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As soon as April rolls around, we’re on a mission to spot the absolute best organic cotton shirts and breezy, organic cotton tank tops for the warm-weather season.
Can you blame us? This wardrobe staple is as comfy as your favorite pajamas but versatile enough to rock from a casual coffee date to a beach bonfire.
Going to the gym? Throw on a tank top with a pair of leggings. Exploring a new city? Pair your ethical t-shirts with a maxi skirt and your barefoot sandals. Have a work meeting? Style your tee with a pair of tailored trousers and layer it with a blazer. It’s that easy!
To help you find the ultimate versatile piece, I made a list of the best sustainable t-shirt brands in 2024.
P.S. For more amazing options, check out the 11 Best Affordable Sustainable Swimwear Brands.
Sustainable T-Shirt Brands for Organic Cotton Shirts & Tanks
Let’s be honest for a second, organic cotton tank tops and t-shirts are very affordable. But, not as cheap as the H&M, Marks & Spencer, or any other fast-fashion tees out there. There’s a darn good reason for that!
Ethical t-shirts are free from the nasty chemicals and pesticides that conventional cotton usually swims in. As we explained in this guide, regular cotton requires huge amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow which heavily impacts the local ecosystems.
These chemicals can also cause skin rashes and allergic reactions especially if you have sensitive skin.
That’s not even the most shocking fact about the humble cotton tee! To make a single cotton t-shirt, 2,700 liters of fresh water. That’s enough water to quench one person’s thirst for 2.5 years. So, it’s no surprise that the textile industry is currently the third largest source of water degradation and land use.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, should have at least one organic cotton tee or tank in their arsenal. The fabric is grown without any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which means cleaner soil, water, and air.
Plus, it’s better for the folks living nearby, too – less pollution means healthier communities all around. And thanks to its high-quality fibers and minimal processing, sustainable t-shirts are built to last.
Whether you’re a busy mom on the go, a gym rat sweating it out, or a laid-back dude who just wants to look cool without trying too hard – there’s a place for organic cotton in your life.
10 Best Organic Cotton T-Shirts and Tank Tops in 2024:
1. Mate The Label
The ethical, B-certified, American-made clothing brand Mate The Label designs and creates an array of sustainable basics, including loungewear sets organic cotton t-shirts, and tank tops.
To manufacture those ultra-comfy staples, they use GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton and non-toxic dyes.
You won’t find any harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, BPA, PFAS, and formaldehyde lurking in the seams.
The hardest part is choosing your favorite silhouette and color.
To top it all off, The MATE supply chain is localized to a 15-mile radius, with all products being cut, sewn, dyed, packaged, and shipped from their LA factory.
Price Range: From $46+
Size Range: XS-XL
Ethics: Certified B Corporation, GOTS Certified, Climate Neutral Certified, women-owned, plastic-free
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
Our Top Picks from Mate The Label:
2. Happy Earth
From eco-friendly leggings to cotton sweatpants, hoodies, and 100% organic cotton t-shirts, Happy Earth has all our activewear needs covered.
Their buttery-soft, sustainable t-shirts for women and men feature unique details like one-of-a-kind chest pocket designs and nature-inspired prints which I absolutely love.
The relaxed, comfy, all-gender fit is made to live in. To keep the production as ethical as possible, the B-certified corporation works closely with a Fair Trade factory in India.
Last but not least, to create prints on all fair trade organic cotton t-shirts, Happy Earth uses non-toxic dyes.
Price Range: From $32+
Size Range: XS-3XL
Ethics: Certified B Corporation, Climate Neutral Certified, non-toxic dyes, fair trade, vegan, recycled packaging, 1% for the planet, gives back
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
Our Top Picks from Happy Earth:
3. Harvest & Mill
I absolutely love Harvest & Mill’s organic cotton basics!
All capsule wardrobe staples are grown, milled, and sewn exclusively in the USA.
In fact, they have one of the most transparent and traceable USA supply chains we’ve ever come across which is huge in our book!
The organic cotton t-shirts are colored to perfection with Indigo – a leafy green plant in the bean family– and pomegranate peels and chestnut wood. How amazing is that?
Who needs artificial colors when you can have natural dyes come from renewable resources like flowers, nuts, bark, and leaves?
Price Range: From $48+
Size Range: XS-Xl
Ethics: Sustainable materials, vegan, low carbon USA supply chains, carbon-neutral, transparency, plastic-free packaging
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
Our Top Picks from Harvest & Mill:
4. Fair Indigo
In addition to summer-approved, affordable sustainable dresses, the slow fashion brand Fair Indigo has launched an entire collection of organic cotton t-shirts made from organic Peruvian Pima cotton and eco-friendly dyes.
The ethical t-shirts come in a slew of different colors to dress up and down depending on your mood and occasion.
Pair them with your favorite jeans and sandals or tack them in your favorite skirt and put on a pair of comfy sneakers.
The best part? Your money will go towards an amazing cause.
The Fair Indigo Foundation funds teachers’ salaries, books, building improvements, and computer labs for children who otherwise were being left behind.
Price Range: From $34.90+
Size Range: XS-XL
Ethics: Small family business, ethical and sustainable, fair labor, donations
Location/Shipping: United States
5. Taylor Stitch
Known as one of the best sustainable clothing brands in 2024, Taylor Stitch uses an array of different organic, recycled, and regenerative materials to create organic cotton shirts and tees.
Think universally flattering, crewneck designs, vintage-style tailored fits, perfect for layering or sporting solo.
Also, the entire 100% organic cotton t-shirt lineup is made without harmful synthetic pesticides and egregious water waste.
