11 Aug

The Ultimate Guide to More Ethical and Sustainable Basics

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.

 

It’s probably the category of closet items that you neglect the most. Yep, you guessed it—basics. If you haven’t purchased fresh bras, undies, or socks since the 7th grade, we’re here to help you get some new and improved items with a more conscious twist.

Start your responsible fashion journey from the bottom up

If you’re looking to make a difference with your wardrobe, why not start from the bottom up? Opting for more sustainable basics is the perfect way to dip your toes into the world of consciously-made clothing, while hitting the re-start button. An easy way to begin your journey as a conscious consumer is to choose your basics from brands that do right by people, planet, and animals as they need replacing. Each brand below has been rated for its impact on the ethical and environmental issues you care most about. For ease, we’ve divided the brands by category, featuring underwear, bras, socks and stockings, pyjamas, and last but not least, t-shirts.

So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Underwear

Switching out your tired undies for their ethical alternatives is the easiest place to begin. You can start small by purchasing eco-friendly or fair trade underwear whenever items in your current collection need replacing. Since underwear is something we’ll continually need to repurchase, opting for brands that produce more sustainably makes a huge impact over time—and we promise they’re just as fun to dance in on those nights out (or in).

Etiko

Rated: Great
woman wearing grey etiko underwear

Etiko is a small family owned business that has won several sustainability awards and all products are vegan and Fairtrade certified. We love the minimal underwear in sizes up to 20 (US 24). The Australian brand also produces ethical hi-top and low-cut sneakers in a range of colours to suit any style or outfit.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Mighty Good Basics

Rated: Great
woman wearing white sustainable mighty good undies underwear

Quality, affordable, organic, fair trade underwear.  All of Mighty Good Undies’ products are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton certified, and the brand uses renewable energy in its supply chain. Find the underwear in AU sizes 6-22.

See the rating.

Shop Mighty Good Undies.

Knickey

Rated: Great
knickey sustainable underwear set

Made in a Fair Trade Certified factory, Knickey’s organic cotton underwear sets are some of the best in the sustainable 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-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Knickey.

ROZENBROEK

Rated: Great

ROZENBROEK is a British brand that features well-made clothing made from the finest organic materials, including solar energy. Find pieces in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ROZENBROEK @ SlowCo.

Shop ROZENBROEK.

nat’v basics

Rated: Good

nat'v basics is an Australian eco-friendly underwear label designed for the everyday woman. Made from recycled and lower-impact materials, nat'v basics pieces are designed to be the most comfortable basics you’ll ever wear. No frills or trims or awkward bits—so you can put them on and forget you’re wearing them.

Find most items in sizes 8 to 16.

See the rating.

Shop nat'v basics.

PACT

Rated: Great

PACT is a brand that is passionate about being part of a movement transforming the way apparel is made. All of their clothing is sweatshop-free and child-labour-free and its activewear range is almost entirely made from certified organic cotton, with more than 50% also certified as Fair Trade. The underwear is available in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop PACT.

KENT

Rated: Good

KENT is a US-based brand that creates timeless organic underwear, ensuring a quality fit and feel no matter what. It produces the first verified compostable underwear, made from organic cotton and designed to return to nature in 90 days when composted or planted, feeding the soil and growing new plants (or future pants).

Find most pants in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop KENT.

Thunderpants USA

Rated: Great

Thunderpants USA is a manufacturer of quirky, organic cotton underpants for the family. This brand creates high-quality, long-lasting products and repurposes off-cuts to produce one-off pieces. Find the range in sizes S-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Thunderpants USA @ Made Trade.

Naja

Rated: Good
black and pink sustainable underwear by naja

Naja makes beautifully designed lingerie and helps educate and employ women through its Underwear for Hope program. The underwear is available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Naja.

NIKIN

Rated: Good

If you’re the kind of person who likes to wear their morals, look no further. Not only is a tree planted every time you purchase a NIKIN product, you also get to show your tree pride.

Products are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop NIKIN.

