The Best Ethical Wardrobe Essentials Checklist: Everything You Need

Moving from fast fashion to ethical and sustainable clothing might be overwhelming at first. Don’t worry! This wardrobe essentials checklist has got you fully covered. It has everything you need to help you make this transition smoother.

Are you building a more sustainable capsule wardrobe and putting a list of all the essentials you may need?

There are so many clothes to consider, it can be hard to remember everything.  

To save you time and money, I spent hours and hours of research into the best ethical clothing brands offering the best quality wardrobe essentials for the best prices.

I split the clothing into categories, so you can use this list as a guide and can refer back to it whenever you need. 

Now that I’ve learned about the importance of ethical fashion, I no longer want to fund brands supporting exploitive labour, animal cruelty and environmental damage. Clothes from fast fashion brands might be tempting because they’re cheap, but remember, they are NOT good for you, nor for your health, and not for our Planet.

Every time we make a purchase, we’re making a decision about how we want to effect the future of our world. When you decide you’d rather have an ethically made, sustainably sourced item, you’re choosing to make things better, rather than settling for the environmentally harmful convenience of short-life clothes.

Just a little tip before we begin:

Clear out your wardrobe first.

If your wardrobe declutter is due, don’t skip it. It’s a great opportunity for you to go through all your current clothing and see what fits and what needs replacing. If you hate wardrobe clear-outs, you’re not alone. Read this post about my super easy-to-follow step-by-step guide to creating a minimalist wardrobe. It’s a game-changer, I promise! Soon your closet will be free of clutter and full of classic wardrobe essentials.

Want to learn more about the benefits of creating a capsule wardrobe? Check the Go Green and Downsize Your Life With a Capsule Wardrobe article on porch.com. You’ll love it! 

THE BEST ETHICAL WARDROBE ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST:

1. T-shirts

T-shirts are important seasonless basics that we just have to have in our closets. Whether you style them with jeans, pants, under sweaters, or over sports bras with some leggings, you want them to look good, be comfortable, and also be durable.

This is a staple you’ll make so much use of, so investing in good quality ones will be paid off in the long run. An obvious choice for wardrobe essentials 2021. 

The Classic T-Shirt Company is probably one of the best places you can go to for simple, luxury and ethical t-shirts. Their tees are made of 100% organic and ultra-durable cotton that is garment dyed to prevent shrinkage. Every inch of their classic t-shirts is handcrafted and inspected for quality. The brand provides fair treatment for all of its farmers and workers, so by investing in them, you’re supporting a company that cares for people and the earth, which is why they easily make it onto this wardrobe essentials list.

My favourite ethical finds:

2. Sweaters + Cardigans

If you’re looking to add beautiful ethical classic sweaters and cardigans to your wardrobe, Eileen Fisher is the wardrobe essentials brand for you. I’m obsessed with their simple, elegant staples. All of their clothing are made of the highest quality sustainable materials, and they are designed in a way that just works together. Investing in versatile pieces that you can wear year after year, with everything else in your closet, is really worth it! Trust me!! 

My favourite ethical finds:

Related Post: 19 Basic Pieces You Must Have In Your Closet

3. Blouses + Shirts

One of my go-to brands for affordable ethical basics is ARMEDANGELS. They have a beautiful selection of timeless, sustainable and fairly-produced blouses that you may want to consider checking right away. Their collection is full of feminine wardrobe essentials.

I mean, having good quality blouses in your wardrobe is important. It’s probably not a piece you’d wear every day, but when you do, you want to look and feel good in it. The quality makes all the difference.

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My favourite ethical finds:

4. Dresses + Skirts + Jumpsuits

For eco-friendly sustainable dresses, skirts and jumpsuits, I’d recommend Eileen Fisher again. I can’t take my eyes off their gorgeous jumpsuits!! 

Trust me when I tell you this, it’s not easy to find a brand that provides all the wardrobe essentials women need and also supports the environment, human rights and fair treatment. But honestly, I think Eileen Fisher is a great find. 

I love ARMEDANGELS dress collection too.

My favourite ethical finds:

5. Jeans

I always talk about Boyish when it comes to jeans, but that’s because their jeans are SO DAMN GOOD!! I mean it! They’re super soft, ultra comfy and fit like a glove. On top of that, their entire range is completely eco-friendly and vegan!!

True, I have a special place for vegan brands in my heart, but you’ll see, once you get jeans from Boyish, there’s no going back. They’re high on any wardrobe essentials checklist 2021.

My favourite ethical finds:

6. Blazers + Coats

I’m super excited about this category because I LOVE blazers and coats. Blazers are my MUST must-have (emphasis on ‘must’!!) wardrobe staple and for a good reason. I just swear by them! They always save me when I’ve got nothing to wear, but I want to look stylish. (Sounds familiar, right?)

My go-to place for blazers and coats is NU-IN. They are a wonderful slow fashion brand that puts the planet first by creating beautiful collections produced with organic and recycled materials. Their clothes are also really affordable too, so definitely worth checking it out! They provide luxury wardrobe essentials you will fall in love with again and again.

My favourite ethical finds:

7. Loungewear

There is nothing better than getting into super soft, comfy loungewear. I’d go to THOUGHT for this category. Their pieces are made of organic materials (good for your body and the environment!) and they are such a good value! 

My favourite ethical finds:

You’ll Love This: 7 Ethical Underwear Pieces That Will Make You Feel Like You’re Wearing Nothing At All (In A Good Way)

8. Activewear

When it comes to beautiful, ethically made activewear, the GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE is one of the best places. All of their fabrics are made of recycled materials, and they offer a great size range, starting from XXS to 6XL. How amazing is that?! 

My favourite ethical finds:

9. Sleepwear

I know that not everybody uses nightwear. I sleep with my boyfriend’s old t-shirts, for example. But if you do, then check PEOPLE TREE. Their pieces are beautiful, ethically made, and sustainable. They won’t break your bank either!!

My favourite ethical finds:

10. Underwear

We can’t skip the underwear!! And it’s really important to get your hands on quality pieces because it’s something you wear ALL.THE.TIME. PACT has gorgeous organic underwear that is made in a fair-trade factory and is super affordable. 

Other brands for organic underwear that I like and recommend are: Organic Basics and Mighty Good Basics.

My favourite ethical finds:

11. Bags

I’m a picky shopper, but it wasn’t easy to find a good ethical brand for stylish vegan bags. Thankfully, we have Matt & Nat. They have a gorgeous collection of vegan, PETA-approved, sustainable handbags that I’m sure you’ll love. They’re just so classy and beautiful. 

My favourite ethical finds:

I’ll end this list here. You may be wondering where the heck are the shoes!? They’re surely a wardrobe essential. They are indeed! That’s why I’m going to dedicate a whole post to them, featuring different styles (think: pumps, sneakers, boots, sandals) that are ethically made and worth the coin! So keep your eyes peeled for it. 

This post was all about the best ethical wardrobe essentials checklist.

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Other Posts You May Like:

• WHAT IS MINIMALIST FASHION AND HOW TO CURATE A MINIMALIST WARDROBE
• 11 ETHICAL BASICS EVERY MINDFUL GIRL SHOULD HAVE IN HER CLOSET
• THE BEST ETHICAL FASHION BRANDS FOR THE BEST PRICES