How to Find and Research Ethical Fashion Brands

[@claraaa93]

Thank youuu! There should be WAY more bloggers talking about this !!! It's been two months now that I've stopped shopping mass-market fashion… not always easy !

[@thegildedpalm]

This is one of the most informative ethical fashion videos I've seen. Well done. :)

[@MyGreenCloset]

Samantha Lindsey Thank you!!

[@biancaleite1073]

This is a phenomenal most informative video I came across on the topic of ethical clothing. Thanks for your commitment and in depth research to bring acurate and useful information to us. You are a breath of fresh air in an youtube arena full of self absorved shallow people. Thanks a lot for that. Xx

[@MyGreenCloset]

Bianca Leite Wow thank you so much! I'm really happy you found it helpful! :D

[@aussiejubes]

This is so incredibly informative. And succinct which is important lol. I do hope anyone with questions about ethical shopping comes across this vid. Thank you for taking so much time and putting in so much effort.

[@bearisland55]

It's so nice to see a video blogger who is eloquent and well informed. Very helpful.

[@MyGreenCloset]

Christina Nellemann Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@bernadettehynes-cafferkey3917]

Just discovered you and subscribed, great videos and your information and tips are fantastic, what a treat it is watching and learning about ethnical fashion,

[@abbieamavi]

THANK YOU!!! I am just starting out my Ethical Fashion wardrobe and life and am a new vegan, so this helps so much!!!

[@deeanndavis1256]

This info was great! I'll be sharing it with family members who are feeling overwhelmed with the whole ethical side of fashion. Recently I was referred to one of those 'vague' companies that 'really care about its employees and their work conditions' but there was no proof on the site, so I emailed them (which they encourage) but I haven't heard anything back. That was about 2 weeks ago and the company is fairly large so I would've thought I'd hear something by now. I'm just glad you brought up companies being vague. :)

[@AlliCherry]

This was so helpful. Thrifting has been the main way that I shop ethically, but in the future I want to support smaller ethical companies also. Thanks for sharing!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Alli Cherry Thrifting is such a great way to shop ethically!

[@banks810]

so helpful thank you! I love the Gather & See site!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Styled By Steph They have beautiful clothes!

[@mtoffel1]

What a fantastically informative video - thanks so much!

[@moussabby]

Thanks so much for all the information you provided and all the links. It's really helpful. Just started researching ethical clothing brands so I'll definitely get a lot from it! Thank you!!!

[@MyGreenCloset]

***** Best wishes with your research! :D

[@xstefx08]

Not sure if it's already been said, but I love the app Good On You as a starting point for finding ethical brands!

[@dgradowski]

Thanks. Well put together and informative video. Inspires me to be more aware of companies policies

[@afternoonteaparty]

Yay!! You make me so happy, haha. This video was excellent and just what I wanted to know. I hope this wasn't the one you lost last week! Greatly appreciate the information and so well edited and presented, thank you so much!

[@MyGreenCloset]

afternoonteaparty Awesome! I'm really happy you found it helpful!! :D It was the one I lost last week but honestly I think it ended up being for the better. I'm happier with how this one turned out and since I had to re-film I was able to edit it better and cut out some extra and I think unnecessary info (the other video was close to 10 minutes, which I think was too long), blessing in disguise :)

[@ladyofthewood5604]

Extremely informative and helpful. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@LisaMarieP88]

Great video! There is a package from a non ethical online store sitting right next to me because I couldn't resist to hit their sale section. Now I have come to the realisation that I don't want to do impulse shopping anymore...even (or should I say: ESPECIALLY) if the low prices are super tempting. I am going to return everything of my order. It just doesn't feel right to me to keep the stuff...instead I am going to do some research. Thank you so much for your tips!

[@MyGreenCloset]

LisaP Sales are sooo tempting. I try to avoid them unless there's an item that I've had my eye on for a while and it goes on sale, and even then it's very difficult to not buy anything else. That's really awesome you're interested in buying more ethical clothes! Best of luck with your research and let me know if there's anything I can help you out with :)

[@SisterEden]

This was great! I already do many of these things, but you gave me a few new ideas. Can't wait to check out the links! Thanks! -- Lori

[@jindijoosten8562]

This has been super helpful!!! I really want to start building my own ethical wardrobe and this is so useful! Thanks so much :D you've got a new sub :) Keep up the great work xxx

[@avanhorsen]

Your bookmarks 😍 These are great tips!

