13 Ethical Clothing Companies That Give Back

By Jessie Festa. This guide to brands that give back contains affiliate links to trusted partners we think you’ll love!

Looking for clothing companies that give back?

Then you’re in the right place!

Whether you’re looking for clothing companies that give back to the environment, garments that support animal welfare, or fashion brands that donate to charity, the following list has all of the above — and more — for a shopping experience you can feel good about.

Bonus:

Along with putting good into the world, these businesses also offer uber-stylish fashions and accessories.

Clothing Companies That Give Back

1. Pura Vida Bracelets

Looking for bracelets that give back?

Pura Vida Bracelets began when two college graduates brought home a few bracelets from a Costa Rica vacation. It’s now turned into one of the most popular accessory brands among college students.

Pura Vida Bracelets embrace the Costa Rican “pura vida” (“pure life”) lifestyle by offering simple designs to represent the beauty of a life lived slowly.

Along with providing employment to over 80 Costa Ricans, the brand offers a “charity” line of bracelets to raise money for causes ranging from cancer awareness to suicide prevention charities.

2. Wolven Threads

If you love clothing brands that give back to the environment, this activewear and swimwear company will quickly become one of your favorites.

With a team made up of artists and activists, you can expect high-quality ethically-made garments featuring bold and beautiful prints. In fact, their garments are climate neutral and are made with recycled PET plastics and minimal packaging.

In terms of giving back, Wolven Threads is a member of 1% For The Planet and donate at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.

Snag 20% off with code EPICUREANDCULTURE.

3. Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi’s tagline is “gear for good”, and every outdoor adventure garment and piece of gear they sell is meant to be high-quality while also giving back.

How? Well, for one, Cotopaxi writes grants that help fund education, health and livelihood projects.

Moreover, as a member of Pledge 1%, they donate at least 1% of their revenue toward philanthropy.

Just a few of the many ways they made an impact just in the last year include:

• aiding 822,000 people directly and 3.2 million indirectly through poverty alleviation programs
• donating over 110,000 masks
• providing over 661,000 people with malaria treatment
• donating $447,000 over 36 major and community grants
• raising over $42,000 for the IRC Crisis Response Fund

4. ABLE

If you want to support women through your purchase, ABLE allows you to do just that.

Not only do they sell clothing and accessories for women — including gorgeous bags that give back — but they also train, educate, and invest in women.

Additionally, 96% of their employees are women, and they share their company wages right on their homepage for transparency and to help create a more equitable fashion industry.

ABLE also works hard to limit their environmental impact. For instance, their sweaters are made from 100% organic cotton and are produced in a zero waste factory. Moreover, their packaging will soon be 100% recyclable.

5. NOVICA

NOVICA is an impact marketplace with a mission to empower artisans and put dollars into their pockets.

You can shop fashion, jewelry, art, home goods, and clean beauty by category — or by cause. Just a few of the many causes you can support by shopping on NOVICA include empowering women, preserving traditions, enabling education, and more.

At the time of writing, NOVICA has helped to put $118,982,386 in the hands of artisans around the world.

6. Out Of Print

Out of Print makes cute literary-themed accessories that also give back.

With the purchase of their budget-friendly canvas travel pouch — which features banned books printed in typewriter font and is made in the USA — the brand sends a book to a community in need.

7. Serengetee

Serengetee launched out of a college dorm room after two college friends returned home after Semester at Sea with fabrics collected from markets around the world.

Today, the company supports 32 different causes.

Each fabric pattern is designed by artisans across the world and is linked to a specific cause.

The fabric is then designed onto a shirt, usually as a pocket, for a unique and stylish look that also gives back to international communities.

8. Article 22

Article 22 creates beauty from destruction.

Their first collection, PEACEBOMB, is created using Vietnam War era bombs by Laotian designers.

Each bracelet results in the demining of 3m2 of bomb-littered land.

9. Lemlem

LemLem began after supermodel and actress Liya Kebede was inspired by the weaving traditions of the women in Ethiopia.

She saw an opportunity to preserve the art of traditional weaving while also empowering local women and launched the company in 2007.

Lemlem features products handmade in Ethiopia with all natural cotton that is both stylish and comfortable to wear.

10. Toms

Though many brands and companies operate on a one-for-one model, Toms is perhaps the most well-known.

For every pair of Toms purchased, the company donates a pair of shoes to a child or teenager in need, worldwide.

Purchases from their other product lines, ranging from eyewear to bags, also provide services like eye care, safe birthing education, and bully awareness in their partnerships with over 100 giving partners.

11. Guru Sandals

Gurus is a unique line of sandals inspired by the single-post design worn by Gandhi.

Gurus are made with hand-harvested rubber from the company’s family farms and use natural rubber instead of the other synthetic materials found in most other shoes.

For every purchase made, they also plant a tree.

12. Conscious Step

Love fun socks? Not only does Conscious Step create socks with fun prints, but each pair has a unique cause attached.

The brand partners with nonprofits to support causes like equality, LGBTQ+ rights, children’s education, the environment, ending hunger, and many more. Whether you’re looking for companies that give back to animals or to buy gifts that give back to the ocean, Conscious Step has a pair of socks to help.

Bonus: Each pair is made out of organic cotton to be super comfortable!

13. Made Trade

For the full ethical online shopping experience, check out Made Trade. Their site allows you to search by value and sort by BIPOC-owned brands, Fair Trade garments, handcrafted items, and more — all of which are rigorously vetted before being listed.

In terms of giving back, not only is the company Climate Neutral Certified, but they also donate 1% of every purchase to an environmental nonprofit.

What brands would you add to this list of clothing companies that give back?

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