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Are you on a quest to find the best ethical and eco-friendly denim brands to upgrade your casual “uniform” without suffocating your curves in the process?
Lucky for you, our favorite ethical denim companies below are good for the environment and your wardrobe!
Granted, jeans are a no-questions-asked hero piece that deserves a place in our all-year-round wardrobe. Nonetheless, it’s also one of the most damaging garments.
It takes 7,500 liters of water to make a single pair of jeans and the denim industry alone accounts for 5% of landfill waste.
Yes, that’s an awful amount of environmental damage! But that doesn’t mean that you have to forgot the unmatched comfort of your trusted denim.
The best sustainable jeans brands are incorporating everything from certified organic materials and post-consumer waste to recycled fibers and ethically sourcing denim that requires way less water and energy.
You’d think that those premium and affordable ethical jeans would be dowdy, but no. Ethical and sustainable denim brands serve some of the most innovative silhouettes, washes, and prints that make traditional denim turn green with envy.
Take a look at the best sustainable ethical jeans that are currently at the forefront of the socially and environmentally responsible fashion sphere, ahead.
How can your jeans and denim pieces be “sustainable”?
Traditional denim emits 33.4 kg (73 pounds) of CO2 into the atmosphere PER PRODUCT (that’s the equivalent of driving more than 1,000 km by car), but that’s not the case for ethical and sustainable jeans. Brands create their collections with only a fraction of the water needed thanks to recycling.
Additionally, eco-friendly jeans are made with certified organic, recycled, and regenerated fabrics treated with safe dyes and finishes.
Lastly, raw jeans are more sustainable than pre-washed jeans. Ethical jeans brands also compensate for carbon dioxide emissions through carbon offsetting.
What does “ethical denim” mean?
Ethical jeans brands maintain sustainable production and sourcing standards that focus on the health and well-being of their workers and the environment.
This includes the fair payment of workers, enforcing safety standards, and supporting the local community.
Sustainable jeans made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, for example, ensure that are free from highly toxic substances that severely harm the planet and the farmers’ health.
What are the best materials for jeans?
Sustainable jeans are made of GOTS-certified organic cotton and post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled cotton.
Sometimes, ethical jeans brands use sourced deadstock denim and recycled plastic fabrics as well.
Lastly, TENCEL Lyocell (cellulose fiber, made from dissolving pulp) is another eco-friendly material that gives sustainable jeans an extra boost of durability and softness.
The Best Ethical & Sustainable Denim Brands.
1. Triarchy
Triarchy has a fantastic 85% recycled water production system, to help them craft “real denim for real women”.
You might know them as the company that produced the “World’s First Plastic-Free Stretch Denim.”
Instead of regular cotton, and chemical-laden polyester, the brand chooses Tencel, organic cotton, vintage denim, and natural rubber colored with reduced indigo or clay.
On top of that, they also recycle offcuts and turn them into new materials.
Price: From $225
Sizes: XS-XL
Ethics: Sustainable Materials, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 & GOTS Certified, Cruelty-Free And Peta Approved, Recycling, Toxic-Free Dyes, Fair Wages, Green story And Retraced Partners
Location/Shipping: USA
2. Outerknown
Sustainable Socks, organic cotton sweatpants, swimwear, sustainable denim – Outerknown is the mecca of ethical fashion!
Their wide range of S.E.A. (Social and Environmental Accountability) ethical jeans come in a high-rise, boyfriend, or cropped silhouette that are equal parts stylish and functional.
Every pair is made from organic and recycled cotton in Bluesign and Fair Trade-certified factories. On top of that, their fair trade denim is produced in small batches using vintage hand-operated looms. And if you have old denim to retire, their take-back program will do that for you.
Price: From $168
Sizes: 24-32
Ethics: Organic & Recycled Materials, Renewable Energy, Fair Trade factories
Location/Shipping: USA
3. Universal Standard
Meet the brainchild of Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler – Universal Standard, a fashion-forward and sustainable denim brand breaking barriers with a powerful message of inclusivity.
Here, every woman, regardless of her size or background, is celebrated and catered to. Think size 00 to 40!
To top it all off, the ‘Fit Liberty’ program allows customers to swap previously purchased pieces for a different size, adapting to the natural fluctuations in our lives.
Price: From $94.95+
Sizes: 4XS-4XL
Ethics: Black owned business, anti-racism resources, premium materials, Fair Trade Certified, upcycling/recycling, charity
Location/shipping: USA, ships worldwide
4. Whimsy & Row
Whimsy & Row uses organic cotton to reduce the environmental impact of its sustainable denim products.
The sustainable denim brand also opts for natural and non-toxic dyes, which are safer for workers and the environment.
Oeko Tex Certified, carbon neutral, every pair comes with its own “impact” report, which we absolutely love.
Some styles, like their best-selling cropped Flora Pant, are now available in a longer length for taller gals!
Plus, the color options are endless. Think rust, sage, terracotta –the list goes on.
Price: From $168
Sizes: 24-32
Ethics: Organic & Recycled zippers, natural dyes, mostly made locally in the US, recycled packaging
Location/Shipping: USA
5. Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans’ premium ethical denim assortment is crafted from eco-friendly materials, including certified organic, fairtrade, or recycled cotton, recycled polyester, and TENCEL.