[@henriettebrettell5024]

This video is (as usual) very well researched and presented. Love it! What do you do for a living? You'd be so well qualified to study and/or work in the sustainable fashion industry :)

[@niidiimii]

Really fab video! I'd like to be more ethically aware when shopping for clothes but it's super-intimidating with all there is to research and all the different factors to consider.. To be honest, I don't really shop much in general, but I still find it difficult to justify £150 for a pullover or £300 for a bag and it seems like ethically-made clothing seems to be on the higher end of the price scale so I usually just shop secondhand clothes and end up keeping that stuff for years haha. But I do like what I've seen of People Tree (having discovered it today from one of your other videos) and I think I'd be willing to shop there every so often when I'm looking to splurge. Anyway, these are really great tips and, being an avid letter/email-writer who likes to have access to the people/companies she does business with, I love your encouragement of getting in touch with brands to open conversations. I'm really loving your videos in general and I'm hoping to start a long-term journey to more ethical and sustainable living. Thanks for sharing!! :)

[@MyGreenCloset]

Thank you so much!! That's really great you write to companies! I think it's really important to ask questions and give brands feedback regarding their ethics! Unfortunately price/budget can be a big barrier to shopping more ethical brands, it's on the higher end because ethically minded companies will pay their workers throughout the supply chain a fair/living wage, but secondhand is a wonderful and affordable way to shop more ethically! Also if you like People Tree a few times a year they have really good sample sales which might be worth checking out :)

[@niidiimii]

Ah I probably will check out their sample sales! I think it was probably after I got into knitting and sewing my own clothes and accessories (only one or two things!) that I realised all the work that goes in and, more importantly, how much clothes must *actually* cost for *people* to make. Obviously each piece can be a little bit cheaper since it's all done in bulk for stores, but still. It got me thinking "how much SHOULD all my clothes really cost?? I kind of try to take the approach that if I can't afford what it (actually) costs, I can't have it (for a cheap rip-off-to-the-creators-of-it) price. I think figuring all this out is going to be hard and will take a while...and I won't get it right all the time... But I do want to be more conscious and start acting more responsibly.

[@crystalbright38]

So very helpful and interesting! Thank you for taking the time to explain and show us this.

[@MyGreenCloset]

Crystal Phillips I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[@DavidCuthbertson]

Thanks for your videos on ethical and sustainable clothing and minimalism. Thanks especially for the links below, this is definitely something I can improve upon! :)

[@MyGreenCloset]

David Cuthbertson Happy you found it helpful! :)

[@ashleyelainedavis]

This video was SO helpful!! I've been wanting to start purchasing more ethical clothing, so this was super informative!! Thank you!!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Ashley Elizabeth Thanks! That's so nice to hear!! :)

[@ansh51]

Nice Video. Very informative. There is also ethical.org.au as a directory and guide for ethical shopping.

[@dreamanddwell]

This is a very thorough guide! Really great tips. Also, your eyes are gorgeous!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Hannah Eleanor Aw thank you! :)

[@ATruantPortrait]

Wonderful video! Very helpful.

[@joannemckann7948]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@AndreaMujicaArq]

What specific brands do you recomend? Thank you

[@lilliput112]

Thank you so much - this was super helpful! :) I´m super excited because I just found a new store in my (smaller) town that is all about green living and they have some amazing stuff - finally, I can TRY ON People Tree clothes without having to order them... that store is literally a dream come true, when I was chatting wih the owner I had tears in my eyes, because I was so excited. For thing that they don´t carry I will for sure follow the tips you gave in this video :)

[@MyGreenCloset]

The Green .Way Aww that is SO exciting!! :D It's incredibly encouraging to see sustainable businesses opening up, especially in smaller towns! Is it primarily a clothing store? Or do they also carry other eco-friendly products?

[@lilliput112]

My Green Closet They carry clothing, but also natural beauty products ( that´s what caught my eye, I spy those no matter how far away I am ;D). They also have a small collection of eco friendly homeware! And like that alone is not already a dream come true... I might actually start working there in a few months! When I talked to the owner I mentioned how the bookstore where I currently worke is likely having to close soon and she said she needed someone/would love me to work for her since she wants somebody who really shares her ethics and she already knew that I did a lot. It´s all not decided yet and depends a little bit on how my current work situation evolves, but I already am so excited! Since I am a student I only work 2 days a week but this would be such an amazing opportunity to do something that I love (even though I love books as well) and learning a lot at the same time...

[@michelletulumello661]

Help! I can find stuff for myself, and use thrifted stuff, but my 9 year old and 5 year old are harder. There's not that many preused things out there in my area for the 5-10 year olds because most kids wear their clothes out...jeans and winter jackets and bathing suits and underwear in particular. (I can get sweats at American Apparel) any suggestions?

