7 Ethical Fashion Companies That You Can Afford-- Yes, Even With Student Loans
- Rebekah Mally
- Jun 18, 2018
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 20, 2018
It's hard to find clothing that is ethically sourced, and even harder to find affordable ethical clothing, but what you may be asking is why care?
Apparel is the third largest industry in the world, and many times it comes at the expense of people and the planet. Because of the demand of fast fashion, clothing is being mass produced and ending up in our landfills, polluting the planet. This does not even include the energy and resources it takes to produce the clothing. Not to mention how many women are exploited all around the world. For what? So we can have trendy clothing for a few months? For me personally, it is not worth it. That is why ethically produced clothing is so important! I have selected seven companies that either produce environmentally and/or socially conscious clothing. And best of all, they won't break the bank.
1. EVERLANE
Everlane is a transparent company that sells minimalist styles and runs a DOPE social media (if you know you know and they know). They have transparency Tuesdays on their Instagram story where they answer any questions you have about the company. They are also transparent in their sourcing factories and their prices. You can literally look into each factory to see how people are treated and how the company is impacting the community.
Everlane is based out good ole San Fran and is so CHIC. They have the perfect work clothing that you can easily transition into an outfit for a night on the town. Everlane is intentional to use high quality and classic styles so your clothing can last you awhile--aka less clothing polluting the Earth (wait, is earth capitalized??) in landfills!! My favorite part of the week is looking at their interactions on social media. I love how they are so mindful to make sure each of the workers in their factories keep their dignity.
2. THE PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT
The People's Movement creates eco-hip shoes that are made of plastic water bottles found in the ocean. They have 5 gyres spread through each ocean which collect trash and up-cycles them into shoes. BONUS: They are also memory foam and super trendy.
I personally own two pairs of these shoes and have absolutely loved them! Unfortunately, they only have three options right now but I am hoping they are creating more. They are only $60 which is cheaper than most Nike or Adidas shoes. They are sometimes sold at Zumiez or you can order them straight off their website: https://thepeoplesmovement.com/shop/. Read more about their sustainable efforts: https://thepeoplesmovement.com/our-story-3/. This company is helping clean up the planet and saving marine life!! Seriously, who doesn't want to help free Willy??
3. MY SISTER
MY SISTER is a radical company that employs sex trafficking survivors, sources from socially responsible factories, and even donates 10-25% to different non-profits. They mainly sell shirts, sweatshirts, and dresses with bold messages.
I truly love how they are supporting activism and providing relief to the some of the most vulnerable in the community-- sex trafficking survivors. MY SISTER is also intentional to offer inclusive sizing (S-4X) and diverse models. Their prices range from $36-$98 for clothing and less for their jewelry. Their mission is: "We’re here to empower sex trafficking survivors and crush the systems that exploit girls and women. By funding job training and employment opportunities we support our sisters as they take back their lives. With every item sold, we’re arming survivors with a chance. With every item worn, we’re making it known we won’t back down."
Read more about how they holistically fulfill their mission: https://www.mysister.org/blogs/my-sister-blog/digging-in-the-my-sister-mission
This company is women empowering women. "Women are not my competition. I stand with them, not against them." #womensupportingwomenALL2018
4. ELEGANTEES
“Our dream is that girls in Nepal will no longer be viewed as a commodity. Their bodies should not be sold for any reason. Human trafficking continues because Nepal has little economic opportunity. We believe providing meaningful jobs to women recovered from trafficking will allow them to remain free for life."
This is Elegantees mission statement and if that doesn't make you want to support this company, I don't know what will. Here is more information about their history:
"Elegantees started as a New York fashion brand with intent to give profits to fight human trafficking. We weren't planning to work in Nepal until we met a freedom-fighter with a vision to eliminate trafficking in Nepal through tackling poverty. Opening a sewing center is a way to give rescued women meaningful work with a fair wage. It was the missing piece to our brand - the restoration! We leaped into it with faith, overcame challenges working in an undeveloped nation, and today we have 18 women (and counting) sewing full time. Each time we hire another, an entire family is significantly more protected from the risk of being trafficked.
Are our sewers paid fairly? We wouldn't be doing this unless they were. Each sewer earns between 2-3x minimum wage in Nepal. This is a livable wage in Nepal. They work 6 days per week (this is normal in Nepal), and they each get paid time off."
