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When I started my journey into slow fashion and sustainability, it quickly became apparent that sustainable brands are *expensive*. I’m confident most of us would shop exclusively from eco-friendly brands but prices are prohibitive. Most of the sustainable pieces I have in my wardrobe cost upwards of £150, it’s easy to see why affordable high street shops still reign supreme. I’ve hunted high and low to find 10 affordable sustainable brands to share with you in this post.
Before we get into the brands, I wanted to talk a little about the price points for sustainable clothing. Although the price on the tag is much higher than high street brands, the profit margins are much smaller. This is because fast fashion exploits garment workers, often women in developing countries, to churn out clothing at an alarming rate for little pay. These brands then encourage overconsumption and built a business model based on consumers ‘buying to discard’, whereby people buy into short-lived trends and cheap clothing.
Sustainable brands, by comparison, pay workers a fair wage and create smaller collections which encourage slow fashion. Pieces are made to be treasured and to last. Brands only buy what they are forecast to sell in a season which cuts down on excess stock which is shifted by sales. It’s a much healthier model for the people making your clothes and the planet.
The most sustainable option when it comes to fashion is only wearing what you have. I try to do this as much as possible. As much as possible, I consciously make an effort to buy only when necessary but acknowledge that this is a journey. I have gone back to buying vintage as much as possible and of course, shopping from amazing affordable sustainable brands like the ones below. There is a short bio for each brand and I have added the price point and size range. One thing I’d like to note is that sustainable brands often have limited size availability and every brand on this list needs to offer a better range.
Everlane
Everlane is one of my favourite affordable sustainable brands for basics. The concept is simple: well-made clothes manufactured in ethical factories at fair prices, for the people making the clothes *and* the people buying them. This is what the brand calls “radical transparency” and actually, it is pretty radical.
Each factory is sourced and audited taking into account fair pay, reasonable hours and a healthy work environment. Pieces are designed to last and made well, Supima cotton t-shirts and cashmere jumpers form the basis of Everlane’s offering. For each piece, you can see the cost price, including materials, transport and labour, plus their retail mark up. I have never seen a brand offer up this much transparency after a decade of working in the industry.
I usually visit the US a couple of times a year and pop into the San Francisco store to pick up some wardrobe basics but they do deliver to the UK now. Most pieces, including some cashmere, are under £100 and sizes range from UK 6-18.
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Ninty Percent
I was introduced to Ninty Percent by a friend a couple of years ago and I love the brand’s ethos. The founders have pledged to share 90% of their profits between charitable causes and the people who make their clothing – you can also vote on those causes when you buy a piece. We have no choice but to stan affordable sustainable brands which do so much good in the world.
The brand has also developed industry-leading factories in Bangladesh with its main supplier Echotex. The facility provides fair wages, health insurance, childcare and free hot meals on-site.
The collections are designed to be seasonless, mainly made up of wardrobe staples with a couple of trend pieces such as their dip-dye pieces. The majority of pieces are under £100 and they offer sizes from UK 6-16.
People Tree
Founded in 1991, People Tree are one of the OGs of sustainability. They are arguably one of the most well known affordable sustainable brands . People Tree partner with Fair Trade producers and garment workers to ensure workers are treated fairly. The brand also meets the Soil Association’s Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and were the first company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation product label.
The collections include classic pieces in earth tones and simple prints. The organic cotton facemasks are essential too. Most pieces are under £100 and sizes range from UK 8-16.
Know the origin
Know the Origin was set up in 2015 with transparency at its core. The brand prides itself on supply chain transparency and traces each product back to its origin. They only sell organic products, with a good selection of organic and Fairtrade brands too. This should be your go-to for shopping for affordable sustainable brands.
Know the Origin sells a variety of products from fashion to homewares. Womenswear prices are around £100 and sizes range from UK 8-16.
Bibico
Bibico was founded by designer Snow, while working for a high street retailer she learnt about the realities of fast fashion and wanted to create something which has a positive impact. Their pieces are made by two Fairtrade women’s cooperative factories in Mumbai, India
Bibico sells clothing and accessories under £100 in sizes ranging from UK 8-16.
Armed Angels
Armed Angels is a German brand with solid ethical credentials, they have the seal of approval from PETA, Fairtrade, Fashion Revolution and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). They only use sustainable or regenerative materials and they adhere to Fairtrade’s policies to protect garment workers.
Each piece tells a story on their site, taking you through the materials used and the supply chain. Prices are around £100 for each piece and sizes range from UK 8-18.
Clemmie Rose
A little more luxury than other brands on my list, Clemmie Rose has a beautiful collection of affordable silk pieces. They are made in a small Fairtrade-registered factory in South India which employs women who have previously been in vulnerable situations and had a low chance of employment.
Prices are a little higher than other brands on the list, jumpsuits are £225 but slip dresses are a snip at £50. Sizes range from UK 8-14.
Vildnis
Vildnis is a Scandi-inspired, London-based brand which takes inspiration from the natural world, vildnis translates to “wilderness” in Danish. The brand pledges to use the most environmentally-friendly materials and production methods as well as ensuring all workers in their supply chain are treated fairly.
Most pieces are under £100 and sizes range from UK 8-14.
Boody
I spent a long time looking for a sustainable brand which offers affordable underwear and loungewear. Boody is a small brand which is committed to using sustainable materials and practices which minimises environmental impact. Clothing is made from bamboo which is certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association and I can promise you, it’s super comfy.
Boody offers underwear, loungewear and sleepwear which is often under £60 and is available in sizes ranging from UK 6-18.
Noctu
Launched in 2009, Noctu is a gorgeous UK-based sleepwear, loungewear and homewares brand which uses organic cotton approved by the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS). GOTS certification ensures cotton is organic, chemical-free and minimises environmental damage. It also has strict guidelines for fair trade, including workers rights, fair wages and good working conditions.
Most pieces are under £50 and sizes range from small-large. The size range is disappointingly limited.
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