Who Made My Clothes?

(Image courtesy of Fashion Revolution.)

Last year around this time, I put together a pretty comprehensive list of ways to shop more responsibly. All of the tips still hold true, and since I’m a few years into my decision to support ethical brands, I decided to share a few of my regular favorites with you.

Everlane is my go-to site for basic tees and classic separates, and right now, I’m carrying around the Twill Tote in Acorn as my spring bag. Everlane believes in radical transparency, fully disclosing all details about their merchandise, and with t-shirts starting at $15, you can’t go wrong with their pieces. They also have a large line of men’s clothing.

Paige Denim makes my favorite jeans, and while many denim manufacturers are still controversial, most of Paige’s items are made in the United States. I tend to wear one or two pairs until they literally fall apart, and my current favorite pair has been patched on several occasions.

Hanky Panky is a great source for underwear that’s also made in the United States. They utilize American-grown cotton and encourage gentle care of their pieces, which are guaranteed to last for many years.

Passion Lilie is one of my favorite fair trade stores for beautiful cotton skirts and feminine blouses. All of the pieces are made by a women’s co-op in India and are designed by Katie Schmidt, the store’s founder. I’ll carry some of Passion Lilie’s spring pieces in my shop very soon.

tonlé is a wonderful site with a zero-waste policy and artistically designed pieces made by a talented team in Cambodia. My favorite tops for spring are by tonlé, all signed by their makers, and I wear them in heavy rotation. I’ll also carry pieces from tonlé when my shop opens.

Ash & Rose is my favorite online retailer of ethical clothing, and they carry a wide assortment of pieces from different designers. Owned by a mother and daughter pair, the store focuses on sustainability, fair labor, and empowering women. I’ve purchased several clothing and jewelry items, including Mata Traders’ pieces that were sold out elsewhere.

This list contains my current favorite options for responsible shopping, but there are countless more available to you. I have a longer list on my Portfolio page, and feel free to suggest your favorite retailers, too.