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People wearing modest dresses from Oshadi
23 May
People wearing modest dresses from Oshadi

More Sustainable Modest Dressing is Easy Thanks to These Brands

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Modest dressing is nothing new, but the phrase has become more prominent in mainstream fashion in the last few years, and as such, there are lots more options for those who favour covering up. Here, we’ve curated the more sustainable brands whose collections include clothes for modest dressing—from long dresses to co-ords, tights, headscarves, and more.

What is modest dressing?

The definition of modest dressing isn’t clear cut, but ultimately it’s about wearing clothes that cover much of the body and are often loose-fitting. Modest dressing is a celebration of cultural identity, gender expression, and religion, too. And while it’s often associated with faith, modest dressing can be adopted by anyone, no matter their beliefs—it’s simply about wearing what feels right for you and brings the most joy when you’re deciding what to wear in the morning. As such, it’s a great example of dressing according to your unique values, which we love to see.

Which brands are making clothes for sustainable modest dressing?

A quick Google for modest dressing brings up top results from “We Avoid”-rated fast fashion brands Temu and SHEIN. But there is good news—plenty of more sustainable brands out there are making clothes that can be incorporated into modest wardrobes. From high fashion leaders like Stella McCartney (“Good”), to more affordable makers such as Kotn and Omnes (both “Good”), and hijab specialist Silq Rose (“It’s a Start”). Think maxi dresses, long-sleeved tops, tights, scarves that double as headscarves, and flowing trousers. Let’s get into it.

BASTET NOIR

Rated: Good
Person wearing Bastet Noir trench coat

Trench Coat – Ships internationally from Macedonia

BASTET NOIR offers custom-made clothing manufactured by women in Macedonia, ensuring that every purchase contributes to the welfare and education of these women and their children.

Find most items in sizes 36-42, or in custom sizing.

See the rating.

Shop BASTET NOIR.

Christy Dawn

Rated: Great
Person wearing Christy Dawn coat

Vera Coat – Ships internationally from the US

Christy Dawn is a minimalist showroom for vintage-inspired women's clothing and footwear, locally made with surplus fabric. The US brand rates "Great", making it a fabulous option for your wardrobe.

Find the clothes in standard sizes XS-XL, or shop the Extended and Petite collections.

See the rating.

Shop Christy Dawn.

SukkhaCitta

Rated: Good
Woman wearing Sukkhacitta dress

Angkasa Shirt Dress – Ships internationally from Indonesia

SukkhaCitta is a certified B corp brand from Indonesia creating timeless modern heirlooms leveraging heritage crafts.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop SukkhaCitta.

Ōshadi

Rated: Good
People wearing Oshadi dresses

Hammock Dress – Ships internationally from India

Ōshadi (pronounced aw-sha-dhi) takes its name from Sanskrit and translates to the "essence of nature" or "healing plant". The Indian brand focuses on local sourcing, sewing, dyeing and production with the aim to build a new fashion model for the region that puts people and the planet first.

Its clothes are available in sizes XS-XXL

See the rating.

Shop Ōshadi.

Mother of Pearl

Rated: Good
Person wearing mother of pearl dress

Cleo Dress – Ships internationally from the UK

Mother of Pearl is a more sustainable and ethical luxury womenswear and accessories designer brand from the UK that celebrates individuality and authenticity. The brand uses a high proportion of more responsible materials including organic cotton and ensures the payment of a living wage across some of its supply chain.

Find most products in UK sizes 6-16.

See the rating.

Shop Mother of Pearl.

Shop Mother of Pearl @ Rêve en Vert.

Shop Mother of Pearl Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Kotn

Rated: Good
Person wearing Kotn dress

Shadia Dress – Ships internationally from Canada

Certified B Corp Kotn is based in Canada and works with local NGOs on the ground at the Nile Delta to provide every child in their farming communities with quality education, and to help close the gap of low literacy rates amongst communities. With every purchase, not only will you get a beautifully made garment, but you'll also help fund school infrastructure, materials, and salaries for teachers.

Find Kotn in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Kotn.

Stella McCartney

Rated: Good
Person wearing Stella McCartney jumpsuit

Utility Jumpsuit – Ships internationally from the UK

A member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Stella McCartney has set some excellent environmental standards across the luxury fashion industry. Stella uses some lower-impact materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton, and has a strategy in place to reduce waste across its entire supply chain. It has also adopted the ETI Code of Conduct that includes a living wage definition.

Find most items in sizes 34-52.

See the rating.

Shop Stella McCartney @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Stella McCartney Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Stella McCartney.

