There’s nothing #basic about sustainable basics that reduce our impact on the world.
Between organic fabrics, ethical manufacturing, and future-proofing brands, everyday essentials can be much more than your go-to comfy clothes.
Finding good quality basics can be difficult with all the fast fashion brands running a muck, which is why we compiled a list for you, so you can focus on the fundamentals.
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The Best Sustainable Basic Clothing That’s Anything But #Basic
Keeping it local, Harvest & Mill is one of the few brands offering ethical basics made in the USA.
For tees that won’t won’t break the bank, you won’t be barking up the wrong tree with tentree—though there will be plenty of bark since each item you order will help plant ten trees.
Pact helps even the old clothes you’re replacing make an impact thanks to their Give Back Box, which lets you donate any brand of clothes (basics to ballgowns) to those in need.
Index: Ethical Clothing Basics
- Organic Basics Jump to brand
- Subset Jump to brand
- Harvest & Mill Jump to brand
- Pact Jump to brand
- Colorful Standard Jump to brand
- Allbirds Jump to brand
- MATE The Label Jump to brand
- tentree Jump to brand
- Nat’v Basics Jump to brand
- Mighty Good Basics Jump to brand
- Brook There Jump to brand
Organic Basics
About Organic Basics
Price Range: $10–$100
And the award for the most apt name in this list goes to…Organic Basics.
Naturally, they’re one of the most sustainable clothing basics brands.
The Danish Certified B Corp is well-stocked with everyday basics. You might find your new favorite white t-shirt or clean essentials to layer under it like the Smooth Bralette.
Organic Basics’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Organic cotton, TENCEL™ lyocell, and recycled nylon (sometimes blended with minimal virgin nylon) are the common fabrics used.
Some pieces feature Polygiene® Stay Fresh treatments to neutralize bacteria and odor.
Supply chain & labor practices:
All clothes are made mostly in Portugal under fair working conditions with living wages, freely chosen employment and no child labor.
Details about their factory partners are available for conscious consumers.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Organic Basics partners with the WWF to create a regenerative agriculture organic cotton farm in Turkey.
Their supply chain and shipping is carbon-neutral through One Carbon World, and their low-impact website completes the planet-friendly picture.
Inclusivity:
Organic Basics expanded their sizes to XXS–XXL, with S+, M+, and L+ for those in between.
The rest of the women’s sustainable basics clothing comes in XS-XL, and men’s in S-XXL.
Subset
About Subset
Price Range: $12–$168
Subset (formerly known as Knickey) doesn’t ‘waste’ any time, producing some of the best ethical basics clothing available.
The NYC-based organic underwear brand carries high-quality bras, maternity, underwear, and loungewear for men and women.
Numbers like the Low-Rise Thong are made for those “who don’t wear thongs.” It has a slim fit and is made from plush organic cotton.
Plus, Subset designs their women’s undergarments to help the 300 million who suffer from vaginal yeast and bladder infections annually.
Subsets’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Subset uses 95% GOTS-certified organic cotton and a bit of elastane (5%) for maneuverability. All of the fabric is dyed using OEKO-TEX-approved dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Subset packages and ship orders directly from their Brooklyn warehouse, but everything else happens across India.
They work with organic farms, ginners, and spinners nationwide, with its primary Fair Trade Factory in Tamil Nadu.
The Subset team regularly visits the factory, ensuring an ethical and safe environment.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Subset employs different methods to reduce water usage and recycle it across their farms and factories.
On each product page, you can view the carbon footprint, water savings, and land area saved from pesticides.
Subset provides a Recycling Program where you can send back used ethical fashion basics for repurposing.
Subset also ships each order in SFI-certified, plastic-free, recycled materials.
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes range from XXS to 3XL, with a diverse range of plus-size models.
Ethical men’s basics can be purchased in sizes between S–2XL.
Harvest & Mill
About Harvest & Mill
Price Range: $12–$185
Harvest & Mill is where you want to go to buy sustainable basics clothing that has been “grown and sewn in the USA”.
They have minimalist styles for men and women, like the Natural Pack shirt and short set. We’ve worn it ad nauseam and can attest that the insanely soft organic cotton is dreamy, breathable, and surprisingly durable, probably because of the quality stitching and premium fabric used.
It’s become a summer lounge come sleeping essential for us.
Harvest & Mill’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
They use 100% heirloom organic cotton, much of which is undyed, yielding neutral colors.
The only exception is their black fabric. While still organic cotton, it contains low-impact fiber-reactive dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The fabrics, yarns, and cotton are sourced in the USA, where they’re also turned into clothes.
With a local supply chain, Harvest & Mill can ensure ethical working conditions. All workers benefit from safe work environments and fair wages.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The low-impact dyes follow the strongest EPA discharge and environmental laws, ensuring zero water and soil pollution.
Harvest & Mill supports regenerative agriculture and partners with Fibershed to help increase biodiversity and promote soil health.
The company and all its garments are certified Carbon Neutral.
Inclusivity:
The woman co-founded company offers organic cotton basics in sizes S-XL.
