17 Ethical Fashion B Corps: Sustainable Apparel Produced Fairly

A Directory of Several Clothing B Corps Operating in the U.S. and Canada

The idea that looking good, having functional clothing, and taking care of the planet and the people who produce apparel cannot go together is no longer true. While the first step in sustainability is to reduce consumption — through innovative models for circularity and repair, careful sourcing, equitable supply chain management, and thoughtful treatment of employees — these 17 Certified B Corporations based in the United States and Canada are bringing ethical fashion into the mainstream. From athleisure to business wear, from socks to children’s clothes, below is a sampling of the ethical fashion B Corps you can shop for sustainable apparel.

Athleta

United States

Athleta is a B Corp that creates performance-focused sustainable apparel designed by women athletes to inspire a community of active, confident women and girls to reach their limitless potential. Founded in 1998, Athleta integrates performance and technical features across its collection to carry a woman through her life in motion — from yoga and training to commute and travel. In 2016 the company launched Athleta Girl to mirror its signature performance in styles for the next generation. Athleta’s Power of She campaign and brand experience celebrate inclusivity and the power of women and girls uplifting one another, and the B Corp supports programs directly impacting the lives of the majority-female workers creating its apparel.

Bombas

United States

Bombas is a comfort-focused ethical fashion B Corp with a mission to help those in need. The company launched in 2013, after the founders learned that socks are the most-requested clothing item at homeless shelters. Bombas was founded on the philosophy of donating to those in need but has evolved to go deeper into the community. The more clothing items Bombas sells, the more the B Corp donates. As the company grows, its giving and community efforts will continue to grow, too. To date, Bombas has donated more than 45 million pieces of new clothing to homeless shelters.

Cotopaxi

United States

In 2013, Cotopaxi’s founders set out with the goal of building an outdoor gear and sustainable apparel company that could make meaningful strides toward reducing global poverty. Today, drawing on best practices from the outdoor industry and global development sector, the company creates innovative outdoor products, apparel, and experiences that help alleviate poverty, move people to do good, and inspire adventure. For example, Cotopaxi allocates 1% of annual revenues to the Cotopaxi Foundation. These funds are distributed as grants to nonprofit partners selected for their track records at improving the human condition and alleviating poverty.

Dhana

United States

Dhana is creating fashion by nature, empowering its customers — whom it sees as “champions for the environment” — to engage responsibly when it comes to their clothes; to extend the life of their garments by reusing, recycling, reselling, and returning clothes that no longer serve them; and to keep garments out of the landfill, actively fighting climate change and inspiring kindness as consumers. Dhana invites customers beyond organics and sustainability and into the circular economy with the Dhana Circularity Pledge and the 5 R’s: reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, reflect. The company offers a circularity line as well as zero-waste, upcycled options.

EILEEN FISHER

United States

For over 30 years, EILEEN FISHER has created beautiful, simple clothes designed to move with real life. EILEEN FISHER supports women through its ethical fashion collection, simplifying life and inspiring women to express their personal style, as well as through social initiatives such as the Women’s Business Grant Program created to empower women-owned businesses; the Activating Leadership Grant, which funds programs that activate leadership qualities in women and girls; and the one-of-a-kind recycle retail concept Green Eileen, which donates profits to support women, girls, and environment.

Karen Kane

United States

Karen Kane produces high-quality, functional women’s clothing, accessories, and home decor led by the belief that women should feel beautiful and comfortable, always. Over 70% of Karen Kane’s management team consists of women, and three-quarters of its employees are people from underrepresented populations. The B Corp’s sustainability efforts are led by an employee and management committee that prioritizes the company’s dedication to sustainability in manufacturing and accountability for ethical business decisions.

Kotn

Canada

Kotn is a direct-to-consumer basics apparel B Corp. The company creates timeless essentials made out of Egyptian cotton at affordable prices. Kotn uses the finest cotton in the world, and its mission is to save Egyptian cotton, and people it supports, from extinction.

