Circular Fashion: True circularity is about ‘Make Back’ not ‘Take Back’
If you are shopping for ethical women’s clothing from sustainable fashion brands in the UK that don’t compromise on style or quality, you’ve come to the right place! We know it can be difficult and confusing to find stylish and genuinely ethical clothing. But, there are some great sustainable fashion brands for women in the UK. They just tend to have smaller marketing budgets – so you need to know where to look.
To help get you started, we’ve rooted out twelve of the best sustainable fashion brands for ethical womenswear – and we’re sharing them here with you.
These eco-friendly and people-friendly fashion brands continue to prove that on-trend, stylish clothing doesn’t need to come at the cost of the earth, workers rights – or your bank account.
Each of these ethical clothing brands for women offer alternative apparel to that from the fast fashion industry.
They have all completed a comprehensive questionnaire about their ethical standards, from workers in the supply chain to the sustainable materials they use. This means you can be rest assured they are eco-friendly and shop purely based on style.
Women’s sustainable fashion brands UK: 17 ethical brands you can trust
Komodo | Sustainable summer clothing
Komodo has been pioneering sustainable fashion since 1988.
This contemporary clothing brand is dedicated to creating a catalogue of high-quality, modern and stylish garments that are sustainably and ethically made, from cute summer dresses and colourful dungarees to everyday trainers and comfy pj’s.
Komodo is a member of the Soil Association and GOTS certified. The materials they use are organic or recycled and are made into their beautifully crafted pieces in Kathmandu and Java under fair conditions, with living wages for all employees.
Gung Ho | Ethical fashion designs
Gung Ho is a fun and flirty brand with depth.
Founder Sophie Dunster’s aim is to start conversations with her intricate designs. Take a quick glance as Gung Ho’s bold clothing and you might think it’s beautifully illustrated. But, look a little more closely and each design contains a hidden message of environmental activism, such as food waste or ocean plastics.
The collections include feminine wrap skirts that flow out from the hip, adjustable tie dresses and stand out jumpsuits. Plus unisex tees and embroidered sweatshirts. This is a brand that knows how to marry old-school romance with contemporary style.
It goes without saying the materials are high quality and sustainably sourced. Plus, the clothes are made in the UK, or at Fair Wear Foundation-certified factory in Bangladesh.
Gung Ho’s clothing and accessories are as bold as they are beautiful.
Peachaus | Sustainable lingerie and leisurewear
Peachaus is an all-round fab women’s lifestyle brand that sells cute and comfy everyday leisurewear, sleepwear and underwear in an array of understated soft colours.
Their collections’ effortless, comfortable and contemporary feminine style is perfect for leisurely mornings in bed, chilled evenings on the sofa, or popping out for coffee with friends – our kinda vibe.
Peachaus’ innovative simple sized system means their garments are designed to have an enhanced, fluid fit – making it easier for women to dress for how they want to feel.
From chic matching PJs, light lingerie, smooth activewear and soft joggers, their clothes are consciously crafted from responsibly sourced fabrics.
Peachaus’ manufacturers each demonstrate a commitment to sustainable production, minimising their environmental impact, and producing high-quality products made to last. All employees in the Peachaus team and further supply chain are paid a living wage.
Wellicious | Sustainable yogawear
If you’re after a chic new yoga outfit that’ll look, feel and perform fantastic, Wellicious is the brand for you.
Wellicious is a circular, Cradle to Cradle Certified® brand specialising in stylish and sustainable yoga fashion, including sports bras, leggings and tank tops.
Their flattering modern, minimalist designs are crafted with care and designed to last, so they will hold their shape, wear-after-wear, season-after-season.
Made from sustainable lightweight yet strong silhouette-smoothing fabrics, their garments let you move freely and with confidence through every pose.
Ensuring a transparent system is upheld at every stage of production, all of their yarns, fabrics, and supply chain, from suppliers to production facilities, are Cradle to Cradle Certified®.
Amazingly, Wellicious offers 10% off your next purchase when you send your well loved Wellicious clothes back to them for composting.
Arms of Andes | Sustainable activewear
Arms of Andes makes a variety of outdoor clothing from high-quality natural Alpaca Wool. We’re talking t-shirts, hoodies, thermals, jackets, underwear and more.
Their designs stand out for their comfort, style and performance. Alpaca wool is naturally thermal and moisture-wicking, so it keeps your body warm and protected in extreme weather. It is also lightweight, breathable and sweat-resistant and even has naturally anti-bacterial and odour resistant properties which help you and your clothes stay clean.
