How can you spot a fair trade fashion brand?
The truth is that in the age of greenwashing and ethics-washing, it can be difficult to know which claims stack up.
While there is a whole lot to consider when it comes to an ethical supply chain and certifications are *certainly* not perfect, I do think certifications from third-parties (not the fake certification-looking badges that companies add to their own products) can be an added layer of assurance when shopping for ethical fashion.
What is Fair Trade Fashion Anyway?
First off, “fair trade” is not a protected or regulated term like “organic” typically is. Clothing brands can claim to be “fair trade” on their website without actually having any type of certification or even being all that ethical.
On the flip side, there are small ethical fashion brands going even beyond fair trade certification standards that are doing incredible work but may not be able to afford to pay for fair trade certification. (I know — it’s complicated!)
For the sake of this guide, I am focusing on fair trade certified brands, or brands using fair trade certified factories only. (For ethically-made fashion in general, check out this Ethical Brand List.)
When it comes to certifications, it can get… complicated. The most important thing to know is that there are several levels of certifications.
- Company-wide fair trade memberships
- Fair trade certifications for factories
- Fair trade certifications for ingredients or components (like cotton)
World Fair Trade Organization Guaranteed Member: The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) Guarantee System assesses the entire business, which includes the company’s structure and business model, operations, and supply chains. Learn more here.
Fair Trade Federation Member: The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) also verifies businesses for their holistic commitment to fair trade practices. Learn more about FTF Verification here and FTF’s Principles here.
Fair Trade Certified
: This is a certification from Fair Trade USA. You will most likely see the Fair Trade Certified label on the tag of particular product, indicating that the item was cut and sewn in a factory that has been certified by Fair Trade USA and that the brand has paid a premium to ensure workers are earning fair wages in those factories. Learn more about Fair Trade Certified.
Fairtrade Certified Cotton: You may have seen the Fairtrade label from Fairtrade International on your coffee, tea, or bananas. The Fairtrade organization also has a certification for cotton to improve the livelihoods of cotton farmers. Learn more about Fairtrade cotton.
Now that you have some background on fair trade fashion, check out this list of our favorite fair trade clothing and accessories brands.
Note that this guide include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.
The Best Certified Fair Trade Fashion Brands
1. Mata Traders
Credentials: Fair Trade Federation Member
Categories: Dresses, Pants, Blouses
Price Range: $$
Women-founded and run fair trade fashion brand Mata Traders partners with co-ops of women artisans across India and Nepal. Mata Traders, along with their artisan partners, crafts colorful modern cotton and linen clothing using heritage craft techniques like blockprinting and traditional embroidery. The Chicago-based fair fashion label is also a member of Chicago Fair Trade.
2. Anchal Project
Credentials: Fair Trade Federation Member
Categories: Clothing, Bags, Scarves
Price Range: $$
Crafted from GOTS-certified organic cotton, Anchal’s intricate pieces are hand embroidered with geometric designs in north India with exceptional attention to detail. In addition to the brand’s fair trade shirts, Anchal offers patchwork jackets, colorful tote bags, and unique home goods made ethically in partnership with their skilled artisan partners.
3. Known Supply
Credentials: Partners with Fair Trade Certified producers
Categories: Gender Neutral Tees & Basics, Dresses & Jumpsuits, Accessories
Price Range: $$
With the tagline “we are humanizing the apparel industry”, KNOWN SUPPLY is committed to a fully transparent supply chain with an extensive “Meet the Makers” section on their website. The ethical apparel company ensures fair wages for the individuals across its supply chain through working with certified Fair Trade factories and creating direct trade partnerships. The company is also a certified B Corporation and uses certified organic cotton.
4. Maggie’s Organics
Credentials: Fair Trade Federation Member, World Fair Trade Organization Guaranteed Member
Categories: Loungewear, Leggings & Activewear, Basics, Accessories & Socks
Price Range: $$
Maggie’s Organics has been making organic fair trade clothing for over 30 years. While the ethical fashion brand is a member of fair trade organizations, Maggie’s Organics wanted to go beyond these standards, creating their Real Fair Trade Pledge to level up the industry with complete transparency, community giving, and long-term partnerships. This impressive fair trade label is even on a journey to becoming employee owned!