Pact
About Pact
Price Range: $14–$134
Pact makes packing your wardrobe full of affordable, sustainable basics easy.
With minimalist styles for the entire family, Pact is a go-to for everything from socks and underwear to basic tops.
We’ve tested many of their pieces and love the dependable quality of options like the Airplane Cardigan, which are both lounge-worthy and luncheon-worthy.
Pact’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
GOTS-certified organic cotton is the principal material in most garments, but the stretchier fabrics feature a small amount of elastane.
You can narrow your search to collections of 100% organic cotton clothes for both men and women.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Pact sources organic cotton from India, where the clothing is also processed in a Fair Trade-certified factory.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
In addition to practices that curb water and energy use and fabric waste, Pact ships carbon-neutral and virgin plastic-free, using post-consumer recycled materials and biodegradable poly bags.
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes run from XS-XXL and men’s from S-XXL.
Community & charitable giving:
Wondering what to do with old clothes?
The cardboard box used for shipping doubles as a Give Back Box, where gently used clothing can be sent back for distribution among nonprofits.
Colorful Standard
About Colorful Standard
Price Range: $38–$110
Add some pop to your basics with Colorful Standard and their vertically integrated supply chain that keeps essentials affordable—and colorful!
In men’s, women’s, and unisex sizes, Colorful Standard has t-shirts, socks, and sweats in 48 colors.
We’ve tested the Sweatpants and love their all-day versatility for lounging on the couch or running errands. Plus, the fabric is so thick and toasty warm!
Colorful Standard’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
PETA-approved organic cotton and GRS and OEKO-TEX-certified recycled Merino wool are the only materials used.
Your many color options are thanks to OEKO-TEX-certified dyes.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Transparency is a breeze with CS—they have their manufacturing center in Portugal that adheres to European Labor Laws and ensures workers receive fair conditions and pay.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Colorful Standard doesn’t do sales or seasons. Instead, they create high-quality, long-lasting clothes that help people buy less over time.
Precise laser cutting keeps fabric waste minimal, and any excess is turned into furniture filling.
Through offsets and tree planting, Ecologi has ranked itself as a climate-positive company, and they ship using recycled, FSC-certified packaging.
Inclusivity:
While most of their collection is designed to be gender neutral, the “women’s” styles are available in XS-XL and “men’s” in XS-2XL.
Allbirds
About Allbirds
Price Range: $14–$118
You know what they say—Allbirds in the hand (or on the body) are worth two in the bush.
Besides their famous sustainable running shoes, this brand has expanded into offering a variety of activewear-capable eco-friendly basics, like socks, tees, underwear, and more.
We personally love the Anytime Soft Merino Tee made from a blend of organic cotton, Merino wool, and TENCEL™ Lyocell. It’s so buttery soft and fits really well so long as you get the sizing spot on.
Allbirds’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Allbirds’ basics utilizes tree pulp-based lyocell, Merino wool, and organic cotton, along with select recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and a small amount of elastane are occasionally used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Allbirds was co-founded by a New Zealander, where the ZQ Merino wool is also sourced.
The Certified B Corp has factory partners in North Carolina, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Peru, and China.
Various third-party standards cover each and adhere to Allbirds’ Code of Conduct.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
By 2025, Allbirds hopes to cut their footprint in half and, by 2030, achieve near zero emissions. In the meantime, offsetting makes them 100% carbon neutral.
Their carbon offset projects include wind energy products, clean cookstoves, solar projects, and regenerative wool in Argentina.
Inclusivity:
Women’s and men’s sizes XS-XXXL are available.
Community & charitable giving:
Partnering with Soles4Souls, consumers can send their old Allbirds shoes back to be distributed to global communities that need them.
MATE The Label
About MATE the Label
Price Range: $28–$258
Basics are your wardrobe’s best friend, and you’ll find none better than MATE the Label.
The Los Angeles-based brand offers everyday activewear, loungewear, and layering essentials.
Their sustainable fashion basics include some of our favorite items, like the Organic Fleece Bubble Sweatshirt, made without harmful chemicals or the risk of microplastic shedding.
MATE the Label’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
GOTS-certified organic cotton is MATE’s best mate, but you’ll occasionally see conventional cotton, linen, and minimal spandex.
Thanks to low-impact dyes, you can get essentials in nearly every color under the sun.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The cotton is sourced from an organic farm in India.
All garments are manufactured in Los Angeles, in a fair-wage factory less than 20 miles from MATE’s headquarters.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their reMATE circularity recycling program accepts old MATE products to be transformed into new ones.
MATE is proud to hold Climate Neutral and B Corp certifications.
Inclusivity:
Moved by the BLM movement, this woman founded company developed a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion framework and Anti-Racist & Accountability Action Plan.
Extended sizing means all essential styles are available in XS-3X, with diverse models for representation.
tentree
About tentree
Price Range: $15–$328
Sustainable outdoor clothing brand tentree may just as well grow their range of ethical basic clothing on trees because it is so impressive.
