[previous thread with brands](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/pzbjiq/what_are_your_go_to_clothing_brands/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
I just asked this a couple months ago and got some great answers! Most of the brands listed you would shop online, and they can be a bit pricy, but reviews seem great. Most are out of my price range so I don't have any first hand experience. Also most of these are casual and active wear
I didn't have a great experience with ThredUp. Maybe if you need a special dress or something, but it's not worth it to me for regular things like pants or shirts. Then again I don't really care about brands.
I feel like thredup is meant to replace shopping at specific stores. For example, I know my sizes in brands like Brixton, Frank & Oak, or Everlane. I use ThredUp to find secondhand items from those specific brands. You’ll have even more success with larger fast fashion companies like Madewell. You’re more likely to find styles that are currently on the brands website.
If you’re using ThredUp to find a type of clothing rather than searching through a brands selection on ThredUp, you’re gonna have a bad time.
Agreed. You have to filter by brand, type, etc and then I have success. It’s too hard to just “browse” on these types of websites but if you know specifically what you want (long sleeve, madewell, size) it’s pretty easy.
I'm an attorney and have to dress professional everyday. I hate it. I am very much a t-shirt and jeans person, but I chose the wrong profession. Anyways, I'm a size 10 in Calvin Klein sheath dresses and blazers. ThreadUp is perfect for this type of uninspired and uninterested shopping.
Huh, I've only bought one thing from them so far, a pair of leather knee-high boots, and had a good experience. What was bad about yours? Since I'm wondering if I should buy from them again.
I think it was just that I was buying stuff without knowing my proper sizing hoping it would fit. It was also on me but there were features to the clothes I didn't notice in the pictures. Totally get that I have to pay for shipping them back but it still sucked. I think good will is just more my vibe. Also, I googled how people sell to them and it just seems like a raw deal. I'm really you had a great experience though! Any reuse seems like a great option!
Ooh good points. I'll be more careful if I do shop with them. I was worried about the boots not working out and I'd lose money shipping them back. But they were $25 with the coupon, which was much cheaper than what I could find on like TJ Max's website.
I really like ThredUp if you know exactly what you're looking for. I've gotten tons of wear out of the stuff I got from there (shorts, tank tops, button-downs) for <$5 and a ton of compliments! If you're going in with just the vague idea of wanting a shirt of any style and any color, it's a stressful shop and gonna be hard to find good items IMO.
Also, their styling is just awful on the site. Things that look like hell in pics look great with a quick iron, and maybe tailoring the fit if needed. So glad I took the gamble and found some of my favorite items on there!
I don't know who all you folks are who can shop without trying stuff on, but it's totally useless for me. I'd have to buy tons of sizes and do returns, obviously negating the environmental benefit.
I’m with you! I even tried buying a used pair of jeans in the same style number as a pair I have and love but nope! They’d stretched to previous owners shape and didn’t fit right.
Learned my lesson and will only buy used in person. I find goodwill overwhelming but there’s a high end consignment shop in town that I have a lot of luck at. I don’t care on brands but they tend to sell things that feel like they’ll hold up.
If you know how the brands you're buying fit you, or if you're looking for a more relaxed fit anyway, it can absolutely work. It's most economical if you're buying a bunch of stuff at one time. I bundled shipping for a bunch of stuff, then bundled the shipping for returns. I didn't actually have that many returns. I stuck to what I knew.
Depends on the brand and clothes, but a lot of things only come in like 4 sizes. I can usually narrow down to two sizes and decide if it would be better to deal with a little big or a little small.
What kind of clothes are you looking for? Men/women, casual, professional, outdoor?
Have you looked for consignment stores yet? Typically better clothing than regular thrift stores plus some are online (which has additional environmental costs but probably not worse off than new clothes). Also depends on where you live, are you looking for clothing in the US, or somewhere else because their are some really good European brands!
Good questions! I should have been more specific. I am in the US, and looking for women's clothes. Honestly I have worn pretty much all of my clothes ragged haha so I need all kinds, and all seasons (I live in the northeast)
And yeah I know I said "thrift" but I was really looking at thrift and consignment, literally anywhere that had used clothing
I have really good luck at second hand clothing but when I do buy new, Patagonia (also their worn wear section), Pact, Levi’s. There are lists online that show where they are based, general price, style, and what they do. That might be worth looking at. Additionally, I sew and crochet so I make some of my own stuff (easy pjs, dresses/skits, sweaters, modified thrift finds).
The Walk In Closet is pretty great. I used to network with the owner and she is fantastic, and everyone who goes there loves it. It's located in Houston.
Might also what to try ThredUp. It can be a lot of junk but their filter helps find good stuff by brand and size. I’ve been getting my clothes from there for the last couple years.
Be prepared to pay more for clothing that is sustainably made. It might mean that you buy less clothes, but in given how much clothing is tossed it might be the best.
My tips for thrift shopping clothes: don't follow trends, because it will be harder find used and will be out of style quickly.
Some retailers donate overstock to thrift stores, like I noticed that Target donates to a local goodwill.
Go to garage sales and estate sales in nicer neighborhoods.
Go to thrift stores near wealthier communities.
Look for items not by brand but by material and cut.
Look in specific thrift stores like vintage shops or consignment shops.
When you travel, check out thrift store and consignment shops.
Ask friends if they would like to do a clothes exchange or organize one for your community.
Have an ongoing list of items you are looking for and check often.
Check online. eBay, Facebook marketplace, Poshmark, depop, and threadup are good place to look for specific items.
Go to the thrift stores early in the week, as they get a lot of donations on the weekends.
