Wondering what are the best ethical basics to add to your wardrobe? You’re in the right place. This post is all about 11 ethical basics every mindful girl should have in her closet.
Have you ever felt like you’ve got nothing to wear? Yep, me too. But here is some good news! This can be easily fixed once you add the right staples to your ensemble. And when I say “right”, I don’t just mean the type of clothing. We will be taking everything into consideration. We want high quality, sustainable, ethical clothing.
The following is a carefully curated list of ethical basics that are worth investing in. These items won’t fail you, even when trends change (and we know they will). You’ll be able to pair them with the rest of your items and get so much use out of them, you’ll wish you had purchased them sooner.
And the best news?! By investing in these pieces, not only will you be saving time and money in the long run, as you won’t need to spend another second worrying about what to wear, but you will also be supporting ethical fashion companies that are committed to fair and equal treatment of everyone involved in the production of their garments – from people to animals. Jackpot!
Let’s get started.
11 Ethical Basics Every Mindful Girl Should Have In Her Closet:
1. Go-To Suit
I was torn in between adding a suit or just a blazer to this list. But then I thought of all these times when I was having an “Ugh, I’ve got nothing to wear” moment and one of my darling suits has saved me. I mean, it’s a win-win situation, isn’t it? Going for a full suit rather than just a blazer will give you a lot more variety in terms of styling options. You can style it up or down according to the occasion. For example, wearing it with high-heels and a classy white shirt for a smart work event, or pair it with casual chunky white trainers and basic tee for an “approachable girl boss” vibe. Or you can wear the blazer and the pants separately.
I found the perfect suit for you that I’m totally adding to my closet too. It’s from People Tree, and it’s made from 100% soft, handwoven organic cotton. I love the relaxed fit – it gives it modern vibes, whereas the beautiful neutral colour makes it super versatile. The blazer and the trousers are sold separately, so you don’t need to get both if you don’t want to.
*Update: I got the blazer, and I’d recommend going a size up from your typical size. I think People Tree’s sizes run small, because I’m usually a UK6/8, but with them I need to get a UK10. Just a personal observation.
People Tree are a pioneer in the sustainable fashion circuit. They make all of their clothing to the highest ethical and environmental standards.
2. Classic Button-Up Shirt
Moving to the next must-have staple on our list. The classic white button-up shirt. It was surpassingly hard to find a stylish ethical white shirt for some reason. This NU-IN one is our winner. It’s made of 100% organic cotton, and the packaging is 100% compostable and degradable. I love the chic balloon sleeves that add some uniqueness to the design.
NU-IN is a PETA approved vegan slow fashion brand using organic and recycled materials for their clothing production, so by adding this gorgeous staple to your wardrobe, you’ll be supporting a company that puts the planet before profit with their sustainable yet affordable pieces. And you will definitely get a lot of compliments on this shirt!
3. Basic White T-Shirt(s)
Having good quality soft and comfortable white tees in our closet can really make a difference. Lucky for us, the ARMEDANGELS organic cotton tees exist. The only thing better than how they look is how they feel on your skin. The material is gorgeous! Top buy as far as ethical basic tees go.
White tees can be styled in so many different outfit combinations, that’s why they are a great wardrobe staple. Sure, you can get them from a fast fashion brand at a slightly cheaper price, but why sacrificing quality AND looks just to save a couple of bucks?! Fast fashion products are not designed to last and they tend to be made in poor working environments like sweatshops, where the conditions are unsafe and the hours are loooooooooong. Do you really want to support this? I didn’t think so. Ethical basic brands are the way to go.
4. Straight Leg Jeans
Who doesn’t love jeans?! You probably have quite a few pairs in your wardrobe already, but let me tell you this. You’ll replace all of them once you get your hands on a pair of Boyish denim. Girl, these jeans are made in heaven! They are super soft and ridiculously comfy, a really REALLY worthwhile investment. It’s like having a hot shower, putting on your favourite PJs, slipping your legs into freshly made bed with crisp new sheets, and Kenny G playing Careless Whisper on the Saxophone as the lights dim.