Elegantees is based in New York and ran by a woman and her husband--they are the CUTEST. Alleviating poverty and paying a living wage can help send these women's kids to school which could potentially change their whole life. This company offers hope and redemption to people who have faced more trauma than I can ever comprehend. Here is a story from one of their seamstresses: "I was the first daughter in my family and was often neglected in my culture. Now I am very happy to work here because before I thought that I could not do anything for myself. I was completely wrong. Now I can live for myself and support my family. I then accepted that life is beautiful. Sister, tell yourself everyday "I am beautifully made in God's image so never give up...."
MY GOD IS A REDEEMER YES HIS IS!!!!! Seriously hits me in the feels.
Lastly, the founder says "Our aim is to break away from the unrealistic standards of beauty. I believe that ideal beauty is an expression of something that comes from the inside" and this is exactly why I joined the fashion industry.
5. ALTERNATIVE APPAREL
Alternative Apparel is an athleisure brand that is based out of Atlanta! They are both environmentally and socially sustainable and have a blog that has four categories: Art + Design, Inside Alternative, Sustainability, and Ways to Wear.
Athleisure is all the rage these days and this company provides an Alternative option to meet the need and protect the planet and people's lives. This is a quote from their website: "Sustainable, ethically-sourced fashion is our thing - we love creating the garments that you love to wear, but we don’t want our clothes to come at the cost of people or our planet. So, we're proud to be a part of the Fashion Revolution, a global movement calling for greater transparency, sustainability and ethics in the fashion industry, from farmer to consumer."
You can even see pictures of who made your clothes! They give you everything you need to succeed by providing blog posts on how to wear the clothing and even how to have a more earth friendly closet.
6. PACT
Leggings are a staple in most girls closet, so why not buy it earth friendly? These leggings are so affordable and are eco-friendly. They are made of organic cotton which uses way less resources to produce (wish I had the stats) and are fair trade which means the people making them get a fair wage and safe working conditions.
Pact is like a sustainable Athleta (which is becoming more sustainable! Yay GAP Inc. !!). They have super soft lounge clothes.
7. KROCHET KIDS
"Our products, our non-profit partner, and our community work in unison to help people break the cycle of poverty. We provide life-changing job opportunities to women in need. With each purchase you make we introduce you to the woman who made your product and invite you to visit her online profile to learn more about her."
I first found out about Krochet Kids through one of my most rad friends Lindzkel. (S/O to you bby). The more I learned about the company, the more I was convinced and fell in love with it. Not to mention their clothes are FREAKIN CUTE AND VERSATILE!!!!! How cool is it that you can literally talk to the person who made your clothing?! This company was started by three brothers who taught one another how to krochet at a young age. They said: "During our summer breaks we volunteered in various developing nations, hoping to gain a better understanding of the global community in which we lived. It wasn't long before we came to realize how blessed we had been growing up. The desire was planted within us to help. To reach out in love. To make a difference.
The “Krochet Kids” idea quickly grew beyond us to incorporate close friends who shared this desire to see Northern Uganda transformed by hook and yarn. Halfway through college at this point, we founded our brand and began crocheting again to sell hats, raise some initial funds, and share our vision for what we planned to do.
The following summer, after countless skype meetings and late nights, we found ourselves sitting in a simple brick hut with a group of Ugandan women and bags full of yarn. What followed thereafter remains to be one of the most surreal experiences of my life, as we watched these ladies nearly master crocheting before our eyes. Tears, primarily from Stewart, were in abundance."
They believe in these women and truly want to get them out of poverty. Im inspired.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
If you are reading this, that means you made it to the end of the article!!
Woo give yourself a pat on the back! Thank you for bearing with me while I frantically researched these companies and word-vomited my passion for these companies on you. I appreciate your patience and I just want to encourage you to give these companies a chance. I know it is not realistic to always buy ethically made clothing, and trust me I don't all the time either. But even just spreading awareness or shopping at thrift stores can help our planet. In college, the most surprising statistic I learned was that of all the people in the fashion industry, 90% are women, and 70% of them are in poverty.
To know how bad the factories can get, watch the documentaries Made in LA or China Blue. So heartbreaking. Women are so strong.
Comments