The Cutest Non-Toxic and Organic Apparel Brands for Babies and Kids

by
EcoCult Staff
Oct 23, 2024

There’sImage Credit: Nui Organics

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When we first published this piece, there were few brands out there that focused on creating truly non-toxic clothing for the littles. Since then, some of them have disappeared, while others are no longer up to our standards. Nevertheless, we thought it was high time to dig even deeper to find more non-toxic children’s clothing brands that are accessible and affordable.

Speaking of chemicals, there have been some serious shortcomings in the children’s clothing industry lately, especially with the rise of fast fashion and its super-cheap allure. Sure, your kids grow out of their clothes quickly, but the fact of the matter is that providing them with poor-quality, synthetic clothing is far more harmful to their health and development than you might think.

If you’ve been here long, you’re probably familiar with PFAS, a class of chemicals dubbed “forever chemicals” which remain in the body for extended periods of time, and these chemicals have been found in children’s clothing.

Children’s clothing brand Crann Organic recently conducted a study using pieces from cheap, online fast fashion platforms intended for wear by children. They used a third-party accredited lab to test for toxic contaminants that are proven to be detrimental to healthy growth and development. The experiment revealed extremely high levels of lead, a potent neurotoxin, as well as phthalates and formaldehyde, which have been linked to endocrine disorders affecting growth and development, as well as several types of cancers. Acute effects can include skin and lung irritation.

If your kiddo suffers from a sensitive skin condition or multiple chemical sensitivities, it’s important to pay attention to the dyes used to color their garments. Dyes can be especially harmful to children through prolonged exposure, increasing their risk of acute allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis and respiratory distress, Most synthetic fabrics, including polyester and nylon, require coloring agents such as azobenzene dyes to remain colorfast, whereas natural fibers are more easily dyed using natural and organic compounds.

The list of possible toxic chemicals in your kids’ wardrobe is long, but there are many brands working on chemical management to offer safer clothing without the use of these chemicals. With the rise of advocacy of sustainability and health concerns in the fashion industry, many brands are making big changes to the way they produce clothing. Levi’s, for example, has made huge strides in its chemical management policy since 2020 as one of the first brands to implement its own Restricted Substances List.

Children’s clothing made with natural fibers and strong chemical management policies is becoming easier to find, even at your local mall. It all comes down to knowing where to shop and what to look for. So, here you go: our roundup of the best brands for organic, non-toxic apparel for babies and kids.

What to look for in Ethical, Sustainable Children’s Apparel

Non-Toxic: This might be the most important part to you, for good reason. Little developing humans are more sensitive to smaller amounts of potentially harmful chemicals. That’s why we prioritized baby and kid’s clothing with non-toxic certifications, such as Oeko-Tex, bluesign, and Ecocert. Some brands are still too small to afford certifications of their own, but work only with suppliers and manufacturers with certifications like these. Most of the brands below use organic cotton, but you can also look for natural and skin-safe fabrics like TENCEL, hemp, wool, and linen.

Ethical Manufacturing: Needless to say, you don’t want a child making your children’s clothes. The brands below prioritize transparency and fair, safe conditions for their workers.

Resale Value: Your babies are going to grow up fast (sorry!), so when they grow out of their clothes in a month, will you be able to get some money back for them on sites like thredUP?

Here are the Best Brands for Sustainable, Non-Toxic Clothing for Babies and Kids:

Pehr

This 15-year-old brand uses cotton and azo-free dyes for its baby and toddler clothing and swimwear. It also carries shoes (like those adorable jelly alternatives pictured above), which are third-party tested to for chemical management and designed to maintain healthy foot development in growing kids. Clothing and shoes costs $22-$126 and ship from the U.S.

Crann Organic

Started by a mom and nurse practitioner (you may recognize her from Alden’s book!), Crann aims to make getting dressed in the morning easier for kids with sensitive skin. It uses cotton and Tencel, and manufactures at a Fair Trade factory in India. Clothing ranges from $28-$56, and ships from the U.S.

TwoThirtyTwo

TwoThirtyTwo is a children’s clothing brand with one clear premise: kids need fewer pieces, not more. Launched in 2025, the brand builds its entire collection around natural fibers designed with an intentional oversized look and sized by height rather than age, so each piece can be worn across years of growth. The aesthetic is deliberately ungendered and pared back, providing refined silhouettes designed to move, layer, and last. Clothing costs $48-$126, and ships from New Jersey.

Nui Organics

Nui uses merino wool blended with Tencel and silk, along with alpaca and cotton, to make clothing for babies, toddlers, and women. Only some products are bluesign or Oeko-Tex-certified, but all are made with natural fibers. It has a second-hand selection where you can buy or sell used clothes for store credit. Baby and kid styles cost $16-$98, and ship from the U.S.

Hanna Anderson

Hanna Anderson makes Oeko-Tex and GRS-certified kid’s wear from cotton and recycled materials. Its clothing and swimwear are designed to be passed down, and it has a pre-loved selection you can shop or sell from. Its baby, toddler, and kid clothing ranges from $12-$92, and ship from the U.S.

Infantium Victoria

This upscale brand specializes in ethical and timeless natural fiber clothing for kids with no harmful dyes or chemicals. Its styles are designed to be passed down, and it has a preloved section to buy or sell from. Clothing costs $13-$1,445, and ships from Germany.

Faire Child

Faire Child uses GRS-certified recycled materials and PFC-free waterproofing to make rain gear for babies, kids, and adults. All of its pieces are Oeko-Tex and bluesign-certified. Toddler and children clothing ranges from $27-$264, and ships from Canada.

Finn + Emma

Finn + Emma produces artisan-made baby and kid clothing with cotton and non-toxic dyes. It also has a pre-loved marketplace where you can swap for store credit. Clothing costs $8-$189, including bundles, and ships from New Jersey

Jackalo

Jackalo was started by a mom frustrated with the lack of quality options for long-lasting clothing. The brand uses cotton, as well as deadstock, recycled, and upcycled fabrics. It offers mending guides to help extend garment lifespan. Clothing costs $6-$130, and ships from the U.S.

Patagonia

The sustainable sporting brand makes durable kid’s clothing and gear designed to endure heavy play and still be handed down. Baby, toddler, and kid items range from $35-$219, and ship from the U.S.

Sonnie

Sonnie’s clothing is designed to one day become vintage hand-me-downs. Its manufacturer is Oeko-Tex and bluesign-certified, and uses majority cotton. Clothing costs $15-$68, and ships from New Zealand.

Fig

This transparent brand collaborates with independent artisans and businesses to create kid’s cotton basics without PFAS or harmful dyes. Fig sells kid’s underwear and potty training kits, ranging from $10-$90 (including bundles) and ships from the U.S.

Treehouse

Treehouse makes sensory-friendly baby and kid essentials with Oeko-Tex linen and cotton. It regularly visits its long-term partner factory, and only uses azo-free and water-based dyes. Clothing costs $14.95-$145, including bundles, and ships from the U.S.

Quick & Affordable

H&M

We think H&M’s bad rap is unfair. It’s restricted many harmful substances, including PFAS and BPA. The brand offers baby, kid, and teen clothing made from natural fibers like cotton and wool. Kid’s clothing ranges from $6-$119, and shipping depends on where you’re ordering from.

Levi’s

Levi’s takes chemical management seriously, holding each of its manufacturers and suppliers to its standards and restricted substances list. Its vast catalog includes everything from onesies to jackets, many of which are made from 100% cotton. Kid’s clothing costs $17-$65, and shipping depends on where you’re ordering from.

Sustainable and toxin-free living