The fashion industry has long been criticized for its negative impact on the environment and its workers, but a growing number of ethical clothing brands are offering stylish and sustainable alternatives. In this guide, we’ll explore eight of the best ethical mens clothing brands that are setting the standard for responsible and transparent fashion.
However, this abundance also brings the challenge of greenwashing—brands claiming sustainability without the practices to back it up. To help you navigate this, we’ve curated a list that cuts through the noise, showcasing brands genuinely committed to revolutionizing fashion with sustainable practices.
Ready for your next responsible purchase? Let’s dive right into the list!
This list highlights eight standout sustainable brands, ensuring your style choices reflect your values.
Choose from these best ethical mens clothing brands, which rank high in terms of being eco-friendly and considering labor and animal welfare. Let’s check them out:
Patagonia is often at the top of the list when discussing the best ethical mens clothing brands.
Patagonia is a trailblazing ethical outdoor apparel brand. It’s known for its extensive use of recycled materials and commitment to a circular economy through its clothing recycling program.
This initiative significantly addresses the issue of textile waste.
Patagonia also uses a substantial amount of bluesign-certified fabrics, ensuring that materials meet stringent environmental and chemical safety standards.
Patagonia’s dedication to social responsibility is evident in its rigorous social auditing program, accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA).
This ensures fair labor practices and worker rights protection throughout its supply chain.
Global Recycled Standard Global Organic Textile Standard
Country of Origin
Sweden
Since 2015, ASKET has been designing quality timeless wardrobe staples with innovative sizing and equitable pricing.
ASKET is founded on the principle of creating seasonless and durable clothing that combats the fast fashion trend.
The brand uses a significant proportion of eco-friendly materials in its production, including organic cotton. This choice reduces the use of harmful chemicals and decreases wastewater production.
Although ASKET hasn’t formalized a specific Code of Conduct for workers’ rights, it maintains ‘good’ labor practices by tracing most of its supply chain.
This traceability allows ASKET to ensure that garments are produced under fair labor conditions. That said, the guarantee of a living wage across its supply chain remains uncertain.
Regarding animal welfare, ASKET does a great job of avoiding materials like fur, leather, and down.
Instead, it utilizes recycled exotic animal hair and sources wool only from farms accredited by the Responsible Wool Standard, ensuring animal welfare is respected. As a result, ASKET stands out as one of the best ethical mens clothing brands.
What We Like About the Brand
The use of organic and recycled materials
Commitment to animal welfare with responsible sourcing of wool
Offering a seasonless product range to counter fast fashion
Traceable and transparent supply chain
Fair labor conditions
What Needs Improvement
Clarity on the enforcement of fair wages within the supply chain
Fair Wear Foundation Global Organic Textile Standard BCorp Global Recycled Standard
Country of Origin
Canada
Tentree is a brand that epitomizes environmental consciousness in the fashion industry. Known for its high commitment to sustainability, Tentree has led multiple planet-friendly initiatives, which places them among the best ethical mens clothing brands.
It utilizes lower-impact materials such as organic cotton. As such, its production results in minimal carbon emissions and water use.
Besides focusing on eco-friendly materials, Tentree is proactive in its energy use. It incorporates renewable energy sources into its operations to diminish its carbon footprint.
The brand also encourages consumers to engage in more sustainable practices, such as participating in clothing recycling programs that help reduce landfill waste.
What We Like About the Brand
Using organic materials and renewable energy
Actively promoting recycling
Collaborating with organizations such as Fair Wear Foundation to ensure fair labor practices and safe working conditions.
What Needs Improvement
Expansion of living wage guarantees across the company’s entire supply chain
Toad&Co stands as a pillar in the sustainable fashion community, emphasizing the use of organic cotton and low-impact materials to reduce environmental damage.
This strategic material choice helps the brand limit harmful chemical use, conserve water, and reduce wastewater in its production process.