A-dam

Rated: Good
funky green ethical boxers by A-dam on a shirtless muscular man wearing a tiger mask

A-Dam Underwear is a fresh boxer brand for men with character. It uses a high-proportion of eco-friendly materials, like GOTS certified cotton, and limits the amount of chemicals, water and wastewater used in production. Find the briefs in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop A-Dam Underwear.

 

ASKET

Rated: Good
man wearing asket's sustainable boxer briefs in white

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. The briefs are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop ASKET.

Saalt

Rated: Good
person wearing black sustainable period proof underwear and holding a pink menstrual cup

Women-owned Saalt is a B-Corp certified brand that is on a mission to provide the highest quality period care products with the aim to use them for good. Find the underwear in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Saalt.

Shop Saalt @ Wearwell.

Woron

Rated: Good
woman wearing black lace underwear by woron

Offers

Someone in lace black bra by Woron.

Woron – Site-wide

Underwear and everyday essentials that will be the first thing you want to put on and the last thing you take off. Exclusive 20% off with code WORON20OFF. (Ends: 25 JUN)

Checkout code: WORON20OFF
Shop now

Copenhagen-based Woron was founded by two sisters, Arina and Anya Woron, driven by the desire to share their take on a responsibly designed lingerie line. The brand produces timeless vegan underwear made in a clean, transparent, and simple fashion to ensure a long lifespan. The range is made of GOTS certified organic cotton and Lenzing MODAL or ECONYL lace fibres, and is fully OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.

Find most pieces in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Woron.

Boody

Rated: Good
three women from different ages wearing sustainable boody underwear

Made from organically grown bamboo, Boody is a clothing brand that supports the trend for all things green & ethical. Find the range in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

Pico

Rated: Great

Pico designs beautifully soft organic and fair-trade cotton underwear for both men and women. The British brand is fully vegan and all its products are Fairtrade International – Small Producers Organisations certified. Pico underwear is stocked in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Pico @ Reve en Vert.

Shop Pico.

Jackfruit the Label

Rated: Good
person lounging in loose white shirt, white bra and panties by Jackfruit the Label

Jackfruit the Label is an Australian brand that houses slow and responsibly-made underwear that is comfortable, long lasting, and lower-impact, made from bamboo and organic cotton.

Available in AU sizes 6-26.

See the rating.

Shop Jackfruit the Label.

Bras

Support the planet and its people while, you know, supporting yourself. Whether you’re looking for simple designs or flirty fabrics, bras that suit your tastes and values definitely exist. So go on, lift your game with these gorgeous ethically sound choices.

Underprotection

Rated: Good
woman of colour wearing lacy teal ethical bra from underprotection

Underprotection is a Danish brand combining ethics and aesthetics, creating underwear, loungewear, and swimwear from lower-impact materials like recycled polyester and organic cotton. All of its packaging, paper, and polybags are either recycled or biodegradable, and it only works with certified factories as it believes “fair working conditions and fair wages are human rights”. Underprotection exists to celebrate women of all kinds, and its goal is to make them feel as beautiful and comfortable as possible.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Underprotection.

Shop Underprotection @ Curate.

1 People

Rated: Good
person in white bra and underwear by 1 people

1 People is a Danish-designed lifestyle and luxury brand. It blends Scandinavian colour palettes and minimalist design to create effortlessly elegant collections for the conscious-minded. Its pieces are thoughtfully crafted by small family-run manufacturers using lower-impact and certified materials.

Find the collection in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop 1 People.

Shop 1 People @ Cerqular.

Shop 1 People @ Urbankissed.

Araks

Rated: Good

Araks is a lingerie, swimwear, and sleepwear brand that offers delicate pieces made from luxurious Italian fabrics.

Find pieces in sizes 2XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Araks.

Shop Araks @ Rêve en Vert.

HARA

Rated: Good

HARA is a clothing label designed for you and our earth collectively. The brand specialises in organic bamboo cotton underwear and loungewear, with its vibrant colours achieved naturally with Turmeric, Indigo and Madder Root plants. HARA bras are inclusively sized from XS-5XL.

