Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands That Actually Deliver on Price and Principles

Ethical fashion doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’ve ever searched “What are the best affordable ethical clothing brands?”—you’re not alone.

Conscious consumers are demanding clothes that respect people, the planet, and their wallets. But finding truly ethical fashion at accessible prices isn’t always easy.

That’s why we’ve curated this guide to budget-friendly ethical clothing brands that combine transparency, sustainability, and fair labor practices without the luxury markup.

These brands use certified organic or recycled materials, support safe working conditions, and reduce their environmental impact through low-waste production and eco-friendly packaging. From capsule basics to trend-forward pieces, each brand listed here proves that affordable fashion can also be responsible fashion.

If you’re just starting your ethical wardrobe journey or looking to stretch your impact per dollar, this list offers real options you can feel good about wearing.

We’d note that if you want the more expensive items thrift stores or second-hand stores can be a great way to make your ethical clothing choices affordable.

For Days

The first of our favorite sustainable clothing brands is For Days. They are all about using kind materials such as organic cotton or recycled polyester in their clothing and they focus on zero waste as well as fair trade in their business practices.

Everything they sell can be recycled and they ship everything in reusable packaging.

One thing we absolutely love about them is their SWAP program which allows you to swap anything that you’ve ever bought from them – no matter how beaten up it is!

They then recycle all the materials and make new clothes from the old ones!

fordays

Tentree

This is one of Canada’s best-loved sustainable clothing brands. We love their choices of eco-friendly materials for their clothes and their use of fabrics from Tencel to recycled polyester is inspired.

Their supply chain is going zero waste by 2023 too!

Their name comes from the fact that every time you buy anything from them – they plant 10 trees.

This turns affordable sustainable clothing into a slow fashion brand that is rebuilding the world’s forests! Yay!

tentree

All The Wild Roses

Sustainable clothing typically uses clever concepts to create eco-friendly garments and this pick from our affordable brands works by incorporating vintage pieces in their line up as well as upcycled materials.

All The Wild Roses is the brainchild of Hang Osment-Le a Vietnamese immigrant to Australia and she works with her sources back in her active land to ensure that her fair trade fashion benefits some of the poorest workers in the world.

This is way better than fast fashion, right?

wild roses

Kotn

Organic cotton clothing that’s made from Egyptian cotton? Count us in. And that’s where we find Kotn which has been making amazing eco-friendly designs since 2015.

Their women’s clothing, in particular, is amazing and they are one of many ethical clothing companies that are working directly with farmers to pay guaranteed prices for their cotton, in turn for fair and equal pay for their workers. Paying living wages make a huge difference in poorer nations.

This is a sustainable alternative that everyone should be able to get behind – and yes, they use GOTS certified organic cotton.

You may also like these sustainable dress brands if you like this brand as much as we do.

kotn

Tradlands

If you want to find affordable sustainable clothing with a twist, then this ethical brand might be just what you’re looking for. They work with nothing but sustainably produced materials and they try to keep waste to an absolute minimum.

But what sets them apart is a women’s sustainable fashion brand that seeks to use menswear as inspiration for more comfortable and harder wearing female garments.

Every woman looks great and at ease when wearing Tradlands and wee can’t tell you how much we enjoy using their products.

tradlands

Toad&Co

We love the eco-friendly program that Toad&Co runs with the help of The Renewal Workshop. It’s what makes them a truly sustainable brand. Not only do they use ethical production but when you’ve finished with your t-shirts and other garments you can send them back and they will clean, repair, and resell each item so that it has another happy life.

We think that it’s initiatives like this as much as using things like recycled packaging materials that will eventually put an end to fast fashion. It’s easier to get excited about clothing that lasts forever than recycled plastic bottles (even though everyone should recycle plastic bottles).

Looking forward, they intend to move to 100% recycled synthetic fabrics by 2025 and expect to achieve the Responsible Wool Standard by 2024 too!

toad and company

Ably Apparel

Eco-friendly fabrics are at the heart of this simple range of sustainable garments. You’ll find t-shirts, button-downs, hoodies, socks, etc. and they all have something else in common this eco-friendly clothing is all treated with Filium.

Filium is a unique eco-technology that turns fabrics into water-resistant, stain-resistant, and odor-impermeable fabrics.

