Paige Geiser

Meet the brands proving that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand.

Person hanging laundry to dry — Clean laundry being hung up to dry. Ron Lach. Pexels.

With the fashion industry’s global emissions anticipating a 50% increase in the next five years, the mantra of “shop till you drop” continues to drive overconsumption and place excessive strain on the planet’s resources. Behind this fast fashion craze are workers in sweatshops, often in developing countries, who face unsafe conditions and unfair wages so that consumers can fill their closets with cheap, disposable clothing. Finding clothing that is high quality and ethically made can be difficult, but buying from sustainable brands is a small way to make a positive change. The companies listed below not only focus on minimizing their environmental footprint but also take meaningful steps to give back to the planet.

TenTree

Woman wearing green jumpsuit — TenTree jumpsuit on model. TenTree Instagram.

TenTree is a sustainable clothing company that makes almost every type of clothing item one could ever want. With a wide range of shirts, hoodies, pants, shorts, socks and even hats, this company prides itself on using the best textiles from the most ethically sourced materials. What truly sets TenTree apart is that with each clothing item purchased, TenTree plants ten trees. It also has a Climate+ section of its website where customers can participate in a one-time donation or sign up for a monthly donation to plant even more trees. So far, more than 100 million trees have been planted. Customers of TenTree can feel good not only in their clothing but also about their shopping choices.

Conscious Step

Socks on a picnic blanket by a film camera and a basket — Conscious Step socks. Courtesy of Conscious Step. CC-NC.

Conscious Step is a sock company that connects its customers with non-profits all over the world. Each pair of socks is associated with a different cause, and a percentage of the proceeds from the sale goes toward a selected non-profit focused on addressing said cause. With 20 different causes, ranging from protecting national parks to educating kids, customers can choose where their money goes. So far, Conscious Step has raised a total of $1,742,000 for its nonprofit partners. While lives have been changed across the board, some of their most successful missions include buying over 100,000 books for kids and planting more than 700,000 trees. Each pair of socks is made from sustainable materials and features a memento toward the cause chosen. With Conscious Step, buyers are able to feel good about more than just their sock choice.

No Nasties

A woman wearing a gingham pink shirt and floral pants. A man in a blue gingham shirt and green pants — No Nasties clothing on models. No Nasties Instagram.

No Nasties is an Indian-based company that prides itself on being planet positive. With a wide range of clothing items, this website is a one-stop shop for customers' clothing needs. Each purchase includes a full breakdown of how much CO2 it took to make the particular item bought. The company then makes a promise to offset the emissions by 300%. This is accomplished by investing in certified solar, wind and bio-gas projects that help reduce CO2 emissions. Additionally, with each purchase, the company plants three trees, ensuring that they’re as environmentally conscious as possible. No Nasties has currently planted over 200,000 trees and is effectively removing more CO2 than they create. This company is proof that making clothing and depleting planet resources don’t have to go hand in hand.

Fazl

People wearing knit patterned socks — Fazl socks. Fazl Instagram

Fazl is a sustainable brand that sells socks, hats, mittens, headbands and scarves made by indigenous women in the Himalayas. When the founders of Fazl moved from Canada to India to support a local orphanage, they fell in love with their surroundings. Wanting to do more for the community and the 30 million orphans in India, they found a way to combine helping orphans and uplifting the Himalayan community. The accessories sold by Fazl are handmade with patterns and designs that have been passed down for generations. The money made from each sale is used to pay the women who create these items, as well as to help children across India out of poverty. Fazl is a company dedicated to providing food, shelter, education and clothing to as many destitute children as possible. With each purchase, customers can be assured they are making a change in the lives of those in need.

Solios

A black watch — Solios watch. Solios Instagram.

Solios is a sustainable watch company creating timepieces that run completely off of solar power. Designed to charge in any light, these watches have a lifespan of 30 years. With a six-month power reserve, this watch can sit in a drawer for weeks and continue ticking. Considering that over 1 billion watch batteries are discarded each year, Solios’s solar-powered approach offers a way to reduce the amount of batteries entering landfills each year. Free from the planned obsolescence common in other watches, Solios takes pride in its watches’ timeless design. Even better, Solios prioritizes sustainability in every detail. With vegan leather straps, recycled stainless steel straps and eco-friendly packaging, customers can feel good about what they’re wearing on their wrist.

Mud Jeans

Jean store shelves — Mud Jeans store. Courtesy of Mud Jeans. CC0.

Mud Jeans is a denim company that makes new denim from old jeans. Saving jeans from ending up in the landfill, this company shreds, cleans and weaves new yarn to make its products. By using fabrics that are 47% recycled, as well as practicing water and energy saving techniques, Mud Jeans cuts the CO2 emissions produced when making clothing virtually in half. Furthermore, they reduce the amount of water needed in the clothing-making process by 90%, ensuring a more climate-friendly route to making their products. Not only are they helping the environment, but their materials are organic and ethically sourced, creating a consciously comfortable feel.

Bombas

four feet with ankle socks — Bombas socks. Courtesy of Bombas. CC-NC.

Bombas is a clothing brand dedicated to giving back to the homeless. Specializing in socks, underwear and t-shirts, a duplicate of each item bought goes to an unhoused person in need. Bombas has donated a total of 150 million clothing items to more than 4,000 organizations working with homeless people and is involved with every state in the U.S. Tried and tested for comfort and durability, these clothes are made to last. Customers of this brand not only appreciate the comfort of the clothing but also the impact behind the cause.

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