plus size woman wearing sustainable outfit by LA based brand Whimsy + Row
14 Sep
plus size woman wearing sustainable outfit by LA based brand Whimsy + Row

The 13 Most Ethical and Sustainable Clothing Brands from LA

There’s no denying it: sustainability is an increasingly important issue for many people. A lot of us are trying to reduce our impact on the planet and, as a result, a growing number of ethical and sustainable fashion brands are arising to both meet the demand and help change the fashion industry for the better. But which clothing brands are ethical? First, let’s learn about what makes a brand ethical in the first place.

What makes an ethical brand?

To start with, an ethical brand ensures its workers are treated fairly across the supply chain. This includes policies and practices on child labour, forced labour, worker safety, the right to join a union, and payment of a living wage.

An ethical brand also cares about its use of resources and energy, reducing its carbon emissions, impact on our waterways, as well as using and disposing of chemicals safely.

Finally, an ethical brand uses no or very few animal products, like wool, leather, fur, angora, down feather, shearling, karakul, and exotic animal skin and hair. Ideally, the brand is 100% vegan!

Long story short, an ethical brand makes sure it positively impacts on people, the planet, and animals.

Now that you know what to look for to determine whether a brand is ethical or not, you might decide to shop from companies located in your country or region. Whether it is to support your local communities or reduce your carbon footprint when shopping online, shopping locally has many great benefits.

So if you live in LA, you might be wondering which clothing brands are ethical. We know how you feel, which is why we compiled this list of eco-friendly and conscious fashion brands from LA. These 14 brands have all been rated “Good” or “Great” using our first-class methodology and are amongst our favourites.

Not from LA? Check out our favourite brands from:

Whimsy + Row

Rated: Good

Whimsy + Row is an eco-conscious lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and sustainable practices. Since 2014, its mission has been to provide ease and elegance for the modern, sustainable woman. Whimsy + Row utilises deadstock fabric, and by limiting each garment to short runs, the brand also reduces packaging waste and takes care of precious water resources. Find most products in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Whimsy + Row.

Shop Whimsy + Row @ Earthkind.

Svala

Rated: Good

Svala creates luxury designer vegan handbags, purses, bags and totes. Each bag is handcrafted sustainably and ethically in LA with high-quality, premium vegan leather PU, cork, and Piñatex.

See the rating.

Shop Svala.

Boyish

Rated: Great
Woman in dark wash ethical fringe trousers

Love the & Other Stories vibe, but hate their fast fashion business model? Boyish has all the quality, fit, and authentic washes that you could want without the harmful practices. Find sizes 2XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boyish.

Shop Boyish @ Reve en Vert.

The Classic T-Shirt Company

Rated: Great

The Classic T-Shirt Company is a US brand that creates premium tees and ethical t-shirts with luxury and integrity. All of its products are GOTS certified organic cotton and it does not use any animal products. The Classic T-Shirt Company’s range is available in US sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Classic T-Shirt Company.

MATE the Label

Rated: Great

MATE the Label creates clean essentials made with GOTS certified organic fabrics and low-impact dyes. Its goal is to offer women everywhere a clean product that is just as beautiful as it is sustainable. It is proudly female-founded and is predominately operated by women. This US brand also manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint. Find the range in inclusive sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop MATE the Label.

Proclaim

Rated: Good

Los Angeles-based Proclaim makes beautiful bras, underwear, and basics from eco-friendly materials like recycled plastic bottles and TENCEL. Its designs come in three shades of "nude", building inclusivity into the brand. It also ensures the people in its California factory earn a living wage, and visits suppliers regularly. Find the range in sizes S-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Proclaim.

Groceries Apparel

Rated: Good
woman reclining in sustainable black and white striped turtleneck shirt by Groceries Apparel

Groceries Apparel is a California based fashion brand that features organic fabrics and non-toxic dyes for men and women.

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Shop Groceries Apparel.

Dazey LA

Rated: Good
woman wearing logo yellow ethical tshirt by Dazey LA

Dazey LA is an art apparel and accessories brand that features hand drawn designs inspired by '70s posters and vintage graphic art. Find most of the range in sizes S-2XL, or shop extended sizes up to 4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dazey LA @ Curate.

Shop Dazey LA.

Triarchy

Rated: Great

Triarchy creates eco-friendly jeans, skirts, shorts, jumpsuits, and jackets. The brand’s production system uses 85% recycled water by consistently reusing the "thick indigo laden sludge" that unmonitored factories dump into water systems. Find most of the jeans in US sizes 24-32.

See the rating.

Shop Triarchy.

Sustain by Kat

Rated: Good

Sustain by Kat produces timeless organic women’s  and children's clothing, dyed with plants. This is a brand that really cares about the environment. It uses eco-friendly materials including GOTS certified organic cotton, and uses only low impact, non-toxic plant based dyes, which is better for you and the planet. It’s possible to have clothes that also care for you with Sustain by Kat’s “clothing with a conscience”. Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Sustain by Kat.

KENT

Rated: Great

KENT is a US-based brand that creates timeless organic underwear for women, ensuring a quality fit and feel no matter what. It produces the first verified compostable underwear, made from organic cotton and designed to return to nature in 90 days when composted or planted, feeding the soil and growing new plants (or future pants). Find most pants in sizes XS to 2XL.

See the rating.

Shop KENT.

Nube

Rated: Great

Nube turns recycled plastic into responsible and fashionable activewear, designed and made in the US. The brand partners with artists and designers around the world to create prints motivated by the environmental crisis that inspire connection and action. This fully woman-owned business uses a closed-loop manufacturing process by recycling all off-cuts created during the manufacturing process. Find Nube products in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Nube.

Shop Nube @ Curate.

RAFA

Rated: Good

RAFA creates retro-inspired women's footwear handmade in LA, using vegan materials!

See the rating.

Shop RAFA.

Want to find more sustainable brands from the USA? Find the best-rated brands near you with the location filter

Editor's note

Feature image by Whimsy + Row, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands. We may earn a commission on sales made using our offer codes or affiliate links.

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