19 affordable sustainable fashion brands that won’t cost the earth (literally, and figuratively)

Finding affordable sustainable fashion brands used to be a rarity. There were a handful of labels that put the planet – and people – first, but most kind of forgot about the fashion part… Now, as everyone tries to live a greener life (and if not, why not?) we’re thrilled to share our guide to  affordable sustainable fashion brands that are far easier to find (and that we love to wear.)    

As new technology, processes and production methods emerge, sharing sustainability knowledge is key for brands and designers to produce desirable affordable sustainable fashion. And with growth, comes lower prices… Although most of these brands focus on timelessness, classics and basics that won’t flip out of fashion before the month is out, because uber-trendy garments will never be sustainable.

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Although we completely acknowledge – and understand – that affordability means different things to different people. The cost of living is soaring and honestly, it’s none of our business how you spend your hard-earned cash. But shopping for new sustainable fashion can never be cheap. You can find charity shop bargains for less than the price of a coffee and wearing the clothes you already have in your wardrobe is *free* but buying something new, that isn’t going to damage the planet, comes at a far greater cost than a fast fashion fix.  

When it’s been the norm to shop from brands that offer you tops for under a tenner, and dresses for less than twenty quid, none of these brands are going to feel immediately ‘affordable’. But reframing your understanding of cost-per-wear, developing your styling repertoire so you can wear things in more ways and appreciating the elements that went into your clothes (knowing #WhoMadeMyClothes and what they’re constructed from) are key starting points. 

If you’ve ever moaned that you can’t afford to shop sustainably but happily drop £200+ on ultra-fast fashion hauls each month, it’s time to rethink your shopping habits. There are some three-figure buys in our edit and £250 isn't cheap for a pair of jeans in anyone's book, but re-educating our brains and remembering that someone always pays for cheap clothes (whether that's you, when your new top falls apart, the garment workers being abused for their labour, or the planet...) 

These are the 19 brands that we rate for affordability, sustainability, ethics and aesthetics…

Nobody’s Child

Recycled yarns, responsible packaging and far more fashionable than you’d imagine a sustainable item could be, Nobody’s Child is doing it right. Listing all their factories, and what they make, focuses on transparency. It’s a major step for consumers to understand that people are involved in their garment’s creation – something that often gets forgotten in other retailers' race to the bottom.  

Beth Blazer, £95

This Is Unfolded

Unfolded's business model means your clothes are only made after you place your order (did you know 30% of all garments made are never actually sold?) which cuts out huge energy expenditure. Unfolded pay higher wages than other factories and  financially support local children at school. Excess material will always stay out of landfill and they have open communication with their shoppers to make sure they only design what will sell in the first place.  

Charlotte Peasant Blouse, £25

Nu-In

This brand admits they haven’t always got it right, but they’re trying with low water use, no flash sales and standardised size charts to avoid the “it doesn’t fit” need for returns. They’ve also shared a commitment to use recycled fabrics (to save textiles from landfill), a pledge to design for circularity and come PETA Vegan approved.

100% Organic Tie Back Ribbed Knitted Mini Dress, £41.99

One Essentials

Knowing what to do with your old holey knickers, saggy socks and bras past their best can be a conundrum. Although throwing them in the bin should never be an option. Instead, One Essentials will take back any brands' worn out undies for recycling. Then update your underwear drawer with their comfy new pants (and tees and sweatshirts) made from organic cotton, recycled cotton and biodegradable elastane.

Essential Mid Rise Brief, £19 

Omnes

A Living Wage employer, Omnes push for trend-led pieces that feel now but also will work far into the future. This top is made entirely from Ecovero viscose mono-material so it will be easy to recycle at it’s eventual end of life. The labels are made from recycled plastic bottles too.

Alicia Top in Cherry Print, £45

Eleven Loves

A great place to find the building blocks of your wardrobe with heavyweight tees, dresses, knits and joggers forming the staple collections. Everything is fully traceable from yarn to garment and this label has a long list of sustainable attributes… Recycled yarns make up the knitwear, jersey comes from GOTS organic cotton, carbon is offset, it’s Peta Vegan approved, uses BCI denim and only creates small runs to reduce waste.

