8 Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands in the UK

It’s not always the easiest task finding affordable ethical clothing brands that are available in the UK. I wanted to do this list of sustainable clothing brands to give you some ideas of some ethical clothing brands that are worth supporting.

One thing you should be aware of is how to spot greenwashing, many clothing brands will use greenwashing to make you believe that they have sustainable and ethical practices in place. Often this will be greenwashing to attempt to distract you from the unethical practices they actually do.

This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small profit if you buy through my link. I would never recommend something I didn’t believe in or wouldn’t buy myself, thank you for your support.

What Are Sustainable Clothing Brands

Put in the simplest way possible, a sustainable and ethical clothing brand is a brand that prioritises sustainability in it’s material sourcing, production and transportation of their clothing. They are normally working towards a circular fashion system and are usually transparent about their processes on their website. They also may be either certified by Fairtrade or B Corporation.

Before I will even consider supporting or recommending a brand to anyone I always make sure that I check them thoroughly to check if they are sustainable and ethical.

The first place I normally check is the Good On You app, they rate brands based on Labour, Environment and Animal. It’s a really easy way that you can check if a brand is sustainable and ethical. If they don’t have a brand listed you can also suggest a brand via a form on the app.

Another way you can check (if the brand isn’t listed on Good On You) is to see what they say on their website about sustainability and the factories that they use to produce their clothes. A lot of brands that are actually sustainable will be more transparent on their website, they’ll show sustainability reports and disclose a lot of information about their supply chain.

As I said above another way you can be assured they are one of the ethical clothing brands, is if they have the Fairtrade mark or they’re a B Corporation. This is because the brand has to do a lot to prove that they are sustainable and ethical in order to get these certifications.

It is worth noting that because there is an annual fee to get these certifications, some smaller brands just may not be able to get certified but it’s definitely something to look out for when you’re looking for clothes.

If you’re interesting in learning more about sustainable living, I’ve written a post ultimate list of sustainable books, to inspire you and help you learn more about our environment.

How Can I shop Ethically For Cheap Prices

I know that buying brand new sustainable clothing might not be an option for you, that’s totally fine of course and if you’re wondering how can I shop ethically for cheap prices then the below ideas should really help you out.

Admittedly my budget has been so tight over the last few years that I have only purchased new underwear and socks and everything else I either bought secondhand or received as a hand-me-down from friends.

The amazing thing about buying used clothing is that it is still sustainable because you are making use of clothing that is already in circulation and giving it new life. I’m constantly surprised at how much I can really buy secondhand from various places for myself and my children.

The Best Places To Buy Used Clothing:

• Ebay – So many users sell things on Ebay, perhaps you’ve already used it yourself. (Make sure you change the filter to Used and change to your location to ensure you don’t see New items)
• Facebook Marketplace – Another great place to find used clothes is on Facebook, this is another place that people regularly sell their used clothing so it’s always worth a look to see what people are selling in your area.
• Depop – Depop is another great app that you can buy clothing or shoes that people no longer need, it has quite a modern feel to this app as you can follow people as well and it’s very easy to use.
• Vinted – I would consider this app quite similar to Depop, it has a modern feel again and you can follow other people on there as well.
• Thrift Stores – If you prefer shopping in physical stores then thrift stores (charity shops in the UK) are a great option for secondhand clothes. The trick is to try and go to shops in nicer towns and cities to get the best quality used clothing.

Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands

In general clothing that is from a sustainable and ethical brand will be more expensive than a fast fashion brand. This is because it will cost more to ensure that everyone in their supply chain is paid fairly, the materials used are sustainably sourced and if they are certified with Fairtrade or B Corporation that will need to be considered as well.

However, I wanted to put together a list of some that I’ve found to be the most affordable to help you out if you’re on a budget but want to find some ethical clothing brands.

What Are Some Sustainable Affordable Clothing Brands

The below brands are some of the most affordable sustainable clothing brands that I have come across in the last few years.

Bam Clothing

This online bamboo clothing brand specialises in bamboo mix activewear and underwear. I’ve personally bought pants, socks and vest tops from this brand before and the quality is excellent. They use a bamboo viscose mix so that it’s all stretchy but also soft. Some of the clothing is quite expensive so it pays to check the Sale section.