Even better, renewable energy is a key component of Toad&Co’s operations, especially in direct areas like stores and offices. However, there’s a recognized need for broader implementation across the supply chain.
The company pays attention to labor conditions throughout its entire supply chain. It adheres to a code of conduct that prioritizes the four fundamental freedoms of the International Labor Organization.
Toad&Co also keeps track of the entire supply chain to stay informed about all the practices and conditions involved in its production process.
Additionally, the company works on using cruelty-free materials to maintain animal welfare. They use recyclable materials in many of their products to reduce the demand for new wool production.
What We Like About the Brand
Strong use of organic and recycled materials
Adherence to a Code of Conduct based on the International Labour Organization’s standards
Keeping track of the entire supply chain
What Needs Improvement
Expansion of renewable energy use across the supply chain
Assurance of living wages across all stages of production
Outerknown sets high standards in the ethical clothing market with its staunch commitment to sustainability.
Renowned for using eco-friendly materials, Outerknown utilizes Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton alongside other sustainable materials such as hemp and recycled fibers, making it one of the best ethical mens clothing brands.
These practices significantly reduce the environmental impact of its production processes.
The brand also takes serious measures to reduce the use of toxic chemicals and water in production, safeguarding the environment and worker health.
In terms of labor rights, the company has a strong Code of Conduct based on ILO’s Fundamental Freedoms. It conducts regular audits to remain committed to improving workers’ conditions in its suppliers residing in countries with a high risk of labor abuse.
What We Like About the Brand
High use of organic and recycled materials
Effective recycling of fabric offcuts
Strong Code of Conduct
Commitment to improving labor conditions
What Needs Improvement
Animal welfare practices could be enhanced by reducing the use of wool and exotic animal hair
Ensuring the down used meets the highest ethical standards
Global Organic Textile Standard BCorp PETA Cruelty-Free Global Recycled Standard
Country of Origin
Denmark
Leading the way in the ethical fashion market, Organic Basics offers a compelling example of how sustainable practices can be integrated seamlessly into the business model.
The clothing brand boasts great environmental practices, focusing on minimizing climate impact through the use of renewable energy and eco-friendly materials like organic cotton.
This approach significantly cuts down on the harmful chemicals, water use, and wastewater involved in production.
As for labor welfare, Organic Basics makes considerable efforts to ensure transparency and fair conditions within its supply chain.
Although a formal Code of Conduct is missing, the company has established workers’ rights statements and conducts regular audits of its suppliers to ensure compliance with it.
The brand also stands out for its commitment to animal welfare. This is by avoiding using materials such as fur, leather, and down—opting instead for recycled or cruelty-free alternatives.
What We Like About the Brand:
Extensive use of organic cotton
Relying on renewable energy sources
Auditing suppliers and tracing most of the supply chain to ensure fair working conditions
What Needs Improvement:
Implementation of a formal Code of Conduct to further solidify its labor practices
Detailed reporting on the percentage of the supply chain receiving a living wage
Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) bluesign
Country of Origin
USA
Everlane is another major player among the best ethical mens clothing brands. It’s well known for its responsible environmental policies, particularly its use of lower-impact materials such as organic cotton. This helps limit the environmental footprint of its production processes.
The company follows a science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, there’s still room for improvement in water management and the elimination of hazardous chemicals in the company’s production.
Further, Everlane pays considerable attention to animal welfare. It uses recycled leather, wool, and down in some of its products. It tries to minimize the use of exotic animal skin fur and angora as well.
From a labor perspective, Everlane’s Code of Conduct enforces the ILO’s Four Fundamental Freedoms. Nonetheless, the brand isn’t as effective as it should be in ensuring fair wages and conditions for all its suppliers.
What We Like About the Brand
Using organic and low-impact materials to reduce environmental impact
Its Code of Conduct covers essential international labor standards
Depending on recycled animal-derived materials to minimize the need for new sources
What Needs Improvement
Implementation of strategies to support labor diversity and inclusion
Pact is another excellent choice for those seeking the best ethical mens clothing brands.
