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Taking care of workers and the planet means more sustainable fashion often costs more. But it’s a spectrum. The brands in this list offer a more approachable entry point, are all rated “Good” or “Great”, and have a $-$$ price range in the Good On You directory.
Find more sustainable fashion to fit your budget
When I first discovered more sustainable fashion, I was a sophomore in college, living on a student budget and trying to keep up with fashion trends. It was challenging, and finding more responsible brands that I could afford was even more so.
More ethical clothing has a reputation for being more expensive, and for good reason—taking care of workers and the planet means the brands need to price their products higher, but it’s a spectrum—as I learned. Brands are emerging that offer a more approachable entry point for those who can’t spend into the hundreds.
So, how can budget-conscious consumers find affordable and more sustainable clothing brands? First, let’s look at why more sustainable clothing is more expensive in the first place.
Why is sustainable fashion typically more expensive?
More sustainable fashion items cost more than fast fashion items for a number of reasons. One is the higher quality of materials used. For instance, when comparing materials such as organic cotton with conventional cotton, we find that organic cotton is grown without harmful pesticides and chemicals, which means the crop requires more upkeep and labour. On top of that, more ethical brands often pay their farmers and employees a living wage, which has to be factored into the price of the garment.
When shopping for more sustainable and affordable fashion, beware of fast fashion brands greenwashing
When you’re looking for more affordable and responsible fashion brands, it’s important to keep your eyes open to greenwashing.
Fast fashion giants such as H&M have come out with “conscious” clothing lines. And while these affordable brands might be using lower-impact materials for a few items and making claims that lead consumers into believing they’re making a sustainable choice, their business models of overproduction and consumption do not support sustainability. Fast fashion brands rely on consumers viewing clothes as disposable and continuously buying into the latest trends, and this mass production ultimately still causes harm to the environment.
How to find more affordable sustainable fashion
If you’re building a more sustainable wardrobe, try starting with the basics. Simple items such as t-shirts and underwear are typically a more budget friendly place to start, and you can gradually build up your collection as the existing things in your wardrobe wear out. Another wonderful way to celebrate more sustainable fashion on a budget is by shopping second hand or hosting clothing swaps.
Below are some of the more affordable fashion brands rated “Good” or “Great” with a $-$$ price point in the Good On You directory.
A note on affordability
Good On You wants to help you find more sustainable options no matter your budget. But we recognise that many responsible brands appear more expensive up front. That’s because more goes into a price tag than the cost of fabric. Fast fashion prices are often low because workers are not paid living wages and sustainable practices are not followed in production.
Fast fashion has also distorted our view of clothing prices. We now spend much less and buy far more low-quality garments than we did a few decades ago. When taking into account cost per wear, higher quality items you’ll wear again and again end up costing less in the long run despite the initial investment.
We aim to highlight the range of more affordable sustainable brands, but we also encourage you to seek out the most sustainable options that work for you. Sometimes this means shopping second hand, other times rediscovering and restyling what you already own.