The wool is washed with biodegradable detergent and they use natural/low impact fabric-dyes, 100% cotton threads and labels, and OEKO-TEX certified fabric finishing.
Brilliantly, Arms of Andes produce everything from fibre to finished garment in Peru. They even have their own manufacturing studio there where production is overseen by one of the brand’s co-founders. All employees receive a living wage and benefits in line with Peruvian law.
Silverstick | Clothing for the great outdoors
Silverstick is an outdoor clothing brand that embodies the spirit of adventure.
Their contemporary athleisurewear includes staple hoodies and relaxed joggers, graphic tees and light polo shirts.
Available in a range of colours and featuring creative artwork, their designs are stylish, durable and comfortable – and they’re fairly-priced, too.
Two explorers, Harry Green and Sam Varney, founded the Silverstick brand in 2010. They say:
“We’re outdoor people making sustainable clothes purpose-built for the natural habitats we love to play in.”
Pitod | Genderless casual clothing
Pitod is a fashion brand that believes “the frame we are born in does not define who or what we are”. That’s why they produce genderless everyday clothing that is designed to be worn by anyone, regardless of their gender identity.
Producing high-quality casual and inclusive wardrobe staples, from graphic tees to hoodies, t-shirt dresses to joggers, Pitod’s garments are timeless, versatile and made to last from organic and recycled materials.
Pitod’s mission is to give back to the planet and empower the people that work on it.
Their items are produced in a single factory, Stanley Stella in Bangladesh, which was carefully selected for their high sustainable, fair trade and ethical standards as well as their use of only organic and/or recycled materials. The factory is audited yearly and is certified to pay employees at least a living wage.
Pitod are also 1% for the planet members.
Pala Eyewear | Sustainable eyewear
Pala Eyewear are changing the eyewear game with their sustainable and ethical sunglasses and spectacles.
Their designs are not only sleek, modern and stylish, thye are made from eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable bio-acetate.
What’s more, giving back is at the heart of the business. Pala Eyewear partner with eye-care programmes in Africa, working closely with international charity Vision Aid Overseas, giving thousands back their sight with prescription glasses.
The founder of Pala Eyewear, John Pritchard prioritises people and the planet before profits which is reflected throughout his brand.
Valentina Karellas | Sustainable knitwear
Valentina Karellas is, well, a designer called Valentina Karellas. She creates high quality bold statement knitwear from surplus yarn, so each design is a unique combination of threads. Karellas was recently voted in the list of Top 40 British Knitwear Designers by Make it British.
Karellas knits tube dresses in bold blocks of colour. She offers refined yet brightly coloured beanies and mittens that will keep you stylish and warm.
In other designs, chunky monochrome stripes abound. While veins of bright blue, burnt orange or canary yellow add a relief of colour to light grey backdrops.
Delicate strings hang loose from the seams, creating a chicly dishevelled look. This is purposeful – keeping the loose strands of yarn on her designs showcases Valentina Karellas’ zero-waste ethos.
Lora GENE | Sustainable luxury dresses
Lora GENE is a contemporary, forward-thinking and inclusive London-based luxury womenswear label that is all about empowering women and taking care of the planet.
Their collection prioritises quality over quantity. It includes cosy knitwear and classic wardrobe staples as well as formal wear and show-stopping occasion dresses.
Lora GENE not only stands out for its style and quality, but because of its sustainable approach to fashion.
As a brand, they prioritise minimising their use of resources and eliminating waste in every stage of the product life cycle.
They operate as transparent and sustainable a supply chain as possible using suppliers which echo the brand’s high environmental and social standards, implementing eco-friendly practices and paying their employees fairly.
In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, they source only from Europe. They use only deadstock materials, roughly 90% of which is made up of natural fibre materials (mainly silk and cotton).
Leticia Credidio | Sustainable sleepwear
Leticia Credidio is a luxury sleepwear and loungewear brand made by an Italian-Japanese-Brazilian designer of the same name, who is based in super-trendy East London.
Credidio is heavily inspired by the natural world. She pays homage to our beloved oceans and coral reefs through her Ocean collection. It’s made with an innovative sustainable and certified seaweed fabric (SeaCell) which contains nutrients and has a healing effect, calming and moisturising our skin. Don’t mind if we do.
Elsewhere, her winter birds collection is bold and inspired by nature. Both can also be worn as loungewear as well as sleepwear – although they’re so comfortable you just might want to wear them all the time…
All of Credidio’s garments are hand-crafted in Italy by a family-run atelier using organic (GOTS-certified) and sustainable fabrics. And for extra plus points, all the packaging is made from discarded fabrics from a recycling centre in London.
