10 Ethical (+ Affordable!) Fashion Brands in the UK

Nobody’s Child is a UK sustainable clothing brand doing things a little bit differently to the rest of the fashion industry. In particular, they are passionate about lower impact fabrics, with 95% of their Spring/Summer 2023 collection being made from organic, planet-friendly and recycled materials (e.g. organic cotton and TENCEL™).

They continue to introduce circular design principles to their range, with the aim of using 100% responsible fabrics by 2025 and achieving climate-positive status by 2030. Current circular initiatives include plenty of info on proper garment care, as well as a partnership with tailoring and repair service SOJO and a recycling scheme with Refashion. They have even introduced a rental scheme via Hirestreet!

If you’re looking for Lucy & Yak alternatives, then B-Corp certified and female-fronted brand Joanie is the perfect mix of playful and vintage! It’s great to find contemporary design and bold prints alongside the championing of slow fashion (i.e.buying less but better) as well as fully inclusive size ranges.

A lot of thought goes into the design process, including the use of environmentally-friendly fabrics, reducing waste and making continuous improvements within the supply chain. Currently, all of Joanie’s clothing is entirely free from animal-derived products, although they are in the process of developing some leather footwear.

Who said ethical clothing couldn’t be sexy?! OMNES is my go-to brand for simple yet stunning occasionwear. Their dresses are made from recycled polyester, with 100% mono material for ease of recycling at end of life. Everything down to the inner garment labels has been considered (these are made from recycled plastic bottles!). They also stock the perfect capsule wardrobe staples like basic tees, trousers and chunky knits.

OMNES has partnered with climate organisation Earthly to not only offset its carbon emissions, but to go one step further and become certified carbon positive. From the use of dead stock fabrics to guaranteeing a living wage across their supply chain, you can read more about their impressive credentials on their Sustainability page. This London-based brand is definitely one to keep on your radar!

For ethically crafted, contemporary classics… look no further than Baukjen! They are working hard to bring you easy-to-wear pieces whilst simultaneously ‘fighting the fast fashion model’. To top it off, they are also a certified B-Corp.

What’s different about Baukjen is that they offer different ways to shop. You can buy clothing in the traditional way, or you also have the option to purchase second-hand with their ‘pre-loved’ collection. They even have a rental service, which means you can try different styles without the commitment (and minimise waste in the process!).

A word of warning: you’ll need to watch for animal-derived fabrics like leather and wool, but there are still plenty of natural and recycled fibres to choose from.

100% vegan and proud, Plant Faced Clothing is a brand on a mission that is close to my heart. With playful slogans like ‘Oat is the Goat’ and plant-based puns (‘Kale ‘Em With Kindness’), this is unapologetic clothing with an activist twist. In their own words, they aim to:

Promote a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings – humans, animals, or plants.

I love the visual boldness of Plant Faced Clothing, which not only looks stylish but is more than likely to going to prompt necessary conversations and spread the word amongst your peers. You can also rest easy in the knowledge that they use high-quality, sustainable fabrics, are ethical and fair trade, and your order will be delivered to your door in recycled, responsible packaging.

Thought Clothing manages to strike the perfect balance between plenty of variety and slow fashion. Specialising in plenty of innovative eco-fabrics like bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, tencel and lenzing ecovero (to name just a few), there is even a handy Vegan section to make your life easier!

Thought partners with traid, a UK charity that promotes a circular economy by recycling your pre-loved clothes. You can request a free postage label to send your clothes back to traid when they’ve come to the end of their lifespan.

If you’re looking for colourful, artisanal hand-drawn prints with low environmental impact, then Thought has you covered.

For brands like Lucy and Yak, mood-boosting colourful clothing is just a click away with Sugarhill Brighton! It’s also responsibly created using materials like organic cotton and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose, being produced in small, limited-run collections to minimise waste (which has the added bonus of making garments that extra bit special!).

Unique designs are created by hand in pencil, paint and brush before being digitally rendered into the final print. Orders are then shipped in plastic-free packaging made from sustainable sources – 100% compostable and recyclable. 2% of each sale goes to charity and 1 tree is planted with every order.

Rapanui is a brand I discovered through the forward-looking fashion documentary ReDress the Future. In it, we visit Rapanui’s renewable energy-powered factory on the Isle of Wight and get a fascinating insight into their ethos and production process. Their technology-first approach means that they only need to print their organic cotton t-shirts once you place your order.

When your clothing comes to the end of its life, you can scan a QR code on the garment label and will receive instructions on how to send it back. These reclaimed materials are then remade into new pieces. This circular model attempts to solve some of fast fashion’s most difficult issues and is truly innovative!

As much as I love my monochrome neutrals… I’m also a sucker for a pop of colour and print! If bold is your bag, then you’re going to fall head over heels for Lucy & Yak. For matching co-ords and loud dungarees, these are seriously colourful clothes with a focus on comfort.

Lucy & Yak uses organic, natural fabrics and recycled materials, as well as having a repair and upcycle network. Their ‘buy back’ initiative in collaboration with Beyond Retro vintage shops means that garments stay in circulation for as long as possible. It’s also nice to see inclusivity, with each garment being shown on a variety of different-sized models in their online imagery. If you want to find them offline, they have four physical stores in Brighton, Bristol, Norwich and Nottingham.

The OG in ethical and sustainable fashion, Komodo have been paving the way in organic fabrics, eco-friendly materials and a transparent supply chain since 1988. They are tireless innovators, breaking new ground with fabrics such as green PU coating and recycled PET (made from plastic water bottles!). They have also completely phased out single-use plastic.

GOTS certified and a member of the Soil Association, most of Komodo’s range is now vegan, and all of it is cruelty-free. They work closely with their factories to ensure fair and safe working environments that support local communities and social projects. As a member of 1% for the Planet, every purchase helps to restore natural rainforests and ecosystems.