15+ Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Brands for Men
The combined apparel and footwear industries across the globe account for over 8% of the total world’s greenhouse gas emissions. That makes the fashion industry the third highest polluting sector.
In today's world, where sustainability has become an urgent priority, embracing eco-friendly practices in every aspect of life is crucial to our health and children's future. One area where we can make a significant impact is through our clothing choices.
While so much of the ethical fashion movement is geared towards women, men can be part of the fashion revolution too!
Sustainable men's clothing brands offer a way for all the dads, brothers, uncles, and next-door neighbors to quit buying the mass-produced dad jeans and dress stylishly while minimizing their environmental footprint.
Let’s explore the concept of sustainable clothing, discuss the drawbacks of regular men's clothing, highlight eco-friendly materials to look for, and meet some of the best sustainable clothing brands for men.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decided to purchase. Our commission is at no additional expense to you! The commission we receive goes towards keeping The Honest Consumer as a free resource for all ethical shoppers.
What is Sustainable Clothing?
Sustainable clothing refers to garments designed, produced, and consumed in a way that minimizes their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
This involves considering the sourcing of materials, manufacturing processes, labor conditions, and the longevity of the garments.
You’ve probably heard of the term “slow fashion.” That refers a little to sustainable men’s clothing too in slowing down production, focusing on mindful materials, and valuing ethical production.
Sustainable fashion aims to preserve natural resources, reduce pollution, and promote ethical practices in the fashion industry.
What's Wrong with Regular Men's Clothing?
Regular men's clothing often comes with many drawbacks that are detrimental to the environment and workers' well-being in the production process.
Waste
The average American tosses out roughly 81 pounds of clothing yearly, so finding an alternative to fast fashion items that only last a few washes is vital to our futures.
Quality of the Clothes
Many regular men's clothing items are cheaply made, using low-quality materials and labor practices prioritizing cost-cutting over longevity and durability.
This results in frequent wear and tear, increasing demand for new garments, and more waste. That is why you can get the $5 graphic tee for such cheap prices.
Ethics of the Fashion Industry
The rise of fast fashion has contributed to the disposable clothing culture. Fast fashion focuses on producing trendy, low-cost garments rapidly, encouraging consumers to update their wardrobes constantly.
This unsustainable model leads to excessive consumption, exploitation of labor, and significant environmental damage. In other words, we shouldn’t buy a new shirt every week because the old ones are falling apart.
Durability
Traditional men's clothing often needs more durability. The focus on mass production and cost reduction means that many garments are not built to withstand the test of time.
Cheap materials are often chosen which don't hold up. This contributes to a cycle of frequent replacement and increased demand for resources.
Use of Materials
The fashion industry heavily relies on the use of natural resources. From water-intensive cotton farming to energy-intensive production processes, regular men's clothing consumes vast amounts of valuable resources, further exacerbating environmental issues.
What Eco-Friendly Materials Should You Look For?
To support sustainability in men's fashion, it's essential to be on the lookout for those sustainable fabrics that don’t take a chunk of our resources.
Here are some eco-friendly materials to look for when making sustainable choices. This is not a comprehensive list, but it gives you a decent starting point when shopping.
Organic Cotton
This fabric is grown without using any genetically engineered seeds, crazy harmful pesticides, or chemical fertilizers.
Organic cotton promotes the concept of biodiversity and reduces massive water usage, making it a more sustainable alternative to conventional cotton.
Hemp
Hemp is a wildly versatile and fast-growing plant that requires only minimal water and practically no pesticides or herbicides. It produces durable and breathable fabrics that are perfect for men's clothing.
Tencel
Tencel, or lyocell, is a relatively newer fabric made from sustainably harvested wood pulp (and similar plant-based items).
The simple production process uses less water and energy than other fast fashion fibers, and the resulting material is soft, breathable, and biodegradable.
Bamboo Based Fabrics
Bamboo fabric is gaining popularity due to its sustainability and how comfortable it is to wear in professional and home settings.
Bamboo grows lightning-fast without pesticides, and its fibers create soft, breathable, and antimicrobial fabrics that naturally repel bacteria. You can easily find bamboo viscose or bamboo lyocell.
Linen
Linen is derived from the flax plant and is one of the oldest sustainable materials. It requires less water and fewer chemicals to grow compared to other fibers. Linen fabrics are known for their breathability and durability.
Deadstock Fabrics
Deadstock fabrics are leftover from overproduction from the fast fashion industry. When companies use deadstock fabric this can help reduce the amount of fabric that ends up in landfills.
Plenty of other fabric materials can be listed, but it helps to see how these items get made into desirable fashion pieces. Let’s jump into the sustainable men’s clothing brands you should check out to see eco-friendly choices in practice.