The brand creates high-quality styles for men, women, and children, like the Treeblend Henley T-Shirt, which combines style and comfort with eco-friendly materials.
tentree’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
TENCEL™ lyocell, recycled polyester (from plastic bottles), organic cotton, and hemp are the primary materials used, though added elastane gives some garments a little stretch.
Supply chain & labor practices:
tentree’s Factory Ledger transparently shares where each garment is produced and each location’s third-party certifications (Fair Wear Foundation, WRAP, Fair Trade, BSCI, and SA8000).
They’re also a Certified B Corp.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
tentree’s supply chain is free of single-use plastics, down to shipping materials like FSC-recycled paper instead of polybags.
On their website, you can buy carbon offsets to offset your own emissions, like international flights, pet ownership, or hot showers.
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes run from XS-XXL and men’s from S-XXL
Community & charitable giving:
tentree refers to their practice of planting ten trees for every purchase. They’re working to plant one billion by 2030.
This provides selected communities of damaged biodiversity with carbon sequestration and reforestation benefits and meaningful work.
Nat’v Basics
About Nat’v Basics
Price Range: $12–$170
Nat’v Basics is anything but(t).
The Australian brand makes top-notch ethical basics that you can wear daily. Nat’v has a range of styles, including g-strings, high-waisted panties, bikinis, cheeky shorts, bralettes, bodysuits, tops, and accessories.
Those like the Miami Cheeky Brief are ideal for daily comfort. The high-waisted short features a wider waistband, ensuring zero riding or pinching.
Nat’v Basics’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Nat’v utilizes sustainable materials—GOTS-certified cotton, recycled polyamide, recycled nylon, TENCEL™—to produce clothing that’s good for your body and the environment.
If they incorporate synthetic materials, they match them with a 100% organic cotton lining.
Plus, all their sustainable clothing essentials feature non-toxic dyes and OEKO-TEX certifications, meaning no harmful chemicals in areas you don’t want them.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As an ethical brand for basics, Nat’v sources materials from sites with Fair Trade, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications.
Nat’v also has partners in Jiaxing, China, which is BSCI certified and independently audited, providing workers 24% more than the minimum wage.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Nat’v ships all its ethical basics clothing via carbon-neutral and plastic-free shipping methods. This includes FSC-certified compostable mailers, packaging, and tissue, all printed using soy-based inks.
Their Fair Trade-certified factories integrate battery-powered machinery, compost bins, natural lighting, and LED installments to converse energy and trash.
Inclusivity:
Nat’v crafts everyday basics in women’s sizes S–XXXL.
Mighty Good Basics
About Mighty Good Basics
Price Range: $24–$35
We don’t think you get a more on-point brand name for this particular category of clothing: Mighty Good Basics is mighty good for the utmost essentials.
Unsurprisingly, this Australia-based brand specializes in “down under” duds—namely tank tops and underwear.
Their quintessential Tank Top is one of the best-sellers, featuring wide straps and a scoop neck for ultimate comfort.
Mighty Good Basics’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Certified small-scale Fairtrade organic cotton and a small amount of elastane are used in some garments.
Only AZO-free, sustainable dyes are used.
Supply chain & labor practices:
They share details about their entire supply chain, including each manufacturing partner’s locations, employee benefits, and third-party certifications.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Within the next few years, MGB should be a circular business, complete with an underwear recycling program.
Their dye houses recycle most of the water used, and other manufacturing partners employ methods to reduce energy requirements (i.e. burning rice industry waste instead of fossil fuels).
Inclusivity:
Women’s sizes XS-XXL are available, and sustainable men’s basics range from S-XXL.
Brook There
About Brook There
Price Range: $38–$78
Brook There aims to “create a timeless, well-made garment you can treasure for years.”
They are one of the best clothing brands for basics, like underwear, sustainable bras, and loungewear.
We love simple pieces like the Undyed Organic Jersey Short for their reliability and comfort.
Brook There’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
As lovers of organic cotton, they have an entire shop section devoted to it.
Sometimes, you’ll see a little spandex blended in, and other pieces are made with silk and lace.
Fiber-reactive dye is used to create most of their colors.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Organic cotton is sourced in California and South Carolina. Everything is cut and sewn in Massachusetts, and the designs and patterns are completed in Maine.
Keeping everything close to home means they know each of their workers by name and ensure they’re supported with fair working conditions.
Brook There does everything possible to source materials in the US, but some things (like lace, silk, and elastic trims) are imported.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Everything is shipped with EcoEnclose recycled and reusable poly bags and recycled tissue paper.
Inclusivity:
The standard size range is XS–XXL, but they’re actively working to expand this.
Jenny is a UK-based sustainability writer and tea-drinker extraordinaire who has a Masters in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. Her travels have taken her to organic permaculture farms in the UK and Nepal but you’ll mostly find her working on the veg patch with a garden fork in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Jenny writes for ethical brands and purpose-powered publications on a broad range of sustainable living and conscious consumerism topics. She is passionate about organic and regenerative farming, nature reconnection, and the small things we can do each day to better care for our planet.
