Style July 12, 2019
Skip the sweatshops and try out these affordable indie fashion brands.
Are you tired of shopping at the same stores at the mall? Do you continue to feel disappointed in mainstream brands that use sweatshops? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Indie clothing is a great way to find new and exciting looks that you can feel good about wearing.
So, you might be thinking: what exactly is indie clothing? How Stuff Works describes indie clothing as independent, alternative, and non-corporate fashion. So rather than following the season’s latest looks, indie clothing allows you to find your own style and express your creativity. Going indie can look different for everybody. But a great place to start is by supporting local ethical designers and adding vintage or second-hand clothes to your wardrobe.
Here are five ethical and unique indie clothing fashion brands worth checking out that will not break the bank.
I love Everlane because they believe in transparency and integrity. They look for the best factories in the world and then maintain relationships with the factory managers to uphold ethical production standards. They believe that their customers deserve to know where their products are being made, so they reveal the costs and the stories behind the factory production of all their clothes.
Plus, they have simple and cute clothes like this $30 t-shirt dress.
Based in Tenessee, this indie fashion brand has a vision of ending poverty. They provide fairly-paying jobs for women all over the world. This feminist brand not only has fair labor practices, but also has very cute clothes like denim, bags, and this $34 Valuable t-shirt.
Thought is an all-natural indie clothing company based out of the UK whose goal is to create beautiful clothes while caring for the planet. They use organic cotton and natural materials while also making sure that all of their factory workers are treated respectfully with fair wages and good working conditions. Although some of their clothes are a little expensive, they have cute, funky and all-natural pieces like this floral hemp dress for $39.
Kotn is a Canadian-based indie fashion company that makes good quality, organic clothing. In all areas of their production process, their work environments are safe, respectful and fair. Kotn is also passionate about breaking the cycle of child labor by creating schools in Egypt to improve the literacy rate and quality of life. They are most known for their Egyptian cotton staples like their essential crew shirt for $28.
Alternative Apparel is an American indie fashion brand that is both sustainable and ethical. Not only are 70% of their clothes made with sustainable materials, but their factories are safe and operate by the standards of the Fair Labor Association Workplace Code of Conduct. Alternative Apparel is known for their cute activewear and loungewear, like this cute patterned t-shirt.
Indie fashion can often seem eccentric, offbeat and expensive. However, many indie clothing companies, like these five brands, are ethical and stylish. When you have ethical, affordable and fun clothing, not only do you feel stylish and put-together, but you also feel proud to wear clothing that was created by good companies that care about their workers and the planet.
