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
Just like fashion has been overrun by fast fashion, home goods and furniture have similarly seen a rapid decline in quality. Rugs are no exception.
And similar to fashion, these cheap goods come at a high cost — namely, to the planet and to people. In fact carpet and rug production is rampant with exploitation.
On the other hand, fair trade rugs present the best of what a rug can bring to your home: artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage.
The brands featured in this guide are partnering with (and fairly paying!) skilled artisans who are using generations-old — and sometimes even centuries-old — techniques. These artisans are sustaining long lines of crafts, preserving their cultural diversity, and celebrating the richness of their time-honored crafts.
There’s simply no replacement for a timeless, quality artisan-made rug — they’re like pieces of art you can lay out on your floor or hang on your walls.
So, enjoy browsing through this guide to sustainable rug brands listed out below and best of luck on your search for the right fair trade rug!
Where to Find Ethical and Fair Trade Rugs
Note that this guide includes affiliates and partners. As always, brands must meet high standards for ethics and sustainability to be featured and all opinions are my own.
1. Obakki
Best for: warm-hued handwoven wool rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Runners, Accent Rugs
Obakki partners with artisan weavers primarily in Oaxaca, Mexico — including individual makers like José — who hand-dyes and weaves rugs on a traditional pedal loom using locally sourced sheep’s wool and natural dyes derived from native plants. The brand also works with Rrres Design Studio, a Latin American studio dedicated to preserving traditional Oaxacan weaving techniques, and sources handwoven textiles from artisan communities beyond Mexico as well, including Morocco.
Each rug is made from 100% wool with no synthetic dyes or backing. Most pieces are made-to-order with a 4-8 week production window, shipped directly from the artisan partners.
Price Range: $460 – $4,159
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Natural Dyes, Craft Preservation
2. Kiliim
Best for: modern wool kilim rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
If you’re well-versed in rug terminology, you may recognize that this brand’s name looks similar to the word kilim.
Kiliim’s rug are made using authentic kilim rug craftsmanship by artisans in Egypt coming from generations of kilim artisans. To ensure ethical production and to support the preservation of this heritage craft, Kiliim pays living wages to all artisans.
Price Range: $95 – $4,812
Conscious Qualities: Ethical Production, Heritage Craft Preservation, Natural Fibers
3. Urban Natural
Best for: browsing fair trade rugs in lots of styles and sizes
Categories: Outdoor, Area Rugs, and Accent Rugs
This natural home and lifestyle retailer has a beautifully curated selection of sustainably-made rugs crafted with materials like jute, sisal, wool, and cotton.
Several brands on Urban Natural are also ethically hand-loomed or hand-knotted, such as Loloi — a GoodWeave partner — and Jaipur Living — a brand that partners with thousands of local artisans to sustain heritage crafts.
Price Range: $259 – $9,755
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Conscious Materials
4. LOOMY
Best for: pet-friendly and performance rugs
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs, Runners, Outdoor Rugs
Founded by a weaver, LOOMY is dedicated to crafting beautiful artisan-made rugs that will last for decades to come.
LOOMY partners with highly-skilled artisan weavers who craft quality rugs made from eco-minded materials like banana silk, jute, and recycled cotton, plus performance options made from 100% recycled polyester built to withstand whatever life brings you.
Price Range: $298 – $8,298
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Craft Preservation, Vintage Options
5. West Elm
Best for: fair trade rugs in on-trend mainstream styles
Categories: Area Rugs, Accent Rugs
West Elm is bringing ethical rugs to a broader market with their collection of Fair Trade Certified
wool and cotton rugs. While I recommend browsing the smaller shops listed above first, West Elm is supporting the movement to responsibly-made, fair trade rugs.
Price Range: $$$
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade production, Majority Natural Materials
6. Jubi
Best for: Modern rugs in vibrant prints
Categories: Accent Rugs, Circle Rugs, Runners
Jubi is a Brooklyn studio founded by textile designer Cassie Dagostino. Every rug is handmade from New Zealand wool by fourth-generation weaving families in Bhadohi, India using traditional techniques. Each rug is made-to-order, meaning no excess stock. Since everything is made to order, expect between 3 and 7 weeks for your rug, depending on the technique used.
Conscious Qualities: Pays Above Market Rates, 100% Wool, Made-to-Order
Price Range: $228 – $668
Shipping: Free worldwide shipping