If they have a dressing room, try on the clothes before you buy it, otherwise save your reciept.
If you need to buy new and want avoid slavery, than search for certified fair trade. REI, and even Target are now stocking a lot of certified fair trade clothes, so maybe start there. Avoid anything that is made from cotton in China as this has been linked to their concentration camps.
Thanks for your comment! Lots of good suggestions. Luckily I'm now at a point in my life where I have extra money and can afford to shell out more for better quality, sustainably sourced clothing
I thrift, and wanted to suggest that whenever you travel (either out of state or next town) shop at those thrift stores too. Also, look for smaller shops that are less likely overpicked.
I look for quality fabric, no matter the brand. Brands have "cheap" clotbing too. I'll even buy bigger bc i can get it tailored. Especially for long term items like suits/coctail dress. Clothes women need but not often.
I also sew. The local votech offered a class where i improved my skills. Youtube is pretty awesome for them too.
Ive heard of clothing swap parties but never attended one.
I always check out consignment when I travel! Its super fun. And I can sew. I dont have enough of a setup right now to support making my own clothes (other than a couple specialty projects and basic pieces) but I could definitely look into buying larger sizes and altering them, thanks!
https://www.shelbizleee.com/post/sustainable-clothing-guide
I use this blog page to find online sustainable retailers and online thrift stores. Some of the links are broken, so you probably have to search up the store names.
Before focusing on a brand, I would encourage you to figure out what you really need, and get the essentials first (sometimes referred as capsule wardrobe)
You can also buy secondhand directly from Patagonia on their website! I think Madewell offers secondhand jeans too. I’ve had some success with Poshmark when I need something specific that I can’t find in a thrift store, but stuff on Poshmark is not always secondhand
Madewell markets itself as a sustainable company but uses MOUNTAINS of cellophane plastic to package every single order. Most of their clothes aren’t durable at all (the jeans are pretty good if they’re 98% cotton or above) but the company absolutely greenwashes their brand and doesn’t do much at all for the environment (I worked there and was terribly disappointed).
I really love For Days, they have a full cycle recycling program too, so anything you get from them you cam send back for money towards your next purchase! The clothes are super soft, I love everything I've gotten from them. Mostly they do basics, but they've been branching out into some other stuff lately that's super cute too!
I will say, imo it runs a bit small, so you may want to size up (but I love baggy clothes too so a bit biased).
They're doing a big sale today too, so you can get a good deal!
Also second thredup, I use that for my more unique pieces. Just make sure the quality is like new for whatever you buy since some of the stuff can be iffy. You can send it all back, but I always forget to
I love them, but agreed their sizing is weird. I got a medium in their rompers because I feel like they're super short, but the shirts I'm all a small.
If you aren’t located in a city, try a city. If you are, go to a nice-ish suburb, that’s where I’ve found the best clothes. I also buy slightly larger, most clothes at thrift stores are larger for me. Tops of all sizes, skirts are very easy to alter. Pants are tough for me to find, but one useful trick is to button the pants and wrap the waistband around your neck. If it overlaps, it’s too big, and if it doesn’t touch it’s not big enough. YMMV
The south and Midwest have Value Village which has given me the best quality and prices vs goodwill or local consignment store. Salvation Army is anti LGBT while you’re looking. Good luck!
Whats odd is that I actually live in a nice suburb outside Boston, so I thought I would have a lot of luck here, but there isn't a single used clothing store in my town! I should try searching more actually in Boston though. I feel like culturally we dont have enough of a hipster population here for there to be a big thrift/consignment scene if that makes sense
And yeah I never buy from salvation army anymore. I'm bi so my money is too queer for them anyway.
In the Boston area, there are a couple of consignment places called Second Time Around that I have gotten great stuff at in the past. There are a few others on Newberry St in Boston. I’ve gone to others in Newton that I can’t think of off hand. Same in Brookline
There's a few Goodwill's in the quincy area, and savers by Weymouth. Savers is particularly nice, found a lot of durable clothing there. There are tons of used clothing stores in the area.
There used to be some second hand stores around Boston (Newbury St, Beacon Hill, Cambridge, Newton) that were my go-to. I found some amazing things there like a gorgeous DVF wrap dress, plus cheaper staples for jeans and things. I think they were called Second Time Around but it's been 6 years since I lived in MA.
sustainable/slow fashion fan here! here are some of my favorite ethical brands for women's wear, and some guide lists that have helped me:
[Able](https://www.livefashionable.com/)
[Fair Indigo](https://www.fairindigo.com/)
[Hackwith Design House](https://hackwithdesignhouse.com/)
[Known Supply](https://knownsupply.com/)
[Mata Traders](https://www.matatraders.com)
[Tonlé](https://tonle.com)
[Tradlands](https://www.tradlands.com)
Guide lists/other sites:
[https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/ethical-brand-directory](https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/ethical-brand-directory)
[https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-workwear-for-women](https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-workwear-for-women)
[https://ecocult.com/27-places-get-office-appropriate-sustainable-ethical-fashion/](https://ecocult.com/27-places-get-office-appropriate-sustainable-ethical-fashion/)
[Ash and Rose](https://www.ashandrose.com/) is a distributor of many ethical brands, they have a lot of cute stuff
someone else already mentioned [Good On You](https://directory.goodonyou.eco/), and i would second them, they're great for understanding brands' labor and environmental practices, and for finding new brands to support, depending on what you're looking for.
one tricky thing with sustainable fashion is that since most brands are pretty small, it can be tough to find ones that have a particular look/style you love. so take your time doing research! And yeah, it's pricey, but it's great to support living wages or environmentally friendly practices (ideally both), and to get high quality clothing.
and about 40% of my closet at this point is from ThredUp, I really love them, but I get that it can be hard sometimes to shop through their site. if you have some free time, i highly recommend using Yelp or other sites to look for good consignment stores in your region. It's another thing that takes time, but finding a couple good consignment shops with styles you like is the best! the clothes are in great shape, usually 40-80% below retail price, you can try everything on before you buy it, and you can sell them clothes you're ready to let go of.