The brand produces all of their jeans with sustainable materials through a completely eco-friendly and cruelty-free process. And what’s really exciting – for every pair of jeans sold, they plant a TREE. So by adding this ethical basic clothing to your closet, you’ll be directly helping the environment.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE STYLE INSPIRATION
5. White Sneakers
Every girl should have plain white everyday sneakers as you can pair them with pretty much everything. I’m obsessed with these vegan sneakers from VEJA. They are the perfect everyday shoes. You can style them with jeans, suits and even skirts and dresses. They won’t ever let you down. Simplicity meets elegance. Such a wonderful investment!
As for the brand, VEJA believes in transparency, sustainability, organic materials and fair trade sourcing. They maintain fair living wages and make sure to check up on the final stage of production to ensure health and safety standards are met. This is the type of company we want to get behind.
6. Trench Coat
Another must-have wardrobe essential – the trench coat! If you don’t have one in your closet already, you should fix this situation asap. I’m talking today! It’s an all-year staple that will carry you through the seasons year after year. That’s why it’s important to choose a good one. Like this one from Boyish! It’s made from sustainable eco-friendly materials and it’s designed to last.
When it comes to outerwear (and all wear for that matter), remember, you want to invest in quality.
7. Black Leggings
I feel like black leggings are such an overlooked item. But they are definitely a wardrobe basic and I found a beautiful ethical and affordable option for you! These NU-IN leggings are seamless, which means they are super comfy. They are also made from recycled polyamide and elastane. You can wear them for your workouts or as part of your daily outfits. I love the combination of a white button up shirt, black leggings, casual white trainers and classy neutral blazer! So chic and cool.
8. Black Dress
We can’t miss the little black dress here. I mean, we’re talking about must-have basics, remember?! When it comes to black dresses, it’s really up to your personal style and fit preference. However, I know, I’d personally make so much use of this one, as it’s the perfect blend between smart and sexy. It will look so good with black over the knee suede boots and red lipstick. This one is made of recycled materials and I highly recommend it.
If you’re looking for something more girly tho, here are some other great ethical options for you.
- Chic Knee Length
- Mini Dress With Low Back
- Cute Short Sleeve Midi Dress
9. Neutral Sweater
Next on the list is the neutral sweater. As we’re talking about timeless staples that won’t ever fail us, we need to be smart and go for colours and fits that we can pull off effortlessly, without spending too much time thinking about what to match them with. Like this gorgeous fair traded organic cotton sweater from ARMEDANGELS. Not only is it pretty but it’s super versatile too. This is an item that you can wear all year round and it will always make sense as it’s a classic.
I love clothing pieces that are sustainably and environmentally friendly and made without toxic pesticides. This essential sweater is one of them.
10. Tote Bag
A girl needs a good carry-on tote bag and I found a lovely vegan option for you to add to your must-have ethical basics checklist. It’s from the Canadian PETA-approved brand Matt & Nat. They offer cruelty-free, recycled and sustainable clothing, footwear and accessories. Isn’t it pretty?! Some of the best ethical basics Canada has ever produced.
11. Everyday Sunglasses
Finishing off this list with the last important accessory that you need to elevate all of your outfits and of course, protect your eyes from harmful sun-rays. Yes, I’m talking about sunglasses!
I found an incredible ethical and sustainable eyewear brand called Waterhaul which is making stylish sunglasses from 100% recycled fishing nets!! How INSANELY GOOD is that?! If you’ve watched SEASPIRACY, you’ll know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t – you must watch it right now!!
This post was all about 11 ethical basics every mindful girl should have in her closet.
*This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Purchases made through affiliate links are greatly appreciated as they help to support the blog and continue its production. Thank you so much! Read full disclosure here.
Other Posts You May Like:
- THE BEST ETHICAL FASHION BRANDS FOR THE BEST PRICES
- WHAT IS MINIMALIST FASHION AND HOW TO CURATE A MINIMALIST WARDROBE
- 11 SUSTAINABLE FASHION BRANDS THAT WON’T BREAK YOUR BANK