See the rating.

Shop HARA The Label.

Luva Huva

Rated: Good

Natural beauty has never been so sexy. Luva Huva (pronounced Lover Huva) offers comfortable lingerie in an elegant feminine style. It uses environmentally friendly fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, soy, remnant material, and vintage lace. Luva Huva’s pieces are handmade in the United Kingdom, and are available in custom sizing.

See the rating.

Shop Luva Huva.

Pantee

Rated: Good

Pantee is a women's underwear brand based in the UK with a focus on comfort. The brand incorporates a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including recycled materials, and its limited production run minimises textile waste. Find bras and undies in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Pantee.

WAMA

Rated: Good

WAMA is pioneering the hemp clothing industry with premium hemp underwear. It uses a high proportion of eco-friendly materials including organic cotton and hemp, and is a PETA approved vegan company. Find the bras in XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop WAMA.

The Very Good Bra

Rated: Good

The Very Good Bra is an Australian womenswear label that houses lingerie and other basics for the modern woman. Find most bras in cup sizes A to E, and clothes in S-L.

See the rating.

Shop The Very Good Bra.

NICO

Rated: Good
woman wearing grey nico underwear bra

Established in 2012 by Lis Harvey, NICO celebrates minimalism and understated luxury. The brand brings high quality basics and underwear to the Australian fashion landscape, featuring clean lines, luxe fabrics, and the styles and colours needed for everyday. NICO’s factories are signatories to The Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord and are compliant with BSCI and certified with WRAP. Find NICO bras in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop NICO.

Shop NICO @ SlowCo.

Miakoda

Rated: Good

If you’re all about that organic plant-based lifestyle, then you’ll most certainly vibe with NYC-made brand Miakoda and its organic, ultra-cosy active and loungewear.

Supportive of different shapes and sizes from XS-4XL, its pieces include stripped-back colours and designs that are all about comfort.

See the rating.

Shop Miakoda.

Shop Miakoda @ Wearwell.

Socks + stockings

Interested in combining comfort, style, and ethics as you walk through life? Put your best foot forward with these excellent options.

Conscious Step

Rated: Good

Conscious Step is a socially conscious sock company; their socks are ethically manufactured with Fairtrade, organic cotton and non-toxic dyes. Each design gives to a non-profit to deliver a direct impact in making the world a better place. The socks come in S-L sizes.

See the rating.

Shop Conscious Step.

Swedish Stockings

Rated: Great
Someone lay down on their side dressed in white basic top, sheer stockings by Swedish Stockings.

Swedish Stockings creates high quality, responsibly-made black and patterned 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 will 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.

Harvest & Mill

Rated: Great
Harvest & Mill sustainable socks pack in ivory

Offers

Someone in top and shorts by Harvest & Mill.

Harvest & Mill – Tee Shirt, Shorts, Socks and Jogger Packs for Women

Organic cotton tees, shorts, socks and jogger packs in natural browns, tans, and black essentials for women. 10% off Tee Shirt, Shorts, Socks and Jogger Packs for Women. (Ends: 13 JUN)

Shop now
Someone in shirt and shorts by Harvest & Mill.

Harvest & Mill – Tee Shirt, Shorts, Socks and Jogger Packs for Men

Carbon neutral, vegan and non-toxic. Find organic cotton tees, shorts, socks and jogger packs for men, made in the USA from seed to stitch. 10% off off Tee Shirt, Shorts, Socks and Jogger Packs for Men. (Ends: 13 JUN)

Shop now

Harvest & Mill pieces are grown, milled, and sewn exclusively in the US, supporting American organic cotton farmers and local sewing communities. The brand makes basics for everyone, always ensuring they are not dyed or bleached, greatly reducing the use of water, energy, and dye materials. Even better, by cultivating different varieties of cotton, the brand is able to bolster biodiversity, which is essential for ensuring healthy ecosystems and keeping our planet resilient in the face of climate change.

Shop the range in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Harvest & Mill.

