While cotton comes with its fair share of environmental difficulties (namely that it’s an extremely thirsty crop to grow and traditionally requires heavy pesticide use), it still is one of the most accessible natural fibers that we as consumers can get access to. We’ve previously talked about what natural fiber clothing is and why it matters, so naturally, the next step is to examine each of these textiles to better understand how we can support manufacturers that make more environmentally-friendly decisions.

Organic cotton is a more sustainable alternative to conventionally-grown cotton. It is grown without pesticides from seeds that have not been genetically modified but is still far from perfect. Although cutting pesticide-use means dramatically improving workers’ health and keeping agricultural lands fertile for much longer, the crop still uses a lot of water and requires a lot of land to grow.

Therefore, it’s still important that we mindfully purchase these products–only shopping as much as we need to replace the items that we already have or thoughtfully choosing to add garments that we will cherish and wear for years to come.

If you’re considering swapping out some synthetic fast fashion finds for organic cotton brands, here are 8 brands to look into!

1. Organic Basics

Organic Basics is an underwear, activewear, and essentials brand based out of Denmark. They’re one of the leading companies in this space and have taken their corporate environmental responsibility past just production and distribution. Their aesthetic is minimal and the majority of their garments are simple in color and cut. Heads up that they’ve since expanded past just organic cotton, but a large proportion of their collection still uses this textile. For more information, here’s my review of their Tencel Lite and Invisible Cheeky collections.

2. MATE the Label

MATE the Label creates clean essentials from GOTS certified organic fabrics and low-impact dyes right at home in Los Angeles. This US-based company creates organic cotton apparel for individuals of all sizes and does its best to not only produce in an ethical and sustainable way, but also to run its whole operation in an environmentally-conscious manner.

3. Harvest & Mill

Harvest & Mill creates organic cotton clothing for men and women here in the United States. All pieces are milled and sewn domestically and the company really strives to decrease their carbon footprint across the board. Harvest & Mill also works exclusively with small and independent American farms, factories, and mills to give back to local communities. They’re best known for their essentials and basics.

4. No Nasties

No Nasties is an organic and vegan clothing brand based out of Goa, India. They feature bright, fun, designs made thoughtfully by workers who are fairly compensated. The company takes things a step further with carbon offsets so you can rest assured that when you buy from them, you’re doing better for the environment.

5. Infantium Victoria

Infantium Victoria creates sustainably-made garments for children out of Germany. While I’m a huge proponent of secondhand shopping for kids' clothing, it’s still nice to have an alternative. The majority of their garments are made with GOTS certified organic cotton.

6. Tamga Designs

Tamga Designs creates colorful and sustainable fashion for people of all sizes. Their designs feature lots of print and lots of color and are refreshingly maximalist in comparison to the rest of the minimalist brands on the market. This company creates the majority of their garments out of organic cotton or recycled materials and also gives back to other environmental causes.

7. Mayamiko

Mayamiko offers contemporary clothing, accessories, jewelry, and homeware with organic cotton and other environmentally-friendly textiles. Their designs feature a lot of color and prints and their commitment to fair labor is commendable. There’s a little bit of white saviorism weaved into the story but I think the company truly does aim to make a difference in how they operate.

8. Miakoda

Miakoda makes modern sportswear for women. The majority of their garments are made with organic cotton and I love their commitment to sustainability. You can not only purchase new items on their site, but they also have a preloved section where individual sellers can list their gently-worn Miakoda garments.

So here are 8 clothing brands that create garments out of organic cotton. Which of these have you tried? Are there any others that come to mind when you think of organic cotton? Share with us in the comments below!

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