Sustainable Clothing for Work
Estimated reading time: 15 minutes
Whether you work in an office, a school, as a tradesperson, or online, there are many ways you can make your work clothing more sustainable, ethical, and eco-friendly. Many brands are now offering responsibly produced, versatile clothing made with organic, natural, and earth-friendly materials. Read on to discover how to choose more sustainable clothing for work.
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Jump Ahead:
Why Should I Care About Sustainable Clothing?
What Makes a Clothing Brand Sustainable?
On Trend: The Capsule Wardrobe
The Best Sustainable Workwear Brands For a Professional Wardrobe
Sustainable Workwear Brands for Semi Casual Office Wear
Casual and Comfortable Sustainable Work Clothing Brands
Why Should I Care About Sustainable Clothing?
I can still remember the stress I felt when I had to choose an outfit to wear to my admissions interview for the Department of Education at the University of Manitoba. As a nervous twenty-two-year-old in 2006, sustainability was likely the last thing on my mind. Fast-forward more than fifteen years, and a sustainable wardrobe is now something I am actively aiming for.
Fast Fashion
The fashion industry is just like any other business. It needs customers to keep purchasing goods to stay afloat. Unfortunately, the more we buy, the more profit is made – ultimately the goal of any business. Enter fast fashion. Clothing is designed and manufactured to be worn only a few times before it is “off-trend” or falling apart.
A study conducted in 2016 by ClosetMaid found that the average American woman owned 103 articles of clothing. Many of them admitted to only wearing about ten percent of it often. Seven years later, I am sure the number in our closets has increased.
This extra consumption leads to a larger carbon footprint due to the overuse of natural resources and manufacturing and shipping emissions. Not to mention that many of the materials used in these products are harming the environment (read more about this in the Materials section below).
(Un)Ethical Clothing
It’s no secret that manufacturing clothing in foreign countries with less strict labor and production laws is occurring. Workers are not treated fairly, go without proper safety gear, are exposed to harsh chemicals, work tireless hours, and aren’t paid fair living wages. Many buildings that house these workers have structural deficiencies and don’t meet fire safety standards.
One of the hundreds of examples of this is the horrifying Rana Plaza Factory collapse in 2013. The incident is “considered the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern human history, the deadliest garment-factory disaster in history, and the deadliest industrial accident in the history of Bangladesh.” After being forced back to work in an unsafe building, 1,134 people were killed on this fateful day.
The Good News
I’ll be the first to admit that there are a million excuses for us to buy cheap, convenient clothing rather than sustainable workwear. Lack of funds, knowledge, and time to research, are just a few.
Let me take care of this for you! I’ve outlined the best sustainable workwear brands for professionals, semi-casual workplaces, and more comfortable wear in this article. I’ll even convince you that focusing on sustainable brands and slow fashion will ultimately save you money!
What Makes a Clothing Brand Sustainable?
A clothing company with practices that protect the environment and the people they employ could be a sustainable fashion brand. There are many sustainable practices to consider in both the areas of environmental sustainability and social sustainability.
Materials
We have come to realize that some materials just don’t hit the sustainable fabrics target. Synthetic materials contain plastics, which release microplastics in the washing machine that harm our waterways and aquatic life.
Sustainable brands will use eco-friendly fabrics such as those made from recycled materials and natural fibers like GOTS-certified cotton and organic linen. Other sustainable materials to look for are recycled cotton, upcycled fabrics, Tencel Lyocell (sustainable fibers made from wood pulp), organic hemp, recycled polyester, and bamboo.
Of course, to be truly eco-friendly materials, they should be ethically sourced and acquired by an ethical trading initiative.
Manufacturing
An ethical clothing brand considers all people along the entire supply chain. Sustainable and ethical production means that all employees are treated well and earn a living wage under fair conditions in safe working environments – ideally in fair trade certified factories.
Sustainable clothing brands will have supply chain transparency and ethical manufacturing partners with fair labor standards throughout production.
Waste & Energy Reduction
It’s not enough to simply use sustainable materials. A company with a sustainable production process uses renewable energy sources to reduce its carbon footprint and is involved in energy conservation programs. Water use reduction strategies should also be practiced.
Chemicals must be avoided, and eco-friendly dyes should be used to protect our waterways.
To minimize waste, sustainable brands slow down production to avoid over-producing, which creates excess products that are usually dealt with in environmentally harmful ways.
Many fashion brands have also created a resale platform where customers can buy and sell their used items to avoid fashion waste.
