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Woman wearing more sustainable puff sleeves
02 Apr
Woman wearing more sustainable puff sleeves

Better Brand Edit: More Sustainable Puff Sleeve Tops and Dresses

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The puff sleeve became popular in the Renaissance period and though its relevance has ebbed and flowed, the style has endured for centuries. While we don’t advocate following trends, we do believe in investing in clothes that align with your style, values, and personal taste. So if you’re a puff sleeve aficionado, read on to discover our favourite more sustainable styles.

The enduring statement sleeve

In recent years, the term ‘puff sleeve’ has become a catchall for various voluminous sleeve styles—from the balloon and bishop to the Juliet and leg-of-mutton, which you might’ve seen play a starring role in the 2023 film Poor Things (which is perhaps the biggest celebration of puff sleeve dresses since, well… ever).

Above all, the puff sleeve channels softness, romance and confidence, and can often elevate a look to be more impactful thanks to its striking silhouette. While the preferred sizes, shapes, fabrics, and colours have shifted over the years, the ongoing appeal of wearing a statement sleeve has not. Here, our editors have detailed their favourite puff sleeve dresses, blouses and tops from more sustainable brands.

Why you can trust our recommendations

At Good On You, our mission is to make it as easy as possible to buy products that meet your needs, from brands that live up to your expectations in relation to their environmental and social performance and how they impact animals. We also support the motto “buy less, buy better” which looks like opting for high-quality, timeless, trend-transcending pieces you need that are designed for longevity so they last for many years to come.

As ever, the most sustainable choice to make is the one already in your closet. Whether that means taking care of your clothes, getting them mended or tailored, or mixing and matching to keep things fresh. The next best option is to swap or shop second hand. But sometimes you must buy new, and that’s where our expert ratings system comes into play.

We’ve rated over 6,000 brands in an easy-to-understand five-point system, and below we have curated a list of brands rated “Good” or “Great” that are making waves in the sustainable fashion space.

OMNES

Rated: Good
OMNES puff sleeve top

Dorothea Broderie Top in Blue

– Ships internationally from the UK

OMNES’ mission is “to show that fashion can be good quality, affordable and responsible”, and this Dorothea puff sleeve top is a case in point. It’s made by a fully audited supplier in India and is 100% BCI cotton, while the labels are all made from recycled plastic bottles.

OMNES’ clothes are available in UK sizes 6-24.

See the rating.

Shop OMNES.

Mother of Pearl

Rated: Good
Mother of pearl puff sleeve dress

Juliet dress

– Ships internationally from the UK

Mother of Pearl is a more sustainable luxury womenswear and accessories brand from the UK. It uses a high proportion of lower-impact materials including organic cotton and ensures the payment of a living wage across some of its supply chain. This Juliet puff sleeve dress beautifully embodies the brand’s ethos of “classic but never boring.”

Find its clothes in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Mother of Pearl.

Shop Mother of Pearl @ Rêve en Vert.

Shop Mother of Pearl Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

SeamsFriendly

Rated: Good
SEAMSFRIENDLY puff sleeve dress

Brown Warm Cotton Waffle Fit and Flare Balloon Sleeves Maxi Dress

– Ships internationally from India

Offers

SeamsFriendly – Site-wide

Handcrafted tailor-made clothing for women, men and kids of all body types, sizes and heights. Exclusive 15% off with code SF-GY15 (Sales items excluded) (Ends: 12 NOV)

Checkout code: SF-GY15
Shop now

SeamsFriendly makes its garments—including this puff sleeve dress—to order, and you can even supply your measurements for a personalised fit. This cotton-waffle style comes in a range colours and there are matching items available, plus, thanks to the accommodating silhouette and stretchy fabric, it can also double as a maternity outfit.

SeamsFriendly’s garments are sized on a made-to-measure basis.

See the rating.

Shop SeamsFriendly.

