Affordable Sustainable Fashion Guide
By Aimee Bray
SOS. We have a fashion emergency.
Our fast fashion addiction is harming our planet, and it’s a problem we shouldn't try to ignore. But how do you embrace sustainability on a budget? What are the big brands doing about it? And what does sustainable fashion even mean? We’ll cover all these questions in our earth-conscious guide to eco friendly fashion and where to buy sustainable clothing online. Alternatively, skip ahead for our sustainable brand recommendations.
Sustainable clothing brands | Sustainable shoes brands | Sustainable sportswear brands
The problem with fast fashion
First: the nitty gritty. Fashion is the second biggest polluting industry in the world. According to the BBC, 92 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away (i.e. not recycled or reused) every year in the US, and Oxfam reports that the UK’s monthly clothing purchases are responsible for more emissions than flying a plane 900 times around the world.
We’re also buying more clothing than ever before - two tonnes every minute in the UK to be exact. Scary stuff.
Shopping secondhand on eBay or Depop is the most sustainable method, but sometimes that isn’t possible - or it’s just plain expensive. We’re here to help you choose the most ethical clothing and create a guilt-free wardrobe (think sustainable materials and eco friendly packaging).
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is about protecting the planet as well as all of the people in the supply chain. The biggest issues are water consumption, energy emissions, chemicals and waste.
Ethical clothing brands aim to minimise these four key concerns by producing garments in a way that limits their impact on the environment. Sustainability is forward-thinking and innovative.
Choosing sustainable materials
Have you ever checked the label to find out what your clothing is made of? Broadly speaking this can be split into natural and synthetic fibres:
| Natural fibres | Cotton, linen, bamboo, silk, wool | These fabrics are natural, include no chemicals, may be more expensive, are higher quality and environmentally friendly. |
| Synthetic fibres | Polyester, acrylic, nylon, spandex | These fabrics are man-made, include added chemicals, are cheaper and take hundreds of years to decompose. |
More clothing than ever ends up in landfills. Wool degrades in four weeks, but polyester takes more than 50 years before that process even starts. Also, jeans are often blended with polyester, which means it’s really difficult to recycle.
What is vegan clothing?
You’ll sometimes see this declaration on websites or on clothing tags and may be wondering what this actually means.
Vegan clothing is made with fabric not derived from animals. Non-vegan materials include leather, wool, feather, and fur. Your typical running shoe for example is not considered vegan.
Technically, plastic-based items like faux leather belts are vegan, but they also take longer to degrade.
What about eco friendly packaging?
More and more brands are showing their environmentally conscious side, and packaging is a big part of that green shift. Look for brands that mention recycled materials or biodegradable packaging. You can usually find this info in a statement under ‘sustainability’ or ‘the environment’. If a brand doesn’t have this section, treat their credentials with skepticism.
Sustainable affordable fashion brands to shop instead
Sustainable fashion is a big topic with a lot of threads to untangle. It can also cost an arm and a leg to acquire eco friendly clothing that ticks every box. Plastic clothing is just so cheap and readily available - but we think there’s another way.
We think sustainability should work for everyone, so we’ve outlined some of the best places to find affordable ethical clothing online, as well as our favourite environmental initiatives. Now you can look after your wallet, as well as the earth.
Sustainable clothing brands
People Tree's Planet-Conscious Clothing
People Tree has a long history of ethical practices. It’s certified by Fairtrade International, PETA and the Soil Association - plus, the products are totally vegan. This brand is super upfront about how its clothing is made, down to the exact percentage of organic cotton in its products. For money off, register for the newsletter to get a 15% discount on ethical affordable clothing, or shop People Tree on ASOS with the 20% welcome discount.
ARKET's Climate Positive Goals
ARKET is a modern fashion brand with plenty of ambition when it comes to sustainability. Sustainably-sourced materials make up 76% of the collection, and ARKET aim to make this 100% by 2030. This brand also wants to be climate positive by 2040, which means that this brand will actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can also recycle your old clothes for 10% off your next purchase, and there are frequent promo codes like 15% off or the 14% student discount.
ASOS Sustainable Edit
ASOS has jumped on the earth-loving hype with a cheap sustainable clothing range. Products in this collection are made with more sustainable materials and the workers in the supply chain are protected. Not all products are created equally, so check the ‘about me’ section for specifics. Although you’ll find organic cotton or recycled polyester, some products contain synthetic fibres that are notoriously tricky to recycle. The good news is that regular promo codes are applicable to the responsible edit, so it won’t cost you more to shop sustainable brands, like 20% off for new customers or the permanent 10% student discount.