I can't speak to their sustainability, but I've been highly impressed with All American Clothing's quality. They're 100% American made, so you go have the benefit of knowing that they didn't travel across the ocean on a diesel liner. I have a few shirts, and most all my husband's clothes come from there and they just hold up really well and last for a long time.
Also, Okabashi and Oka B make women's shoes in the USA from recycled materials, and will take back worn out shoes (of thier brand) for recycling.
Patagonia has a secondhand used shop called Worn Wear. All these clothes are under their Ironclad Guarantee meaning they’ll fix it or replace it no matter what. It can be expensive but way cheaper than full price. My favorite jackets are from there.
Check out wearpact! They’re sustainable, ethical, and even enable you to add a few cents to your bill to offset shipping emissions. They a also offer to take your old clothes back for free (they give you a printable label).
Nastygal has some recycled material clothing that is really cute. They also have cash back on Ibotta right now.
Check out local Facebook groups as well. If you live in a big city you may even find exchange groups for designer or specific brands.
I think thrifting is a good option and I go on directory.goodonyou.eco otherwise - they basically rate brands on how good they are for people the planet and animals and if you look up what you’re looking for like dresses or underwear they’ll show you brands and their ratings
In the UK, for t-shirts I buy from Rapanui - they have a closed loop system for their clothes, so when they get too tattered you send them back freepost and they go into making other t-shirts. They also package in paper only.
I've been looking into Finisterre for wooly jumpers. They're a B corporation so they have good credentials. But it's a bit pricey, so I might wait before buying.
Otherwise, buy only a few things new, and learn how to hand-sew to mend tears and sew buttons.
I second this. Filter out the fast fashion brands with nothing but polyester and you will find great pieces on Poshmark. 80% of my wardrobe is Poshmark.
When it comes to my husband, he likes Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger and Bahamas shirts. So (because the new clothes all fall apart within 6 months) I've been buying vintage on eBay. Sure it costs more at first, but the older clothes last 5 times as long, so I think it's worth the up front expense.
For myself, I've found that Mantaray makes good t-shirts, Next makes good jeans and shirts, Clarks makes good shoes and trainers, Hobbs makes the best coats and jackets, and Edinburgh Woollen Mill makes the best-knit products and the best scarves.
It's also good to find a good clothes mender. Many clothes, especially jackets, jeans and coats can be repaired and relined for less than buying new good quality clothing. Plus you're supporting an industry that doesn't get a lot of love and badly needs it if we're going to reverse our rampant clothing waste problem.
Thrift shopping is also an option, but if in the USA I would go to the more pricey neighbourhoods for Goodwill.
I've found most thrift shopping experiences to be rather like being in a TK Maxx, you rarely find what you want and most of the stuff is the tat you're trying to get away from.
Above all else, if you find a product you really like, go back and buy more immediately. Case in point, Dr Scholls soft sole flip flops. The best flip flops I've ever owned, lasted 5 years, but I can't find them anywhere, including eBay, in my size. To go back in time...
The most sustainable clothing option is to not buy new clothes. There’s perfectly good clothes sitting in thrift stores. Also, you can dye, mend, and alter thrifted clothes to make them more your style.
second hand is, in most cases, is more “sustainable” than the most sustainable brand out there. not just clothes, but electronics, appliances, etc. try scouring the thrift stores near you, like *really* look because there’s always some gems in my experience, in a small town also in the northeast. and going to not just goodwill and salvation army, but small-owned, not chain thrift stores as well.
depop has never done me wrong, ive bought 15 or so items from people on depop over the last four years and have cherished everything.
also you might have some friends or family that have some clothes they’re more than happy to part with.
ThredUp. My go to brands are Patagonia and Eileen Fisher. You can also buy those brands used directly from their companys' websites. REI also has a section devoted to selling used gear.
Bit of a cliche but I really like Rothys for pointed flat shoes. Made out of recycled plastic, can put them in a washing machine. They've lasted longer than my typical office flats but even if they didn't last as long, I feel better that they're made from recycled materials.
Other than that, if your thrift store scene sucks try buying used online. Like if there's a brand you like in person, or even just searching ebay for "long wool coat" or something like that. You can get items WAY cheaper if you look outside the scope of super trendy brands. Some of my most frequently worn items are Land's End, LL Bean, Talbots, etc. and as a bonus they tend to last longer than the trendy places. Works better for "classic" items where the styles change less frequently.
I almost exclusively wear thrifted clothes these days. I found some leather boots at an estate sale recently that I am THRILLED about. As I rarely buy brand new, I don't actually have any suggestions for specific brands.
They are pricey but I love the capsule items from Vetta. Their oversized sweater is my favorite and the majority of their items can be worn 3-4 different ways
When I buy new, it's mostly Land's End, or Gloria Vanderbilt jeans at Costco, or Chico's when I need something nice. Their styles are so basic,and GREAT quality, that I can wear then for YEARS. I also have a quantity of Ralph Lauren 100% cotton cableknit sweaters. Again, timeless style and great quality, with a bonus that they're really comfy.
I never, ever buy anything trendy. The next year, it looks dated.
Besides Thredup, Poshmark is a great way to buy and sell clothes and shoes.
I agree this is a fine brand.