5. PACT
Credentials: Made in Fair Trade Certified Factories
Categories: Women’s, Men’s, and Kids’ Basics, Loungewear, Sleepwear, Dresses & Everyday Apparel
Price Range: $
Founded as an organic basics brand, PACT has affordable ethical fashion made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade Certified factories. Since their founding, PACT has expanded vastly into other apparel (like dresses) as well as home textiles (like towels) while keeping their commitment to organic fabrics and fair trade production.
6. Terra Thread
Credentials: Uses Fairtrade-Certified Cotton, Made in Fair Trade Certified Factories
Categories: Bags, Basics
Price Range: $$
Founded after realizing there was a dearth of genuinely sustainable backpacks on the market, Terra Thread goes above and beyond in ethical and eco-friendly production. The brand’s ethical bags and apparel are made with Fairtrade Certified Organic Cotton in a Fair Trade USA Certified Factory. Plus Terra Thread’s products are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified and the brand is Regenerative Organic Certified®!
7. No Nasties
Credentials: Made in Fairtrade-Certified Mill
Categories: Women’s and Men’s Basics and Elevated Apparel
Price Range: $
Creating comfy everyday loungewear along with work-ready button-up shirts, No Nasties is an eco-friendly, vegan, and fair trade clothing company following high standards for both people and planet. Based in India where their clothes are also made, No Nasties uses only 100% certified-organic cotton and Fairtrade-certified factories for their entire production.
8. Patagonia (most products)
Credentials: Fair Trade Certified Factories
Categories: Women’s, Men’s, and Kids Activewear, Outdoor Gear, and Basics
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Patagonia is known for its’ climate and sustainability commitments, but what’s lesser known is that the majority of the company’s products are also Fair Trade Certified sewn. At the time of publishing, 82% of Patagonia’s products are cut and sewn in a factory that has been certified fair trade.
9. Manos Del Uruguay
Credentials: World Fair Trade Federation Organization Guaranteed Member
Categories: Sweaters, Shawls, Scarves & Ponchos, Accessories
Price Range: $$$
For over 50 years, Manos del Uruguay has been committed to improving the livelihoods of rural women in Uruguay.
Today the fair trade fashion brand and nonprofit organization partners with thousands of craftswomen in the country across 12 cooperatives. In addition to crafting their own luxury products from natural materials like merino wool and linen, the nonprofit has collaborated with leading brands like Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, and Coach.
10. Passion Lilie
Credentials: Fair Trade Federation Member, Fair Trade International Member
Categories: Dresses, Pants, Jackets, Button-Up Shirts
Price Range: $$
Using natural materials materials like linen and cotton (including some GOTS-certified organic cotton), Passion Lilie creates breathable dresses and other garments in partnership with artisans in India. The fair trade fashion brand’s colorful garments are made with techniques like hand-screen printing.
You May Also Want To Check Out:
Fair Trade Artisan-Made Jewelry Brands to Love
Affordable Ethical Fashion Brands
The post The Best Certified Fair Trade Fashion Brands for Ethical Clothing appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
The Best Certified Fair Trade Fashion Brands for Ethical Clothing
Curating a conscious home is a thoughtful process involving much consideration — who made my products, how they were made, and what are they made from — and this guide aims to support you on your journey towards finding ethical and sustainable home decor you truly love.
What is Sustainable Home Decor?
Sustainable home decor includes any home decor that is made in a way that takes into consideration both the makers and the planet. Sustainable home decor will be ethically made using eco-friendly and natural materials. Eco-friendly decor will also be produced using sustainable supply chain practices. This includes using renewable energy and recycled or compostable packaging.
While there are numerous sustainable home decor brands, some of which are featured below, first consider what’s already been made in order to prevent contributing to new waste. Secondhand, used, or DIY home decor options are typically more sustainable than buying new.
What is Ethical and Fair Trade Home Decor?
