What are the best sustainable and ethical womens clothing brands?
On The Greatest Good, you can shop popular fair trade and environmentally conscious women’s clothing brands you’re sure to recognize, such as PACT, Christy Dawn, Tradlands, Karen Kane, People Tree, prana, Outerknown and many more. We include a wide range of styles and sizes so that everyone who is committed to or curious about sustainable and ethical consumption will find what they are looking for on our site.
What makes slow fashion brands different from fast fashion brands?
Fast fashion brands' first priority is profit. Slow fashion brands are driven by a commitment to people and the planet first. At The Greatest Good, we bring together hundreds of slow fashion brands and their products, making it easy for you to shop the best non fast fashion brands.
What makes a womens fashion brand sustainable?
Brands are only sustainable if they employ an overall business model that is sustainable. A single eco-friendly clothing line or the occasional use of sustainable or recycled materials just doesn’t cut it. Sustainable brands are very intentional in minimizing their environmental footprint both in terms of carbon emissions and waste. They examine the entire lifecycle of their products, from design, sourcing and raw material production, manufacturing, transport and logistics, warehouse and storage, packaging and shipping, marketing and final sale, use, reuse and recycling. While there are no set criteria for defining sustainability, and different companies have different targets and methods, the shared goal is to implement processes and practices that prioritize environmental responsibility and never put profit ahead of the health and future of the planet.
Some of the strategies sustainable brands use include: Water use reduction; Using renewable energy for production; Carbon offsetting; Using organic and natural fibers; Sourcing from sustainable producers; Reducing fabric waste; Deploying technologies to reduce excess stock; Using fewer or no harmful chemicals; Using low impact dyes; Using vegan materials; Using post-consumer and recycled materials, especially for synthetic production; Using sustainably produced and recyclable packing; Offering recycling programs for customers; Sourcing and selling locally.
What makes a womens fashion brand fair trade?
For a brand to be fair trade, it must pay its production workers and suppliers fair or living wages, provide safe working conditions and never employ slave or child labor. Fair trade brands never prioritize profit over human and workers’ rights. While there are many certifications that help consumers easily identify fair trade brands, it is definitely the case that a brand can have a fair trade business model without being certified fair trade. This is especially true for very small businesses who find the cost of certification prohibitive.
Why don’t some womens clothing brands have any certifications?
Certification can be costly and time intensive. Many slow fashion brands are small and do not have the resources to pursue certification in their early stages. While we are huge fans of all of the environmental and fair trade certifying organizations that are doing their part to promote environmental and economic justice, we acknowledge that certification isn't a requirement to be sustainable or ethical. This is why we include brands that are not certified on our site.
Are there any affordable sustainable and ethical womens clothing brands?
Yes, there are slow fashion brands that are more affordable than others. But it’s no secret that sustainable and ethical clothing costs more than mainstream clothing. Why? Because the production of mainstream fashion costs a lot less. Again, why? Fast fashion brands (1) pay their workers poverty wages, (2) manufacture in countries with weak workers rights and workplace safety laws, (3) have larger environmental impacts, including bigger carbon footprints, more waste, more toxic chemicals, more air and water pollution and cheaper, sub-standard raw materials, (4) prioritize scale and (5) have a linear product lifecycle approach. All of this adds up to short-term cost savings but long-term negative impacts on both the people who make the products as well as the planet.