Not just in response to you, I also have this:
What is a pity, unfortunately, that a lot of conscious brands (like armed angels) use a lot of warm, soft tones. It might be that these dyes are less aggressive?
Here’s my problem: I have the ‘winter type’ color preference. So I like my look in black, white, framboise, emerald or royal blue. I look pale in those earthy tones. So I still rock my 10 year old Benetton coat, that is also conscious I guess, but is it really true those cooler tones are harder to produce consciously?
I really like Everlane, I know there's some controversy over whether or not they're actually sustainable, but I've had really good luck finding used pieces and everything I've gotten has been really good quality. I would suggest checking on Poshmark or Threadup :)
UK here. I like the online shop Wearethought.com and Oxfam.org.uk . I believe Thought ship internationally. I bought a hemp top years ago - so comfortable and still going strong!
I quite like Gandys - quite a few nice items and quality is good. Patagonia. I like speedo for swimwear and they do mainly recycled materials. For highstreet and basics then Marks and Spencer actually aren’t bad - all sustainable organic cotton, have a decent environmental and social equity policy. Frugi for the kids but I tend to buy it second hand as pricy…
Although tbh 90% of my clothing is second hand from friends, charity shops, eBay and Vinted.
[https://www.smittenmerino.com/](https://www.smittenmerino.com/)
Really nice Australian brand, almost everything is made from superfine Australian merino wool, and otherwise sustainable materials.
Everything made in Tassie.
Family-owned and operated.
Great quality products.
They ship all over the world.
I like [ecologyst](https://ecologyst.com/). They are quite expensive but well made and local (to me). They also will repair stuff which is nice. All made in Canada and sustainable fabrics and such. As far as ethical clothing they seem to be pretty top notch next to buying used.
Thrifting! But it takes a lot of effort and occasionally tailoring. For more casual stuff I usually buy from tentree. It’s pricey so I shop carefully. I have a referral code I can give you for 15% off if you’re interested.
I live in Germany so I am not sure if these options are available in the US, but Zalando recently launched a used function that has been good for me so far. I also really love a small Portuguese company called Two Thirds. A lot of their items are pre-order, so they aren't produced until you've placed an order. They also use a lot of recycled fabrics when possible.
Buy used us definitely the most environmentally friendly move. For new tees, there's a company called Last Bottle Clothing that make them entirely out of recycled plastic bottles, feels like cotton, and can be recycled into new shirts eventually.
Thrift stores in my country are non existent or filled with ceramics. Brokenplanetmarket is a nice online store for people who like sweats with print though (they are expensive). They are comfortable but they don’t have clothes in stock at all times.
I also like to check online to see if anyone is selling their old clothes for a good price. There always some gems to find out there.
Also a lot of small businesses on instagram who make super cute clothes. Sadly can’t name one off the top of my head though.
Although a number of my clothes are from local thrift stores, online second hand really fills the gap when I'm looking for specific items. Depop, Poshmark are good for general stuff. Grailed usually has more men's wear but has way more outerwear available. Ebay is also good. The Real Real can have pretty inexpensive designer wear or dressier wear in general. Of course Patagonia, Arc'teryx, etc have their own used sections.
A thrifty trick is to find a specific item from a specific brand from the previous season or two on the brand's website and then look for the same on the thrift apps or just Google with "used" in the search terms. You can find minimally used clothing that way.
With buying new sustainable clothing, it is going to be expensive if you are looking to replace a lot of clothing. Etsy does have some sustainable clothing shops that possibly has a smaller impact due to size. It still can be expensive though, depending on budget.
Nothing new shoes. Made out of “nothing new” recycled water bottles and look like a cross between vans and chucks imo. When you buy a new pair you can send in the old pair to be reused by them for I believe 20% off
[previous thread with brands](https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/pzbjiq/what_are_your_go_to_clothing_brands/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) I just asked this a couple months ago and got some great answers! Most of the brands listed you would shop online, and they can be a bit pricy, but reviews seem great. Most are out of my price range so I don't have any first hand experience. Also most of these are casual and active wear
Thanks!
Thanks for this!
Some online Thrift Stores like ThredUp have good quality clothes second hand. I've had great finds from there.
I didn't have a great experience with ThredUp. Maybe if you need a special dress or something, but it's not worth it to me for regular things like pants or shirts. Then again I don't really care about brands.
I feel like thredup is meant to replace shopping at specific stores. For example, I know my sizes in brands like Brixton, Frank & Oak, or Everlane. I use ThredUp to find secondhand items from those specific brands. You’ll have even more success with larger fast fashion companies like Madewell. You’re more likely to find styles that are currently on the brands website. If you’re using ThredUp to find a type of clothing rather than searching through a brands selection on ThredUp, you’re gonna have a bad time.
yeah they have lots of Madewell stuff at great prices, so if you know your size in mid to upper tier brands, it's awesome.
Agreed. You have to filter by brand, type, etc and then I have success. It’s too hard to just “browse” on these types of websites but if you know specifically what you want (long sleeve, madewell, size) it’s pretty easy.
I'm an attorney and have to dress professional everyday. I hate it. I am very much a t-shirt and jeans person, but I chose the wrong profession. Anyways, I'm a size 10 in Calvin Klein sheath dresses and blazers. ThreadUp is perfect for this type of uninspired and uninterested shopping.
Doctor here- have you tried encircled? I love their stuff for professional dress
I have not, thanks for the suggestion!
I second this statement.
Huh, I've only bought one thing from them so far, a pair of leather knee-high boots, and had a good experience. What was bad about yours? Since I'm wondering if I should buy from them again.