And it doesn’t have any impact on the softness or breathability of the fabric either! That’s an awesome way to make cotton or silk even more versatile than they already are!

ably

Vetta

The idea behind Vetta is simple, people get more out of their wardrobe if every garment is easy to accessorize with every other garment.

This makes it simple to build a “capsule wardrobe” and they create a single collection each month of 5 garments that does just that.

They use fair-trade factories in NYC and Los Angeles to keep their carbon footprint to a minimum and ensure that there is a completely transparent supply chain involved in creating their organic fabrics and other textiles.

vetta

Made Trade

OK, not everything on Made Trade is completely affordable but there are plenty of wonderful pieces here using recycled fibers from textile waste and recycled cotton and natural fibers that are affordable too.

This is the eco-materials equivalent to that well-loved and hugely successful brand – Anthropologie and it’s a fair trade company too!

You simply can’t go wrong with this approach to fashion.

made trade

Nau

We love Nau’s ability to blend the sustainable with the high-tech and deliver a unique style that’s instantly recognizable.

And that doesn’t mean that they have stinted on the quality of their textiles either, though they are all natural or recycled.

They also give part of the money from each purchase to an environmental organization, so you can be metaphorically planting trees with each purchase too.

nau

Taylor Stitch

We love a good pun and for their name alone that would mean Taylor Stitch got a place in our lists but their use of durable upcycled fabrics is awesome and they combine this with organic and natural cloth to deliver garments that absolutely rock.

They’ve been using fewer shipping materials too and that means less waste.

We’d also note that if you really want to save money – you get a good discount when you pre-order new releases at Taylor Stitch.

taylor stitch

Kings Of Indigo

Kings of Indigo as the name might suggest are all about creating denim that’s kind to you and to the planet and they use recycled cloth and natural dyes to create jeans, jackets, and more that absolutely rock.

This is one affordable ethical brand that you can easily compare to other denim brands and see that you’re not being charged extra to stay sustainable.

kings of indigo

THE FACTS

What are affordable ethical clothing brands?

Affordable ethical clothing brands produce garments using fair labor and sustainable materials while maintaining price accessibility. They combine ethics, transparency, and eco-conscious design without luxury price tags.

Can sustainable fashion really be affordable?

Yes. Brands like For Days, Tentree, and Kotn offer sustainable garments made with organic cotton or recycled fabrics, using responsible manufacturing to keep prices accessible for conscious consumers.

What materials do ethical clothing brands use?

Ethical brands often use organic cotton, recycled polyester, TENCEL, linen, and low-impact dyes. These eco-friendly materials reduce environmental damage and are often certified by GOTS or OEKO-TEX.

How do these brands ensure fair labor?

Manufacturers in ethical fashion ensure fair wages and safe working conditions, often verified through certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, or third-party audits that promote transparency in the supply chain.

How can I tell if a brand is greenwashing?

Look for transparency in sourcing, specific certifications (GOTS, Fair Trade), and clear labor standards. Avoid vague terms like “eco” or “conscious” without detailed sourcing or ethical proof.

Why do some sustainable brands still cost more?

Producing ethical garments involves responsible sourcing, fair wages, and low-impact production—factors that increase costs. However, brands with efficient supply chains and direct-to-consumer models can keep prices low.

Are there capsule wardrobe options from ethical brands?

Yes. Brands like Vetta specialize in minimalist capsule collections that promote fewer, better garments—helping shoppers reduce waste and wear every item more often.

What role does transparency play in ethical fashion?

Transparency means showing where materials come from, how workers are treated, and the environmental impact of production. It’s key for building consumer trust and verifying ethical claims.

Is ethical fashion better for the environment?

Absolutely. It reduces pollution, conserves water, cuts carbon emissions, and keeps textiles out of landfills. Brands like Toad&Co and All the Wild Roses even recycle used clothing into new garments.

Do any affordable ethical brands offer extended sizing?

Some do. Look for brands like Made Trade and Toad&Co, which offer inclusive sizing and prioritize accessibility as part of their sustainability mission.

Where are affordable ethical clothes made?

Many brands manufacture in certified fair-trade factories or work with local artisans in regions like Egypt, India, or Vietnam. The key is ethical sourcing and fair labor regardless of geography.

What are the best ways to shop ethical fashion on a budget?

Choose basics from budget-conscious ethical brands, build a capsule wardrobe, buy during sales or pre-orders (like Taylor Stitch), or shop second-hand to reduce cost and impact.