Minimalist fashion brands

Minimalism is a hot topic lately, including within the fashion world. Im sure youve heard of slow fashion, and minimalism goes hand in hand with this. Minimalist clothing, while it sounds like a trend, is actually the opposite. Minimalist brands are all about creating classic silhouettes made with quality materials that are designed to last. Which is the best way to make a minimalist closet, of course!

Now, the great thing about minimalist clothing is that, by default, its eco-friendly, as its supposed to last yearsthe opposite of fast fashion. However, over the past few years, minimalist brands have also jumped on the sustainability fashion wagon, following rigorous standards like fabric testing, so you can buy minimalist clothing thats eco-friendly by design and by default. After all, fashion shouldnt cost us the Earth!

Now, feel free to kiss my feet, because Ive done all that pesky research for you, and rounded up 19 minimalist clothing brands for your eco-friendly closet. Theyre no unicorns, just real life: eco-friendly, stylish, affordable ethical clothing, all in one. Now, are you ready?? Lets give your closet a minimalist and sustainable glo up!

1. WAMA UNDERWEAR

BUY | versatile high-waisted underwear and soft, supportive hemp bra

ETHICS | The hemp fabric is produced sustainably, and WAMA is committed to fair-trade and cruelty-free production and materials.

WHAT THEY SELL | long-lasting hemp undergarments for men and women

SIZE RANGE | XS-3XL for women; S-4XL for men

PRICE RANGE | $24-$200 [for womens multi-packs]; $28-$236 [for mens multi-packs]

Now, I know what youre thinking...can underwear actually qualify as minimalist clothing? And the answer is yesif its sustainable underwear that is versatile, and holds up well! And for all of these things, hemp underwear from WAMA is IT.

Not only do their underwear and bralettes get softer the more they get washed, they keep their shape and support. Oh, and if youre like me and tend to hoard underwear in case your washer breaks and the water supply becomes dire, hemp makes antibacterial underwear, which is an extra lil bonus.

To build the underwear capsule of your dreams, start with a triangle bralette and a racerback bralette, and high-waisted underwear and thong underwear [to cover and uncover as needed]. For men, mens boxer briefs and trunks underwear are good places to start. They have several colors to choose from, but black and a neutral color are always a solid foundation to both your wardrobe and your outfit.

WEBSITE

wamaunderwear.com

2. THE STANDARD STITCH

BUY | mix and match a sweatshirt and jogger set

ETHICS | The Standard Stitchs mission is to make clothes that are as gentle on the Earth as they are on your bodyfor every body. They do this by being ethical, sustainable, and responsible from the ground up.

WHAT THEY SELL | size-inclusive basic apparel for women, designed to mix and match

SIZE RANGE | XS-5X

PRICE RANGE | $50-$90

I am HERE for the newest trend of basically wearing sweat suits out in public. Its like being a kid in the 90s all over again, except these suits arent those awful windbreakers that are somehow too drafty and too warm [read: sticky] at the same time. Oh, and not to mention U-G-L-Y they aint got no alibi.

Nope, current matching sets are stylish and well-madeespecially the ones from minimalist brand The Standard Stitch. The Standard Stitchs basics, like sweatshirts and joggers, are eco-friendly, totally cozy, size-inclusive. Either choose all of the basics in one color, or choose from the several complimenting colors to maximize the versatility with the rest of your wardrobe.

WEBSITE

thestandardstitch.com

3. VETTA

BUY | a five-piece capsule all ready to go, like The Minimal Capsule.

ETHICS | Responsible factories that run on a large chunk of solar power, sustainably sourced materials, and recycled packaging

WHAT THEY SELL | capsule wardrobes and individual womens clothing items

SIZE RANGE | XS-XL

PRICE RANGE | $39-$160; $450-$600 for a five-piece capsule

If youve checked out any sustainable fashion blogs, youll find that capsules are quite popularand for good reason. Well, Vetta is the ultimate capsule wardrobe brand. But, even better? Theyve done the legwork for you, and you can pick and choose which capsule suits you best.