17 Eco-friendly Clothing Brands for Men
Now that we understand the importance of the eco-friendly materials to look in men's clothing, let's explore some sustainable brands that focusing on ethical production and mindful materials.
Passion Lilie: Unique Prints for Men
Passion Lilie’s bold style empowers consumers wearing their apparel and the artisans who craft these beautiful goods.
Passion Lilie partners with artisans in India to provide sustainable employment through the crafting of eco-friendly clothing and accessories.
Passion Lilie’s men’s button downs are made from organic and recycled cotton. Their sustainable clothes are colored with non-toxic dyes. Passion Lilie is also part of the Fair Trade Federation, a third party ensuring livable wages and fair labor practices.
Patagonia's Eco-friendly Outdoor Apparel
Patagonia, the renowned outdoor clothing brand, has committed itself to environmental and social responsibility since its establishment in the early 1970s by Yvon Chouinard.
The company firmly believes in minimizing harm to the planet and creating the best products with this ethos in mind.
Patagonia's men's clothing line showcases a wide range of sustainably made items, including jackets, shirts, pants, and accessories. This outdoor brand prioritizes the use of recycled materials, organic cotton, and responsible manufacturing processes.
Patagonia's men's clothing features a wide range including jackets, shirts, pants, jeans, sweaters, and more.
One of the key attractions of Patagonia is its promotion of repairability, encouraging customers to mend their garments instead of replacing them. Patagonia is also a certified B Corporation.
Patagonia's unwavering commitment to transparency and sustainability has positioned it as a pioneering force within the industry, setting an example for others to follow.
Cozy Earth Eco-friendly Men’s Loungewear
Cozy Earth is a loungewear brand using premium 100% viscose from bamboo fabric - tested free of harmful chemicals.
Cozy Earth procures bamboo from socially responsible farms which avoid the use of pesticides, harmful chemicals, heavy machinery, and even irrigated water.
Their products are ethically made through a direct supply chain and hands-on production. Their current men’s loungewear features t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and pants.
PACT: Organic & Fair Trade Clothing for Him
PACT Apparel is made with organic cotton to ensure incredibly soft sustainable clothing.
PACT clothing is created in Fair Trade Certified factories ensuring fair treatment or workers and livable wages.
PACT's men's clothing offers sustainable t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatpants, and more. Their affordable prices make this a great option for starting to switch over to a more sustainable wardrobe.
Fair Indigo: Fair Trade Fashion for Men
Fair Indigo specializes in fair trade clothing and has a great selection of sweaters, tees, and polos for men.
Fair Indigo uses organic materials to craft high quality garments crafted to last. Fair Indigo also gives back to The Fair Indigo Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to improve educational opportunities for children in the Peruvian communities where their cotton is grown, alpacas are herded, and products are made.
Known Supply: Budget Friendly Ethical Clothing
KNOWN SUPPLY is humanizing the apparel industry through collaborative partnerships which encourage, educate, and celebrate social impact.
KNOWN Supply apparel is made with organic cotton and crafted in a Fair Trade Certified factory. Their men’s clothing features t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and other basics.
Their affordable price points make this a good place to start when transitioning to an ethical wardrobe.
GOEX Fair Trade Basics
GOEX basics & graphic tees are printed on USA made eco-friendly fabric that includes five recycled plastic bottles, their triblend tees stay stylish wash after wash.
GOEX apparel is ethically made in Haiti and supports livable wages. GOEX's sustainable menswear features t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, and more.
For Days Men's Clothing Made with Eco-friendly Materials
For Days cares deeply about creating good clothing with high quality, sustainable materials. This sustainable clothing brand works with GOTS materials, recycled materials that meet the Global Recycling Standards, and Cradle to Cradle certified dyes.
This brand also ensures that every item is 100% recyclable and minimizes waste with reusable packaging and company-wide carbon offsets. For Days offers men's t-shirts, polos, shorts, button downs, and more.
The Good Tee: Fair Trade T-Shirts for Guys
The Good Tee is a sustainable clothing brand focusing on high quality Fairtrade Certified organic cotton t-shirts.
This socially responsible brand allows ethical shoppers to easily learn about the transparent supply chain and trace the manufacturing process through videos and resources highlighting The Good Tee’s partner suppliers and the materials used.
The Good Tee is a great place for men to find organic basics such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more.
tentree's earth first essentials
tentree makes Earth-First essentials using sustainable materials such as TENCEL, recycled polyester, organic cotton, and hemp.
Every time you purchase an item, tentree plants 10 trees. tentree is proud to be a certified B-Corporation and ethically crafts their clothing around the world. tentree's men's clothing includes jackets, button downs, t-shirts, jeans, pants, shorts, activewear, and more.
prAna's Mindful Clothing
prAna is dedicated to creating clothing that looks good and does good for the planet. This is the popular “circular items” theory. That supports the concept of clothing not needing to be created from raw materials to be produced.
prAna holds a commitment to producing clothing that not only looks good but also is conscious of the health of our planet.