People Tree

Rated: Great

Eco-fashion pioneer and leader People Tree is a seriously responsible brand. It uses lower-impact materials and addresses labour risks by adopting the Fairtrade International - Small Producers Organisations Code of Conduct.

Find most products in UK sizes 6-18.

See the rating.

Shop People Tree UK.

Shop People Tree EU.

Shop People Tree @ Wearwell.

Pyjamas

We spend a huge amount of our time in bed—make the most of it with these cute and conscious sleepwear brands.

Beaumont Organic

Rated: Good
woman wearing white organic cotton nigtie by beaumont organic

Beaumont Organic is a UK-based slow fashion brand that blends simple style with responsible production practices. Founded by Hannah Beaumont-Laurencia, the brand also has its own charitable foundation which supports people in Fiji.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Beaumont Organic.

Threads 4 Thought

Rated: Good

Threads 4 Thought uses a range of lower-impact materials including TENCEL™ Modal harvested from the limbs of beech trees. This process means that the trees are never cut down and 95% of the production materials to make the yarn are recovered and reused. The brand's manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

Noctu

Rated: Great
A woman in a black nightdress

A collection of night and loungewear. Minimalist styles made from luxuriously soft organic cotton, simplicity and function meet comfort. Sizes XS-L are available.

See the rating.

Shop Noctu.

 

Sorella Organics

Rated: Good

Sorella’s certified organic sleepwear range includes tops, pants, wraps, nighties, as well as maternity wear. Find the range in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Sorella Organics.

T-shirts

There’s nothing quite as versatile as that chic but simple tee that you can pair with almost everything in your wardrobe.

The Good Tee

Rated: Great
people wearing organic black and white t-shirts by The Good Tee

Canadian brand The Good Tee is on a mission to be a positive example of responsibly made basics for the whole family, and strives to humanise the fashion industry.

Find its range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Good Tee.

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.

See the rating.

Shop Yes Friends.

Honest Basics

Rated: Good
woman wearing basic white t-shirt by honest basics

Honest Basics is a GOTS-certified basics brand based in Germany. It’s on a mission to make 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. You can find the shirts in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Honest Basics.

MATE the Label

Rated: Good
woman of colour wearing mustard sustainably produced tshirt from mate the label

MATE the Label creates clean essentials made with GOTS certified organic fabrics and low-impact dyes. It also manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint. The shirts are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop MATE the Label.

FRANC

Rated: Good

FRANC is a Canadian brand that makes basics so you can enjoy a complete wardrobe built on timeless essentials. The brand ranks "Good" on all fronts: it uses lower-impact materials, traces and visits its supply chain, and uses no animal products.

Find most products in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop FRANC.

tentree

Rated: Good
woman wearinf basic sustainable tentree t-shirt

Canadian brand tentree believes big change starts small. Small as in bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, making fewer, more thoughtful purchases, and choosing to purchase sustainably when you do. The brand plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world, and has already planted over 65 million trees.

All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they're made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using lower-impact and recycled materials.

tentree’s super comfy fabrics and easy wardrobe staples are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

Citizen Wolf

Rated: Great

Citizen Wolf is using revolutionary technology to give you high-quality custom fit t-shirts. It’s so confident in its t-shirts that it guarantees they’ll be the best you’ve ever worn. After capturing your customisations, the brand hand makes each tee in Sydney from certified 100% organic cotton milled in Melbourne.

See the rating.

Shop Citizen Wolf.

Fair Indigo

Rated: Great

Fair Indigo is a US-based brand that creates more sustainable clothing not only for the planet, but for the human beings involved in your clothing's journey from the cotton farms to your closet. Instead of racing to the bottom, it is aspiring to the top.

Its premium-quality organic clothing collections are available in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Fair Indigo.

Dorsu

Rated: Great
man of colour wearing ethical slogan tee by sustainable brand dorsu

Everyday basics and key signature favourites that form the core of any conscious wardrobe. Find the shirts in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dorsu.