Capsules include The Minimal Capsule, The Wander Capsule, The Edgy Capsule, The Glam Capsule, and more. You can also make your own capsule, piece-by-piece. And dont forget to take your style quiz to see which capsule works for youbecause who can resist a good quiz?

WEBSITE

vettacapsule.com

4. TWO FOLD CLOTHING

BUY | a beautiful yet simple face mask or a set of classy hair ties

ETHICS | TWO-FOLD stands for two things: environmental and social consciousness. They do this by using sustainable & biodegradable fabrics, recycled packaging, healthy environments and fair wages, and producing small-batch goods, all under one roof from start to finish.

WHAT THEY SELL | Made to Order pieces that are meant to last

SIZE RANGE | XS-3XL

PRICE RANGE | $18-$265

Small-batch [adj]: Designating or relating to a type of small-scale production in which goods are made in limited quantities, often by means of traditional or artisanal methods. This is how Two Fold Clothing has set up their production standards, and it works.

Also, by utilizing high quality, sustainable fabrics in their designs, its apparent that theyre fighting to be gentler to our planet. Twofold also has a mission to encourage and uplift other women to live their best lives. Because...who run the world? GIRLS.

WEBSITE

twofoldclothing.com

5. CUYANA

BUY | A classic tote bag, or a silk cami

ETHICS | Fewer, better is the philosophy behind Cuyana. They use minimalist design, responsible fabrics, and skilled artisans exclusively.

WHAT THEY SELL | modern classics for women

SIZE RANGE | XS-XL

PRICE RANGE | $10-$850

The strong and intelligent women behind Cuyana encourage customers to purchase fewer, better quality pieces that theyll love and treasure for years to come. With each item, the designers carefully consider the materials and production processes for a greater impact on customers wardrobes and a smaller impact on the environment.

Cuyana also makes totally gorgeous stuff. Sleek purses, soft sweaters, clean silhouettes you get the picture. All I can say is, youd better get out the fainting couch, cause I am about to swooooon.

WEBSITE

cuyana.com

6. THOUGHT

BUY | a sweater tunic or a classic denim skirt

ETHICS | Responsible production, sustainable fabrics, zero plastic packaging

WHAT THEY SELL | Apparel, sleepwear, accessories for men & women

SIZE RANGE | XS-XXL; dress sizes 6-20

PRICE RANGE | $10-$250 *note: prices in British pounds and subject to currency rates

One of the minimalist brands that stands out to me is Thought Clothing. Thought aims to inspire a more thoughtful life, through their, well, thoughtfully produced, minimal clothing with a fashionable twist. They also strive to make their clothing more beautiful the more it is used, which is just such a, well, thoughtful idea [okay, okay, Ill find a different adjective I cant help that they chose their name so well, though!].

If all of that wasnt enough, the main motto of Thought is this: Wear Me, Love Me, Mend Me, Pass Me On. Well. You just cant get more sustainably-minded than that, can you?

WEBSITE

wearethought.com

7. KOTN

BUY | new knitwear staples, go-to cotton tee

ETHICS | Certified B Corp, vertically integrated production process of creating Egyptian Cotton starting at the Nile River. Working with a local NGO, KOTN is working to provide every child in their farming communities with safe, convenient, quality education.

WHAT THEY SELL | quality cotton items for women, men & the home

SIZE RANGE | XXS-3XL; dress size 0-16; pants size 29-46

PRICE RANGE | $11-$240

Two words: Egyptian Cotton. It all begins where the Nile splits in two and feeds into the Mediterranean. KOTN aims to create high-quality, affordable cotton clothing. The cotton used is both grown and manufactured all while working with small, family-run farms.

With simple basics designed well, KOTN proves that you can combine beautiful design, premium quality, and ethical manufacturing without costing a fortune. And all of that in your wardrobe? Well, thats just priceless.

