5 More Sustainable Clothing Brands For Black Friday

Happy Black Friday shopping! I threw this post together in hopes that it inspires someone to check out these brands during this crazy sale time (is it me or does it seem more intense this year?).

I have just started to learning more about the manufacturing of clothing and how it’s contributing to climate change. It’s something I didn’t really think about until recently because it doesn’t seem like it would be as bad as planes and cars and such, right? Fast fashion (low cost clothing stores that are constantly offering new designs) is super wasteful because of the actual production of the clothes (often takes a lot of water), the cheap materials (the cheapest materials are often the worst for the earth because they are made from unsustainable plastics), and because the clothing is so quickly discarded. This article suggests that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions! I’m no expert, but I’ve recently started looking for more sustainable brands. It’s hard because they are often more expensive and less convenient (I’m such a visual, in-store shopper), but I’m slowly trying to make better choices when I can. Progress not perfection (I just bought some Target shoes last week…), right? Here are some of the brands I’ve tried:

Boden. My mom has been buying the girls Boden clothes for years now. She thinks the fabrics are adorable and I just find the clothes hold up really well since I’m passing everything down from Emerson to Avery. I also had no idea they had sustainability practices in place. By 2023, all of the cotton used will be from sustainable sources. And by this fall, any polyester used in the women’s clothing will be recycled (but they are also aiming to be polyester free). They only work with factories that are committed to certain labor standards too.

Vuori Clothing. You’ve probably seen ads for the loungewear on Instagram:) Matt convinced me to try a pair of the joggers since their joggers are his favorite athleisure pants. They don’t disappoint and are super cozy (and layer well with leggings on a cold walk). They have a fivefold approach to sustainability: materials, reduction of waste, offsetting their carbon footprint (100%!), social responsibility, and community leadership. They, too, focus on ethical manufacturing. It’a an impressive company!

Sommersault (–>referral link gets you $10 off). You’ve probably heard about this one because of the famous one shoulder swim suit. I actually don’t have any bathing suits from this brand but recently ordered one of their cashmere turtleneck sweaters. The price was reasonable for cashmere and I really love the fit! I didn’t even realize they were taking steps towards sustainability but they use a lot of post-consumer materials like old fishing nets! The yarns used in the sweaters are also sourced from cruelty free wool producers and use Oeko-Tex certified (aka low or no harmful chemicals) dyes.

Patagonia. I feel like this is the OG sustainable clothing brand! They do so much for the earth, including donating 1% of all sales to grassroots environmental groups, have a program for recycling down fill, use a ton of recycled materials, and sell used clothing through their trade-in program. I don’t have a ton of their clothing for myself, but I do buy the girls the down sweaters for a couple of reasons: if you buy the coats one size up, then they last for two years (they quality is great). Down is also super warm but not bulky for running around. And, another big reason is that they can safely be strapped into their car seats (according to the Car Seat Lady) in these jackets because they are so thin.

Madewell. This one might make you happy if you already shop there! I think I only have one shirt from Madewell, but I love the vibe and want to buy everything whenever I peek in. They are having a huge black friday sale so I may grab a few things now that I know more about the company! You might have heard about their jeans recycling program and you can even shop the used jeans online at ThreadUp. They have a goal to have 100% of their major fibers sourced responsibly and will not use any plastics that are not recycled by 2025. All packaging will be sustainable by 2025 as well. By 2030, all operations will also be carbon neutral – pretty impressive!