The Most Affordable Places to Buy Non-Toxic & Sustainable Fashion

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Non-toxic clothing should be accessible to everyone, but not everyone knows where to look for it. That’s why we’re always searching for safe, non-toxic and budget-friendly brands with strong chemical management to share with you.

Thankfully, since sustainable fashion has been more mainstream, there are more and more affordable brands that are ethically making long-lasting fashion with natural fibers and skin-safe dyes.

But just because we’re talking about affordable fashion doesn’t mean you’re going to find Shein prices on this list. Not only is sustainable clothing all about quality over quantity, but your dollars should go to pieces that won’t harm your health in the long run. Do you want to pay more for fashion, or pay for doctor’s visits and steroid cream? Hmmmm.

The idea is to find durable, versatile, and timeless garments made of natural fibers that can be loved and repaired for years to come. So yes, pieces that are built to last are going to be more expensive than shirts from sketchy factories that are made of tissue-thin synthetics and harmful substances that will rip after only a month (if that.)

In the realm of non-toxic fashion, we set our affordability standards at basic tops for under $50, fashion tops for under $100, and dresses and jumpsuits for under $150 (all prices are in USD.)

Natural materials: Not only are natural fibers more breathable and comfortable than synthetics, they’re better for the environment. You can find affordable clothing made with cotton, hemp, Tencel, wool, and linen.

Some brands use recycled synthetics like nylon and polyester. If you’re not sensitive to these, go for it, just double check for certifications from the Global Recycling Standard (GRS), which ensures the material was actually recycled.

Non-Toxic Dyes & Finishes: Even if you don’t have very sensitive skin, the azobenzene disperse dyes used on most synthetics can cause a reaction, such as a rash or pimples. Instead, look for brands that use non-toxic and natural dyes, such as vegetable and mineral dyes, and check for certifications from bluesign and Oeko-Tex to be sure that the garment is truly free of hazardous chemicals.. Also be on the lookout for brands with a restricted substances list, as this indicates they have awareness of chemical management.

Ethical manufacturing: There are a lot of layers that go into responsible production, from environmental awareness to fair labor. Check if the brand is transparent about its supply chain, from fabric sourcing to assembly, and if it holds partners to a code of conduct. If you’re unsure if a brand is trustworthy, you can check for certifications from labor safety organizations like Fair Trade. For overall ethical practices that prioritize people over profit, look for brands that are certified B-Corps.

Lifespan: A quality, sustainable and non-toxic garment should be in your closet for a long time. Look for brands that intentionally design their clothing to last, or that offer mending services. Some brands on this list have second-hand platforms, where you can buy and sell products at a discount while keeping them from going to waste.

Packaging: Look for brands that skip virgin plastic in their packaging in favor of recycled, recyclable, or biodegradable materials. Check for certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to be sure it was responsibly sourced.

1. Colorful Standard

What we like: Colorful Standard uses organic cotton, recycled merino wool, and Oeko-Tex-certified dyes to make vibrantly-colored apparel. All of its clothing is produced at its own manufacturing center in Portugal, where it works with local suppliers. It uses low-waste practices like garment dyeing and laser cutting, recycles its fabric scraps, and uses FSC-certified packaging.

Price Range: $11-$88

Available in: Most countries.

2. Cottonique

What we like: This certified B-Corp makes hypoallergenic clothing made completely with organic cotton, down to the threads and drawstrings. It carefully tracks its manufacturing process to make sure no synthetics contaminate its fabrics, and has its own chemical-free finishing process. It works with trusted cotton suppliers, supports a healthy environment for its garment workers, and uses compostable packaging.

Price Range: $8-$55

Available in: Most countries.

3. Target Brands

What we love: You might be surprised (and excited) to know that Target has some of the best affordable non-toxic pieces on the market. Just make sure you stick to its in-house brands, as we can only speak to the retailer’s own chemical management.

Watch out for: Some of its collections contain virgin and recycled synthetics, so check the material makeup before you buy if you’re sensitive to them.

Price Range: $5-$44

Available: Internationally

4. Lavender Hill

What we love: This female-founded brand uses natural fibers like Tencel, linen, cashmere, and cotton to make comfortable basics in a variety of colors and styles. It uses non-toxic dyes, and all of its products are completely traceable. It only works with factories that pay its workers fairly, and sends orders in reusable packaging.

Price Range: $13.31-$196.93

Available: Internationally

5. No Nasties

What we love: This climate-positive brand uses organic cotton and natural dyes for its collection of men and women’s clothing. All of its cotton is sourced from organic small-scale farms in India, and the majority of its products are made in a Fair Trade cotton mill. If you want to shop a bit cheaper, you can buy and sell second-hand clothing on its Relove section. All of its orders are shipped in plastic-free packaging.

Price Range: $18.99-$72.99

Available: Internationally

6. Magic Linen

What we love: Magic Linen specializes in handmade Oeko-Tex-certified linen clothing. Its collection is made in Lithuania by seamstresses in a safe and supportive work environment. It upcycles its textile scraps, and uses biodegradable packaging.

