Sustainable Fashion Marketplaces
There are thousands of ethical and sustainable fashion brands out there so as a conscious consumer, how do you know which one actually do good for the environment and which ones are just greenwashing?
The obvious answer is to do your own research.
Take a deep dive into the brand's website and pick everything apart.
Do they use natural materials? Are sustainability reports transparently available? Who are their business partners?
If there's nothing more than a simple, “we use sustainable materials and enforce fair labor practices” on their website, they’re probably greenwashing.
But who’s got time to sort through thousands and thousands of independent brands?
You’re right.
The average consumer isn’t willing to take all that additional time to research a brand and that’s where ethical and sustainable fashion marketplaces come in.
These online retail websites vet through thousands of brands and allow only the select few that meet their guidelines to showcase their products.
So here are the top 7 sustainable fashion marketplaces that you can use to buy ethical fashion.
1. ourCommonplace
About:
ourCommonplace is an online marketplace that features ethical and sustainable fashion brands, clean beauty brands, and artisanal home decor. This marketplace offers worldwide shipping and features both US-based and international brands.
Guidelines:
Brands must meet at least two of their six standards conscious production and positive social and environmental impact
Six standards: woman-owned, sustainable, toxic-free, ethical, BIPOC-owned, and cruelty-free
Every brand is marked with an icon that correlates to the standards so consumers can see at a glance which values a certain brand holds
I appreciate that the website is set up in a familiar layout that mimics that which you would see for large department stores or retailers. The marketplace also offers a range of filter options (size, color, standard, etc) which helps streamline the entire shopping process.
Price Range: $21 - $1295 for clothes | $8 - $324 for accessories
Availability: Global
2. Made Trade
About:
Made Trade is a woman-owned sustainability marketplace that strives to empower small, locally-owned brands. They were created in 2018 and currently feature 130+ different brands, small businesses, makers, and artisan collectives. They offer not only sustainable and ethical fashion, but also sell products in the home decor and furniture categories as well.
Guidelines:
All products need to meet their core values of equity, sustainability, and transparency
Extensive application process includes detailed assessments about each brand's products, manufacturing processes, labor conditions, fair trade status, and review of third-party certifications
Additional audits are conducted to verify that the brand's claims are true
Made Trade is one of my go-tos for minimal, natural-fiber garments that pack perfectly in my travel capsule wardrobe. Get started and take 10% off sitewide with my discount code: SENSIBLEFAY10!
Price Range: $25 - $596 for clothes | $19 - $779 for accessories
Availability: United States
3. Rêve En Vert
About:
Reve Ev Vert is a multi-brand retail platform that exists between the intersections of luxury, sustainability, and ethics. They connect eco-friendly brands directly with consumers in order to create a streamlined and conscious shopping experience.
Guidelines:
Holistic approach to sustainability that considers a brand's impact on the environment, their workers, and local economies
Each listing includes easy-to-scan icons that outlines the values supported by that specific product
A brief brand summary is included with each product listing so you can see for yourself if the brand matches your standards
Price Range: $38 - $2038 for clothes | $57 - $27327 for accessories
Availability: Global
4. Wearwell
About:
Wearwell is a Philly-based sustainable fashion marketplace created by co-founders Erin Houston and Emily Kenney. They strive to simplify ethical shopping for responsible consumers hoping to make a positive impact for garment workers and the environment.
Guidelines:
Partners with brands making a positive impact two distinct areas: workers’ rights and the environment.
Vetting process includes initial assessment, interview, and third-party validations
Three-step partnership process builds trust, ongoing collaboration, and growth opportunities
1% of every purchase is donated to the consumer's nonprofit of choice
Impact icons to easily identify values and certifications
I love that their website allows customers to sort brands by an extensive list of values and that they even have a category that features secondhand listings!
Price Range: $18 - $130 for clothes | $8 - $175 for accessories
Availability: United States
5. Ivalo.com
About:
IVALO.COM is a sustainable fashion marketplace that offers over 130 eco-friendly brands on one central platform. They were created in 2015 by three Finnish friends and originally sought to connect the public with emerging fashion brands. In 2019, developed their Sustainability Framework, launched their online store, and have since been dedicated to developing transparency in sustainable fashion. They acquired Berlin-based Staiy earlier this year and are probably the biggest online marketplace in Europe offering sustainable fashion exclusively.
Guidelines:
360 Sustainability Validation framework curbs greenwashing and provides transparency for consumers
Requires brands to take part in a 5-step process to fact-check their commitment to a cleaner environment
Assesses how brands performs on 8 different factors: working conditions & labor, environmental impact, sustainable materials, transparent value chain, design for circularity, inclusivity & community, commitments & policies, responsible e-commerce
Brands are give a sustainability score based on above categories, and only if their results are satisfactory are they listed on the marketplace
Price Range: €12 - €769 for clothes | €9 - €997 for accessories
Availability: Global
6. Earthkind
About:
Earthkind is a multi-brand platform that offers sustainably and ethically-made clothing and accessories. They strive to make slow fashion the norm and are one of the marketplaces that do a stunning job of blending editorial aesthetics with approachable, ready-to-wear silhouettes.
Guidelines:
Accepts brands according to 7 values: transparency, fair labor, handmade by artisans, organic, vegan, synthetic-free, and circularity & waste free
Evaluations backed by third-party certifications and accreditations
I love that the platform offers sustainable garments for both men and women but because they're a relatively new marketplace, I’ve noticed some inconsistencies across their website. Some items include more details than others (materials, labor, etc) so just keep that in mind when shopping!
Price Range: $19 - $265 for clothes | $12 - $95 for accessories
Availability: Global
7. Urbankissed
About:
Urbankissed is an ethical online marketplace that curates unique, handmade treasures created by small and conscious brands. While not "sustainable" in the traditional sense of using eco-friendly materials and production methods, this platform approaches sustainability from a wider perspective of slowing down consumption.
Guidelines:
While there are no specific guidelines outlined on their website for admission to their platform, each product includes transparent details about their materials and the brand that it's listed from
Price Range: $16 - $713 for clothes | $5 - $385 for accessories
Availability: Global
While shopping sustainable fashion brands is an important part of the slow fashion conversation, it's not the end-all-be-all. We need to pivot some of our discussion away from buying new, and consider alternatives like degrowth (consuming less), secondhand shopping, and circularity.
That being said, I understand that everyone's circumstances are different.
If you do decide to go with a new eco-friendly purchase, do a deep dive into the brand you plan on supporting because where you spend your money does matter.
For more on sustainable fashion, consider the following articles:
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