Ethical and Fair Trade home decor is produced in a way that adheres to Fair Trade standards and is, ideally, Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade means paying artisans and makers a fair, living wage and providing ethical working conditions. Ethical home decor also includes supporting goods made by artisans using traditional heritage techniques and art forms. Many cultures around the world are at risk of losing their age-old artisanal crafts forever in the age of mass manufacturing.
It’s important to note that sometimes a major brand may use an “eco” fiber while still supporting irresponsible labor practices, and excessive production amounts that inevitably lead to a lot of waste. This is not true sustainability in my mind!
Most artisan-made home decor is ethically produced and directly supports the makers. However, it’s important to check if a brand or marketplace is transparent about their business practices to ensure they are ethical or Fair Trade.
Where Can You Find Sustainable Home Decor?
In terms of environmental sustainability, looking secondhand and vintage is always a great first place to look for sustainable home decor.
But if you’ve scoured those options and haven’t found what you’re looking for and/or if you’re looking to financially support artisans and traditional crafts around the globe, this shopping guide is designed for you. You’ll discover many brands with artfully designed and artisan handmade goods for furnishing any space among this list of decor brands.
All of the brands in this guide use natural and/or recycled fibers and avoid the use of virgin synthetics like polyester; however, some brands do use materials that are not the most environmentally-friendly option on the market, such as conventional cotton.
And of course, I wanted to choose brands that followed slow, thoughtful production practices, prioritizing artisan handmade over factory labor and quality over quantity.
So without further ado, here are my favorite small-batch, artisan-made, and ethical home decor brands.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links — as always, we only curate brands vetted for sustainability that we love (and that we think you’ll love too).
1. Urban Natural
Categories: Accent Pillows, Tabletop, Lighting, Wall Art & Mirrors, Blankets & Throws
Eco-friendly home retailer Urban Natural is on a mission to curate high-quality furniture (and other home goods) built with quality and free of toxic chemicals. Urban Natural carries several sustainable home decor brands, including artisan brands Ethnicraft and Jaipur Living as well as ethically USA-made brands Farmhouse Pottery and East Fork.
2. GOODEE
Categories: Pillows, Lighting, Wall Decor, Planters, Baskets, Blankets, Candles
GOODEE is an ethical marketplace featuring numerous sustainable artisan brands and designers. You’ll find a variety of beautifully crafted home decor goods to suit a wide range of styles. Goodee is a Climate Neutral and B Corp Certified company. They publish an annual impact report so you can easily ensure their business practices align with your values.
Our favorite brands on Goodee are Texidors, Baba Tree, Makaua, and Tensira.
3. Healthier Homes
Categories: Rugs, Lighting, Tabletop, Baskets, Wall Decor & Wallpaper
Founded after years running an award-winning healthy home building firm and publishing a book by the same name (Healthier Homes) this retailer is a go-to online destination for finding non-toxic home goods. The eco-friendly home decor on Healthier Homes is primarily made with natural materials like clay, cotton, seagrass, mango wood, and bamboo,
4. Will & Atlas
Categories: Baskets, Tabletop
Will & Atlas is a women-owned small business making most of their homewares from plant materials like jute, palm leaf, and hogla grass. Their natural fiber baskets are flexile but sturdy built to hold blankets, pillows, laundry, magazines, toys, or just to stand alone as a decor piece. You’ll also find jute coasters and placemats in their tabletop collection.
The brand is committed to ethical practices, partnering with nonprofit fair trade artisan groups in Bangladesh and craftspeople in the U.S. to build long-lasting production relationships.
5. Ten Thousand Villages
Categories: Baskets, Pillows, Throws, Candles, Wall Art, Planters & Vases
Founded 80 years ago, Ten Thousand Villages is the original fair trade store. Throughout the decades, the nonprofit business has continued their commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, as well as sustainability.
As a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization, with artisans around the world from under-resourced communities. Most of the products they carry are made from recycled, upcycled, and natural materials.
6. MagicLinen
Categories: Curtains, Kitchen Linens
Linen is an exceptional material for home decor — there’s a reason we say “kitchen linens!” It’s natural, beautiful, and is often high quality.
I purchased a set of linen curtains from Magic Linen one year ago and they remain one of my favorite home decor pieces. The fabric they use meets the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, meaning its been tested for harmful substances.