WEBSITE

kotn.com

8. CURATOR

BUY | a wrap dress or cozy cardi

ETHICS | Curator works with independent craftspeople who help to produce high-quality garments while minimizing waste, in small batch production using cotton fabrics and deadstock fabrics.

WHAT THEY SELL | Craft clothing thats both beautifully made and beautifully worn

SIZE RANGE | XXS-2XL

PRICE RANGE | $10-$220

Easy, feminine separates, dresses, and jumpsuits are staple pieces for a minimalist closet. Curator does all of this while keeping manufacturing here in the States. The relationships with the factories are close-knit, while working with independent craftspeople together to create uniquely styled pieces that are perfect additions to any wardrobe.

Its always so cool when you can literally trace your clothes right back to the person who made them. Which shouldnt be that unusual, but here we are. Thankfully minimalist brands like Curator exist!

WEBSITE

curatorsf.com

9. FRANK AND OAK

BUY | cute puffer mittens or a brightly patterned mock neck tee

ETHICS | Not only are the folks here increasing the usage of recycled materials and reducing waste to landfill, they also are firm believers in equality and promoting socially responsible economic development.

WHAT THEY SELL | quality, budget-friendly styles for men and women

SIZE RANGE | XXS-XXL; dress size 00-16

PRICE RANGE | $12-$500

Montreal-based brand Frank and Oak is known for being committed to offering you quality, budget-friendly styles while being awesome and reducing its carbon footprint. Its refreshing to find a brand using low impact products through the careful sourcing of sustainable materials.

Everything from this brand would fit into the minimalist clothing theme going on here, with their simple options of sweaters, dresses and pants. The styling, aesthetic and fabrication are all factors that make a girl very happy.

WEBSITE

frankandoak.com

10. ADAY

BUY | The Take Me Somewhere Capsule

ETHICS | Recycled & regenerated fabrics

WHAT THEY SELL | beautiful basics for your own capsule wardrobe

SIZE RANGE | XS-XL

PRICE RANGE | $25-$400; $230-$300 for a capsule

Versatility is key when it comes to minimalism, and Aday is just so on point. In addition, Aday is a capsule wardrobe brand, so you can buy an entire capsule, or pick and choose as you like.

Take their fashion quiz to figure out what capsule works best for you and your unique lifestyleperhaps the Take Me Somewhere Capsule, or the Monday? Or even the Expert Capsule, which is my result, just FYI. All that means is that I totally know what Im talking about and you should do everything I say. Especially when it comes time to purchase minimal clothing! *wink*

WEBSITE

thisisaday.com

11. BOYISH

BUY | jeans that are nice to the planet

ETHICS | All cutting waste is recycled into new fabrics or industrial use, all water is recycled

WHAT THEY SELL | Vintage silhouettes with a modern update + jeans!

SIZE RANGE | XXS-XL

PRICE RANGE | $24-$300

When the only impact a brand will leave on the planet is good jeans, you know youre in the right place. Boyish jeans are a revolutionary change in the denim game. With denim polluting rivers and drinkable water in many countries, its a clear identifier that something needs to change. Here is where Boyish steps up to the plate.

By using Intertek as a third party factory auditor, the folks at Boyish are able to ensure that their suppliers meet the standards for social responsibility as well as safe, non-toxic, and better materials. Its a relief to know you can find jeans that are truly clean.

WEBSITE

boyish.com

12. NINETY PERCENT

BUY | a corset top and midi skirtmonochrome or mixed, you choose!

ETHICS | They use planet-friendly fabrics, collaborative working relationships, and best practice working environments

WHAT THEY SELL | sustainable womenswear

SIZE RANGE | XXS-XL

PRICE RANGE | $35-$315

Ninety Percents motto is clothes for the world you want. For them, this means luxury basics to elevate the everyday. And hello, beautiful basics, for sure.

