliZero; plastic-free packaging with FSC certified paper products.
- Organic Basics – Underwear materials include GOTS certified organic cotton, TENCEL lyocell, or LENZING Ecovero. Profiles of the factories the company works with can be found on their website.
- Shop Women’s / Men’s
- Bombas – This Certified B Corp offers men’s and women’s underwear that contains cotton, modal, nylon, or spandex–filter by cotton modal. Shipping packaging is made from 100% recycled materials.
Sustainable women’s underwear
- Hanky Panky panties use sustainable fabrics such as Supima cotton produced under the CottonLEADS sustainability initiative or Tencel Modal; many are OEKO-TEX certified. Offers a recycling program and tree-free paper packaging.
Sustainable unisex underwear
- TomboyX is probably the best eco-friendly underwear option for any gender expression. The inclusive products of this Certified B Corp are composed of various non-toxic OEKO-TEX certified fabrics like cotton, organic cotton, or TENCEL modal. The company is queer and women-founded and their team is 30% LGBTQ+, 77% female-led, and 35% BIPOC.
- Bombas’ Pride All Gender Trunk is available in singles or a 3-pack. These tagless colorful trunks are made from a cotton-modal blend. Each purchase from their Pride collection (including socks) equals another item donated to Giving Partners supporting LGBTQIA+ and other individuals facing housing insecurity.
Sustainable men’s underwear
- Opok boxer briefs are made from GOTS certified organic cotton and dyes, shipped in recycled cardboard.
- Patagonia Essential Boxer Briefs or Boxers – composed of 95% TENCEL lyocell and 5% spandex jersey, made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
Find more sustainable, non-toxic underwear brands from EcoCult.
What to do with old underwear
For obvious reasons, you cannot donate old/used underwear. Underwear is compostable if made from 100% natural fibers. Remove any lace, ribbon, etc. first.
- Knickey will take women’s, men’s, and kid’s ready-to-trash undies, bras, socks and tights to recycle and give you 15% off your next purchase.
- Hanky Panky will take your unwanted underwear, bras, and socks for recycling and give you $10 towards your next purchase.
- Parade has a free program with Terracycle (CURRENTLY ON HOLD). They send you a mailer and you return it with your old underwear (any brand). Then will give you 30% off your next purchase.
- Bombas offers a take back bag for $10 that you can fill with old underwear and socks from any brand. In return you receive a $10 credit back.
Sustainable socks
My favorite eco-friendly sock brands include:
- Bombas – A Certified B Corp, this company uses responsible materials, including recycled fibers, in their socks. A core part of their business is giving back, donating an item for each item purchased. Their no show socks are favorite socks for any physical activity or casual wear.
- SmartWool – Ethically-sourced Merino wool socks are perfect for all outdoor activities, such as skiing or hiking. They are super comfortable, durable, and warm. All of the wool sourced for SmartWool’s products is ZQ certified.
- Solmate – This certified B Corp manufactures their socks in the U.S., utilizing GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified upcycled cotton yarn.
- Allbirds – Another Certified B Corp whose socks are composed of a blend of recycled nylon, TENCEL lyocell, and organic cotton.
For more brands check out Sustainable Jungle’s list.
What to do with old socks
- Terracycle has a new, free program with GOLDTOE socks that will take any brand of socks for recycling.
- SmartWool’s Second Cut Project has a couple different options for sock recycling: you can pack and ship your clean, old socks to them (any brand) at your cost, or when you make a purchase on their site, there will be an option to ‘add a bag’ to your cart for no cost, and they will send you a bag with a pre-paid shipping label for your old socks. In April, you can drop-off at designated retailers, check here for locations (2023 locations are now listed).
- Bombas offers a take back bag for $10 that you can fill with old socks and underwear from any brand. In return you receive a $10 credit back.
- Knickey will take women’s, men’s, and kid’s ready-to-trash socks and tights, along with bras and undies, to recycle and give you 15% off your next purchase.
- Hanky Panky will take your worn-out socks (plus bras and underwear) for recycling and give you $10 towards your next purchase.
Sweaters
Click here to learn all about the different types of wool and how to find the most ethical, cruelty-free products.
Use a reusable lint remover
Skip the tape lint roller and go for a reusable tool like the Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover/Reusable Lint Roller or Beautural Pet Hair Remover to get lint and pet hair/fur off both clothing and furniture.
Plastic-free lint removers include:
- Redecker lint brush – beechwood handle with natural rubber bristles
- Ruri’s Portable Lint Remover – copper head and beechwood handle
- Fur-Zoff Pet Hair Removal Tool – made from recycled glass
Clothing donation options
For many, the default method of getting rid of unwanted clothing is donation. While this is good in theory, whether your clothes actually are given to someone in need or sold in a thrift store is a question you need to ask. Much of what is donated is actually thrown away or shipped overseas.
The best choice is to start with someone you know. Maybe you have a friend or family member that could use some of your unwanted clothing.
Next, try a local Buy Nothing or Freecycle group. I have come to really like this option for donating items because I know they’re going to actual people that want them, rather than some mystery destination, like the landfill.
If donating is your preference, by all means, continue to donate, because there are certainly organizations that do a good job at distributing their goods where they are needed. Just make sure to do a little research first.
- Homeless shelters.
- Charities, such as Volunteers of America, YWCA, and IRC.
- Thrift stores, including Goodwill, Savers, and Salvation Army.
Selling unwanted clothing in good condition is another good option. Try a local consignment store or a website, such as Vestiaire, thredUP or Poshmark, or try to find a local clothing swap.
Clothing recycling
Only 13% of clothing gets recycled and the rest ends up in the landfill or is incinerated. Learn how to recycle clothing and other textiles here.