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woman wearing sustainable alternative to shein
25 Jan
woman wearing sustainable alternative to shein

Alternatives to SHEIN: 11 Brands You’ll Love

Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more.

 

SHEIN is bad news for people and the planet as a notorious ultra fast fashion brand. We’ve rounded up our favourite “Good” and “Great” alternatives to SHEIN below.

Not quite “the beauty of fashion”

Founded in 2008, SHEIN has become one of the fastest growing online fast fashion retailers. The brand, which upholds the philosophy that “everyone can enjoy the beauty of fashion”, sells clothes at a ridiculously low price point and of very dubious quality. SHEIN is no stranger to greenwashing and has come under fire several times in the last few years. In 2023, the brand received a lot of backlash after it took a group of influencers on a trip to one of its factories and innovation centres in China. Videos posted by the influencers of them touring the SHEIN facilities, praising the ultra fast fashion brand’s practices, and dismissing the child labour allegations as mere rumours caused uproar online. “The controversy stems from criticism that SHEIN has received as investigative reporting revealed the company’s use of quick, cheap labour violates Chinese labour laws and negatively impacts the environment,” reported Forbes.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that SHEIN gets our lowest rating of “We Avoid”. We found no evidence the brand has introduced initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, to empower its workers, or to pay a living wage. SHEIN keeps promoting overconsumption, at a rate that is inherently harmful to both people and the planet, and truly unsustainable.

Today we’ve listed a few of our favourite more sustainable alternatives to SHEIN: these “Good” and “Great” brands respect the planet, people, and animals while creating on-trend styles. Here are the top rated brands you’ll love more than SHEIN.

Top rated alternatives to SHEIN you’ll love

CHNGE

Rated: Good
3 images of CHNG's latest collection

CHNGE is a US-based more sustainable fashion brand using 100% organic material, built to last a lifetime while making a statement.

Find CHNGE’s inclusive clothes in sizes 2XS-4XL.

Price range: $

See the rating.

Shop CHNGE.

Yes Friends

Rated: Great

Yes Friends is a UK-based fashion brand that creates more affordable clothing for everyone. Yes Friends’ first product, classic cut t-shirts, cost less than £4 to make and the brand only charges £7.99. Using large scale production and direct to consumer margins means Yes Friends can charge you an affordable price for its more responsible clothing.

Find the range inclusively sized in 2XS-4XL.

Price range: $

See the rating.

Shop Yes Friends.

Honest Basics

Rated: Good

Honest Basics is a GOTS-certified basics brand based in Germany. It’s on a mission to make more sustainable fashion accessible to everyone, by keeping prices low, making quality basics that everyone has in their wardrobe, and constantly improving the sustainability of its products and supply chain.

The range is available in sizes XS-L.

Price range: $

See the rating.

Shop Honest Basics.

Wildflo Studio

Rated: Good

Wildflo Studio is a Toronto-based loungewear brand. The brand offers minimalistic and versatile womenswear made from organic cotton and recycled materials. It’s mission is to create comfortable, more sustainable clothing for people who care about the planet.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop Wildflo Studio.

Toad&Co

Rated: Good

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Toad&Co is a US brand that creates more socially and environmentally-committed womenswear and menswear that is equally suited for the rigours of the trail or the tavern.

Most items are available in sizes XS-2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop Toad&Co.

Shop Toad&Co @ Wearwell.

Afends

Rated: Good
3 images of afends' latest collection

Afends is a Byron Bay based fashion brand leading the way in organic hemp fashion, using renewable energy in its supply chain to reduce its climate impact.

You can find the full range in sizes XS-XL.

Price range: $

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

Plant Faced Clothing

Rated: Good
3 images of plant faced's latest collection

Streetwear without sweatshops, that’s the motto of this UK 100% plant based, more ethical, and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

WAWWA

Rated: Good
people in tops, shirts and trousers by WAWWA

UK based WAWWA aims to make clothing that puts the Earth and its inhabitants first by creating organic, fairtrade, and vegan-friendly clothing with a better social impact.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop WAWWA.

CBAAF

Rated: Good
3 images of cbaaf's latest collection

CBAAF or “Come Back As A Flower” is a proudly black-owned brand that stocks curated vintage pieces alongside its in-house collection. CBAAF clothing is made from 100% recycled cotton, hand-dyed and more ethically produced in Los Angeles.

Find most products in sizes XS to 2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop CBAAF.

Spell

Rated: Good
3 images of spell's latest collection

Spell is a modern free-spirited fashion brand inspired by far-off places, vintage treasures and childhood memories.

Most items of the Australian brand can be found in sizes 2XS to 2XL.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop Spell.

Frankie

Rated: Good
3 images of frankie's latest collection

Frankie is an online streetwear brand that features vintage and reworked clothing for women. This Canadian brand is dedicated to innovation in women’s streetwear while maintaining focus on sustainability. It takes inspiration from 90’s staples and rework vintage garments to push the boundaries of contemporary style.

Find most items in sizes XS to L.

Price range: $$

See the rating.

Shop Frankie.

Looking for more affordable and more sustainable clothing brands? Discover some of our favourites

Editor's note

Feature image via Afends, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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