One fact about Ninety Percent I find completely genius is their voting system. Since they donate 90% [!] of their distributable profits [which is where the name Ninety Percent came from, in case that wasnt clear], they have a voting system so those who buy their products can help choose where the money is going. Now we love to see THIS.

WEBSITE

ninetypercent.com

13. EKZO

BUY | a totally gorg [and affordable!] cashmere wrap or scarf

ETHICS | Timeless, durable designs in all-natural fabrics with zero-waste packaging

WHAT THEY SELL | textiles for women, men, the home, and lifestyle

SIZE RANGE | S-XL [women]; XS-XXL [men]

PRICE RANGE | $10-$190

EKZO originally made coastal wearprimarily towelsinspired by coastlines and the lifestyles lived on the coast. Theyve since expanded, using the all-natural fabrics to make textiles for your lifestyledays on the beach, days in the home, or days in the mountains.

They go for simple designs with an ekzotic twistwhich is clear in their simple yet fun collection of tees, bottoms, hats, towels, and cashmere goods.

WEBSITE

ekzo.co

14. GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE

BUY | super versatile bodysuit or super-soft compression leggings

ETHICS | All of Girlfriend Collectives vegan clothing is made from recycled materials, such as water bottles, and they follow environmentally and socially friendly practices across the board.

WHAT THEY SELL | Active and leisure wear for women and men

SIZE RANGE | XXS-6Xincluding maternity sizes

PRICE RANGE | $6-$160

I dont know about you, but I love me a good athleisure brand. I mean, clothes that I can work out if I so choose, but are also comfortable enough to wear if I decide to, you know, not work out? One drawback is that most athleisure is made from plastic. Ugh. Well, enter the Girlfriend Collective.

They also use plasticbut only from old, used water bottles, washed and recycled, then remade into fabric. Um hello, the future! On top of being environmentally friendly, this minimalist clothing brand comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors, and is ridiculously comfortable.

WEBSITE

girlfriend.com

15. TENTREE

BUY | a treestitch sweater or a crop sweatshirt

ETHICS | they plant ten trees for every item ordered [hence the name], Certified B Corp, eco-friendly manufacturing practices and materials

WHAT THEY SELL | Earth-first essentials for women, men and children

SIZE RANGE | XXS-XXL

PRICE RANGE | $18-$300

There are some scientists whove theorized we could help end the climate crisis by planting, like, a lot of trees. So, the fact that the minimalist brand Tentree exists and that for every item they sell, they plant ten trees is just*chefs kiss!

Tentree helps each of us see the lasting impact of one small choiceand so far, Tentree has planted over 65 million trees. Can I just say, wow?! They aim to plant one billion trees by 2030, and I for one want to help them make that happen. Whos with me??

WEBSITE

tentree.com

16. ABLE

BUY | a beautiful saddlebag or a midi cardi

ETHICS | They aim to create sustainable opportunities for women, to use sustainable materials in all of their products including leather goods, and to have all of their packaging will be 100% recycled by 2022

WHAT THEY SELL | a lifestyle brand that sells leather bags, shoes, clothes, jewelry

SIZE RANGE | XXS-XXL

PRICE RANGE | $24-$350

As one of the minimalist brands available in the fashion world, ABLE is also making a name for themselves for their work with women. They aim to help women break the cycle of poverty and thrive, by employing and empowering women all across the board. ABLE is all about qualitywhen it comes to their products, and when it comes to quality of life.

ABLE is one of those minimalist brands that are also, well, freaking beautiful. Its a privilege to wear and a privilege to spend your hard-earned money on a company doing so much goodand that will do so much good for your closet for years to come!

