Ethical Shopping Guide: Dresses

January 26, 2020

Going through my wardrobe in preparation for this post, I quickly realized that dresses are a clear dominant category. As much as I obsess over celebrities who rock pant suits on red carpets or as much as I love all my trousers and jeans, I still go through phases when I basically live in a dress.

The dresses I own split into a few categories when it comes to the source: old fast fashion ones that I took care of well enough to make them last this long, thrifted pieces I purchased after adapting a sustainable lifestyle, dresses gifted to me by my stylish mom (also a form of thrifting, I suppose) or recently purchased pieces by ethical brands. New additions in that last group were produced in such amazing quality by brands that actually audit their production process, take care of their workers, take steps to care for our planet and reduce production quantities… that I was inspired to continue my series of guides with a collection of dresses by ethical brands.

Beautiful blues of the Reformation dress I’m wearing in this post were the second source of inspiration (I have an entire post about why I love Reformation and what ethical initiatives they’re taking as a brand.) It is also very versatile and intended for a wide range of occasions, which is another thing I recommend thinking about when choosing your next new dress. Of course, my number one shopping recommendation is still thrifting: online and physical thrift stores have an impressive variety of dresses to choose from and you never know what you’ll find and how inexpensive it can get. But when shopping for new clothes, I definitely urge you to check out the brands below.

– Recycled Materials
– Ethical Production
– Factory Audits
– Offsets Carbon Emissions

“We put sustainability at the center of everything we do. It is an evolving goal and definition, and we don’t have all the answers. But we want to focus on efforts that have the biggest impact. It influences four main areas: Product, People, Planet & Progress”

– Seasonal Production Output
– Ethical Production
– Supplier Code of Conduct
– Factory Audits

“We work with our suppliers (based in China and India) and our customers to ensure an ethical and sustainable supply chain, and all of our suppliers have signed up to the “Australian Fashion Labels (AFL) Supplier Code of Conduct.”

– Fair Trade
– Ethical Production
– Organic Fabrics
– Soil Association Certification

“The core mission has stayed the same over the past three decades since award-winning social entrepreneur Safia Minney founded the company. Every product is made to the highest ethical and environmental standards from start to finish.”

– Ethical Production
– Repurposed Fabrics
– Recycled

“We only use deadstock: the residual fabrics left over from major fashion houses. Instead of ending up in landfill, these fabrics are repurposed for our collection. We’re committed to being part of a much-needed environmental solution – not part of the problem.”

– Organic / Recycled
– Responsible Production
– “Wear more, wash less” manual

“There are options and alternatives in this industry to manufacture responsibly. In 2015, we began learning and uncovering these possibilities and chose to address, change and relay the shifts we were making. We know that as we make improvements we will always encounter new challenges, and though this road is unending it will forever offer us room to change and grow. The aim is to design and manufacture our garments with greater care and to reduce our impact, generate awareness, and ask you to join us in taking action and holding us accountable.”

– Ethical Production
– Biodegradable Fabrics
– Reduction of Water Use

“Whether it’s Modal®, Tencel™ or Refibra™ Lyocell, all the Lenzing™ fibers we use are made from cellulose which comes from a renewable wood source. The fibers are known for their biodegradability, meaning at the end of their life cycle they can close the loop and re-enter the eco-system.”