[@MyGreenCloset]

Hi Michelle, unfortunately I don't know many children's clothing brands but if you're looking for secondhand, ebay might be good to check. What country do you live in? I can try and find some brands or online stores with kids clothes.

[@michelletulumello661]

+My Green Closet I live in upstate ny. I have looked online, but most of the sources seem to be in the UK-OR they are just for baby and toddler. Would like somewhere to order from the US or Canada if I can find it. You are really inspiring! keep up the great work :)

[@MyGreenCloset]

I don't know much about them, but you can try looking into Nui Organics nuiorganics.com. Patagonia also carries kids clothes www.patagonia.com/us/shop/kids?k=1F. This is an interesting Canadian company but I think they only go up to age 6 www.minimioche.com/ and Etsy can also be great for finding clothes. Hope that helps a bit!

[@addiekl]

michelle: have you tried Hanna Anderson (GOTS certified and high quality) or Boden for kids clothing? also there is handmade cothing galore on etsy.

[@michelletulumello661]

+Addie K-L Thanks to both of you. I really like the Patagonia company, particularly after I discovered that they repair their clothing and use recycled materials to make it. I plan on making future jacket purchases from there. I have also been scaling down my younger daughters wardrobe in order to have a minimalist approach to clothing. And I put an awesome corduroy patch on her fleece lined jeans in order to stretch them another year. So far, no fast fashion purchases this month, (except a wetsuit for the 9 year old for sailing camp next summer, which I couldn't find used.)

[@mettenielsen]

This is very useful. I wrote and asked Wildfang about their policies, and they gave me a quite detailed answer with specifics, like fire policies, overtime policies and how they have recently moved away from partnering with companies that have shady practices. But they didn't have any of this on their website, and I'm not sure how to judge if what they're saying makes sense or if it is true. I guess my question is, what's the point of asking if you can't prove what they're saying anyway?

[@MyGreenCloset]

There has to be an element of trust, since we can't personally visit every brand's factories. Also it's tricky with companies like Wildfang that carry other brands, because they can't really speak to how their brands operate, just let you know if they have any criteria for the brands they carry. I think they also have their own line though? But ask yourselves thinks like: does the brand seem genuine and honest? Does it seem like they're doing the bare minimum, (ie. following the manufacturing country's laws) or going above and beyond? Also I think because they promote themselves as a feminist brand, I would specifically ask what they do to empower the women who make their clothes. It would be telling I think if they have specific programs in place, have unions, etc. or have a vague answer. Also if you really want to dig in you can ask about wages, I'm not sure where they manufacture but if it's a developing country you can ask what their monthly starting wage is for a seamstress at their factory and how that compares to the minimum wage. This is a little old, but it gives you a rough idea of what a living wage should be labourbehindthelabel.org/campaigns/living-wage/ Hope that helps!

[@mettenielsen]

Thank you so much - that was a very detailed answer :) Thanks. I did ask them what they did to empower women, and they did give a few specifics for their own line. They were a bit more vague about the other brands they carry. I think I might get back to them with some of the ideas you mentioned. I hope that even asking questions, especially to small brands and startups, makes them realise that fair treatment of workers is important to their customers. Thanks for getting back to me :)

[@diverstalent]

Thank you, this is so informative!

[@jeagypsy]

So great! PS--what are your lip colors? They are gorgeous!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Jessica Minguez Thanks! I'm wearing the Cherry Lip Stain by 100% Pure. I love it and how you can build up the colour. However if you're ever considering getting it, unfortunately you have to be careful because even if you slightly lick your lips, it has a very sharp, bitter taste.

[@hannaho8453]

This video is so helpful! I'd love to start purchasing more ethical clothing but I'm still on the hunt for good websites that carry plus sizes.

[@MyGreenCloset]

Hannah O'Sullivan They unfortunately are a lot harder to find, some brands you might want to check out though are Eileen Fisher, Mata Traders has a small plus size line, Marketplace India, Blue Sky Clothing co., Smart Glamour, Winter Sun clothing, and Etsy can be a great place to find handmade clothes.

[@hannaho8453]

Oh wow thank you! I've heard of Eileen Fisher and Etsy is where I usually get my handmade clothes - appreciate the recommendations :)

[@amert1265]

Hi! I have a question.. Do you know of any resources for someone who wants to make their own small clothing store more sustainable (e.g. sourcing, services, packaging)

[@MyGreenCloset]

Ethical Fashion Forum! www.ethicalfashionforum.com/ :)

[@HubbubFoundation]

Great video! Super informative, thank you :)

[@lavistafromhere3845]

This is a great video! I was wondering what you think about mainstream companies that are changing policies to more socially responsible standards? Do you think that it's okay to support them too? Also how do we know as consumers that certain standards are being followed up with over the years?

