18 Sustainable Canadian Clothing Brands
For compiling this list, I used Good For You’s awesome search ratings to help determine which were worth being included and which to leave out. In all honestly I was really surprised to see many of the more commonly known ‘sustainable brands’ here in Canada that needed to be kept off.
My list of 30 was quickly dwindled down to 18 as I searched each to find the majority of them listed as ‘not good enough’. Matt and Nat for example, is often praised for their use of recycled and vegan materials — little did I know that they aren’t transparent about their processes and there is no public evidence that they are ensuring a living wage throughout their manufacturing process.
I saw other blogs include them in their list and it’s sad to see others promoting brands blindly. This just tells you how greenwashing can impact purchasing habits and how far we need to go in order to achieve something so basic as supporting brands that pay their workers a living wage.
This is an example of how little we actually know about a lot of the common brands we buy from, and how important it is to do thorough research before supporting companies in all areas. I argue when it comes to clothing, we should be even MORE aware of our choices because it is the second largest waste producing industry in the world.
Good For You is a truly a necessary resource for checking the details of who you are looking to support when buying new clothing. I encourage you to download their app and keep it handy. Their rating system takes into account the environmental impact, labour practices, and treatment of animals.
I have linked each brand to the Good For You brand page so you are able to take a look into each yourself before proceeding. They highlight what they are doing right in terms of sustainability, and where they miss the mark.
Now, into the list of 18 ethical and overall sustainable clothing brands from right here in Canada:
Alice + Whittles
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
This is the go-to company for ethical outdoor footwear. They prioritize design, sustainability, quality, comfort and functional integrity to create beautiful water resistant shoes that are built to last.
Encircled
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Encircled sells beautiful, practical workwear and business casual attire that is perfect for building a sustainable capsule wardrobe. Their pieces are timeless and made to last.
Franc
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Franc is an online exclusive womenswear brand that offers a wide variety of loungewear and wardrobe basics. They are size inclusive with styles available up to 3X.
Fred & Bean
Location: Woodstock, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Fred & Bean puts a unique spin on upcycled fashion and accessories. Each piece is intended to integrate easily into your wardrobe while standing out with unique, stylish silhouettes to applyify personality.
Free Label
Location: Vancouver, BC
Good For You Rating: Good
This British Columbia based brand offers great basics and bras. Their Dani bra is widely known as an amazing sustainable option for accommodating breast sizes up to K and for its accessible nursing friendly design.
harly jae
Location: Vancouver, BC
Good For You Rating: Good
Harly jae offers feminine and vintage-inspired sustainable womenswear. Their pieces are a bit pricey but definitely timeless additions for your wardrobe. The brand uses a lot of organic cotton.
Kotn
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Kotn is the first on the list to explicitly offer both women and menswear — plus a great line of home textiles. They offer basics bundled at a discounted rate which is great if you are in need of multiple pieces.
LONDRĖ
Location: Vancouver, BC
Good For You Rating: Good
This swimwear brand sells a variety of beautiful pieces for the coverage and comfort of all bodies. They have so many unique styles to help you stand out and stay as comfortable as you can. Suits sizing goes up to 4X.
Lovbird Design
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Great
This adorable brand aims to spread happiness through its bright and uplifting 100% organic cotton t-shirts and sweaters. They are the first “great” rating on this list so far.
Meemoza
Location: Montreal, QC
Good For You Rating: Good
Meemoza’s pieces are inspired by nature. Their selection of womenswear and accessories are timeless and can easily be transitioned for different aspects of life.
MiiK
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Miik is all about superior tailoring and softness. They custom mill their fabrics with 4-way stretch for optimal fit and unrestricted comfort.
NORDEN
Location: Montreal, QC
Good For You Rating: Good
This is one of the most ethical Canadian outerwear brands I have come across in a while. They are really focused on repurposing waste and create functional outerwear for all weather conditions.
Pure Magnolia
Location: Vancouver, BC
Good For You Rating: Good
If you are shopping for a wedding dress and care about the environment, you have to check out Pure Magnolia. Their collections are really unique and are manufactured in-house by a small team right here in Canada.
TAMGA Designs
Location: Aurora, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
TAMGA’s stand out feature is the brand’s beautiful use of pattern. I could see them as a fantastic brand to check out for vacation wear or staple pieces if you have a similar everyday style.
tentree
Location: Vancouver, BC
Good For You Rating: Good
Tentree is pretty well known for its effort to donate 10 trees for every item purchased. The brand sells comfortable womens and menswear as well as accessories like backpacks, hats, and masks.
The Good Tee
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Great
In terms of sustainable practices, The Good Tee is definitely at the top of this list. There transparency is one of the best (if not the best) I’ve ever seen. The brand sells a variety of great basic apparel for the entire family!
Unbelts
Location: Edmonton, AB
Good For You Rating: Good
This washable, stretchable belt brand is pretty unique. Their products function just like a traditional belt but looks a bit different. Each Unbelt comes with a lifetime guarantee where they will repair or replace it as needed.
Wuxly Movement
Location: Toronto, ON
Good For You Rating: Good
Wuxly is another great outerwear/techwear brand that uses recycled materials to create multiple different high performance designs for many weather conditions.
Did you enjoy this list? Read more on sustainable fashion from choosing another post below.