Jessica Breton, £52

Thought 

This brand started with fabric considerations first. They say "each season we look to do better than the season before, whether that is working with a factory to improve their certificates, sourcing a new sustainable yarn, working with our suppliers to improve accreditation or partnering with a business in the sustainable space to improve our closed loop possibilities.”

Roan Gots Organic Cotton Boiler Suit, £79.95

Pangaia

Not just a fashion label, Pangaia is a ‘materials science company.’ They concentrate on innovations that will make the fashion process less impactful on the planet and the people who make their clothes. Their recycled cashmere is made from a mix of pre and post-consumer recycled cashmere. It gives fibres a second life and repurposes unused garment waste.

Recycled Cashmere Crewneck Sweatshirt, £240

Reformation

Properly desirable and appearing on the chicest influencers in your feed, Reformation has hit the sweet spot of the aesthetic and ethics. Since 2015 they’ve tracked the ecological impact of every item produced and push for transparency in all areas of production.

Cammi Floral Crepe Mini Dress £248, at Selfridges

Everlane

One of the key elements of sustainable fashion is eschewing trends for classics. Everlane say, “we’re not big on trends. We want you to wear our pieces for years, even decades, to come.” Sourcing quality fabrics and producing in regularly audited “ethical factories” is key to their longevity.

The Cactus Leather Hobo, £150

E.L.V. Denim

Fashion stylist Anna Foster founded E.L.V. Denim with a mission to save vintage jeans from landfill. Each pair is transformed into a brand new style by using carefully sourced recycled pieces. The jeans are created in East London to reduce fashion miles – using existing fabrics reduces water energy and chemical use as well.

The Twin Frayed Two-Tone High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans, £255, at Net-a-porter.com

Hiut Denim

A Welsh-based brand that just makes jeans, Hiut was founded to bring jeans manufacture back into the town of Cardigan after a factory closure. They also founded the No Wash Club, an initiative that aims to save water (and washing powder.) Oh, and Meghan Markle is a fan.

Landfill Dropout - The Aurelia #2, £250

Baukjen

Baukjen is a B Corp - actually it’s the highest scoring Fashion B Corp in the UK - so you know all their sustainable credentials are verified. Each item has a list of sustainable attributes so you can check whether it meets your own personal checklist for vegan, low water use, low impact, made in Europe, or recycled fibres. They sell pre-loved on their site and offer rentals, too.

Marissa ECOTEC® Tank, £89

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Aligne

As well as creating their cute designs from organic fabrics, deadstock, recycled materials and low emission viscose, Aligne sweats the small stuff. Labels are made from recycled polyester, swing tags are created from recycle paper and organic cotton cords while orders are sent in biodegradable poly-bags and printed with water-based ink. 

Felise Tie Back Midi Dress, £99

Aardes

Stylist Lauren T Franks launched her sustainable-focused label in 2019. Craft is key with block printed fabrics hand-made by artisans in Jaipur. The annual collection (yes, just one drop compared to the daily new-in arrivals from some brands!) takes a considered and waste-free approach. Fabrics include organic cotton, dyed with chemical-free and naturally-derived inks. 

Virago Sleeve Top, £120 

Thinking Mu

A Barcelona-based brand that uses organic materials, creates upcycled garments from rubbish and builds fair and safe working conditions. Every piece comes with a QR tag explaining the materials, place of production, water, carbon, toxicity and waste footprint, the number of people who worked on the garment, its story and process, the packaging and animal welfare details. Phew.

Mediterraneo Sweatshirt, €89.90

People Tree

One of the first brands to consider the ethics and sustainability involved in fashion production, People Tree is a basically a leader in sustainable style. Bringing in artisan techniques, and environmentally responsible processes they were the first fashion company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation’s product label. 

Annabel Checked Dress in Yellow, £115

Seventy + Mochi

Mega brands often outsource production to factories around the world (which are pretty much left to get on with it) however Seventy + Mochi use their own facilities - and sell direct to the customer. A shorter production chain ensures less impact on the planet and the brand push for unbiased, equal employment and support social enterprises in their mission to design out waste from the start.

Lily Jacket, £135

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Albaray

Dreamy dresses, patchwork patterns and a cottage-core mood that transcends the trends, Albaray was created by three fashion industry friends who wanted to challenge the current conventions. Each piece has a deeply considered supply chain and well-chosen sustainable fabrics behind the designs.

Patchwork Print Jacket, £129

For more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton, follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton.