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11 Mar

36 Clothing Brands From Australia and New Zealand Stepping up in Sustainability

Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more.

 

If you live in Australia or New Zealand, we listed our selection of top rated local and responsible brands just for you. 

Reduce your impact by supporting local brands

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important and more and more people are trying to reduce their impact on the planet. As a result, a growing number of responsible fashion brands are starting to emerge to both meet the demand and help change the fashion industry for the better. So if you live in Australia or New Zealand, you might be wondering which clothing brands are doing it right. First, here’s what you need to know about what makes a brand more ethical and sustainable in the first place.

What makes a better brand?

Simply put, a responsible brand makes sure it positively impacts on people, the planet, and animals.

It ensures its workers are treated fairly across the supply chain. This includes policies and practices on child labour, forced labour, worker safety, the right to join a union, and payment of a living wage.

A better brand also cares about its use of resources and energy, reducing its carbon emissions, impact on our waterways, as well as using and disposing of chemicals safely.

Finally, it uses no or very few animal products, like wool, leather, fur, angora, down feather, shearling, karakul, and exotic animal skin and hair. Ideally, the brand is 100% vegan.

A CTA to the Good On You directory inviting users to click through and discover how their favourite fashion brands rate.

Now that you know what makes a responsible brand, you might decide to shop from companies located in your country or region. Whether it is to support your community at home or reduce your carbon footprint when shopping online, shopping locally can have positive benefits.

So if you live in Australia or New Zealand or want to support labels made there, you might wonder which clothing brands are doing better. We know how you feel, which is why we compiled this list of “Good” or “Great” rated fashion brands either based or produced in Australia or New Zealand.

Curious about brands in other regions? Check out our editors’ favourite brands from:

Brands from Australia

Outland Denim

Rated: Great

Outland Denim makes premium denim jeans and clothes, and offers employment opportunities for women rescued from human trafficking in Cambodia. This Australian brand was founded as an avenue for the training and employment of women who have experienced sex trafficking.

Find most of the brand's range in US sizes 22-34.

See the rating.

Shop Outland Denim.

Luna + Sun

Rated: Good
person holding a baby wearing a hat, top and shorts, with a person in a loose, pink dress by Luna + Sun

Luna + Sun is an Australian, cruelty-free fashion line creating gorgeous feminine designs. Its factory is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia, and its products are OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 6-18.

See the rating.

Shop Luna + Sun.

dk active

Rated: Great

dk active is an Australian high-performance brand. It uses renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact, and reuses all of its offcuts to minimise textile waste. It is also a PETA approved 100% vegan brand.

Find the products in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop dk active.

Elle Evans

Rated: Good

Founded in 2013 in Australia, Elle Evans Swimwear creates beautiful, lower-impact swimwear and activewear for people who care about fashion and the future. The brand uses post-consumer waste fabrics and traces all of its supply chain.

The range is stocked in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Elle Evans.

Sans Beast

Rated: Good
A trendy person dressed in an edgy, 90s look wearing a small green crossbody bag by Sans Beast.

Founded in 2018 with the sole purpose of delivering pieces that had beauty without the beast, Sans Beast is an Australian accessories brand creating luxury vegan bags and accessories entirely cruelty-free. They are particular about their sourcing, using materials like Global Recycled Standard certified materials, and innovative plant-based leathers made from cactus and apple.

See the rating.

Shop Sans Beast.

Sorella Organics

Rated: Good

Australian brand Sorella’s certified organic sleepwear range includes tops, pants, wraps, nighties, as well as maternity wear. The label’s founder Anna McGregor has a background in international human rights work. This is obvious with her use of Fairtrade certified cotton, and it ensures strict social standards are met in production and trading. Best of all, purchasing the clothing won’t make you cry over your bank balance.

Find the range in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Sorella Organics.

Bhumi

Rated: Good
People in shirts by Bhumi.

Australian brand Bhumi believes in sustainable luxury, paving the way for a new era in the textile industry by choosing 100% Fairtrade, organic, and vegan materials for its basics and bedding.

Find the clothes in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Bhumi.

Amble Outdoors

Rated: Good
Someone in clothes by Amble Outdoors.

Amble Outdoors (formerly Team Timbuktu) creates high-performance waterproof raincoats and sweat-wicking outdoorwear, made from recycled plastic bottles in Australia.

Sizes offered in XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Amble Outdoors.

Afends

Rated: Good
Someone on roof wearing clothes by Afends.