 

Opera Campi

Rated: Good

Founded in 2017, Italian brand Opera Campi creates premium quality garments from locally-sourced raw materials. By using a balanced approach to sustainability, the brand makes conscious choices throughout its supply chain and donates 4% of its profits to social causes.

The brand is inclusively sized from 3XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Opera Campi.

Happy Earth

Rated: Good
Someone in printed hoodie and bottoms by Happy Earth.

Offers

Someone in blue printed tee by Happy Earth.

Happy Earth – Ocean Collection

Sea-inspired favourites, with its signature Herringbone weave, organic cotton blends, from tees, tanks, to socks and utensils. Enjoy 25% off the Ocean Collection with code SAVEOURSEAS. (Ends: 10 JUN)

Shop now

Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that works to give back, inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. This B Corporation certified brand makes the planet a better place with every purchase. Through its partnerships with non-profits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it's planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

CARPASUS

Rated: Good
three men smiling in their eco friendly men's shirts by CARPASUS

CARPASUS is a Swiss menswear brand that makes fine shirts, ties, socks, and pocket squares. CARPASUS uses GOTS certified cotton and manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint. It also traces its supply chain and ensures workers are paid a living wage.

Find most products in EU sizes 36-46.

See the rating.

Shop CARPASUS.

Toad&Co

Rated: Good
back views of person in red knit sweater and blue jeans, person in checked shirt and white jeans, and person in cream and striped long cardigan and skinny blue jeans by Toad&Co walking with linked arms

Offers

Someone jumping wearing orange button shirt, beige shorts and slip-ons by Toad&Co.

Toad&Co – Site-wide (US, CA)

Designed to make you feel good - inside and out. Using only certified low-impact fabrics, Toad&Co make the outdoors more accessible for everyone. Exclusive 10% off with code SHOPGOOD10, cannot be combined with another offer. (Available in the US, and Canada only) (Ends: 20 JUN)

Checkout code: SHOPGOOD10
Shop now
Someone in striped orange and browns top and shorts by the sea by Toad&Co.

Toad&Co – Spring (US, CA)

Do more with less with Toad&Co, using only lower-impact materials, and look forward to a more sustainable spring. $25 off orders over $150 with code GOODONYOU25 (Available in the US and Canada only).   (Ends: 20 JUN)

Checkout code: GOODONYOU25
Shop now

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.

See the rating.

Shop Toad&Co.

The Classic T-Shirt Company

Rated: Good

Offers

Someone in black t-shirt and bottoms by Classic T-Shirt Company.

The Classic T-shirt Company – Men’s French Terry

Classic French Terry essentials in super soft, more sustainably sourced 100% organic cotton. Finish your outfits with smart sweatshirts, or cozy bottoms. Buy 3, get 4th free, applies to all men's French terry products. (Ends: 18 JUN)

Shop now
Someone in green shirt by Classic T-Shirt Company.

The Classic T-Shirt Company – Men’s T-Shirts

In more sustainably sourced 100% organic cotton jersey, find short sleeves for those warmer days, or effortless long sleeve styles for those cooler nights. Buy 3, get 4th free, applies to all men's T-shirts. (Ends: 18 JUN)

Shop now

For beautiful GOTS-certified organic cotton t-shirts, look no further than The Classic T-shirt Company.  These are long-lasting basics, manufactured in the USA to reduce the brand’s carbon footprint. The Classic T-Shirt Company’s range is available in US sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Classic T-Shirt Company.

Shop The Classic T-Shirt Company @ Urbankissed.

 

CasaGIN

Rated: Good

CasaGIN is a positive place, designed for those looking for a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle where you can find products made for wellbeing and harmony.

Find most items in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop CasaGIN.

337 BRAND

Rated: Good
woman wearing white t-shirt by 33y brand

337 BRAND's leisurewear is designed to make you feel at ease, always. Inspired by nature, comfort, and kindness, the brand introduces effortless style clothing made from lower-impact materials.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop 337 BRAND.

Discover more ethical and sustainable basics on the Good On You directory

Editor's note

Feature image via Naja, 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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