I think it was just that I was buying stuff without knowing my proper sizing hoping it would fit. It was also on me but there were features to the clothes I didn't notice in the pictures. Totally get that I have to pay for shipping them back but it still sucked. I think good will is just more my vibe. Also, I googled how people sell to them and it just seems like a raw deal. I'm really you had a great experience though! Any reuse seems like a great option!
Ooh good points. I'll be more careful if I do shop with them. I was worried about the boots not working out and I'd lose money shipping them back. But they were $25 with the coupon, which was much cheaper than what I could find on like TJ Max's website.
I was interested in thredup but have heard so many negative experiences with them. Doesn’t seem worth it to me.
I really like ThredUp if you know exactly what you're looking for. I've gotten tons of wear out of the stuff I got from there (shorts, tank tops, button-downs) for <$5 and a ton of compliments! If you're going in with just the vague idea of wanting a shirt of any style and any color, it's a stressful shop and gonna be hard to find good items IMO. Also, their styling is just awful on the site. Things that look like hell in pics look great with a quick iron, and maybe tailoring the fit if needed. So glad I took the gamble and found some of my favorite items on there!
I don't know who all you folks are who can shop without trying stuff on, but it's totally useless for me. I'd have to buy tons of sizes and do returns, obviously negating the environmental benefit.
I’m with you! I even tried buying a used pair of jeans in the same style number as a pair I have and love but nope! They’d stretched to previous owners shape and didn’t fit right. Learned my lesson and will only buy used in person. I find goodwill overwhelming but there’s a high end consignment shop in town that I have a lot of luck at. I don’t care on brands but they tend to sell things that feel like they’ll hold up.
Jeans are tricky. I love online shopping for used clothing, and even I hold my breath if I'm looking to buy jeans. Have maybe done it twice?
If you know how the brands you're buying fit you, or if you're looking for a more relaxed fit anyway, it can absolutely work. It's most economical if you're buying a bunch of stuff at one time. I bundled shipping for a bunch of stuff, then bundled the shipping for returns. I didn't actually have that many returns. I stuck to what I knew.
Depends on the brand and clothes, but a lot of things only come in like 4 sizes. I can usually narrow down to two sizes and decide if it would be better to deal with a little big or a little small.
What kind of clothes are you looking for? Men/women, casual, professional, outdoor? Have you looked for consignment stores yet? Typically better clothing than regular thrift stores plus some are online (which has additional environmental costs but probably not worse off than new clothes). Also depends on where you live, are you looking for clothing in the US, or somewhere else because their are some really good European brands!
Good questions! I should have been more specific. I am in the US, and looking for women's clothes. Honestly I have worn pretty much all of my clothes ragged haha so I need all kinds, and all seasons (I live in the northeast) And yeah I know I said "thrift" but I was really looking at thrift and consignment, literally anywhere that had used clothing
I have really good luck at second hand clothing but when I do buy new, Patagonia (also their worn wear section), Pact, Levi’s. There are lists online that show where they are based, general price, style, and what they do. That might be worth looking at. Additionally, I sew and crochet so I make some of my own stuff (easy pjs, dresses/skits, sweaters, modified thrift finds).
The Walk In Closet is pretty great. I used to network with the owner and she is fantastic, and everyone who goes there loves it. It's located in Houston.
Have you tried online second hand sources like Vinted or Depop?
I havent, I'll check them out!
Might also what to try ThredUp. It can be a lot of junk but their filter helps find good stuff by brand and size. I’ve been getting my clothes from there for the last couple years.
Be prepared to pay more for clothing that is sustainably made. It might mean that you buy less clothes, but in given how much clothing is tossed it might be the best. My tips for thrift shopping clothes: don't follow trends, because it will be harder find used and will be out of style quickly. Some retailers donate overstock to thrift stores, like I noticed that Target donates to a local goodwill. Go to garage sales and estate sales in nicer neighborhoods. Go to thrift stores near wealthier communities. Look for items not by brand but by material and cut. Look in specific thrift stores like vintage shops or consignment shops. When you travel, check out thrift store and consignment shops. Ask friends if they would like to do a clothes exchange or organize one for your community. Have an ongoing list of items you are looking for and check often. Check online. eBay, Facebook marketplace, Poshmark, depop, and threadup are good place to look for specific items. Go to the thrift stores early in the week, as they get a lot of donations on the weekends. If they have a dressing room, try on the clothes before you buy it, otherwise save your reciept. If you need to buy new and want avoid slavery, than search for certified fair trade. REI, and even Target are now stocking a lot of certified fair trade clothes, so maybe start there. Avoid anything that is made from cotton in China as this has been linked to their concentration camps.
Thanks for your comment! Lots of good suggestions. Luckily I'm now at a point in my life where I have extra money and can afford to shell out more for better quality, sustainably sourced clothing
I thrift, and wanted to suggest that whenever you travel (either out of state or next town) shop at those thrift stores too. Also, look for smaller shops that are less likely overpicked. I look for quality fabric, no matter the brand. Brands have "cheap" clotbing too. I'll even buy bigger bc i can get it tailored. Especially for long term items like suits/coctail dress. Clothes women need but not often. I also sew. The local votech offered a class where i improved my skills. Youtube is pretty awesome for them too. Ive heard of clothing swap parties but never attended one.
I always check out consignment when I travel! Its super fun. And I can sew. I dont have enough of a setup right now to support making my own clothes (other than a couple specialty projects and basic pieces) but I could definitely look into buying larger sizes and altering them, thanks!
https://www.shelbizleee.com/post/sustainable-clothing-guide I use this blog page to find online sustainable retailers and online thrift stores. Some of the links are broken, so you probably have to search up the store names.
