Budget-Friendly Slow Fashion Brands
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Fashion companies that employ responsible social and environmental practices tend to be more expensive compared to fast fashion companies. Sustainable practices are not the standard in manufacturing. We live in a highly capitalistic society, and therefore most businesses put profit at the forefront of their business model even if it means sacrificing their ethics. Fast fashion companies are also notorious for preying on desperate communities to get the best deal possible. This results in cheap wages, unsafe working conditions, and pollution in the local community.
Ethically managed facilities that offer fair living wages, important human rights, and have environmental standards drive up the costs of manufacturing. Sustainable and regenerative fibers come from plants or animals and cost more than synthetic fibers (plastic). Slow fashion is also a niche market. It may be growing in popularity but the consumer demand isn’t there … at least not yet.
The brands listed below are still fairly expensive, but they are on the affordable side of slow fashion. Fast fashion is a master at tricking us into believing that lower prices mean we can afford more clothes even if it’s unnecessary. If you focus on creating a capsule wardrobe, you’ll find that less is more and that investing in a few quality pieces can make these price tags worth it.
men + women | casual + lounge
A certified B-Corporation that plants ten trees for every item purchased. Customers can track their impact by registering their tree codes through Tentree’s website.
MATERIALS
Tencel, recycled polyester, organic cotton, hemp, + cork.
men + women | casual + lounge
A certified B-Corporation that celebrates the makers behind the clothing we buy. Each product is accompanied by the signature of the person who made it, who you can “meet” on Known Supply’s website.
MATERIALS
Prima + organic cotton, lyrca.
Visit Known Supply’s sister brand for handmade headwear + accessories:
Krochet Kids
men, women, + children
casual, active, lounge, maternity, intimates
Pact partners with Fair Trade Certified™ factories, ships products in low waste packaging, offers carbon offset shipping, and has a program to donate your old clothes to non-profits – the Give Back Box.
MATERIALS
GOTS certified organic cotton.
women | denim + casual
A partner with Fair Trade USA. They have a goal of using 100% sustainably sourced packaging by 2025 and being carbon neutral by 2030. Madewell published the Do Well Report for full transparency.
MATERIALS
Recycled cotton, BCI cotton, wood pulp, Tencel, hemp, and recycled plastic.
men + women | basics + casual
Handcrafted, durable garments. 1% of sales are donated to charities. Partners with one of the leading state-of-the-art factories in California that guarantees fair wages and excellent working conditions.
MATERIALS
GOTS cotton.
men + women | casual, active, outer
Partners with factories that hold the highest standards with third-party certifications to back it up. Currently working toward a zero plastic policy.
MATERIALS
Hemp, organic cotton, recycled poly, corozo, micro modal, Tencel, + wool.
women | casual + scrubs
Clothing is made in India, in a factory that ensures all employees are paid a fair living wage and working in safe, comfortable conditions.
MATERIALS
Organic twill, recycled fabric, + low impact dyes.
women | casual
Ethically made, organic cotton clothing made by artisans & operators in Peru who work under fair trade practices. The company’s Fair Indigo Foundation funds schools for vulnerable children.
MATERIALS
Organic cotton.
men + women | intimates, basics, active
Boody clothing is seamless and made with computer knitting which means no fabric wasted. The bamboo comes from FSC certified forests. The company is certified by Peta, Ecocert, + WRAP.
MATERIALS
Organic bamboo.
men + women | basics, casual, lounge
A certified B Corporation, Kotn works with family-run farms in Portugal and Egypt ensuring direct-trade + fair trade practices. In Egypt, they are working close with NGO’s to provide education to rural children.
MATERIALS
Egyptian cotton.
RELATED POST: Slow Fashion Brands: 100+ Labels to Love
men + women | basics + lounge
Manufactures in their own LA, CA factory (& vegetable dye house) to ensure standards are fully executed and minimize their carbon footprint.
MATERIALS
Organic & recycled cotton, eucalyptus, recycled plastic, + hemp.
men + women | active, casual, lounge
A portion of all proceeds goes to the International Rescue Committee. Their partnership has given refugee communities the opportunity for a quality of life
MATERIALS
Organic cotton, recycled polyester, + Lenzing Modal.
men + women | active + lounge
Dedicated to improving the livelihood & economic prosperity of small & marginal organic farmers in India. A portion of proceeds are invested back into local communities & agricultural programs.
MATERIALS
Organic cotton + recycled polyester.
footwear (casual + active)
A certified B Corp in New Zealand. Allbirds partners with Soles4Souls® who helps donate lightly used Allbirds to those in need.
MATERIALS
Merino wool, tree fiber, sugar cane, recycled plastic & cardboard, castor bean oil.
footwear (sandals)
“The Most Eco-Friendly Flip Flops” – responsibly made in Georgia, USA.
MATERIALS
Vegan bio-based recyclable material.
footwear (flats + sandals)
A women led company integrating the principles of reflexology & ergonomics. The shoes are locally made to order and built to last season after season.
MATERIALS
Vegan bio-based recyclable material.
handbags
Works with heavily vetted fair trade factories that employ survivors of exploitation & women who are at risk. 10% of gross profits go toward fighting modern-day human trafficking.
MATERIALS
Organic cotton + water based inks.
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have you explored Quince for sustainable shopping?
So many beautiful brands included! thank you so much for sharing this post! Would love to see you write a new one with some different brands as well!
It was so nice to read about all of these different brands, even better they’re affordable! Slow Fashion should be inclusive for all! thanks for sharing.