There are so many reasons to buy conscious clothing. Quality, materials, ethics- I want my dollars to go towards companies that provide fair wages, healthy working conditions, and who always put people over profit. One reason I love NYR!

I'll admit, I have several fast fashion pieces in my closet, but as I continue to learn and understand the way in which these items are produced, my heart breaks for those affected by this industry. I saw The True Cost on Netflix last year, and it really changed my perspective. If you haven't seen it, you should. F'real. But, if you are like me, you don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on ethical fashion either, so I take it one purchase at a time. I try to buy quality conscious pieces that I can mix in with what I already have. This way, I can try and build a better closet over time.

+ Ethical fashion (or slow fashion or sustainable fashion) simply means that the retailer is transparent about where they're sourcing their clothes, that they pay fairly, and use materials that are organic, un-harmful, or recycled when possible.

+ Keep in mind that clothes made like this take more money and time to create, so naturally it will cost more. I don't think the goal of this list should be to find retailers that will allow us to keep "consuming" as quickly as possible just because we can afford to do so. Alternatively, I think it should encourage us to purchase when we can or need to.

There is something to be said about the feeling you get when purchasing an artisan piece. I would much rather buy shoes, or a piece of jewelry from a Guatemalan mom, trying to provide for her family- then spend money on crap clothes that end up serving corporations- usually at the expense of someone else. Ya' feel me?

Here's a list of conscious clothing suppliers, you can feel good about buying from.

WOMENS

LIVE THE GIVE
Founded by an elementary school teacher who knew the value of a child's education, Live the Give donates $3 of every tee purchased to institutions supporting education worldwide. They design basic tees, tanks, and sweatshirts for men and women. I have my eye on the organic wrap bra!

STYLE SAINT
This site is amazing. So many great pieces, everything is made beautifully and their mission is clear- "By focusing on quality over quantity – and designing timeless collections that are meant to be worn year-round – we stand firm in our belief that fashion should be neither fast nor disposable." Love it!!

SANCHOS
A UK based shop, Sancho's Dress curates affordable, ethically made pieces that capture the beauty of the culture they were made in and empower the artisans behind their pieces. They sell everything from basic tops, dresses and bottoms to handbags, scarves and even socks.

STORMIE DREAMS
Stormie Dreams designs are feminine and kinda edgy too. I love their bright accessories! All the pieces are created in LA, and the fabric is all ethically sourced from textile mills that might have otherwise went to landfills.

DENIM

LEVI'S
Yes, that brand. You probably have a pair or two already. This company is making HUGE strides in the right direction, according to their fashion report.

MUD JEANS
No...not the jeans you remember from middle school. This Dutch denim brand are champions of the circular economy and slow-fashion. They do this by offering a repair service and a program allowing you to lease jeans for a year, then either return them to be leased by others or shredded to become new denim.

ACTIVEWEAR

GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE
This brand places a big emphasis on transparency. Every part of their process is intentional, from their raw materials to the facilities and partners. They are killin' it at the slow fashion game- check out their process here! I am in love with the high-waisted leggings, and the color choices are truly unique.

THREADS FOR THOUGHTS
This company has a strong focus on ethical production and sustainable materials. One of their new fabrics is made from 88% polyester, created from plastic bottles! Lot's of options...classic cuts, cool patterns, and men's clothing too.

SHOES

OLLI
Olli flip-flops are made of premium natural rubber tapped from the finest rubber plantations in Sri Lanka. Their material is unique- smooth, ultra light, incredibly durable and molds to the contours of your foot, They also have really cool organic canvas lunch bags and totes.

FILANTHROPIK THREADS
This company is making a difference in the lives of others. They purchase and sell handmade sandals made by artisans in Guatemala. You could feel good about purchasing from these guys- buying products that were purchased with a conscience. I LOVE this site, the boots are on my wish list, and the kids sandals are adorable. They also have beautiful wallets and clutches. Seriously. check this one out!

“When you buy from Filanthropik you are buying a product that was purchased with a conscience and sold for a cause thereby adding to the tapestry woven by the threads of humanity”

— FILANTHROPIK THREADS