• UK Brand
• Sustainability Report
• Free UK delivery
• Bamboo fabric
• Activewear
• Mens range

Boody UK

I did a product review of Boody recently which you can read, however I’ll just go over why I love Boody. This company was founded in Australia, however they now have a warehouse in the UK. Their clothing is made from Bamboo lyocell and is lightweight and soft. Some of the range is a bit pricier, however you can get some bargains in the sale section of their website.

The items that I received socks and a vest top are really comfortable and lightweight to wear, I would definitely buy from them in the future and I love to see that they’re a B Corporation as well!

• UK Warehouse
• Certified B Corporation
• Free shipping on orders over £49
• Bamboo fabric
• Activewear
• Mens range
• Baby range

Earth Wardrobe

This brand was recommended to me by a friend because they had come across it and wanted to check if they are sustainable and ethical. As far as I can tell, they seem to be a really affordable sustainable alternative to the high street brands, although they aren’t currently rated on Good On You in order for me to double check my findings.

Their clothes are made in Bangaldesh and they do explain on their website that this is due to the textile industry in the UK as being non-existent. They have a short video which shows where the clothes are made in the continental clothing factory in India. Their range is very simple T-shirts and Hoodies etc made from the fabric of your choice.

• UK Brand
• Options for sustainable fabrics ie organic cotton, Tencel, recycled polyester & bamboo
• Free shipping on orders over £40
• Activewear
• Mens range
• Kids range
• Baby Range

Organic Basics

This is a brand that I’ve heard a lot about but not had the chance to buy anything from them yet. As well as being a certified B Corporation they are completely transparent on their website about their supply chains, their ‘fuck-ups’ (their choice of words) and the emissions from their entire supply chain. They’ve currently got 40% sale on all of their organic range which means that you can pick up some great quality clothing for a reduced price.

• Denmark Brand
• Certified B Corporation
• Part of 1% for the planet
• Sustainable fabrics organic cotton, tencel, recycled materials & recycled wool
• Activewear
• Mens range

People Tree

This ethical clothing brand started back in 1991 and they have been working to provide sustainable and Fair trade fashion ever since. I’ve seen this brand in alternative stores many years ago so it’s great to see this fashion brand is still providing fairtrade good quality clothes even now.

Some of their dresses and tops, like Boody and Bam are a little more expensive but definitely have a look in the sales to see if you can find something at a cheaper price.

• UK Brand
• Fairtrade Certified
• Free shipping on orders over £50
• Sustainable fabrics organic cotton, tencel, denim, wool and linen.
• Activewear
• Mens range

Rapanui

I really like this brands whole ethos, they are encouraging people to return their clothes after they are worn so that they can be made into new items of clothing again. This is the ultimate circular fashion system because they are taking responsibility for their clothes even after they are sold and the incentive to return them is the discount you get from your next order which is great!

• UK Brand
• Made to be a circular system
• Sustainable materials organic cotton and recycled cotton
• Printed in a renewable energy powered factory
• When you return worn out Rapanui clothes you get a discount off your next order
• Free shipping for orders over £50
• Plastic free delivery

Thought Clothing

This brand has been around since 1995, they were previously known as Braintree Clothing and started out selling their brand in pop-ups in London and Cambden Lock Market. They are now available in various locations across the UK and Europe but they only sell in places which share their sustainable ethos.

The items which have the Fairtrade certification are clearly marked on their website and they have a variety of different fashion items available.

• UK Brand
• Uses recycled materials and working towards a circular system
• Sustainable fabrics hemp, bamboo and organic cotton
• Free shipping on orders over £40
• Loungewear
• Mens range

White Rose

This brand is of course not actually a new sustainable clothing brand but I wanted to mention it anyway because it’s an amazing idea and worthy of a mention. White Rose has drop off points for clothes if you want to donate and they’re in Nottingham, Newark, Beeston or Sheffield or if you send clothes by post they will cover the postage cost for you which is great!

It’s really easy to look for specific brands on their website too, it shows the condition of the clothing too so you know before you buy. All proceeds go to the Aegis Trust as well so they work like a charity.

• UK Brand
• Secondhand clothing
• Free shipping on orders over £35
• Easy to search for particular brands
• Mens range
• Kids range

I hope you liked the list of affordable ethical clothing brands. I know that some of these brands prices do not compare with high street brands, however it is worth noting that there are other ways that you can quit fast fashion and fast fashion brands even if you’re on a really strict budget.

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