Packaging and shipping practices are also a consideration when determining if a brand is sustainable. Companies that use recycled packaging, plastic-free packaging, soy-based inks, and biodegradable materials show that they are considering the environment.
Many eco-friendly fashion brands aim to offset their shipping emissions in other ways to become climate neutral certified.
Third-Party Certifications
Look for third-party certifications on their website and labels to quickly check if your favorite fashion brand is ethical and sustainable. Ones to keep an eye out for are Certified B Corp, Fair Trade Certified, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP).
Since most of these certifications require a rigorous review process that takes time, a lack of these certifications doesn’t necessarily mean a brand is not sustainable.
On Trend: The Capsule Wardrobe
Although the concept of a capsule wardrobe has existed since the 1970s, its reemergence has new roots in sustainability. Focusing on minimalism, the idea is to own fewer pieces of versatile, long-lasting clothing that can be paired and worn in multiple ways. A capsule wardrobe is a terrific example of the “reduce” component of the 10 Rs of sustainability. Bonus points if your capsule contains second-hand pieces, which can help you be sustainable on a budget!
Aside from the obvious benefits to the planet, a capsule wardrobe can make outfit decisions easier, and save you money. Win, win, win!
Don’t forget to use your eco-friendly lunch box or bag to make your workday even more sustainable!
Sustainable and Ethical Workwear Brands to Check Out
Whether you wear a suit and dressy shoes, are more business casual, or require comfortable and flexible work clothing, I’ve got you covered! These ethical brands offer sustainable office wear made with responsible materials to help you keep your personal style at the workplace. Create a capsule wardrobe from just one of them, or choose the ethical work clothing options that suit you best!
The Best Sustainable Workwear Brands For a Professional Wardrobe
encircled
- Environmentally conscious professional and travel attire
- B Corporation
- Eco-friendly materials: Tencel™ lyocell fiber, Lenzing™ ECOVERO™, Modal, Rayon from Bamboo, Non-GMO organic cotton, cruelty-free merino wool
- Focus on design for circularity through their Resale platform
- Pictured: Items from The Business Trip Kit capsule
Canadian-based Encircled was launched in 2012 and offers “wanderleisure” – durable and long-lasting travel-inspired athleisure. They are women-owned and 50% of their fabrics are knit locally in Canada. They are well known for their “3×3” method, that is designed to create 27 different looks from just nine articles of clothing, creating the perfect capsule wardrobe!
wills vegan store
- Certified carbon neutral
- Manufactured in Italy and Portugal under EU employment, discrimination, and health and safety law.
- Animal-free materials, such as bio-based vegan leather from organic cereal crops.
- Pictured: The Oxford Brogues from Will’s Vegan Store.
Will’s Vegan Store believes in a closed-loop system, so you can return your old shoes for a small fee to be turned into new WVS outsoles and uppers. They have everything from outdoor footwear, knee-high boots, flats, and sandals, to vegan winter boots. They have also recently started selling other vegan-friendly products like accessories, jackets, and bags.
kotn
- Certified B corporation voted best for the world™
- Reduce microplastics
- high-quality pieces made from Egyptian cotton, linen, ECOTEC cotton, and other sustainable, organic materials
- Utilizing low-waste cutting methods
- Pictured: Double Breasted Blazer
Offering more affordable green workplace clothing, Kotn has blazers and work trousers for women in classic styles. They also produce many other apparel items, from socks to hoodies and super-cozy knitwear. Kotn has also built fifteen schools in rural Egypt through their ABC Program, which they created after learning about a lack of access to education while developing relationships with their cotton farming communities.
Nisolo
- Climate Neutral and B Corp Certified,
- Designed with comfort, function, and versatility
- 84% post use product lifecycle
- 100% of carbon emissions offset
- High quality, water-resistant leather
- Pictured: Nisolo Everyday Oxford in brown
Although not a vegan option, Nisolo makes some good points about leather sustainability here. When creating earth-friendly work outfits, fewer, more durable pieces are key. Leather has proven itself to be that, if anything. And, when you do decide to give up your Nisolo footwear, you can ship them back to receive a $40 store credit. Then, through a collaboration with Soles4Souls, these pairs will be given to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries, enabling them to clean, repair, and resell the shoes in their communities.