OMNES

Rated: Good
Person wearing Omnes trousers

Cinnamon Trousers – Ships internationally from the UK

OMNES is a more responsible and more affordable UK-based brand creating high quality womenswear. "We created OMNES to help change the way you shop, wear and think about clothing. And to encourage the rest of the industry to do it, too," says the brand.

Find most items in sizes 6-20.

See the rating.

Shop OMNES.

SeamsFriendly

Rated: Good
person wearing SeamsFriendly coord

Cropped Shirt and Matching Trousers – Ships internationally from India

Offers

SeamsFriendly – Site-wide

Handcrafted tailor-made clothing for women, men and kids of all body types, sizes and heights. Exclusive 15% off with code SF-GY15 (Sales items excluded) (Ends: 15 OCT)

Checkout code: SF-GY15
Shop now

SeamsFriendly creates beautiful tailored pieces for all body types. It focuses on function and utility in its designs and uses lower-impact materials like organic cotton and linen. What's more, shoppers can customise the brand's designs to their exact preferences—change the neck style, depth, sleeve length, garment length, fabric, and more on anything in its array of clothes.

The brand’s product sizing is customisable (bust size range 26"-70", waist size range 19"-63", including petite, regular, and tall heights) to ensure you always find the perfect fit, and there's a kids range (bust: 18"-28", waist: 19"-26") available too.

See the rating.

Shop SeamsFriendly.

Reformation

Rated: Good
Person wearing reformation skirt

Bella Linen Skirt – Ships internationally from the US

LA-based Reformation creates killer clothes that don’t kill the environment. The brand ensures that a proportion of its suppliers pay a living wage, and provides training to its suppliers to improve working conditions for workers in its supply chain.

Its range is available in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Reformation @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Reformation Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Reformation @ Farfetch.

Shop Reformation.

Ninety Percent

Rated: Good
Person wearing Ninety Percent trousers

Cida Trousers – Ships internationally from the UK

This dress is sure to impress. Made from 100% organic cotton, the Lupin is part dress, part trench, making it truly versatile from casual to smart and day to night. Ninety Percent is a British label that offers everyday essentials, sharing 90% of distributed profits between five charitable causes and those who make their collections happen. Find collections in UK sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Ninety Percent.

The Summer House

Rated: Good

Cariad Linen Set – Ships internationally from India

The Summer House creates beautiful womenwear in India using locally made, lower-impact fabrics. It also partners with local artisans and NGOs to provide opportunities to those in the region. Look out for its elegant prints and flowing silhouettes.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Summer House.

I was a Sari

Rated: Good
Scarf from I Was a Sari

Loop Scarf – Ships internationally from India

I was a Sari is an Indian brand bringing traditional styles into the modern age. Used saris and deadstock fabrics become vibrant products that are sold worldwide.

Find pieces in sizes S-L.

See the rating.

Shop I was a Sari.

Silq Rose

Rated: It's A Start
Person wearing silq rose bonnet

Natural Stone Bonnet – Ships internationally from the UK

Silq Rose is a UK brand specialising in hijabs. It uses some lower-impact materials, including linen, and produces in small batches to minimise waste.

See the rating.

Visit Silq Rose.

The Ethical Silk Company

Rated: Good
Person wearing silk wrap from Ethical Silk Company

Mulberry Silk Wrap – Ships internationally from Ireland

Irish brand The Ethical Silk Company produces scarves, wraps, loungewear, and more that are responsibly made from 100% mulberry silk. For ultimate comfort, indulge in a pair of the mulberry silk pyjamas, printed by hand using the traditional craft of blockprinting.

Find most of the range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Ethical Silk Company.

Elk

Rated: Good
Person wearing Halst scarf from Elk

Halst Scarf – Ships internationally from Australia

A pioneer of independent Australian design, Elk was founded in Melbourne in 2004. Elk creates bi-annual collections that are informed by a design ethos where simplicity and sustainability meet innovation.

Find most items in AU sizes 6-18.

See the rating.

Shop Elk.

Swedish Stockings

Rated: Good
Leopard print tights from Swedish Stockings

Sofia Leo Tights – Ships internationally from Sweden

Swedish Stockings creates high quality, responsibly made stockings, knee highs, tights, socks, and pantyhose. The brand also offers a recycling program to help clean up the hosiery industry—if you send in three or more pairs of synthetic pantyhose from any brand, you'll receive a 10% discount code to use next time you purchase Swedish Stockings.

Find the perfect pair in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Swedish Stockings.

Shop Swedish Stockings @ Urbankissed.

Editor's note

Feature image via Ōshadi, all other images from the 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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