Price range: $20-$207

Available: Internationally 

7. Kotn

What we like: Kotn is a certified B-Corp that works directly with small farms in Egypt to ethically source its cotton and linen. The brand also uses Tencel and merino wool, and spins and dyes its fabrics in-house with Oeko-Tex-certified dyes. Its garments are assembled locally and in Portugal, and its orders are packaged in reusable cotton totes with recycled polyester labels.

Price Range: $12-$198

Available: Internationally 

8. PopLinen

What we love: This sustainable brand was founded to bring inclusivity and minority representation to sustainable fashion. It uses organic and recycled cotton, Tencel, linen, and hemp to make clothing up to size 3X. Its fabrics are dyed on-site at its partner mills in India, South Korea, and America. Poplinen minimizes fabric waste by using low-waste cutting techniques, and uses the scraps to make baby onesies.

Watch out for: Some products contain a small percentage of spandex, so make sure you check the product page before you buy.

Price Range: $10-$118

Available: Internationally

9. Ably

What we love: Ably makes functional fashion with custom Filium technology that can repel liquids, stains, and odors without the use of any harmful chemicals. Its collection includes cotton, linen, and modal basics for men and women.

Watch out for: While it says its products are produced in India, there is little information available on its supply chain. It’s also unclear what dyes and packaging materials it uses.

Price Range: $18-$135

Available: Internationally

10. Organic Basics

What we love: Organic Basics uses cotton, Oeko-Tex-certified Tencel, and GRS-certified recycled nylon to make its collection of ethically-sourced basics. All of its partner factories maintain fair working conditions and living wages, and are publicly listed for manufacturing transparency.

Watch out for: Some products contain a small percentage of elastane, so make sure to check the material makeup before you buy. There is little information about its packaging available.

Price Range: $12-$150

Available: Internationally

11. Levi’s

What we love: Levis creates timeless and ethical clothing in sizes up to 26. It works closely with sustainable cotton farmers, and specifically partners with energy and water efficient factories. It maintains a restricted substances list and uses non-toxic dyes to ensure there are no harmful chemicals on its garments.

Price Range: $19.50-$398

Watch out for: Some products, primarily the stretch jeans, contain polyester and elastane, so check the material makeup before you buy.

Available in: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & Pacific Countries, South Africa, and Turkey. If you’re shopping outside the United States, you’ll have to find your country-specific website here.

12. United Colors of Benetton

What we love: United Colors of Benetton uses natural materials like wool, cotton, down, and linen to make its line of chic styles. It maintains a transparent supply chain, and all of its suppliers are bound by its code of conduct. It uses some vegetable and mineral dyes, and FSC-certified paper packaging with biodegradable bags.

Watch out for: The brand also uses recycled synthetics, so check the material makeup before you buy.

Price range: $14 to $348

Available: Internationally, except for Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Rota, and Tinian

13. H&M

What we love: We know H&M gets a bad rap, but it does use majority cotton in its clothing and was one of the first fashion brands to share a restricted substances list in the early 200s. It also lists all its suppliers, including the dye houses. EcoCult’s founder Alden even visited a certified dye house in India that supplies H&M when reporting for her book To Dye For.

Watch out for: Check the material makeup for each product, as many may contain synthetics. It still uses plastic in its packaging.

Price Range: $4.99-$329

Available: Internationally 

14. TenTree

What we love: This certified B-corp uses natural fibers like Tencel, organic cotton, and hemp for its collection of women, men, and kid’s clothing. It regularly audits its partner factories to make sure they comply with its code of conduct, and it lists its Tier 1 and Tier 2 factories. It uses FSC-certified paper and biodegradable shipping mailers.

Watch out for: It uses some disperse dyes, so look for products clearly marked with natural dyes. Some products are made with recycled polyester, so be sure to check the material makeup if you’re sensitive to synthetics.

Price Range: $18-$118

Available in: Most countries.

15. Armed Angels

What we love: Armed Angels uses natural materials like organic cotton, Tencel, and wool for its basics and accessories. Its cotton is sourced from small-scale farms in India and the majority of its garments are assembled at its partner factories in Portugal and Turkey. You can send items back for mending.

 Watch out for: Its dyes are certified by GOTS, which isn’t our top choice for non-toxic assurance. Check the material makeup before you buy, as the brand uses recycled synthetics. There is little information about its packaging available.

Price Range: $11.95-$370.55

Available in: The U.S., The U.K., Canada, Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Norway, South Africa, Australia.

16. Thought

What we like: This brand designs thoughtful and intentional garments that are made to last. It uses natural materials like organic cotton, hemp, and Tencel. It says its pieces are increasingly Fair Trade certified, and it carefully selects its suppliers.

Watch out for: Thought doesn’t have any chemical certifications. It uses some recycled materials.

Price Range: $51.29-$141.23

Available in: The U.K.