Born in Byron Bay, Australia, Afends is a more responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, it purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow its own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

The Common Good Company

Rated: Great

Australian brand The Common Good Company produces clothing using recycled materials, proving that there is not only a better way to produce but a better way to consume.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 6-14.

See the rating.

Shop The Common Good Company.

The Very Good Bra

Rated: Good

The Very Good Bra is an Australian womenswear label that houses lingerie and other basics for the modern woman.

Find most bras in cup sizes A-E, and clothes in S-L.

See the rating.

Shop The Very Good Bra.

ettitude

Rated: Good

Sleepwear and bedding made with innovative CleanBamboo™ fabric, engineered for comfort. This Australian brand reuses offcuts to minimise textile waste, and reduces its water use by using a closed-loop system in its supply chain.

Find most clothing in S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ettitude.

NICO

Rated: Good
Someone in underwear by NICO.

Established in 2012 by Lis Harvey, NICO celebrates minimalism and understated luxury. The brand brings high quality basics and underwear to the Australian fashion landscape, featuring clean lines, luxe fabrics, and the styles and colours needed for everyday. NICO’s factories are signatories to The Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord and are compliant with BSCI and certified with WRAP.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop NICO.

Flare Street

Rated: Good
two people posing in matching tops and vintage-inspired flares by Flare Street

Flare Street is a Melbourne-based brand capturing the style of the 1960s and '70s with quality fabrics and vintage-inspired prints. After searching far and wide for the perfect flares, its founders created their own more responsible designs. The brand uses lower-impact materials and locally sourced factory ends in its limited production runs, and ensures payment of a living wage in its final production stage.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Flare Street.

All The Wild Roses

Rated: Good

All The Wild Roses offers free-spirited fashion for the dreamers and change-makers. This Australian brand uses up to 50% deadstock fabric to create high quality and long-lasting products.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop All The Wild Roses.

Bon Label

Rated: Good

Born from brand owner Linda Smyth’s search for the perfect white tee, Australian brand Bon Label’s products emulate that timeless French simplicity and elegance. The t-shirts are made from 100% organic cotton to perfectly match with your favourite denim on the weekend or a classic pin skirt in the office. Bon Label uses no animal products in manufacturing and has a strong focus on responsible labour practices.

Find AU sizes 6-14.

See the rating.

Shop Bon Label.

nat’v basics

Rated: Good

nat'v basics is an Australian responsible underwear label designed for the everyday woman. Made from recycled and lower-impact materials, nat'v basics pieces are designed to be the most comfortable basics you’ll ever wear. No frills or trims or awkward bits—so you can put them on and forget you’re wearing them.

Find the range in AU sizes 6-20.

See the rating.

Shop nat'v basics.

Dharma Bums

Rated: Good
A woman with dark curl hair wear a white yoga crop top.

Dharma Bums is a yoga and activewear brand providing beautiful, high performance sportswear. Its all-Australian-made items are certified by Ethical Clothing Australia and it doesn't use any animal-derived materials.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dharma Bums.

Little Emperor

Rated: Good
girl wearing pink little emperor t-shirt

Little Emperor creates unique, functional, and hard-wearing clothing for children. Its affordable clothing is made from environmentally friendly organic cotton, with every garment designed in Sydney, Australia and made in a Sedex-approved factory ensuring living wages and safe working conditions for workers. From the materials and packaging, right down to the energy supplier and banking, Little Emperor is dedicated to environmentally friendly practice. Named in honour of the adorable Emperor Penguin, Little Emperor is a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning 1% of sales are donated to environmental non-profits, helping protect the penguins’ home.

See the rating.

Shop Little Emperor.

Etiko

Rated: Great

Etiko is an Australian designer of organic fair trade clothing and shoes. The brand constantly sets the bar for upholding and campaigning the human rights of people working in traditionally exploitative industry supply chains.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Boody

Rated: Good

Founded in Australia by two best friends, Boody is a clothing brand with comfort, style, and health at its core. It creates comfortable, thoughtfully-made everyday essentials made from organically grown bamboo. It reduces waste through lower-waste cutting techniques and using a closed-loop system in its supply chain, supporting the green and ethical movement.

Find the range in sizes XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

Citizen Wolf

Rated: Good

Citizen Wolf uses revolutionary technology to give you high quality custom-fit t-shirts that it guarantees will be the best you’ve ever worn. After capturing your customisations, the brand handmakes each tee in Sydney using certified lower-impact fabrics like cotton, hemp, and Merino wool milled in Melbourne.

See the rating.

Shop Citizen Wolf.