H&M's Clothing Recycling Scheme
If you’ve got a bunch of clothes to get rid of, take a bag to H&M so that it can be recycled or reused. This will ensure that your old clothes don’t end up in landfill, and you’ll also get a £5 voucher to save on your next shop over £25 as a little incentive. If you’re going to buy anything, make it the sustainable edit. H&M is renowned for its reasonable prices, so it’s a good place to start for affordable eco friendly clothing, as you can combine this with 10% off with newsletter sign-ups and free delivery available to H&M members.
Sustainable shoes brands
TOMS' Eco Friendly Footwear
TOMS is a good bet for sustainable footwear. One third of its profits is invested in communities and it’s a certified B Corp company, meaning it’s legally obligated to meet ethical standards. The brand uses sustainable cotton and aims to reach 100% sustainable cotton by 2025, while 100% of the packaging is from sustainably managed forests made with at least 80% recycled materials. It’s also Fair Trade. You’ll save 10% by registering for the newsletter, or 15% if you’re a student.
Schuh's Vegan Footwear
Bringing together fancy footwear from different brands, the ‘sustainable materials’ edit can help you find plant-based trainers in a few clicks. We love this collection of cheap sustainable shoes, which includes sustainable school shoes and vegan boots. Schuh also puts its money where its mouth is - so far, it’s planted over 4,000 trees and you can help prevent landfill waste by selling your old unused shoes for a £5 voucher. There’s also a long-running £10 off deal when you buy more than one pair of shoes - another bonus!
Timberland's Powered By Nature
The nature-inspired collection is created with 75% renewable materials and sustainably-sourced rubber, making it the most eco-forward Timberland range so far. The brand also aims to plant 50 million trees by 2025. There are also frequent discount codes, like our 25% off, the 10% newsletter sign-up offer and the 10% student discount - making it one of our favourite places to buy cheap ethical clothing.
Adidas' Ocean Plastic Footwear
Adidas has a really innovative approach to tackling big issues. Sustainable sportswear products are created with plastic rescued from the ocean and you can also shop some seriously cool ‘vegan’ footwear as well as the ‘better cotton’ initiative. There’s also a recycled polyester collection, which helps prevent excess plastic waste. Make sure you sign up for the newsletter for free delivery. Adidas also has regular promos of up to 30% off and a 30% student discount. You’ll earn points and rewards with free Adidas membership.
Sustainable sportswear brands
Patagonia's 1% For The Planet
Patagonia cared about the planet before it was cool. Since the heyday of big hair and lycra (1985), Patagonia has donated 1% of its sales to environmental causes like the National Forest Foundation and Plastic Oceans. Patagonia takes the planet seriously. By 2025, it aims to be carbon neutral with all apparel made from 100% recycled or renewable materials. You could shop directly on the Patagonia website, but we recommend the retailer Cotswold Outdoor, which has free next day shipping on orders over £50, as well as more regular sales.
Craghoppers' Mindfully Made
There’s a lot to love about Craghoppers. Around 70% of products are made with recycled materials, like this zip fleece which was made from 12 plastic bottles. Buying sustainable clothing at Craghoppers will also save you money in the long-term, as the clothing is made to last and you get a Guarantee For Life on all products. The brand is involved in conservation projects and the packaging is made from Oxo plastic, which is recyclable and biodegradable. You can also save 25% by referring a friend or students get 15% off as standard.
Berghaus' Lifetime Guarantee
Berghaus is firmly committed to reducing its environmental impact, making it a great place to buy ethical clothing. The dyeing process is kinder to the planet - using 89% less water, 63% less chemicals, and producing 60% less CO2 emissions. You can shop products made with 50% recycled content, and there’s the Product Lifetime Guarantee, so Berghaus will repair or replace your item for free. You’ll also get free delivery with no minimum spend and students can save 15%. Check the outlet for further discounts on sustainable products.
Baukjen's Recycled Activewear
Kindness to the planet is part of Baukjen’s DNA - and it has some really forward-thinking ideas when it comes to sustainability. You’ll find biodegradable activewear and leggings made with Econyl, which is made from recycled nylon, and you can also shop ‘low mileage’ for activewear that hasn’t racked up the air miles. Check the sustainability impact report for info on Baukjen’s climate goals. Our tip? Save on the sustainable activewear collection with a discount code, like 20% off first orders. As another bonus, NHS staff and other key workers can save an amazing 40%.
Saving on sustainable clothing
You don’t need to invest tonnes of money to start being more planet-conscious. Sustainable fashion starts with your own wardrobe: looking after what you have and finding new ways to love your clothes. After all, clothing is a huge aspect of self-expression and creativity.
You can save money by:
- Taking care of the clothes you already own
- Only buying what you love
- Shopping secondhand clothes on eBay or Depop
- Checking our discount codes before you buy
- Browsing the outlets and seasonal sales
- Checking if the brand is stocked on a retailer with more frequent discount codes (like ASOS)
- Looking out for free delivery
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