m.m lafleur second act
Focused on closed-loop fashion that allows for affordable workwear by offering second-hand pieces, M.M. LaFleur’s Second Act provides many options for women’s professional and sustainable work clothes. Partnered with Archive to extend the lives of your pre-loved M.M.LaFleur pieces. This one-stop shop makes it easy to buy and sell items you no longer need. Redeem your earnings as cash or as M.M.LaFleur credit to earn over 40% more
Pictured: The Noho Skirt in Pebble
Sustainable Workwear Brands for Semi-Casual Office Wear
aday
- Bluesign® or OEKO-TEX® certified
- Minimizing social and environmental impact
- Prioritize quality and durability
- Replacing virgin fibers with recycled ones at an equal or superior quality
- 77% of styles are made from recycled, regenerated and natural materials
- Pictured: Turn It Up Pants
Aday creates timeless designs that you really want to wear. Rather than replacing their content, they “strive to create comfortable, seasonless essentials that do more and last longer.” I personally love every item in their Everyday Capsule wardrobe!
tuckerman & Co.
- Eco-conscious business attire
- Certified B Corporation
- Commitment to environmental responsibility
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Made in New England by third and fourth-generation craftspeople
- Men’s and Women’s styles
- Pictured: Men’s Bengal Stripe Classic Shirt
This Certified B Corp makes collared dress shirts for men and women in classic styles using GOTS-certified organic cotton. The high-quality pieces from Tuckerman & Co are made in New England by third and fourth-generation craftspeople. My favorite thing about their website is the super cute and helpful video on their Men’s Fit Guide page.
reformation
- Sustainable, back-to-office clothing
- 100% circular
- Free of new, virgin materials
- Climate Positive
- Fabrics from recycled, regenerative, or renewable materials
- Pictured: Reformation Trieste Regenerative Wool Cardigan
With the cutely funny motto, “Being naked is the #1 most sustainable option. We’re #2,” Reformation rocks a limited production model that keeps them from creating over-production waste. With collections covering everything from “Vacation Time” to “Weddings and Parties” and everything in between, you’ll surely find some business casual, ethical workwear!
rothy’s
- Sustainable, back-to-office shoes
- Produced with 100% recycled plastic bottles
- LEED Gold and TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification
- Rothy’s signature thread made from repurposed plastic bottles
- Algal-based footbeds and strobel boards
- Pictured: The Point II
Rothy’s washable and stylishly sustainable shoes and bags are produced with 100% recycled plastic bottles – they’ve repurposed more than 630,000 pounds of ocean-bound marine plastic!
Casual and Comfortable Sustainable Work Clothing Brands
THE GOOD TEE
- Fair Trade Certified
- 100% certified fair-trade cotton sourced from farmers in India
- 100% biodegradable workwear choices
- Fabric is super soft and durable
- Pictured: The Fair Hoodie and Everyday Long Dress
This Fair Trade Certified ethical fashion brand aims for supply chain transparency, from seed to shelf. You can outfit yourself completely and comfortably with joggers, yoga pants, t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories. With many stockists all over the U.S. and Canada, you might even be able to skip the shipping emissions and pick up one of their amazing products in person. I own a few items from The Good Tee, including the Everyday Dress and I love them!
coalatree
- One of the widest ranges of organic and recycled outdoor gear products in the market
- Made with sustainable materials such as their signature coffee grounds material, first launched in 2015.
- Dye method that reduces energy and water waste
- Pictured: Camper Hooded Jacket
If you require warmer, cosy, outdoor workwear with minimal environmental impact, Coalatree might be for you. They started out as a self-sustaining organic farm in Colorado, and launched a line of clothing in 2010. Organic & recycled materials are used in the production process with a dye method that reduces energy and water waste. Coala Tree uses surplus fabric to create warm blankets for the homeless in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Final Thoughts about sustainable clothing for work
It’s important to remember, and bears repeating, that the idea is not to get rid of all the clothing you currently own to replace it with items from sustainable brands. The most sustainable wardrobe is the one you already own.
However, when the time comes when you do need to replace an essential in your closet, you can now feel confident choosing some eco-friendly, versatile, long-lasting clothing from a brand that is ethical and sustainable.
Remember to look for eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, linen, bamboo, or recycled materials when purchasing sustainable workwear. Do some digging into the supply chain and manufacturing process to see if the brand supports ethical production by paying fair wages and ensuring the safety of its workers.
Remember, every journey must begin with just one step, and you’ve just taken the first step to becoming more sustainable in your work clothing capsule!
All products recommended to you on Successfully Sustainable are independently researched in depth. To avoid waste and lead a minimal lifestyle, we test products only when required. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about this here.