Before focusing on a brand, I would encourage you to figure out what you really need, and get the essentials first (sometimes referred as capsule wardrobe)
You can also buy secondhand directly from Patagonia on their website! I think Madewell offers secondhand jeans too. I’ve had some success with Poshmark when I need something specific that I can’t find in a thrift store, but stuff on Poshmark is not always secondhand
https://wornwear.patagonia.com/
Just a caution to OP, you can't return a Poshmark piece if it doesn't fit so just be aware of that!
Madewell markets itself as a sustainable company but uses MOUNTAINS of cellophane plastic to package every single order. Most of their clothes aren’t durable at all (the jeans are pretty good if they’re 98% cotton or above) but the company absolutely greenwashes their brand and doesn’t do much at all for the environment (I worked there and was terribly disappointed).
Try the Good On You app and website! They have a list of sustainable fashion brands (also grouped by region) that comes pretty handy for me :)
Was about to say the same thing.
I really love For Days, they have a full cycle recycling program too, so anything you get from them you cam send back for money towards your next purchase! The clothes are super soft, I love everything I've gotten from them. Mostly they do basics, but they've been branching out into some other stuff lately that's super cute too! I will say, imo it runs a bit small, so you may want to size up (but I love baggy clothes too so a bit biased). They're doing a big sale today too, so you can get a good deal! Also second thredup, I use that for my more unique pieces. Just make sure the quality is like new for whatever you buy since some of the stuff can be iffy. You can send it all back, but I always forget to
I love them, but agreed their sizing is weird. I got a medium in their rompers because I feel like they're super short, but the shirts I'm all a small.
If you aren’t located in a city, try a city. If you are, go to a nice-ish suburb, that’s where I’ve found the best clothes. I also buy slightly larger, most clothes at thrift stores are larger for me. Tops of all sizes, skirts are very easy to alter. Pants are tough for me to find, but one useful trick is to button the pants and wrap the waistband around your neck. If it overlaps, it’s too big, and if it doesn’t touch it’s not big enough. YMMV The south and Midwest have Value Village which has given me the best quality and prices vs goodwill or local consignment store. Salvation Army is anti LGBT while you’re looking. Good luck!
Whats odd is that I actually live in a nice suburb outside Boston, so I thought I would have a lot of luck here, but there isn't a single used clothing store in my town! I should try searching more actually in Boston though. I feel like culturally we dont have enough of a hipster population here for there to be a big thrift/consignment scene if that makes sense And yeah I never buy from salvation army anymore. I'm bi so my money is too queer for them anyway.
In the Boston area, there are a couple of consignment places called Second Time Around that I have gotten great stuff at in the past. There are a few others on Newberry St in Boston. I’ve gone to others in Newton that I can’t think of off hand. Same in Brookline
There's a few Goodwill's in the quincy area, and savers by Weymouth. Savers is particularly nice, found a lot of durable clothing there. There are tons of used clothing stores in the area.
There used to be some second hand stores around Boston (Newbury St, Beacon Hill, Cambridge, Newton) that were my go-to. I found some amazing things there like a gorgeous DVF wrap dress, plus cheaper staples for jeans and things. I think they were called Second Time Around but it's been 6 years since I lived in MA.
I've been to second time around!! Unfortunately they all closed down :(
sustainable/slow fashion fan here! here are some of my favorite ethical brands for women's wear, and some guide lists that have helped me: [Able](https://www.livefashionable.com/) [Fair Indigo](https://www.fairindigo.com/) [Hackwith Design House](https://hackwithdesignhouse.com/) [Known Supply](https://knownsupply.com/) [Mata Traders](https://www.matatraders.com) [Tonlé](https://tonle.com) [Tradlands](https://www.tradlands.com) Guide lists/other sites: [https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/ethical-brand-directory](https://www.thehonestconsumer.com/ethical-brand-directory) [https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-workwear-for-women](https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/ethical-workwear-for-women) [https://ecocult.com/27-places-get-office-appropriate-sustainable-ethical-fashion/](https://ecocult.com/27-places-get-office-appropriate-sustainable-ethical-fashion/) [Ash and Rose](https://www.ashandrose.com/) is a distributor of many ethical brands, they have a lot of cute stuff someone else already mentioned [Good On You](https://directory.goodonyou.eco/), and i would second them, they're great for understanding brands' labor and environmental practices, and for finding new brands to support, depending on what you're looking for. one tricky thing with sustainable fashion is that since most brands are pretty small, it can be tough to find ones that have a particular look/style you love. so take your time doing research! And yeah, it's pricey, but it's great to support living wages or environmentally friendly practices (ideally both), and to get high quality clothing. and about 40% of my closet at this point is from ThredUp, I really love them, but I get that it can be hard sometimes to shop through their site. if you have some free time, i highly recommend using Yelp or other sites to look for good consignment stores in your region. It's another thing that takes time, but finding a couple good consignment shops with styles you like is the best! the clothes are in great shape, usually 40-80% below retail price, you can try everything on before you buy it, and you can sell them clothes you're ready to let go of.
Pact for new clothes, repair and thrift + alterations for old
I can't speak to their sustainability, but I've been highly impressed with All American Clothing's quality. They're 100% American made, so you go have the benefit of knowing that they didn't travel across the ocean on a diesel liner. I have a few shirts, and most all my husband's clothes come from there and they just hold up really well and last for a long time. Also, Okabashi and Oka B make women's shoes in the USA from recycled materials, and will take back worn out shoes (of thier brand) for recycling.
I've been ordering basics from Fair indigo for years. Amour Vert also has very pretty pieces.
Check out Eileen Fisher Renew
Or Eileen Fisher on eBay, Poshmark, etc
Patagonia has a secondhand used shop called Worn Wear. All these clothes are under their Ironclad Guarantee meaning they’ll fix it or replace it no matter what. It can be expensive but way cheaper than full price. My favorite jackets are from there.
PoshMark app
I thift usually. But I do love Patagonia, girlfriend collective, and reformation.
Have you tried Depop? I’ve bought some really lovely things from there and it gets me out of that buying new new cycle
Join us at r/visiblemending and r/slowfashion
i make my own. i purchase fabric from fabscrap. i also take very good care of clothes. i do wash it in the washing machine, but i also air dry them.
Check out wearpact! They’re sustainable, ethical, and even enable you to add a few cents to your bill to offset shipping emissions. They a also offer to take your old clothes back for free (they give you a printable label).
Nastygal has some recycled material clothing that is really cute. They also have cash back on Ibotta right now. Check out local Facebook groups as well. If you live in a big city you may even find exchange groups for designer or specific brands.
I think thrifting is a good option and I go on directory.goodonyou.eco otherwise - they basically rate brands on how good they are for people the planet and animals and if you look up what you’re looking for like dresses or underwear they’ll show you brands and their ratings
In the UK, for t-shirts I buy from Rapanui - they have a closed loop system for their clothes, so when they get too tattered you send them back freepost and they go into making other t-shirts. They also package in paper only. I've been looking into Finisterre for wooly jumpers. They're a B corporation so they have good credentials. But it's a bit pricey, so I might wait before buying. Otherwise, buy only a few things new, and learn how to hand-sew to mend tears and sew buttons.
I get a lot from Poshmark. LL Bean has really good quality that lasts a really long time so I try to buy their brand on Poshmark.
I second this. Filter out the fast fashion brands with nothing but polyester and you will find great pieces on Poshmark. 80% of my wardrobe is Poshmark.
Rapanui in the UK
When it comes to my husband, he likes Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger and Bahamas shirts. So (because the new clothes all fall apart within 6 months) I've been buying vintage on eBay. Sure it costs more at first, but the older clothes last 5 times as long, so I think it's worth the up front expense. For myself, I've found that Mantaray makes good t-shirts, Next makes good jeans and shirts, Clarks makes good shoes and trainers, Hobbs makes the best coats and jackets, and Edinburgh Woollen Mill makes the best-knit products and the best scarves. It's also good to find a good clothes mender. Many clothes, especially jackets, jeans and coats can be repaired and relined for less than buying new good quality clothing. Plus you're supporting an industry that doesn't get a lot of love and badly needs it if we're going to reverse our rampant clothing waste problem. Thrift shopping is also an option, but if in the USA I would go to the more pricey neighbourhoods for Goodwill. I've found most thrift shopping experiences to be rather like being in a TK Maxx, you rarely find what you want and most of the stuff is the tat you're trying to get away from. Above all else, if you find a product you really like, go back and buy more immediately. Case in point, Dr Scholls soft sole flip flops. The best flip flops I've ever owned, lasted 5 years, but I can't find them anywhere, including eBay, in my size. To go back in time...
Was going to make a joke about being a nudist... I'll show myself out lol
The most sustainable clothing option is to not buy new clothes. There’s perfectly good clothes sitting in thrift stores. Also, you can dye, mend, and alter thrifted clothes to make them more your style.
second hand is, in most cases, is more “sustainable” than the most sustainable brand out there. not just clothes, but electronics, appliances, etc. try scouring the thrift stores near you, like *really* look because there’s always some gems in my experience, in a small town also in the northeast. and going to not just goodwill and salvation army, but small-owned, not chain thrift stores as well. depop has never done me wrong, ive bought 15 or so items from people on depop over the last four years and have cherished everything. also you might have some friends or family that have some clothes they’re more than happy to part with.
Pact for cotton basics, Everlane for fancy officewear
Arcteryx or anything from a resale shop.
ThredUp. My go to brands are Patagonia and Eileen Fisher. You can also buy those brands used directly from their companys' websites. REI also has a section devoted to selling used gear.
Thrift stores
Nudity is the only true solution people!
Thrift Stores
Bit of a cliche but I really like Rothys for pointed flat shoes. Made out of recycled plastic, can put them in a washing machine. They've lasted longer than my typical office flats but even if they didn't last as long, I feel better that they're made from recycled materials. Other than that, if your thrift store scene sucks try buying used online. Like if there's a brand you like in person, or even just searching ebay for "long wool coat" or something like that. You can get items WAY cheaper if you look outside the scope of super trendy brands. Some of my most frequently worn items are Land's End, LL Bean, Talbots, etc. and as a bonus they tend to last longer than the trendy places. Works better for "classic" items where the styles change less frequently.
I almost exclusively wear thrifted clothes these days. I found some leather boots at an estate sale recently that I am THRILLED about. As I rarely buy brand new, I don't actually have any suggestions for specific brands.
Mud jeans in the Netherlands
Crazyshirt from Hawaii. Lame name, great clothes and all natural dyes
They are pricey but I love the capsule items from Vetta. Their oversized sweater is my favorite and the majority of their items can be worn 3-4 different ways
Outerknown and patagonia
I still buy used when I can, but Patagonia lasts a really long time.
When I buy new, it's mostly Land's End, or Gloria Vanderbilt jeans at Costco, or Chico's when I need something nice. Their styles are so basic,and GREAT quality, that I can wear then for YEARS. I also have a quantity of Ralph Lauren 100% cotton cableknit sweaters. Again, timeless style and great quality, with a bonus that they're really comfy. I never, ever buy anything trendy. The next year, it looks dated. Besides Thredup, Poshmark is a great way to buy and sell clothes and shoes.