Looptworks

United States

With a long-term goal to achieve closed-loop solutions in manufacturing, Looptworks repurposes and upcycles abandoned, pre-consumer and post-consumer materials to create new, limited-editions products. By upcycling these materials, the B Corp keeps them out of landfills or incinerators while conserving natural resources and reducing carbon emissions. To expand the circle of beneficial businesses, all Looptworks suppliers go through an extensive certification process that includes both social and environmental impact assessments.

Merry Go Rounds

United States

Merry Go Rounds is a children’s resale marketplace that makes shopping for kids more sustainable, affordable, and fun. It sells high-quality, brand-name new and used kids’ clothing, toys, books, and gifts through an online store, custom subscription boxes, a virtual personal shopping service, and a brick-and-mortar shop in Easton, Massachusetts. Its mission is to improve the experience of shopping secondhand, change people’s perception of resale, and reduce the environmental impact of children’s goods.

Paka Apparel

United States

Paka is working to change the clothing industry. Paka’s clothing is woven from one of the softest and most functional natural fibers on Earth: alpaca wool. All fiber used in Paka’s clothing line is sourced from free-roaming alpacas in the Andes Mountains. Paka employs Quechua women, who hand-knit and sign each sweater they make. Its products and practices are designed to support a simple mission: consumers and creators made equal.

Patagonia

United States

A leading outdoor and active clothing brand, B Corp Patagonia’s values reflect those of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, and the minimalist style they promoted. The approach Patagonia takes toward product design demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility. The company declares it is “in business to save our home planet,” and has committed to using its resources to take action on climate change. From supporting youths fighting oil drilling to suing former President Trump, Patagonia goes beyond making clothing and takes action on the most pressing environmental issues facing our world.

Rose Buddha

Canada

Rose Buddha is a sustainable athleisure wear and accessories brand that uses recycled materials and natural and organic fibers. Every product is infused with good vibes and handmade in Canada. The company’s products provide customers an option to significantly reduce fashion-industry carbon footprint. The team works directly with manufacturers, garment makers, printers, and knitters to create a product that will not harm the environment.

Sudara

United States

Sudara Inc. is on a mission to offer ethically made apparel that creates jobs and supports skills training for women in India who are at a high risk of human trafficking. Each year, millions of women and children are trafficked into sexual exploitation in India. Through customer purchases and donations to the Sudara Freedom Fund support hope and opportunity through living-wage jobs, training, and education.

tentree

Canada

This environmentally progressive, lifestyle apparel brand plants 10 trees for every item purchased. Founded on the premise that every consumer wants to know that they are contributing to the well-being of our planet, tentree leaders and employees believe they can inspire more people to tackle the environmental issues we now face and positively impact our future. They work with a variety of not-for-profits, educational groups, and organizations around the globe to ensure that tree-planting efforts are having a real impact in local communities. To date, tentree has planted more than 25 million trees and has a goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.

The Good Tee

Canada

Source My Garment and The Good Tee together are on a mission to manufacture responsibly and humanize the apparel industry. The Good Tee was born with a mission to support cotton farmers in India who have a high suicide rate. The Good Tee champions responsible manufacture: slower production schedules, ethical working conditions, and fair deals for all. Source My Garment also helps businesses responsibly manufacture clothing overseas.

United By Blue

United States

United By Blue was founded in 2010, driven by the idea of associating the sale of each product with a concrete environmental action. For every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company-organized cleanups. With a commitment to using sustainable materials, United by Blue shows it is possible to create a great-fitting, long-lasting product with materials that are environmentally and ethically sourced. In addition, United by Blue partners with factories that hold the highest standards for facilities and personnel, with the third-party certifications to back it up.

Urbane & Gallant

United States

Urbane & Gallant is a lifestyle menswear brand building authentically masculine men through ethical fashion that combats modern-day slavery. Urbane & Gallant partners with suppliers and nonprofit organizations that conduct rescue operations and provide rehabilitation services for survivors. Beneficial impact is passed from the customer to survivors when customers purchase Urbane & Gallant clothing that contributes to survivor rehabilitation services or is manufactured by a survivor, providing survivors with an income, shelter, and an education.