Rapanui | Sustainable adventurewear
Rapunai are a great brand for organic cotton essentials – especially for lovers of the ocean and great outdoors. Even Sir David Attenborough gives the brand his seal of approval.
They offer all the basics, such as t-shirts, jumpers, knickers and socks. They even sell them in bundles, so shopping couldn’t be easier.
Rapunai operate as a social enterprise on the Isle of Wight, helping to combat youth unemployment. Plus, they power their UK factory using renewables.
Even better, they use a closed-loop water system for dyeing clothes that filters water so well it’s pure enough to drink.
AYA | Sustainable staples
AYA is an up-and-coming new lifestyle brand selling a range of high quality yet affordable staple tops and underwear for men and women.
This clothing brand is all about putting people and the environment first.
Made from luxury materials like royal alpaca wool and organic pima cotton, their garments are not only super soft on your skin, but gentle on the planet, too. The quality of their materials also ensures a more long-lasting design, so you can really get the most out of these everyday items.
Unusually, from the fibre to the finished garment, everything is made in just one country – Peru. Even cooler yet, their garments are made in AYA’s own studio. This allows for more innovation and traceability in their production.
Vildnis | Sustainable everyday clothing
Vildnis enable their customers to “change the fashion industry without changing your style”. As such, their contemporary clothes are relaxed and easy to wear.
Promising a stylish capsule collection you’ll call on time and time again, Vildnis offer jumpsuits, jumpers and dresses. Their focus remains on curating a line of key pieces that will take you from day-to-night.
The brand is determined to disrupt the fast-fashion industry with clothing that’s made with respect for people and the planet by making clothes that look and feel good season after season.
Vildnis hold themselves accountable to social and environmental goals as well as financial ones.
Their founder is a champion of sustainable materials and workers rights.
Also, they won’t use a model below a size-10 on their website and don’t retouch photos.
Tip: Their clothes are on the generous size, so go lower when ordering if you’re in between sizes.
WAWWA | Sustainable streetwear
WAWWA is a fashionable unisex clothing brand that sells a range of outerwear and streetwear.
Their contemporary style marries practicality and comfort with a trendy, cool edge. Whether you’re hitting the streets or the hills, WAWWA is a go-to brand for high quality wardrobe essentials. T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, hoodies, across body bags, trousers and even the odd bucket hat – they have you covered.
From the offset, WAWWA’s founders have focused on creating clothes in a more planet and people friendly manner.
Firstly, they have established a transparent, ethical and eco-friendly supply-chain.
Secondly, around 95% of the materials they use are sustainably sourced. They use GOTS certified organic cotton, recycled yarn and recycled denim.
Plus, any plastic they use in their packaging is recyclable, and all their shipping bags and some of their garment bags are compostable.
WAWWA is authentic in their goal to do good in the world. They have a 1+1 commitment, where they donate socks and hats to homeless shelters and organisations across the UK.
Unhidden | Inclusive clothing designs
Unhidden is a fashion brand that embodies inclusivity. While their clothes are undeniably stylish, what we love most about Unhidden (and there is lots to love) is that their range is accessible for everyone. Their entire collection – from shirts to trousers to dresses – is designed to be body inclusive, size inclusive and customisable for people with disabilities. Down to the last detail, their adaptive designs and product lines are considerate of people’s individual clothing requirements, which are too often overlooked by the fashion world.
Unhidden are as socially conscious as they are ethically and sustainably responsible. They employ a factory liaison and 20 seamstresses as part of a B Corp certified factory in Bulgaria, all of whom are highly skilled, paid above the living wage, and entitled to benefits.
Unhidden only uses deadstock fabrics and manufacturers who are committed to reducing waste. Their plastic-free packaging is all recyclable or compostable and sourced from certified UK based companies.
Project Cece | Online sustainable marketplace
All female founded brand Project Cece is the largest online marketplace for stylish and ethical clothing in Europe, featuring 100 brands – and growing.
Project Cece is your curated collection of feel-good fashion. They do all the hard research by bringing together lots of different sustainable brands and websites into one platform, so you can do the easy shopping.
Brands listed on Project Cece fall into at least one of five main categories: they are fairtrade; use eco-friendly practices and/or materials; are vegan; they support a good cause; they are locally produced in Europe.
Side note: Free returns really hit small brands hard because they’re not actually free. It takes time to pack and unpack clothes and costs money to send packages back. Did you know that sometimes big brands send your returns straight to landfill? So, help them out. Try only to order what you really want, and return items when absolutely necessary.
Main image: Birdsong
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