Polyester-Free and Non-Toxic Sundresses

Image by Christy Dawn

This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, EcoCult receives a small percentage of the sale price. We only recommend brands that we truly believe in. Support our editorial work by supporting them!

Sundresses are the pinnacle of comfy spring and summer fashion. They’re as much a harbinger of warm weather as digging your favorite sandals out of the closet.

Sundresses are lightweight, gorgeous, and an easy way to make everyone think you dressed up without actually putting in much effort. But to truly be well-suited for the heat and sun to come, a sundress should have these qualities:

Natural Materials: We absolutely recommend sticking to natural fibers for your dress — otherwise, your dress might stick to you! While synthetics like polyester retain odor from sweat and can feel sticky when it’s hot outside, natural materials will be much more breathable and comfortable. In this guide you’ll find brands that use organic or regenerative cotton, hemp, linen, and Tencel.

Non-Toxic Dyes: When shopping for bold and vibrant dresses, be on the lookout for the dyes used. Azobenzene disperse dyes (which are most commonly used on synthetics,) are known skin sensitizers, according to Alden Wicker’s forthcoming book To Dye For. This risk is more pronounced when you sweat in the summer sun, as the chemicals can mingle with perspiration and seep into your skin. Look for brands that use traditional techniques like hand dyeing and block printing, or who hold non-toxic certifications and labels such as bluesign and Oeko-Tex.

Timelessness & Durability: A stunning sundress can last you for many summers to come if it’s well-designed and made to last. Many sustainable brands keep this in mind with not only the construction of the garment but the aesthetics as well, so your new sundress will never go out of style. Just make sure you check the care instructions on each garment to get the longest lifespan possible.

Ethical & Responsible Supply Chain: Transparency is key from start to finish. Look for brands that foster short supply chains and work closely with their material suppliers, artisans, and manufacturers. Many brands on this list work closely with family-owned factories or artisan collectives to ensure that they are fairly compensated for their craftsmanship and are treated well in fair conditions. Some brands also source materials local to their factories to reduce shipping emissions. If you’re unsure of a brand’s ethics, look for certifications like Fair Trade.

And without further ado, here are our favorite sustainable and ethical brands for sundresses:

1. Christy Dawn

What we like: This farm-to-closet brand works directly with artisans and a regenerative cotton farm in Erode, India to maintain mutually beneficial relationships throughout its supply chain. Its dreamy sundresses are made with regenerative cotton and deadstock fabrics like silk, and are decorated with block-printed patterns for a timeless aesthetic. Its long-lasting designs are dyed with natural and organic dyes, and manufactured in its small factories in L.A. and India.

Price Range: $198-$498

2. Cleobella

What we like: Cleobella uses natural fibers like viscose, linen, hemp and GOTS-certified organic cotton to make its vibrant sundresses. The brand works with artisans and small factories in India and Bali who use traditional craftsman techniques, such as hand-block printing, and meet the brand’s ethical trade agreement standards. It uses non-toxic vegetable-based dyes on its designs, which are created to be versatile, durable, and one-of-a-kind.

Price Range: $158-$328

3. Seek Collective

What we like: This slow fashion brand is dedicated to never letting its custom textiles go to waste. All of its garments are ethically manufactured throughout India by its ethical artisan partners, including natural dyers, hand block printers, handloom weavers, and material suppliers. Its vibrant sundresses are made with cotton and silk and dyed with water-based bluesign-approved dyes.

Price Range: $190-$436

4. Afends

What we like: This Australian brand uses hemp, virgin and recycled cotton, and Tencel for its sundresses. It fosters long-term partnerships with sustainable factories and suppliers that meet its ethical sourcing standard. Its hemp factory is GOTS-certified, a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, and complies to EU-safe dyeing standards

Price Range: $65-$135

5. All the Wild Roses

What we like: This certified B Corp makes long-lasting designs that are perfect for both the daytime and evening. It reduces its impact by using majority deadstock fabrics and working directly with its makers and hand dyers. Each design is cut and made one at a time by a small team of makers in Australia and Vietnam. All the Wild Roses offers made-to-order options with custom sizing.

Price Range: $165-$185

6. Reformation

What we like: Reformation uses a variety of natural and recycled materials to create limited-edition sundresses. The brand grades its fabrics, including Tencel, cotton, linen, and silk, by sustainability. Any materials that are not made in a bluesign-approved facility must be certified by Oeko-Tex. Its collections are made in Los Angeles and in its responsible partner factories throughout the world, which are publicly available on its website.

Price Range: $98-$498

7. No Nasties

What we like: No Nasties makes organic, fair trade, and vegan clothing for a “planet-first closet.” Its organic cotton is sourced from small-scale farmers in India, and transformed into comfortable apparel in Fair Trade and GOTS-certified factories. You can send your used garments back for resell, repair, or upcycling, depending on the state of them.

Watch out for: There is little information available about its dyes.

Price Range: $30.52-$52.51

8. Toad & Co

What we like: This California-based brand uses organic cotton, Tencel, recycled polyester, and hemp for its bright and fun sundresses. Many of its garments are bluesign-approved, and it regularly re-evaluates its lists of restricted substances while working closely with suppliers to ensure all materials comply.

Price Range: $85-$110

9. Jyoti Fairworks

What we like: This German-Indian fashion label works closely with small stitching workshops and family-owned factories to design beautiful flowing sundresses. It uses fabrics like GOTS-certified organic cotton, viscose, Tencel, and hemp. It minimizes transportation emissions and uses eco-friendly dyes. The brand features each member of its manufacturing partners on its website to show transparency throughout its supply chain, and ensures adaptable hours for working parents.

Price Range: $98.4-$186.84

10. Tasi Travels

What we like: Tasi Travels follows a slow fashion model that uses sustainably sourced fibers, such as Tencel, modal, and GOTS-certified organic cotton. All of its garments are cut, sewn, and designed within twenty miles of its studio in Queensland, Australia. Its bold dresses are dyed with Oeko-Tex-certified dyes.

Watch out for: While the organic cotton is grown in Australia, it is unclear where the brand sources its Tencel and modal materials from.

Price Range: $148-$236

11. Loud Bodies

What we like: Loud Bodies was created to make beautiful sustainable fashion accessible to people of all sizes. Its fabrics, including GOTS-certified organic cotton and Tencel, are Oeko-Tex-certified, and it uses recycled accessories and thread for all of its products. Its small team of well-paid workers operates in a small atelier in Romania, where its founder and employees design, cut, and sew all garments. You can order some dresses with or without pockets, and its sizes go up to 10XL.

Watch out for: It’s unclear where its fabrics are sourced from.

Price Range: $72.50-$435

12. Hope for Flowers

What we like: This WOC-owned slow fashion brand by designer Tracy Reese uses sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and organic linen, Tencel, and cupro for its boldly patterned dresses. It makes sure all of its garments are made in factories that pay living wages.

Watch out for: It’s unclear where the materials are sourced from, and there is little information available on its dyes.

Price Range: $458-$736

13. Gracemade

What we like: Gracemade makes chic and modest dresses that are designed and manufactured in L.A. The brand uses locally sourced natural fibers and deadstock materials, and produces its collections in small batches.

Watch out for: It’s unclear what dyes the brand uses.

Price Range: $60-$180