We get so many questions about where to purchase ethically-made goods and we’re constantly trying to find more effective ways to deliver this information. Years ago I actually thought that it would be a great idea to launch my own ethical fashion e-commerce website to help showcase awesome conscious brands. So I bought a shop template and started to liaise with wholesale suppliers. Bit by bit I started to add product images. A few months in, I had this huge realisation:
What the F am I doing? I don’t want to sell stuff online! I don’t want to be an online fashion entrepreneur! I’m better off sticking to writing and communications. These are my areas of strength!
Once I had this epiphany, I just stopped, gave up cold turkey. As simple as that. I didn’t even think twice about it. It was the right thing to do and I know this because I have never once looked back or regretted the decision. I’m glad I had the courage to follow my intuition. Unlike many e-commerce entrepreneurs nowadays who keep pouring money into financially-leaky businesses because it’s tied to their ego and identities, I made the right call to finish up. As a result, I wasted very little time and money.
But the dilemma for online shoppers is still there: Where to shop ethical fashion?
We at Eco Warrior Princess have attempted to address this question in a number of ways over the years. We know it can be an overwhelming, time-consuming activity trying to shop ethically. We’ve done lots of research and curated many lists from ethical activewear through to underwear, but we also realise that most people want to shop at an online store that has a broad selection of items. So this post aims to deliver online resources that help you shop efficiently.
While I recommend preloved shopping first and foremost, I also know not everyone enjoys the nature of thrift and second-hand shopping, or have hours to spend trawling eBay, Gumtree and op-shops trying to find THE perfect thrift pieces. So it’s for these people, the conscious-minded but extremely time-poor shoppers who want to find exactly what they’re looking for without surfing all over the internet world.
If you belong to this group of shoppers, then consider this list for you.
Fashion, Bags and Accessories
Ethi
This online marketplace stocks a wide range of stylish ethical fashion, jewellery, accessories and lifestyle products for women and men. Since what one considers ‘ethical’ is deeply personal the website allows you to shop by values (animal-free, environment, material sustainability, handmade). Some popular ethical brands you’ll find on this website: Arc & Bow, Carlie Ballard, Kappi and eco-intimates label Hara.
Free Australian shipping on all orders over $75. Free shipping on international orders over $150.
Reformation
If you haven’t heard of Reformation, you must have been living under a rock the last few years. This is one of the largest and most popular eco-conscious brands out, known for its sweet prints and feminine designs. Focussing on the use of deadstock, recycled and organic materials and ethically manufactured, the brand’s online offerings are extensive. From dresses, jeans, bags, swimwear, footwear and even party attire, you’re sure to find a fashion item you’ll love. Make a cup of tea, you’re going to want to take your time browsing this online shop as the collections are vast, and the images are absolutely stunning!
Ships internationally for a fee.
PACT Apparel
PACT Apparel is known for producing organic cotton clothing that doesn’t break the bank. It produces some of the most stylish and affordable Fair-Trade, GOTS-certified organic cotton underwear, basics and wardrobe essentials you’ll ever find. Their low-ish price and extensive range of underwear, activewear, tops and joggers means that you’ll be coming back to this brand again and again, whether for yourself or to replenish the closets of your family members (or gifting a friend!).
Ships within USA and to Canada only.
Kindred Black
Kindred Black‘s online marketplace is as beautiful as the ethical products it stocks. Its crisp, minimalist design is a nod to its ethical luxury focus. This is the destination for luxe lifestyle fashion and goods that are eco-conscious, responsibly-made and craftsperson produced. The product images contained within this site are like fashion editorial spreads. Thoughtfully curated and simply gorgeous.
Free standard shipping for US orders over $100. Ships internationally for a fee.
Sunday Tracker
This online store curates some of the most beautiful ethically-made accessories such as bags, hats and intricately handmade jewellery. If you’re planning a summer wardrobe, need a hat for your tropical holiday or looking for a cool backpack or reusable shopping bag, make sure to check out Sunday Tracker. This brand supports artisans and makers from across the globe and the craftsmanship is outstanding.
Free shipping across Australia. Ships internationally for a fee.
Rêve En Vert
If you have a penchant for sustainable luxury, then Rêve En Vert is the online shopping destination for you. This easy-to-navigate minimalist-styled website stocks some of the crème de la crème of ethical and conscious clothing, activewear, beauty products and accessories; brands such as Mara Hoffman, Svilu, Dagny and Woron. This is the home of eco-luxe and thus expect higher than usual prices, so you might want to skip this online shop if you’re not cashed up.
Ships internationally for a fee.
Well Made Clothes
This Australia based e-commerce ethical shop stocks a broad range of well-known ethical designer labels including Kowtow, Base Range, Patagonia, Nobody Denim and Veja. The online store is simple to navigate and you can browse by designer, values or fashion category. The online shop also stocks sustainable homewares and bedding.
Ships internationally for a fee.
Gather & See
This UK-based globally-focussed ethical fashion online retailer launched in 2014 and continues to offer a curated selection of gorgeous sustainable fashion and accessories labels to the style conscious consumer; featuring brands such as Beaumont Organic, Lalesso, MUD jeans and Apricoss. The website is beautifully designed and user-friendly and shoppers can browse by product, designer or ethical philosophy such as organic, fair trade and small-scale production. The downside is that you can’t shop the ‘ethical value’ of cruelty-free vegan so you’ll need to browse the entire site to find vegan products – although a quick search through the offerings show that most items are of animal-free origin (however it pays to be super diligent while shopping).
