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2. BETTER: Independent, Certified Green Businesses
If you need a new clothing item, you can’t do much better than an independent green business that strives to make every aspect of its clothing sustainable, from the fields where the fibers are grown to the factories that assemble and dye the clothes to the retail or online store in which they’re sold. The following companies are just a few of the “deep green” businesses that specialize in sustainable clothing. Each is certified by Green America, meaning we screened them in all aspects of their business to ensure a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
A member of the Fair Trade Federation, Mehera Shaw ensures a living wage and healthy workplace for the people who print, dye, and sew its boho-chic women’s clothing. The company specializes in women’s clothing made with dazzling hand-dyed, artisan fabrics—including GOTS-certified cotton and other natural fibers.
Circle Creations offers casual, comfy clothing, underwear, and accessories for men and women, made from hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, soy fiber, and locally milled wool. The company ensures workers throughout its supply chain aren't exploited and receive fair benefits.
Stay Vocal’s founder Alex Eaves points out that the average T-shirt requires 400 gallons of water to grow the cotton to make it. To save resources and promote reuse, the company searches out old and factory-discarded T-shirts for men, women, and children—which are then printed with clever designs and slogans touting the benefits of reuse.
Started by four former executives from major brands Ann Taylor, Lands’ End, and Macy’s, Fair Indigo sells Fair Trade, organic clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. As such, the company offers all of its employees, from Madison, WI, to Lima, Peru, a living wage, fair working conditions, and excellent benefits. Many of the items are made from ecofriendly materials.
All of the above and more can be found in the clothing/accessories category of our greenpages.org.
