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Many of us want to buy clothes from a sustainable clothing brand – because they are aware of their ecological footprint and pay their workers a reasonable wage. Unfortunately, most fast fashion companies don’t care about the harmful effects their clothes have on local communities and the environment.
Sustainable fashion brands command a higher price because they use more organic materials, pay their employees a “fair wage” and take additional steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Although their higher price is justifiable, it tends to deter the average consumer from purchasing ethically and sustainably produced clothing.
Additionally, there has been an increase in “green-washing,” which is when a business tries to appear sustainable to attract more customers, but has essentially no or minimal impact. This has left many customers weary of brands trying to promote an eco-friendly image.
Prices are an estimate of the average cost of a product by a brand! There will be cheaper or more expensive brand parts than those listed. Here is my selection of cute and affordable eco-responsible brands.
ALTERNATIVE CLOTHING $
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One of the most remarkable things about Alternative Apparel is that they don’t use sustainability as an excuse to increase the price of their items. They are owned by Hanes Brands Sustainability, which also owns Champion and JMS. Their items range from $10 to $50 and normally cost the same amount you would typically expect from H&M or ZARA. Due to their commitment to ecological sustainability, their clothing is made from recycled textiles, which would otherwise go to landfill. Plus, they exclusively use biodegradable mailing bags, so you can shop online guilt-free!
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Everlane is synonymous with minimalism and transparency. To promote the concept of sustainability, they focus on timeless pieces that won’t go out of style. Timeless clothes are important because they prevent your closet from filling up with a clutter of pieces that don’t go together and will contribute to waste. After all, the best way to be eco-friendly is to buy as few clothes as possible. To promote this idea, they focus on quality materials and making clothes that last. In order to have a transparent brand that customers can trust, they break down the manufacturing and shipping cost of each garment they sell and compare it to the actual cost. While the average brand marks up their item 5-6 times the manufacturing cost, Everlane only marks up their items 2-3 times!
MI MUNDO MEXICAN $
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All Mi Mundo Mexicano items are handmade and carefully hand-embroidered by Mexican artisans from small indigenous communities. Often these artists have to give up their craft due to a lack of sales. However, Mi Mundo provides an online platform so that people around the world can buy their wonderful products! All of their products display authentic Mexican culture and often have bold colors and patterns! Each artist is featured on the website with their story and why they love their craft! They use recycled materials and make their handbags from repurposed plastic or leather. All in all, Mi Mundo Mexicano offers unique and bold accessories that are sure to make you stand out!
HAPPY LAND $$
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Happy Earth sells cute, trendy and affordable clothing. Their t-shirts and tops have cute graphic designs in pastel colors that look chic while raising awareness of climate change. They prioritize sustainability over profit and are committed to helping fix our planet. Every time you buy an item from them, you can choose which campaign you want to support. Some of their campaigns include preventing GHG emissions, planting trees, and collecting garbage from the ocean. Finally, Happy Earth only sources ethical materials with the least possible impact on the planet and constantly tries to find ways to reduce its waste in the supply chain.
URBAN RENEWAL $$$
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Urban Renewal is a clothing line run by Urban Outfitters. All of their garments are made in the USA from leftover materials and small rolls of fabric. They focus on taking old pieces and repurposing them to look vintage. The Urban Renewal team looks carefully at worn parts and reuses them to be unique. There is a wide range of clothing that can fit all types of styles, and new pieces are added every Monday and Wednesday.