5 sustainable and ethical fashion brands

Each year every American is producing a whopping 70 pounds of clothing waste that goes directly to our landfills. Despite our best efforts, donation and consignment stores only keep about 10 percent of what we give them because they simply receive too much. To make matters worse, this clothing is nonbiodegradable and can take 200 years to decompose.

Many want to develop a more sustainable closet but find it difficult to make the transition. The key to becoming a more sustainable shopper is curbing overconsumption by using what you have and making thoughtful purchases.

Buying a new article of clothing can be exciting, but slowing down before making a purchase can help combat your own overconsumption. Before buying a new article of clothing, we should all start asking ourselves some basic questions about its future.

How long can you see yourself wearing it from now?

Where and when will I wear this? Is this somewhere I go often?

Does this fit in my wardrobe? Do I already have items to pair with this?

Am I buying this because of a trend? How timeless is it?

How well is this made? If I wanted to wear this for years to come, will it stand the test of time?

Taking time to consider what you’re buying and for what reasons. The most important part to being a more sustainable shopper is to limit your consumption. Another great resource when shopping is Baptist World Aid’s Brand Finder, which will give you both ethical and sustainability grades for brands, so you can see how damaging they may be.

However, if you want to go a step further, here are five eco-friendly brands to consider next time you want to make a purchase:

Mighty Good Basics $-$$

Sustainability made loungewear and undergarments for both men and women. These basics are available in a range of styles and sizes and made with high quality materials. The items are also ethically made and the brand offers full transparency of their materials, supply chains and workers.

Pact $-$$

Pact offers a range of styles for the whole family. Made with organic cotton, they offer clothing for men, women, children and babies, as well as products for your home. Sustainability is at the forefront of their brand and they provide carbon neutral shipping and biodegradable packaging. They are also an ethical and fair trade brand.

Local Nomad $$$

(Local to Phoenix, Arizona)

Local Nomad is a local clothing and gift shop in Phoenix, Arizona. The shop is owned by women and offers handmade items from all over the world. They compensate the artisans fairly for their products and donate to BIPOC organizations. Local Nomad promotes intentional consumption and shopping sustainably. They offer unique gifts and home goods, as well as women’s clothing.

Quince $$

Quince offers clothing for men, women and children, as well as home and travel goods. They also offer a wide range of accessories. Quince’s priority is sustainably and ethically made items with great quality and at an affordable price. They are extremely transparent and have a clear supply chain. As an added bonus, they offer cashmere and silk clothing for as low as $50.

Able $$$

Able is a clothing and accessories brand that is focused on uplifting and centering women all over the world. Their products are made by women in developing nations and are fairly paid. They are committed to upholding fair labor practices for women and design their products to last a lifetime. They promise to repair or replace any of their products at no cost to you, in an effort to keep clothing out of landfills.