Pact clothing brand is taking steady steps to make its fashion more sustainable, substantially using eco-friendly materials, including GOTS-certifiedcotton.
This commitment helps reduce the brand’s climate impact by limiting the use of chemicals and water in production.
Despite this, Pact still needs to be more environmentally friendly due to a lack of specific actions toward minimizing textile waste. It also needs to pay more attention to reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
As for labor conditions, the company has a formal statement for workers’ rights that it strictly adheres to.
Nonetheless, it sources some of its production stages from countries with weak labor regulations.
What We Like About the Brand:
High use of organic cotton
Contribution to reduced environmental impact
Maintaining good labor conditions in its Fair Trade USA-certified facilities
What Needs Improvement
Enhanced efforts to minimize energy use and textile waste
Development of a comprehensive animal welfare policy
Tips for Choosing a Sustainable Men’s Clothing Brand
Evaluating the ethical standards of a men’s clothing brand can be a challenge, though it needn’t be so. Here are four essential tips to help you select truly sustainable brands.
Consider Third-Party Certifications
When assessing the sustainability of a clothing brand, look for third-party certifications confirming its ethical practices.
These certifications, such as bluesign, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), indicate a brand’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Brands holding these certifications are typically more transparent and accountable for their manufacturing processes and business practices.
Look for Eco-Friendly Materials
Choose brands that utilize eco-friendly materials. For instance, organic cotton, recycled synthetics, non-toxic dyes, and other sustainable materials significantly reduce environmental pollution. Selecting from the best ethical mens clothing brands ensures that your choices contribute positively to the environment and promote sustainable fashion practices.
Companies like Patagonia lead by example, using alternatives like yulex, recycled fishing nets, and innovative dyeing processes that consume less water and energy.
Avoid Greenwashing
Be cautious of greenwashing—misleading marketing that makes a company appear more environmentally friendly than it really is.
Don’t believe brands that use terms like ‘sustainable’ and ‘eco-friendly’ unless clear, transparent policies and real actions back up these claims.
Investigate a brand’s specific environmental commitments and achievements to ensure they align with genuine sustainable practices.
Prioritize Quality over Quantity
Shift away from fast fashion by investing in quality over quantity. High-quality garments are designed to last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thus lessening waste.
Before purchasing, consider the item’s longevity—ask yourself whether it’s something you truly need and will wear frequently.
Opting for brands that produce durable, timeless pieces supports sustainable fashion by minimizing your overall consumption and waste.
Wrapping Up
In your journey towards a sustainable wardrobe, choosing the most ethical brand matters immensely. This guide has spotlighted the best ethical mens clothing brands that are making significant strides in environmental responsibility and social equity.
From using eco-friendly materials to ensuring fair labor practices, these clothing brands demonstrate that fashion can be both stylish and sustainable. Whenever you need help with your eco-friendly clothing shopping, feel free to refer to this guide on the best ethical mens clothing brands.
Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Logan Parker, the visionary behind EthicalSustainableClothing.com. My unyielding passion for the environment and strong commitment to sustainable living drive my journey. Growing up in the tranquil Pacific Northwest immersed in nature, I felt compelled to pursue an environmental science degree, setting the stage for what was to come. Transitioning from academics, I delved into sustainable fashion via a local environmental nonprofit, where the glaring need for change within the fashion industry's ecological impact became crystal clear.
Fueled by unwavering ambition, I laid the foundation for EthicalSustainableClothing.com—a platform with a mission to guide and inspire those who share my vision of a greener world. Equipped with expertise and a relentless dedication, I warmly invite you to join this transformative endeavor. Together, through mindful choices and EthicalSustainableClothing.com, we stride confidently toward a more sustainable future, contributing one step at a time to a revolution that embraces our planet.
