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A big red UNIQLO sign on the side of a building.
16 Feb
A big red UNIQLO sign on the side of a building.

15 More Ethical and Sustainable Alternatives to Uniqlo

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While Uniqlo may be a slight step up from some of the other fast fashion giants, there are “Good” and “Great” alternatives that might better meet your needs and your values.

More sustainable alternatives to Uniqlo you’ll love

We get the appeal of Uniqlo, we do—this Japanese retailer has taken off in recent years and now boasts more than 2,400 stores worldwide. Unlike so many other mass-producing fast fashion giants, Uniqlo focuses less on the “new styles every week” mindset and opts instead for more timeless, classic staples that appeal to a wider range of people. But does that absolve it of all guilt for people, the planet, and animals? Is it okay to buy from this brand as a conscious consumer, or should you look for more sustainable alternatives to Uniqlo? Let’s discuss.

Uniqlo has taken some steps in the right direction for people, the planet, and animals. Its use of some lower-impact materials and encouragement of longevity with a repair and reuse program is positive. It also gets a thumbs up for banning the use of fur, angora, and exotic animal skin and for outlining a formal animal welfare policy. And while it has a social auditing program covering its entire final production stage accredited by Fair Labor Association (FLA), it still has a long way to go on the labour front—for such a large, successful company, paying a living wage should be a top priority. To make matters worse, the brand was caught up in an ongoing worker’s rights case for years, with allegations that it owed Indonesian garment workers $5.5m worth of severance pay. Uniqlo must take responsibility for the people in its supply chain before it can be considered a responsible company—and it can certainly afford to do so.

Overall, we rated Uniqlo our middling score of “It’s a Start” based on our team’s research in March 2023, which relies on publicly available information. We know this rating can bring up some questions, especially when applied to such large brands. “It’s a Start” means just that—the brand is making a start. Uniqlo is ahead of comparable brands by creating timeless staples that don’t go out of fashion nearly as fast. And if your options are Uniqlo or a brand like SHEIN that is making little to no effort for people, the planet, and animals, then Uniqlo is a clear winner—progress over perfection.

You can also reach out to brands that need a nudge in the right direction. If enough customers demand change, brands that genuinely care about their impact will have no choice but to respond in kind. Check out the “Your Voice” function on the app, or slide into Uniqlo’s DMs on social media to let them know what you think.

And if you’re looking for brands similar to Uniqlo that are making a solid effort across the board for sustainability and ethics, we have good news. Our editors have rounded up 15 “Good” and “Great”-rated, more sustainable brands that we’re confident you’ll love more than Uniqlo—check them out below.

LANIUS

Rated: Good

“Love fashion, think organic, be responsible” are the maxims of LANIUS. The German brand uses lower-impact materials, like GOTS certified cotton. All LANIUS facilities are SA8000 certified and it is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation.

LANIUS' clothes are available in EU sizes 34-44.

See the rating.

Shop LANIUS.

ASKET

Rated: Good
models wearing ASKET more sustainable clothing

ASKET has been creating timeless wardrobe essentials since 2015 with revolutionary sizing and fair pricing. The brand disregards seasonal collections, cuts out all the middlemen, and only sells directly to you—putting its entire focus on building a single permanent collection.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ASKET.

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-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Honest Basics.

BAGGU

Rated: Good
Three images of responsibly-made bags like Uniqlo's by BAGGU.

Fun, affordable, and vegan, BAGGU’s bags are a must-have for all your everyday shopping and travel needs. This Standard Tote can carry up to 50lbs of items and features recycled ripstop nylon. The best-seller also comes in 49+ fabulous prints.

See the rating.

Shop BAGGU.

Mila.Vert

Rated: Great

Mila.Vert makes chic, minimalist clothes that have a distinctly modern feel. The Slovenia-based brand produces clothes in small batches based on a pre-order system to minimise waste and help to avoid the ethical and environmental issues that the fashion industry represents.

Find the garments in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Mila.Vert.

Shop Mila.Vert @ Immaculate Vegan.

Subset (Knickey)

Rated: Great

Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, US brand Subset’s organic cotton underwear sets are some of the best in the responsible fashion market. Taking it a step further, the brand has also partnered with an NYC non-profit to recycle old undergarments, turning the fibres into insulation and rug pads. Sending in your old undies will not only help cut down on the amount of fibres that wind up in the landfill, but it’ll give you the freedom to buy new, responsibly-made sets.

Find most items in sizes 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Subset (Knickey).

ISTO.

Rated: Good
More sustainable basic linen, denim, and cotton menswear by ISTO..

Portuguese brand ISTO.’s mandate is simple: create clothes to transcend the seasons and work as staple items in your wardrobe all year round. It has one single collection and pursues quality over quantity to try and make its items permanently available. It uses organic materials and is incredibly transparent in showing you the true cost of your clothes when you go to purchase a piece for your wardrobe.

The range is available in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ISTO..

Sense Organics

Rated: Good

Sense Organics is an established German brand that has been dressing kids in its colourful organic cotton range for 18 years. We give it a "Good" rating for its commitment to lower-impact materials and its treatment of garment workers, including ensuring suppliers pay a living wage.

Find clothes for kids aged 0-10.

See the rating.

Shop Sense Organics.

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.

See the rating.

Shop CHNGE.

Artknit Studios

Rated: Good
Three knitted basics in navy, sand, and cream responsibly-made by Artknit Studios.

Artknit Studios creates timeless knitwear in 100% lower-impact materials, made responsibly by Italian makers. Its partners are committed to anti-waste practices using only certified and locally-sourced fibres, true to the brand's motto of "buy less, buy better".

Find items offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Artknit Studios.

Shop Artknit Studios @ Urbankissed.

Outerknown

Rated: Good

Founded by surf champion Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a more responsible brand that aims to blend style and function with the protection of natural resources. The brand is Bluesign certified and has partnered with the Fair Labour Association.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Outerknown.

Shop Outerknown @ Wearwell.

Kuyichi

Rated: Good
Side by side images of people in different attire: khaki corduroy pants, black blazer with golden buttons, and classic blue jeans.

Established in 2001, Kuyichi is the first organic denim brand. With top-scoring labour and environmental ratings, the brand designs durable yet trendy and modern pieces that never go out of style.

Offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kuyichi.

MUD Jeans

Rated: Great

Dutch denim brand MUD Jeans is all about sustainability. Not only does it offer a repair service, but it also provides a rental service where you can lease a pair of jeans for up to a year. MUD Jeans uses a combination of GOTS certified organic cotton and post-consumer recycled cotton.

MUD Jeans are available in a range of sizes, usually from W25 L30-W33 L32 for women and W28 L34-W36 L34 for men.

See the rating.

Shop MUD Jeans.

Dorsu

Rated: Great

Based in Cambodia, Dorsu creates everyday basics and key signature favourites that form the core of any conscious wardrobe.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dorsu.

Shop Dorsu @ Wearwell.

ReCreate

Rated: Great
Three side by side images of people in different attire: light peach shirt and black shorts, long peach shirt and beige wide pants, and beige oversized sweatshirt.

New Zealand brand ReCreate makes boutique clothing that transforms lives through fair employment, training, and empowerment. It uses lower-impact materials, including organic cotton, and incorporates textile offcuts to reduce waste.

Find most items in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ReCreate.

Editor's note

Feature image via Unsplash, 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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