Unfortunately, the modern fashion industry is far from ethical – it’s a capitalist haven that thrives on trends and the constant demand for something new. It’s even considered one of the highest contributors to environmental damage.
But recently, there’s been a slight shift. With all the talk about climate change and caring for the environment, and with the rise of woke culture, more and more consumers are being smart and responsible with their purchases.
The desire for more ethical and sustainable lifestyle choices is one of the more inspiring trending movements amongst the younger generation (better than munching on tide-pods). So in this article, we’re going to be telling you everything you need to know about ethical fashion, and we’ll be running down the top 10 ethical clothing brands in Australia.
So get yourself ready. It’s time to flex some morals on these big fashion corporations.
RELATED: Ethical Fashion: A Guide To Ethical Fashion In Australia
What Is Ethical Fashion?
Ethical Fashion is the umbrella term given to describe the manner of being more socially or environmentally responsible pertaining to the design, production, retail, and purchase of a clothing product.
Where and how a clothing item is sourced is important for ethical fashion.
It takes into consideration the environmental effects of producing the garment, the quality of working conditions of the workers that produced the garment, and even animal welfare if necessary.
What Is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable Fashion is creating a fashion system that is kinder to the environment and its workers.
Sustainable clothing is usually made out of 100% organic fibres and is produced in a way that has a low impact on the environment, often through the use of natural dyes and locally made products.
What Is Fairtrade Fashion?
Fairtrade clothing promotes kindness and fairness towards their workers, rather than treating them like borderline sweatshop slaves. This means fair pay, fair treatment, and work benefits.
What Is Eco Fashion?
Eco-fashion is a general term for sustainable and ethical fashion that is geared towards caring more for the environment and vegan fashion. Since 2017, Australia has had an Eco-fashion week where eco-fashion is promoted and emerging talents in the area are given a platform to showcase their creations.
Where Can You Get Ethical Clothing In Australia?
Australia has numerous ethical clothing brands in the industry. In fact, due to the rise of supply and demand for ethical clothing, an accrediting body called Ethical Clothing Australia was created to ensure that these fashion brands that claim to be ethical are indeed ethical.
Here’s the list of the best accredited ethical clothing brands in Australia now.
10. Farm To Hanger
Ethics Promoted: Sustainable Fashion
Products: Womenswear, menswear, and underwear
Price range: $29.95 – $139
Farm To Hanger is a slow fashion brand that embraces traceability and transparent processes in the production of its products. Hence, they know where their products come from and the impact these products are having both socially and environmentally. They even go as far as reusing, re-purposing, and recycling their waste materials.
Shop Farm to Hanger here.
9. Panda Baby
Ethics Promoted: Ethical production
Products: Baby and children’s clothing
Price range: $5 – $40
Panda Baby is a clothing brand in Melbourne that makes cute and affordable clothes for kids and babies. They ethically produce their products by enforcing conscious production practices and by focusing on minimalist design. The fabrics they use are sourced from local suppliers who source their fabrics either locally or from international ethically sound producers.
Shop Panda Baby here.
8. Vege Threads
Ethics Promoted: Eco-fashion
Products: Womenswear, menswear, and swimwear
Price range: $30 – $449
Vege Threads is a menswear and womenswear fashion brand that prides itself in its low-impact production of their products. They use 100% organic and eco-friendly materials such as hemp, 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, and natural plant-dyed textiles.
Shop Vege Threads here.
7. Denimsmith
Ethics Promoted: Ethical production
Products: Womenswear and menswear
Price range: $59 – $249
Denimsmith’s items are created from the finest Japanese denim by “veteran Australian designers and makers who are committed to the ethical production of high-quality denim clothing”.
Shop Denimsmith here.
6. Good Studios
Ethics Promoted: Eco-fashion
Products: Womenswear, swimwear, and homeware
Price range: $65 – $415
Good Studios is a clothing and homeware label that promotes the use of organic materials such as hemp textiles in creating a stylish and contemporary design. They also pride themselves on providing a platform to educate the community and individual consumers about sustainability in the fashion industry.
Shop Good Studios here.
5. Homie
Ethics Promoted: Fairtrade
Products: Womenswear, menswear, activewear, shoes, and hats
Price range: $20 – $179
Homie is not only a hip fashion brand for streetwear but it is also a social enterprise where 100% of its profits go to supporting young people who struggle with homelessness and other hardships. All of their garments are Australian made, and their company also follows an ethical end-to-end process where the workers are ensured to have safe working conditions.
Shop Homie here.
4. Organic Crew
Ethics Promoted: Sustainable Fashion
Products: Womenswear and Activewear
Price range: $59 – $169
Organic Crew is an ethical, sustainable and organic apparel brand that makes hand made 100% organic cotton basic garments that transcends all seasons. They are committed to sustainable garment manufacturing as they ensure the working conditions of their manufacturers by complying to the highest standard within the industry and remaining 100% transparent about what they do.
Shop Organic Crew here.
3. SISTA ÖF JAC
Ethics Promoted: Sustainable Fashion
Products: Womenswear
Price range: $39.95 – $129
SISTA ÖF JAC is an Australian label that combines quality sustainable fabrics with innovative bespoke tailoring. Their designs are inspired by science, engineering, and architecture, which makes their clothes quite bold with eccentric colours and styles.
Shop SISTA ÖF JAC here.
2. Social Outfit
Ethics Promoted: Ethical production
Products: Womenswear
Price range: $20 – $499
The Social Outfit is an ethical trading social enterprise and clothing brand that provides employment and training to refugee and new migrant communities. They use fashion to empower these marginalised sectors while maintaining ethical standards in the production of their clothing.
Shop Social Outfit here.
1. Citizen Wolf
Ethics Promoted: Sustainable Fashion
Products: Womenswear
Price range: $49 – $69
Citizen Wolf is aware of how fast fashion has made clothing easily disposable, so they utilise technology “to create custom-tailored T-shirts locally and ethically with zero waste and provide free repairs for life”.
Shop Citizen Wolf here.
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