[@MyGreenCloset]

La Vista From Here This is difficult and I have mixed thoughts on it. I think a company at least doing something is better than nothing, however then you run into greenwashing problems where basically they are distracting from all of the other issues by focusing on one 'good' thing they're doing. Personally I don't think fast fashion brands are taking anything seriously unless they address the root of the problem which is the insane amount of clothing they produce. They can fix a little things here or there but the fast fashion business model is always going to be unsustainable, unless they can come up with a very innovative solution, but it doesn't seem like the mainstream brands are very interested in that. On the other hand there is a valid argument to supporting more responsible lines from brands, with the idea being that if people are interested in those lines, the company will focus on them more. I don't totally know how I feel about this, but as with anything around more mindful shopping, I think it's up to the customer and what they are comfortable with. I just hope that transparency improves so customers can make more informed decisions. Your final question ties in with the problems around lack of transparency, often there is no way to know for sure. It's good to find brands that you feel are trustworthy and accountable and the more transparent they are is a good sign of that. All I think you can really do though is follow up with companies in the future, for example I saw recently on a website that a company "uses 50% fair trade fabrics and is working on switching to entirely fair trade certified materials" so if maybe a year from now the same statement is still on their website I would send them a quick email just asking how close they are to 100% fair trade, and when they expect to complete their goal. Sorry for the long reply, this is a great question! I might do a video on this topic :) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this too! How do you feel about the mainstream companies changing their policies?

[@lavistafromhere3845]

Thanks for the reply! I had a similar thought process where I didn't know whether to support or not support companies changing policies because of the pros and cons (what you discussed above). I don't think it's the best idea to shop from those companies blindly in hopes that one day they will be 100% ethically sourced and use only sustainable materials/practices. But I like the idea of sharing my thoughts on their new transition or new policy changes through social media (tweet, blog post, etc). It's a way of supporting that one decision without feeling bad about feeding another fast fashion company and it helps make sure that everyone else is aware and maybe they can also hold them accountable. I was actually speaking about ASOS and their recent policy changes. I might just wait out to see how it plays out but what they have on their website is detailed enough that I don't think it's something roughly put together. Also, thanks for that link to the different certifications and orgs that help verify if something is organic, fair trade, etc. If something isn't verified by those means, you're right about just keeping in contact/up to date with the company and trusting your gut to know if they honestly uphold their policies & practices. Thanks for answering my questions!

[@icingcake]

@@MyGreenCloset I’m wondering how you would rank Benetton.... :/ I didn’t think they were “fast” fashion but then found online they were one of the companies involved in the Rana Plaza tragedy :(

[@sweetiepie9411]

I can't thank you enough for this amazing video :). So incredibly helpful!

[@MyGreenCloset]

sweetiepie9411 Really happy you found it helpful!!

[@circejanuary]

Amazing video, very help fil

[@LauravanLangen]

Another fantastic video!

[@MyGreenCloset]

Laura van Langen Thank you!

[@BlackBerryTrees]

Such a helpful video!!!

[@bashfulnath]

Do you have any tips for furniture, kitchenwear, little things like socks, panties, bras etc. ? I find looking for these very hard

[@xiomoreira-ruiz7904]

Goodwill has an online auction site with lots of good quality homewares.

[@missnectarina]

This is sooooo helpful! THANK YOU!!!

[@MarilynFinland]

Thank you so much!!

[@beautypsycho7139]

I wish I could shop at places that sell sustainable fashion but I need clothes that are made in Tall sizes and I can barely find clothes to buy in regular stores. Being almost 5'11" and size 6 it is a must for me that I buy 6 Tall or the fit is completely off. And when I say tall I don't mean just longer pant inseams... Such a dilemma.

[@MyGreenCloset]

Beauty Psycho That is really tough and unfortunately there just aren't enough sustainable options yet to meet everyone's needs, but hopefully one day! I can't think of any brands I've come across that carry tall sizes, but I will definitely keep my eyes open and let you know if I find some. One thing you can do though is to try and buy garments that will last you a long time which helps reduce waste. Also I think it's good to let the brands you buy from know that you would like more sustainable options - if they realize it's something their customers want they might make changes and improvements to their business and products. :)

[@beautypsycho7139]

My Green Closet Yes, if you see, let me know please. I definitely try not to buy cheap clothes - quality over quantity :).

[@total100fitnessyeg9]

You're Smart!

[@naturewoman1274]

I'm in Australia and am a large lady who is vegan I can't find anything please help

[@Livelovelifeeleni]

love the channel and i lovechannels that are about others well being yours mine and others may it help inspire people

[@Cy5208]

First don''t use google