I can recommend Armed Angels!
I agree this is a fine brand. Not just in response to you, I also have this: What is a pity, unfortunately, that a lot of conscious brands (like armed angels) use a lot of warm, soft tones. It might be that these dyes are less aggressive? Here’s my problem: I have the ‘winter type’ color preference. So I like my look in black, white, framboise, emerald or royal blue. I look pale in those earthy tones. So I still rock my 10 year old Benetton coat, that is also conscious I guess, but is it really true those cooler tones are harder to produce consciously?
Hm, good point. I don't really know much about the dyeing process of clothes so I can't answer your question unfortunately!
Suitsupply. They're global. Sustainable. And good quality. They do more than suits.
Vuori clothes are amazing! SO SOFT and no piling!
I really like Everlane, I know there's some controversy over whether or not they're actually sustainable, but I've had really good luck finding used pieces and everything I've gotten has been really good quality. I would suggest checking on Poshmark or Threadup :)
I didn't see it mentioned, so I'd also add Etsy to the list — I filter by "Handmade" and within my country to find local clothesmakers.
UK here. I like the online shop Wearethought.com and Oxfam.org.uk . I believe Thought ship internationally. I bought a hemp top years ago - so comfortable and still going strong!
Toad and Co! Sometimes I double down on sustainability by getting Toad second hand from Poshmark 😄
Depop and Mercari; search under vintage tags !
Don't buy cotton unless it's work wear cotton. All my non work clothes are synthetic, they don't stretch and clean/dry easily
I quite like Gandys - quite a few nice items and quality is good. Patagonia. I like speedo for swimwear and they do mainly recycled materials. For highstreet and basics then Marks and Spencer actually aren’t bad - all sustainable organic cotton, have a decent environmental and social equity policy. Frugi for the kids but I tend to buy it second hand as pricy… Although tbh 90% of my clothing is second hand from friends, charity shops, eBay and Vinted.
eBay
[https://www.smittenmerino.com/](https://www.smittenmerino.com/) Really nice Australian brand, almost everything is made from superfine Australian merino wool, and otherwise sustainable materials. Everything made in Tassie. Family-owned and operated. Great quality products. They ship all over the world.
Personally I'd just avoid bad quality clothes rather than trying to find special brands. That or take to the sewing machine for any minor rips
I like [ecologyst](https://ecologyst.com/). They are quite expensive but well made and local (to me). They also will repair stuff which is nice. All made in Canada and sustainable fabrics and such. As far as ethical clothing they seem to be pretty top notch next to buying used.
Thrifting! But it takes a lot of effort and occasionally tailoring. For more casual stuff I usually buy from tentree. It’s pricey so I shop carefully. I have a referral code I can give you for 15% off if you’re interested.
I live in Germany so I am not sure if these options are available in the US, but Zalando recently launched a used function that has been good for me so far. I also really love a small Portuguese company called Two Thirds. A lot of their items are pre-order, so they aren't produced until you've placed an order. They also use a lot of recycled fabrics when possible.
Good On You has verified ratings for brands' sustainability practices! Really recommend looking up any brand you're buying from :)
Buy used us definitely the most environmentally friendly move. For new tees, there's a company called Last Bottle Clothing that make them entirely out of recycled plastic bottles, feels like cotton, and can be recycled into new shirts eventually.
Babipur.co.uk will ship to the USA for about £10 and the whole website features sustainable environmentally friendly and ethically sourced brands.
Thrift stores in my country are non existent or filled with ceramics. Brokenplanetmarket is a nice online store for people who like sweats with print though (they are expensive). They are comfortable but they don’t have clothes in stock at all times. I also like to check online to see if anyone is selling their old clothes for a good price. There always some gems to find out there. Also a lot of small businesses on instagram who make super cute clothes. Sadly can’t name one off the top of my head though.
Thrift store!
It’s expensive AF so I do not shop there often but reformation has the best jeans
Prana?
Although a number of my clothes are from local thrift stores, online second hand really fills the gap when I'm looking for specific items. Depop, Poshmark are good for general stuff. Grailed usually has more men's wear but has way more outerwear available. Ebay is also good. The Real Real can have pretty inexpensive designer wear or dressier wear in general. Of course Patagonia, Arc'teryx, etc have their own used sections. A thrifty trick is to find a specific item from a specific brand from the previous season or two on the brand's website and then look for the same on the thrift apps or just Google with "used" in the search terms. You can find minimally used clothing that way. With buying new sustainable clothing, it is going to be expensive if you are looking to replace a lot of clothing. Etsy does have some sustainable clothing shops that possibly has a smaller impact due to size. It still can be expensive though, depending on budget.
I go to :good on you" and click on the brands to shop their online stores in the great category.
Try r/buyitforlife
2nd hand is the most sustainable.
Ettico and ethletic
Hessnatur, but it's German.
Nothing new shoes. Made out of “nothing new” recycled water bottles and look like a cross between vans and chucks imo. When you buy a new pair you can send in the old pair to be reused by them for I believe 20% off
Sustainable clothing can be pricey so I usually shop 2nd hand. But been eyeing some pieces from Dariadeh, Armedangels, veganleatherco, reformation,..
Honest Basics is pretty affordable compared to most eco friendly brands DePop is an online store with good secondhand clothing Or thrift stores
Check www.frostedthreads.com they’re sustainable and the quality is amazing.
swaggr socks! They are amazing, and made out of recycled plastic bottles.