Free worldwide delivery for orders over £150.
Lux & Eco
If you love the finer things in life, you’ll love the eco-luxury website Lux & Eco which sells anything from conscious fashion to home goods, tech products and pet care. The online business even has a wedding registry! The business caters to both women and men so if you’re shopping for a loved one or just need a gift for a male friend, you will find male ethical fashion and accessories here. Founder Jacquelyn Willard is also passionate about animal rights and goes to great lengths to ensure that the products listed on the site are cruelty-free.
Ships within US only.
Bead & Reel
thegreenlabels.com
This Netherlands based online shop stocks some of the coolest ethical and sustainable fashion brands in the business. You’ll find stylish garments and accessories from sassy brands like COSSAC, Lemon Spicy, Armedangels and Veja. We’ve featured this business before and are smitten with founder Claudia Angel. To learn more about this female entrepreneur and the philosophy behind thegreenlabels.com e-marketplace, check out this interview.
Ships worldwide for a fee.
Hazel & Rose
Done Good
Launched in 2015 by recovering politico and Obama administration alumni Cullen Schwarz, Done Good‘s aim is to divert trillions of dollars people spend annually to mission-driven brands that do good. And it’s working. In its relatively short existence, this B-Corp certified ethical fashion and lifestyle platform now supports 300 eco-conscious and ethical brands and has 100,000 members. While the website isn’t as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as the other web-based businesses listed in this post, the navigation menu at the top makes it easy to find what you’re looking for and has a larger category range than the others. You can also make a selection using the icons on the top right-hand side of the home page which indicate values, so you can browse brands that align with your top ethical priorities. For increased efficiency, make sure to install their browser plugin (although if you have a shopping addiction, we recommend you don’t).
Ships internationally for a fee.
Matt & Nat
This vegan fashion brand sells an extensive range of high-quality vegan bags and fashion accessories for women and men. The product range includes handbags, purses, wallets, backpacks and footwear. Launched in 1995 this Canadian brand now has retail stockists right across the world. Because of its contemporary designs, Matt & Nat has become a favourite with vegan and non-vegan shoppers alike.
Ships internationally for a fee.
Proof Eyewear
We’ve featured this brand before and we’ll continue to feature them because Proof Eyewear produces a wide collection of high-quality eyewear for both women and men. Handcrafted from sustainable wood, skateboard decks and plant-based acetate, its glasses are as eco-conscious as they are cool. The brand is ideal for the style conscious and relaxed hipsters who enjoy the outdoors, music festivals and adventure travels. It also stocks optical eyewear.
Ships internationally for a fee.
Ethical Gallery
This is the vegan shop for you if you’re seeking super trendy cruelty-free vegan bags. The range is handpicked and curated so you’ll only find an extensive collection of some of the most stylish vegan tote bags, backpacks, cross-body bags and wallets and purses from independent labels from around the globe. The website is beautifully laid out and the product imagery stunning. If you’re time poor and want a selection of vegan bags in different styles and colours to choose from, we highly recommend this site.
Free standard shipping in Australia. Ships internationally for a fee.
Yoga and Activewear
Yogi Spirit
This is the one-stop online shop for ethical yoga wear and yoga gear such as mats and water bottles. It caters to male and female yogis who practice consciousness on and off the yoga mat and purchase products aligned to mindful principles. Yogi Spirit carefully selects some of the globe’s most popular ethical yoga brands to sell on its site; labels such as Moonchild Yoga Wear, Teeki, Cork Leaf and Yuhme. To learn more about this brand, make sure to check out our interview with founder Amanda Wiart.
Free Australian shipping for orders over $100. Ships internationally for a fee.
Vivobarefoot
We adore this Vivobarefoot and have featured them a few times on the site already as it manufactures a range of styles including hiking boots, runners and sneakers. It built its reputation on high-quality superior performance footwear designed to mimic the shape of your foot. If you’re an outdoorsy type and love running, hiking and sports, you’re sure to find a pair of eco-friendly footwear to suit your needs. Bonus: The brand caters to men, women and children.
Ships worldwide for a fee,
Natural Skincare, Haircare and Beauty Products
Nourished Life
At Nourished Life, you’ll find organic skincare, natural makeup, cruelty-free beauty items and vegan cosmetics and much much more. This truly is a one-stop natural beauty e-commerce shop because the range of products listed is incredible! The platform is easy-to-use, lists customer reviews and stocks some of the most popular eco beauty brands such as Weleda, Inika and Ere Perez all in the one place. I highly recommend this shop if you’re the eco-conscious type who wants to purchase something outright rather than ‘zero wasting‘ aka making your own makeup and beauty products.
Ships internationally for a fee.
Hopefully, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the websites above. If we’ve missed an e-commerce site that you think deserves to be featured, make sure to leave a comment below with the link so we can check them out. The aim is to make it easy for conscious shoppers to find what they’re looking for so if you have any other tips, we’re all ears!
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The curated list does not fully take into account all the ethical considerations that are unique to each individual. Before making a purchase, we encourage you to do your own research paying particular attention to the supply chain and your own particular set of ethics. You can also check out online tools and apps that provide product reviews and brand ratings here. This post also features affiliate links that help us cover the increasing operating costs of this growing sustainability site. We only partner with brands whose values align with ours. To learn more, read this post.
Title image credit Kindred Black.