To top it all off, through their repair and resell program, Restitch, customers can send back their used-to-death clothing and eliminate post-consumer waste.
Our Top Picks from Taylor Stitch:
Price Range: From $50+
Size Range: XS-XXL
Ethics: Fair labor & wages, sustainable & recycled materials, circular business model, eco-friendly factories & sustainable practices, gives back
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
6. The Good Tee
As the name probably tells, the certified B corporation The Good Tee is the mecca of sustainable t-shirts.
The catalog is packed with fair trade organic cotton t-shirts women and men will wear for years to come.
You can trace every step of the manufacturing process, from crop to store.
Take your pick from ultra-comfy organic cotton tank tops and GOTS-certified organic cotton tees.
You can find classic, crew necks, boxy tunics, and even ethical t-shirts with coconut buttons.
And when you’re there, check out the kid’s clothing lineup as well. The options are so many!
Our Top Picks from The Good Tee:
Price Range: From $33+
Discount Code: SKL10 for 10% off
Size Range: XS-2XL
Ethics: Certified B Corporation, GOTS Certified, FLOCERT, recyclable packaging
Location/Shipping: Canada, ships worldwide
7. Organic Basics
As someone who has to deal with polyester allergic reactions pretty regularly, I gave Organic Basics’ natural activewear collection a try earlier this year. Spoiler Alert: I loved it!
Thus far, I own the “merch boxy tee” which I always layer with the “core” organic cotton crop top and a pair of “lounge shorts.”
As someone who loves colorful clothing, I picked shades like lavender, and green, which didn’t seem to fade even after I air-dried them under direct sunlight (don’t do that!).
How much did I spend on those 3 items? Under €60.
This European Certified B Corporation opts for the finest, GOTS Certified, and OEKO-TEX® Certified organic cotton to create ethical t-shirts, sports bras, shorts, and leggings for sensitive-skin folks like myself.
The company has ethical manufacturing partners all over the world and does its best to minimize waste and resources.
Our Top Picks from Organic Basics:
Price Range: From $16+
Size Range: XXS-XXL
Ethics: Certified B Corporation, GOTS Certified, OEKO-TEX® Certified, Global Recycling Standard (GRS), ethical production, transparency, donations
Location/Shipping: Denmark, ships worldwide
8. Pact
When we think of top-rated sustainable fashion brands, Pact is the first brand that comes to mind, and for a good reason.
This plus-size-friendly company wants to outfit us with an array of GOTS-certified organic cotton tees, organic cotton tank tops, and even comfortable maternity wear, all sewn in Fair Trade Certified factories.
The men’s and women’s collections are rich in color and prints. Think stripes and amazing graphic designs!
You can also find sustainable t-shirts in neutral colors for minimalist outings.
On top of that, the brand’s Give Back Box® program allows you to deliver your gently used clothes to nonprofits that need them.
Our Top Picks from Pact:
Price Range: From $20+
Discount Code: SKL15 to get 15% off for first-time customers – Full-priced items only and cannot be used with other offers
Size Range: XS-3XL
Ethics: GOTS Certified, Fair Trade USA, Carbon Neutral Certified, sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, climate-friendly, SimpliZero
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
9. LA Relaxed
The SKL team wears LA Relaxed on repeat! The USA-based company has so many high-quality & flattering work clothes, breezy dresses, organic cotton shirts, and more sustainable basics to choose from.
The woman-owned brand goes the extra mile by collaborating with BLUESIGN-certified local dye houses to make sure that their organic cotton clothes are chemical-free, sustainably made, and long-lasting.
You can opt for organic cotton tank tops and tshirts in so many different colors.
There’s also a fantastic vintage-inspired pointelle rib knit tee that will look incredibly cute with jeans, shorts, skirts, and even overalls!
Our Top Picks from LA Relaxed:
Price Range: From $38+
Discount Code: SKL20 for 20% off
Size Range: XS-XL
Ethics: GOTS Certified, made in Los Angeles, sustainable & ethical, made in small batches, pays employees a living wage
Location/Shipping: United States, ships worldwide
10. Quince
From sustainable swimwear and sunglasses to flattering, organic cotton t-shirts for women and men, the ethical clothing brand Quince should definitely be on your radar.
I’d highly suggest checking out both their cotton modal sustainable t-shirts and their 100% organic cotton t-shirts.
These two collections feature the same GOTS organic cotton fabric that’s perfect for layering up with sweaters and jackets or whenever it feels like a tee-and-jeans day.
You can learn more about the benefits of modal here – it’s basically a semi-synthetic textile made from cellulose from beech wood.
What’s more, Quince is very transparent with their supply chain, manufacturing process, and prices.
They explain exactly how they manage to keep their prices low, even if they use top-quality fibers and pay workers a good wage.
Our Top Picks from Quince:
Price Range: From $15+
Size Range: XS-XL
Ethics: GOTS certified, OEKO-TEX Certified, ethically made in BSCI-Certified factories, organic & recycled materials
Location/Shipping: United States
This was your full guide to organic cotton t-shirts and tank tops!
We hope this guide helped you find your next “forever” organic cotton shirts for spring and summer. They are hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, and made ethically by the hands of fairly paid workers.
What’s more, sustainable t-shirts come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so you can bet there’s one out there that suits your vibe perfectly.
Whether you’re into classic crew necks, trendy V-necks, or laid-back henleys, there’s a style for every taste and occasion. Pair ’em with your favorite jeans and sneakers for a casual weekend look, or tuck ’em into a sleek skirt for a more polished vibe.
So, no matter if you’re hitting the town with friends or lounging around the house on a lazy Sunday, organic cotton tank tops and tees have got your back.
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