WEBSITE

livefashionable.com

17. ENCIRCLED

BUY | one of their kits, like the Work Anywhere kit

ETHICS | Certified B Corp, uses fabrics that are knitted locally, made to last, sustainable, free from pesticides and other harmless substances

WHAT THEY SELL | versatile, multi-wear designs for women

SIZE RANGE | XS-XXL; dress size 0-20

PRICE RANGE | $35-$330

The people at Encircled think YOU [and me] deserve a high quality, sustainable wardrobe without feeling limited. They also believe that YOU [and me] can help save the planet with the clothes you wear.

Encircled is a mini capsule wardrobe brand, through their kits, such as the Work Anywhere kit, the Breakaway Wrap Dress kit, or the Dressy Sweatsuit kit. Their clothes are also designed to be multi-wear, which is just, so cool. I mean, one piece of fabric that can become eight different designs, including a scarf, wrap and dress? Is this some kind of dark magic or just minimalist clothing at its finest?

WEBSITE

encircled.co

18. EVERLANE

BUY | cheeky straight jeans and a silk blouse [to be extra]

ETHICS | Exceptional quality with sustainable materials, ethical factories that create low-impact & long-lasting products, radical transparency

WHAT THEY SELL | Timeless basics for women and men

SIZE RANGE | XXS-3XL; jeans size 23-35

PRICE RANGE | $15-$200

Everlane thinks making the right choice can be as simple as putting on a t-shirtand of course, certain t-shirts are going to have a greater impact than others. Say hello to the minimal clothing from Everlane, where they have a transparent, ethical supply chain that creates long-lasting products. Everlanes comfortable and hella flattering clothes have a well-earned spot in many a minimalist closet.

WEBSITE

everlane.com

19. MATE THE LABEL

BUY | linen jumpsuit or organic thermal henley

ETHICS | Dress Clean! Made sustainably in LA with non-toxic, natural and organic materials

WHAT THEY SELL | Essentials, for women and children [Mini MATE! omgee], that are clean from seed to skin

SIZE RANGE | XS-XXL

PRICE RANGE | $46-$190
Mate the Label has an eight-point philosophy, called the Mate Eight. These include Clean, Essential, Organic, Ethical, Women-Centered [girl power!], Plastic Free, Circular, and Local. The Great Eight, maybe, because all of these things in one minimalist clothing brand is just so, so good.

Their clothes are designed to be seasonless, well-loved and well-worn, not to mention versatile, thanks to the fabrics, silhouettes, and color palette. MATE makes it easy-peasy to makeover your closet with minimalist clothing, for sure.

WEBSITE

matethelabel.com

TIPS FOR YOUR MINIMALIST WARDROBE

Besides investing in classic, adaptable clothing from any of the minimalist clothing brands above, there are a few other things you can do to keep and make a minimalist wardrobe:

• Invest in lasting pieces youll never get tired of as mentioned above.
• Buy less, buy better: a little motto for ya.
• Donate, reuse, recycle: another motto to keep in mind for your wardrobe [and your life!].
• Use your consumer power and buy sustainable, ethical and fair trade. This gives you a leg up already!
• Assess what you own. Thats right, Marie Kondo the crap out of your wardrobe [...and your life]. Only keep what you actually wear, love, and need.
• Buy what you need. Try to cut back on those late night stress shopping trips [...no? Just me?] and make a list of what you really need, so you can keep an eye out and not buy fast fashion.
• ...and love what you have. A great way to have a minimalist closet, as well as an eco-friendly one, is to wear what you have! Get creative, get out that needlemend, rework, make it work in new ways. [If youre like me and more of a danger with a needle than anything, ask a friend or like, your mom].
  

MINIMALIST CLOTHING CAN BE ECO-FRIENDLY

You can get the best of both worldsminimalist clothing and sustainable fashion. You can swim and not get wet! You can have your cake and eat it too! You can sit in two chairs at the same time! You can be on both sides! Basically, you can have it all, my friend. [Except, not literally, cause were aiming for minimalism, here!]

Have you shopped at any of these minimal brands? Would you use them to make your own capsule wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below!