Moreover, the brand offers free tear repairs for life and a 20% discount if you choose to send them your worn-to-death pair in exchange for a new one!
No worries, your used pair will gain a new life through their Re-Use collection.
There’s also the top-selling “Rebirth collection,” which is made with at least 70% recycled fibers from waste made ethically in certified factories!
You can find a slew of sustainable denim shorts, overalls and more options in multiple different washes as well as many more capsule wardrobe staples like sweaters and tees.
Price: From$185
Sizes: 24-38
Ethics: Sustainable & Recycled Materials, Certified Organic, Ethical Production, Free Repairs, Second-Hand Section, Fair Wages
Location/Shipping: USA
6. Warp + Weft
In the realm of sustainable denim, Warp + Weft stands tall as the world’s cleanest vertically integrated denim company.
If you’re on the hunt for affordable sustainable denim shorts, trousers, or any jean staples, your search ends here.
Not only are their designs size-inclusive, but they’re also a beacon of sustainability.
A typical pair of jeans guzzles a whopping 1500 gallons of water during production, but not at Warp + Weft.
Their ethical clothing requires less than ten gallons of water, a testament to their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint.
Price: From $88+
Sizes: 14-24
Ethics: Family owned, recycle & treat 98% of the water we don’t use, social, environmental & quality standards
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Australia, Canada, Latvia, New Zealand, UK
7. Armed Angels
Known for their inherently cool and modern designs with a trend-driven edge, Armed Angels’ “DetoxDemin” collection is comfortable, flattering, and versatile.
The lineup is designed with a circular economy in mind and thus, it can easily be dismantled and recycled at the end of its lifespan.
The secret? Instead of rivets, they chose embroidery in order to keep the fibers in the loop for as long as possible you can find skinny fit, slim fit, straight fit, wide leg fit, mom fit and boyfriend fit denim in blue, black, distressed, cropped and multiple other styles to fit your sartorial taste to a T.
Plus, this ethical denim brand solely uses sustainable materials such as Lyocell, Tencel, recycled poly and cotton as well as organic cotton farmed with no chemicals.
Price From €99.90
Sizes: 25/32 -34/34
Ethics: Sustainable and recycled fabrics, ethically-made, circular, sustainable production techniques,
Location/Shipping: Germany, ships Worldwide
8. Outland Denim
Moving to one of our favorite sustainable denim brands for ethical jeans that deserve praise.
Outland Denim is committed to providing fair employment opportunities and training to women who have been rescued from human trafficking and exploitation.
In fact, more than 750 people have benefited from stable employment with Outland Denim to date!
The Australian company also uses eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing processes, including using water-saving technologies and reducing its carbon footprint.
If you are on the hunt for premium stretch denim that’s flatteringly tailored to lengthen your legs, complement your curves, and lift your bum *wink*, their collection has you covered!
Price: From $155
Sizes: 22W30L – 34W30L
Ethics: Organic and sustainable materials, community empowerment, water-saving technology
Location/Shipping: Australia, worldwide shipping available
9. MUD Jeans
Next on our list is one of the most beloved sustainable denim brands, MUD jeans! You might know them as “ the world’s first circular denim brand.”
The company creates figure-flattering ethical denim based on the principles of the circular economy.
That’s why all pairs are made from 40% recycled material (aka discarded denim) and 60% organic cotton. You choose skinny, flare, straight, and lose styles in a slew of different washes created through a laser technique.
What’s more, they’ve been audited by the Fair Wear Foundation as members of their Young Designer Program.
So ethical production is a given. Also, you can freely take advantage of their take-back scheme to recycle your worn-to-death pairs!
Price: From $120
Size Range: 25-33
Ethics: sustainable materials, fair wages, woman empowerment, take-back program
Location/Shipping: Netherlands, worldwide shipping available
10. Etica
Lauded as one of the best sustainable denim brands of 2026, Etica offers authentic affordable sustainable denim that exceeds Fair Labor standards.
Their mills hold many certifications from OEKO-TEX Standard 100, WRAP, and Cradle to Cradle to GOTS certified organic.
Plus, the water, chemical, and energy consumption of every pair of jeans they produce is closely monitored through Jeanologia’s Environmental Impact Measurement (EIM) software.
So rest assured that your denim jumpsuits, denim jeans, and denim dresses are as stylish as they are ethical and durable!
Price: From $88
Discount: Use code SKL15 for 15% off
Sizes: XS-L
Ethics: Sustainable Materials, Beyond fair trade, transparency, water recycling
Location/Shipping: USA, worldwide shipping available
This post was all about sustainable denim brands.
There you have it, the best sustainable jeans brands that are far from uncreative and boring. If you’d rather spend your coin on only the best premium and affordable ethical jeans out there, the list above will certainly satisfy your lust for quality, comfort, and environmental responsibility.
And luckily for us, the top ethical jeans brands have the same values as us.
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I have been looking for sustainable clothing brands for a while now. I am glad I have found your blog! I will definitely have to check out Amour Vert.
So happy you found us too, thank you for being here!