TALI & TASI

Rated: Good

For travelwear designed for adventures, look no further than Australian brand TALI & TASI (formerly Tasi Travels). Boasting a stunning collection of handmade garments in lower-impact materials that are made-to-order, you can feel good out in the world knowing you are leaving a light footprint behind.

Garments come in sizes XS/S, S/M, and M/L.

See the rating.

Shop TALI & TASI.

Elk

Rated: Good

A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. Elk creates bi-annual collections that are informed by a design ethos where simplicity and sustainability meet innovation.

Find most items in AU sizes 6-18.

See the rating.

Shop Elk.

Carlie Ballard

Rated: Good
A woman in a red jumpsuit closes her eyes while sitting on a chair. A navy scarf blows in the background.

Carlie Ballard is a pioneering Australian fashion brand advocating for more ethical and sustainable practices, and quality, independent design.

Find the garments in AU sizes 6-16.

See the rating.

Shop Carlie Ballard.

Vege Threads

Rated: Good

Vege Threads is ECA certified and makes all of its clothing in Australia. Its range includes men's and women's basics, as well as women's activewear and swimwear.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Vege Threads.

Monsoon Blooms

Rated: Good
man wearing yellow monsoon blooms t-shirt

Following the wisdom of Ayurveda, Australian brand Monsoon Blooms creates Fairtrade certified organic cotton underwear and basics, naturally dyed with plants. It does not use any animal products and makes its product by hand to reduce its climate impact.

Find sizes S-L.

See the rating.

Shop Monsoon Booms.

Kalaurie

Rated: Good

Stunning designs, beautifully made, to the highest standards—Kalaurie is one of those labels that gives you a rush of excitement when you first find it. This is a Melbourne, Australia brand that makes capsule collections, with an emphasis on signature shirt tailoring. There are many reasons to love Kalaurie, and it rates highly in all three categories.

The pieces are available in 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Kalaurie.

The ANJELMS Project

Rated: Great
People wearing handmade cotton clothing by the Anjelms Project.

The ANJELMS Project is an Australian clothing brand on a mission to help improve the lives of its makers. It celebrates traditional techniques, creating clothes that are naturally dyed and hand-loomed in India using more sustainable practices and limiting production to minimise waste.

Find most garments in XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop the ANJELMS Project.

In the Soulshine

Rated: Good

In the Soulshine is an Australian brand that loves fashion, but doesn't want to exploit people or animals or destroy our planet in the process.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop In the Soulshine.

Brands from New Zealand

ReCreate

Rated: Great
Someone sitting in a tree wearing a dress by more responsible brand, ReCreate.

New Zealand brand ReCreate makes boutique clothing that transforms lives through fair employment, training, and empowerment. It uses lower-impact materials, including organic cotton, and incorporates textile offcuts to reduce waste.

Find most items in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ReCreate.

Kowtow

Rated: Good

Kowtow is a New Zealand brand that uses organic, fair trade cotton and non-toxic dyes to produce its clothes. It designs elegant, timeless womenswear, and also has a range of ceramics.

Find the clothes in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kowtow.

Maggie Marilyn

Rated: Good

Need-to-know designer Maggie Marilyn’s clothes are defined by her strong sense of luxury and fresh point of view. Inspired to create collections that are more sustainable as well as beautiful, the New Zealand-based label utilises organic cottons and responsibly-produced silks to craft effortlessly glamorous designs.

Sizes available are XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Maggie Marilyn @ Farfetch.

Shop Maggie Marilyn Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Maggie Marilyn.

Dimples

Rated: Good

Dimples is a New Zealand based brand that offers a large range of specialist baby and mother care products. The brand uses the highest-quality soft, warm New Zealand merino and pure organic cotton to make a wide range of baby clothing, blankets, and accessories.

See the rating.

Shop Dimples Pre-Owned @ Retykle.

Shop Dimples.

Untouched World

Rated: Good
People in tops, bottoms and jackets by Untouched World.

New Zealand luxury lifestyle brand Untouched World creates more sustainable and organic fashion for the whole family in a classy minimalist style.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Untouched World.

Nisa

Rated: Good
Nisa sustainable lounge and sleep shorts

The responsible option for your underwear drawer. Nisa is an underwear and loungewear label that employs women from refugee backgrounds in its Wellington studio. For the brand, success is not just providing a first job in New Zealand, but in providing a first step in a long career. Nisa is also better for the planet, using GOTS certified organic cotton for its briefs, bralettes, and pants.

Find the garments in sizes XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Nisa.

Want to find more sustainable brands from Australia or New Zealand? Find the best-rated brands near you with the location filter

Editor's note

Feature image by Kowtow and 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 more 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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