Whether you’re looking to spruce up your sartorial style on a budget or scour the internet for quality ethical basics to adhere to your existing wardrobe, the sustainable clothing brands for college students below will certainly tick all your boxes.
Let’s not sugarcoat it; eco-friendly fashion can be a bit expensive. Especially if you are trying to shop ethically on top of all your college-related expenses. Luckily, 2022’s best sustainable fashion brands that are affordable for college students guarantee to elevate your vestiary game without going over budget.
No matter if you’re into bohemian vibes, a die-hard minimalist, or love bold and unapologetic ensembles, here is a list of the most coveted ethical fashion brands for college students to shop in 2022 and beyond.
Everlane
Everlane is one of the first big sustainable clothing brands in the ethical fashion game. Every eco-conscious influencer has been spotted weathering their clothing around with pride. The brand uses natural fibers and recycled synthetics to craft denim, casualwear, shoes, accessories, underwear, and swimwear. Everlane is a bluesign® Systems Partner and currently holds the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification along with the Cradle To Cradle Gold Certification.
Girlfriend Collective
Girlfriend collective is hailed as one of the most size-inclusive, sustainable clothing brands for college students. Their quality basics are crafted with recycled plastic that was previously dumped in landfills. The brand is 100% transparent with its fair labor initiatives and design, and manufacturing practices. Currently, they have Social Accountability International (SAI)’s Fair Trade certification. You can opt for hoodies, t-shirts, leggings, joggers, and pretty much everything in between from XXS TO 6XL. Girlfriend Collective will ship everything to you in 100% recycled and recyclable packaging.
Prana
When it comes to the best sustainable brands for college students, Prana deserves all the hype. Apart from carrying an extensive collection of quality, durability, and versatile ethical fashion staples from XS-XXL, their Fair Trade Certified™ program has given back $400,000+ to 33,000+ workers around the world. The brand crafts sustainable clothing from organic cotton, hemp, and many other eco-friendly fibers. If you want to tap into a tropical daydream with their swimsuits or reinforce your bohemian aesthetic with a few floral dresses, no one could really blame you.
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Made Trade
Made Trade is not exactly similar to the previous sustainable fashion brands that are affordable for college students, but it’s definitely a fantastic e-destination for all-things-ethically-made. The marketplace’s curated catalog of eco-friendly fashion brands offers us artisanal creations from all around the world. From shoes and accessories to fashion staples, consider it as a directory of the best ethical fashion brands that believe in fair labor, sustainable sourcing, and limited-waste manufacturing practices.
Organic Basics
Your search for affordable sustainable fashion brands for college students is officially over. Organic Basics’ ethical collections run the gamut from underwear, tops, and bottoms to swimwear and activewear in sizes up to 2XL. They only partner with fair-trade factories and use the most sustainable fibers available. Thanks to their Regenerative Organic Cotton Pilot Project and Organic Basics Fund 2.43 tonnes of waste was saved from getting dumped in landfills thus far.
All Birds
The B-certified cooperation All Birds deserves a place in our sustainable clothing brands for college students round-up. From oh-so-comfy ZQ Merino wool sneakers, flats, slip-ons, and everything in between to ethical activewear and casual wear, they have all your needs covered. The carbon-neutral brand uses Tencel, Lyocell, Recycled Nylon, and ZQ Merino Wool in their renewable energy factory. Did we mention that they just scored a partnership with Adidas?
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Tentree
There is a very good reason why the ethical fashion brand Tentree is touted as one of the most sustainable clothing brands for college students. This modern, eco-friendly clothing is made with award-winning technical fabrics combined with recycled materials saved from landfill waste. The brand shares that they are going to plant 1 billion trees by 2030 (10 trees for every purchase), which is quite impressive. They are also a certified B-Corporation. So rest assured that your sustainable loungewear and activewear are equal parts ethically-made and stylish.
ABLE
The feminist brand ABLE offers to outfit us with gorgeously crafted sustainable bags and wardrobe staples like dresses, jeans, and shoes made ethically by women. “Women comprise 95% of our staff at ABLE, but globally they often hold the lowest-paid, least-secure jobs” they mention. As a certified B Corp, ABLE uses 100% recyclable packaging to ship their GOTS certified organic cotton clothing, ethically sourced leather products right to your doorstep.
Warp Weft
If you are looking for ethical fashion brands for college students that thrive on creating high-quality jeans, Warp Weft is the e-destination for you. The brand has been creating the most coveted sustainable jeans for over 3 decades. From skinny, straight, and wide-leg jeans to maternity options and denim jackets, they have everything! Warp Weft also saves and recycles saving 98% of the water they use for their production to be even more kind to the environment.
Kotn
KOTN is another great addition to our list of sustainable brands for college students thanks to their modern yet timeless casualwear. Recognized as one of the top 5% B corporations globally, the brand is known for its strict fair trade policies and ethical manufacturing. KOTN uses sustainably grown cotton from local farmers in rural Egypt to craft their loungewear and casual wear. From pastels to black and white styles for every occasion, your on-campus outfits are about to get an upgrade.
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Now that you have a foolproof list of sustainable clothing brands for college students on a budget, it’s time for a guilt-free wardrobe refresh. What’s a better way to kickstart the new season than with affordable ethical fashion finds for on and off-campus outings?