At the core of their philosophy is the concept of "circular items," which challenges the notion that clothing must solely rely on raw or virgin materials for creation.
You’ll find a ton of organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials in the men’s clothing line. They offer shorts, sweaters, t-shirts, jackest, and more.
None of these fantastically fashionable pieces sacrifice comfort or durability, which is why they are a top choice for many outdoor hikers and explorers.
Taylor Stitch's Conscious Clothing Brand for Men
Taylor Stitch is committed to producing timeless and durable garments for men while minimizing their environmental impact. This is the “go-to” brand for anyone that has ever fallen in love with the California style of dressing.
In addition, they believe in quality over quantity and focus on using sustainable materials like organic cotton and hemp.
Taylor Stitch's men's clothing collection includes shirts, pants, jackets, and accessories, all made with meticulous attention to detail. They prioritize fair wages, safe working conditions, and transparency in their supply chain.
Like Patagonia, Taylor Stitch also offers a repair program aptly named Restich. This encourages customers to extend the lifespan of their garments and lowers the strain we place on natural resources.
Allbirds Sustainable Activewear for Men
Allbirds has gained recognition for its ingenious use of sustainable materials and unwavering dedication to comfort and style.
While their focus primarily lies in creating exceptional footwear, this sustainable men's clothing brand offers a diverse range of complementary items derived from Tencel Lyocell, a fabric made from wood pulp.
Don't miss the chance to explore their incredibly snug sweaters, ideal for chilly days!
Within their men's clothing line, Allbirds presents an array of eco-friendly choices, such as merino wool and eucalyptus fibers. They are meticulous about responsibly sourcing their materials and ensuring sustainable manufacturing processes.
The brand places significant emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and minimizing waste throughout their supply chain.
By combining simplicity, versatility, and a profound commitment to the environment, Allbirds delivers men's apparel that effortlessly merges style and sustainability.
Allbirds offers men's t-shirts, activewear, hats, socks, and more.
Global Mama’s Bold Clothing for Men
The Global Mamas community works together to create a life of prosperity for African women and their families through empowerment and employment.
As members of the Fair Trade Federation, Global Mamas uses organic fair trade cotton to craft their clothing. Their men's clothing features some amazing button downs with bright colors.
Tips for Transitioning to a Sustainable Closet
If you're ready to start transitioning to a more ethical and eco-friendly wardrobe, here are some tips to help get you started!
Consider creating a capsule wardrobe. This consists of a small amount of items that can easily be styled and worn for a variety of occasions and seasons.
Value what you have. Don't immediately go and through out all your clothing that came from fast fashion brands. Appreciate and wearing the clothes you already have in your closet is one of the most sustainable practices.
When you choose to buy new clothing remember that sustainable clothes are an investment. They will typically last longer than cheap fast fashion and can help save you money in the long run since you probably won't have to replace the item.
Consider watching The True Cost to further your knowledge on the fast fashion industry. This is an eye-opener and will change the way you shop!
If you’re on a budget consider thrifting! Secondhand clothing is a more affordable way to give old clothes a new life.
Try to shop local and shop small! Small businesses typically produce in smaller quantities making their processes more sustainable.
Choose timeless designs so that you can confidently wear the garments for years to come.
Look for third-party certifications such as B Corp, Fair Trade, or GOTS. Third party certifications are easily displayed by a symbol that you can easily recognize. Also, remember that there are some smaller brands that may not have the time or resources to go through the certification process. If you don't see a certification symbol just ask. Truly ethical and sustainable companies will appreciate that you took the time to learn more about their supply chain.
Made in America does not always guarantee ethical treatment of garment workers or a living wage. There is a lot of mistreatment of garment workers here in America too.
The Future of Sustainable Men's Clothing
As awareness about environmental issues grows, consumers increasingly expect and demand sustainability from fashion brands.
Circular business models prioritizing resource conservation and waste reduction are becoming essential for the fashion industry's long-term viability.
By supporting sustainable men's clothing brands and embracing eco-friendly materials, we can reduce our environmental impact and promote a cleaner, greener future.
This will have a massive positive impact on our local resources and ensure a brighter tomorrow for future fashion designers still making their way through preschool.
Embracing sustainable men's clothing brands is a powerful way to align our fashion choices with our values. Let's make green on trend in men's fashion and inspire a positive change in the industry, one stylish and sustainable option at a time.
Hopefully this guide has helped you learn more about what to look for when shopping for eco-friendly men's clothing and provided you with a list of men's clothing brands that values sustainability.
For more ethical & sustainable tips be sure to explore more conscious lifestyle blog posts, follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.