Whimsy + Row

Rated: Good
Whimsy and row puff sleeve top

Eden top – Ships internationally from the US

Whimsy + Row was born out of a love for quality goods and more sustainable practices. By limiting each garment’s production to short runs, Whimsy + Row utilises deadstock fabric, reduces packaging waste, and takes care of precious water resources. This puff sleeve Eden top is made from Ecovero viscose and viscose Lenzing material that feels soft next to the skin and is a more sustainable choice than regular viscose.

Find most products in XS-3X.

See the rating.

Shop Whimsy + Row.

Shop Whimsy + Row @ Earthkind.

LANIUS

Rated: Good
Lanius puff sleeve jumper

V-neck jumper – Ships internationally from Germany

“Love fashion, think organic, be responsible” are LANIUS’ maxims. The German brand uses lower-impact materials and all of its facilities are SA8000 certified. It’s also a member of the Fair Wear Foundation. The brand’s V-neck jumper has subtle puff sleeves that are ideal if you’re not going for a full statement silhouette.

LANIUS’ clothes are available in EU sizes 34-44.

See the rating.

Shop LANIUS.

All The Wild Roses

Rated: Good
All the wild roses puff sleeve dress

Gaia Gingham Dress

– Ships internationally from Australia

All The Wild Roses is a women-owned brand that makes vintage-inspired clothes, often featuring retro patterns like the gingham check on this Gaia dress. The adjustable waist and sleeve ties mean you can personalise how it fits for maximum comfort.

Most garments are available in sizes XS-XXL.

See the rating.

Shop All The Wild Roses.

Kalaurie

Rated: Good
woman of colour wearing high fashion navy blue puff sleeves dress by Kalaurie

The Star Dress – Ships internationally from Australia

Kalaurie’s stunning designs are made to the highest standards. This Star puff sleeve dress is made by hand from a deadstock cotton and silk-blend. The striking design will undoubtedly earn you compliments each time you wear it.

Kalaurie’s clothes are available in 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Kalaurie.

Dilli Grey

Rated: Good
Dilli grey puff sleeve dress

Maria linen midaxi dress in petal pink

– Ships internationally from the UK

Based in London, Dilli Grey works directly with family-run producers in India to make its garments. This puff sleeve linen dress is lined in cotton-voile, making it ideal for warm weather. It also features classic smocking at the back.

Most garments are available in sizes UK 4-18.

See the rating.

Shop Dilli Grey.

Christy Dawn

Rated: Great
Christy Dawn puff sleeve dress (1)

Katrina Dress – Ships internationally from the US

Offers

Christy Dawn – The Simple Dawn Dress

Celebrating the dress that started it all. Christy Dawn is offering 50% off their Simple Dawn dresses, now made in 100% organic cotton.   (Ends: 29 NOV)

Shop now

Los Angeles-based Christy Dawn uses lower-impact materials and works with producers in India to make its much-loved patterned dresses and prairie-inspired clothes. The brand’s Katrina dress is a bestseller and comes in a variety of fabrics, but this one has been specially printed using a hand-blocking method and plant-based dyes.

Find Christy Dawn’s clothes in standard sizes XS-XL, or shop the Extended and Petite collections.

See the rating.

Shop Christy Dawn.

OhSevenDays

Rated: Good
Oh Seven Days puff sleeve dress

Belle dress – Ships internationally from Turkey

Megan Mummery founded OhSevenDays with the idea to make small-batch clothing collections from surplus and deadstock fabrics sourced in and around Istanbul. The pretty floral one used in this dress is made from a viscose and linen blend that’ll feel cooling in warm weather.

OhSevenDays’ clothes are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop OhSevenDays.

Editor's note

Feature image via Christy Dawn. All other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet and animals. We love to recommend some of the best sustainable brands, rated ‘Good’ or ‘Great’. We also encourage shopping pre-owned as another great way to reduce the impact of our fashion choices. Use our Directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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