Living in the Chicago area, I daydream about finally getting to break out any clothing that isn’t a sweater for about 6 months of the year — so when it’s finally that first day of spring that I can break out my sustainable dresses, I’m a happy camper.
It isn’t that day quite yet here, but that hasn’t kept me from already researching some go-to conscious brands with stunning eco and ethical dresses.
Using materials like organic cotton and Tencel and manufacturing locally or using fair trade practices, the sustainable dress brands in this guide will fit the bill for nearly any upcoming occasion. If you’re looking for exclusively formal dresses, check out my guide to ethical formal dresses here.
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, I only include brands I truly love and meet high standards for ethics, sustainability, and aesthetics. Thanks for your support! [Cover image is from Valani]
Price Range Key: $ = Under $75 | $$ = $75 – $150 | $$$ = $150+
1. Valani
With flowy fits in feminine cuts, Valani’s dreamy dresses check off all of the boxes for an eco-minded fashion lover. The conscious fashion label uses only sustainably-sourced natural fabrics and non-toxic, low-impact dyes for their swoon-worthy frocks. Valani’s vegan dresses are made from banana fabric — a fiber created from banana stems discarded by the agricultural banana industry — or a hemp/Tencel blend. Both fabrics are breathable, biodegradable, and of course, beautiful!
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Friendly, Vegan, WOC-Owned, Gives Back
Size Range: 0 – 12
Price Range: $$-$$$
2. Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn’s dresses are a fairytale come true with their flowy fit and dreamy prints. Their dresses are made from deadstock (i.e. leftover fabric) or regenerative organic cotton grown by Oshadi Collective. And each dress is produced ethically in California by dressmakers earning living wages.
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed & Regenerative Fabrics, Local & Ethical Production
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $$$
3. Rare & Fair
Made thoughtfully with time-honored practices by master artisans and craftspeople in small batches, Rare & Fair has truly exceptional sustainable dresses. Each piece is made in a fully transparent, traceable process from fiber to final stitch.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Fabrics & Processes, Artisan Made, Cultural Preservation
Size Range: XXS-XL
Price Range: $$$
4. SAUTHS
Nothing says summer quite like an effortless linen dress! And SAUTHS’ Oeko-Tex certified European flax linen garments look like the perfect pieces for soaking up some sun while staying cool.
Crafted consciously in small batches with a zero-waste mindset, so they focus all their effort on making eco-friendly produce and nothing else.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Small Batches, Ethical & Local Production
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: €-€€ / $-$$
5. Whimsy + Row
Los Angeles-based sustainable fashion brand Whimsy + Row manufacturers their clothing in limited batches just a few miles away from their office. The brand sources upcycled fabrics (i.e. deadstock) and eco-minded materials (such as linen and organic cotton) for their flirty, feminine clothing.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Local & Ethical Production
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $$-$$$
6. Velvety
Following the philosophy of fewer, better, Velvety is an online ethical fashion store curating timeless garments made from earth-minded quality fabrics, such as linen and LENZING™ ECOVERO™.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Ethical Production, 100% Vegan
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $$
8. ourCommonplace
ourCommonplace is a conscious fashion and lifestyle marketplace with striking, sustainable dresses made from reclaimed fabrics, organic fibers, and other mindful materials. The marketplace curates a variety of brands with everything from flowy house dresses to elegant formal frocks.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Materials & Processes, WOC-Owned
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $-$$$
9. Two Days Off
Two Days Off is the epitome of weekend style with their easy, effortlessly beautiful pieces perfect for wearing to brunch, the grocery store, and everywhere in between. This Black-owned brand uses only deadstock materials for their made-to-order pieces, including natural fibers like linen.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Small Batch Production, Black Woman-Owned
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $$
6. People Tree
People Tree is a UK-based sustainable and ethical fashion brand with vibrant dresses perfect for brightening up your wardrobe consciously. I adore the colors and fun prints that the label uses for their sustainable dresses — and I really love the fact that they make these dresses using eco-conscious fabrics like organic cotton, Tencel, and linen!
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade-certified, Sustainable
Size Range: 8-16 UK
Price Range: £-££
10. LOUD BODIES
Crafting pieces in small batches using Oeko-Tex 100 certified natural fibers in 15 different sizes, LOUD BODIES’ creates some of the best eco-friendly size inclusive dresses. The brand will even produce pieces in custom sizes at no extra charge!
Size Range: XXS-10XL
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Size Inclusive
Price Range: $$
11. Amour Vert
Amour Vert not only has an on-point aesthetic, but their clothing is flattering and wearable too. The earth-minded label uses fabrics like silk, cupro, deadstock, organic cotton, and their signature responsibly-sourced Beachwood fabric for their eco-friendly dresses. 97% of their products are made in California, too.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Locally-Made
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $$
12. Altar
Altar is a Portland-based slow fashion brand creating sustainable dresses from deadstock fabrics locally in-house or in Los Angeles. The conscious brand’s pieces are handmade in small batches so they go quickly!
Conscious Qualities: Low Impact Fabrics, Locally-Made, Size-Inclusive
Size Range: XS-6XL
Price Range: $ – $$
13. Eileen Fisher
Classic designs in neutral hues, Eileen Fisher is a minimalist’s dream. Even as someone not drawn to the minimalistic aesthetic, I really appreciate the simple, clean lines of Eileen Fisher’s pieces. This sustainable designer brand uses earth-friendly fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton for their eco-luxe dresses.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Fabrics, Take-Back Program, Timeless Designs
Size Range: XXS-3XL + petite sizes
Price Range: $$ – $$$
14. PACT
PACT is an affordable sustainable fashion brand with affordable eco and ethical dresses. Their dresses are made in Fair Trade-certified factories from GOTS-certified organic cotton (GOTS is the highest certification available for organic materials). The dresses are pretty basic but are perfect for more casual outings.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade-Certified, Organic Fabrics
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $
15. Thought Clothing
Another UK-based brand with printed sustainable dresses is Thought Clothing. The fit of Thought’s pieces is pretty modest while the fun colors and patterns keep their clothing from looking matronly. The label uses eco-friendly fabrics like Tencel and organic cotton for their pieces.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Materials
Size Range: 6-18 UK
Price Range: £-££
16. tonlé
tonlé is a zero waste fashion brand creating uniquely printed garments out of reclaimed fabric that has been discarded by garment factories in Cambodia. Not only does tonlé upcycle these materials, but the brand’s artisan partners use every last scrap in production too.
Conscious Qualities: Zero Waste, Fair Trade, Gender Neutral
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $
17. TAMGA Designs
TAMGA Designs’ free-flowing dresses make the perfect summertime and vacation-ready dresses! The conscious fashion brand traces their entire supply chain, from farm to mill to factory, which is really impressive. TAMGA Designs’ vibrant clothing is crafted in ethical factories using responsibly-sourced eco fabrics such as Tencel, Lenzing Modal and organic cotton.
Conscious Qualities: Eco Fabrics, Traceable Supply Chain, Ethical Production
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $ – $$ CAD
18. No Nasties
No Nasties creates 100% organic cotton fair trade dresses perfect for wearing to the beach with flip flops or pairing with heeled sandals for date night. Their versatile sustainable dresses are comfy, organic, and affordable with most pieces priced at under $100.
Conscious Qualities: Organic Fabrics, Traceable Supply Chain, Fair Trade
Size Range: XS-L
Price Range: $
19. OhSevenDays
All of OhSevenDays’ dreamy dresses are made from deadstock fabrics sourced from Istanbul, Turkey. The slow fashion brand also offers a transparent behind the scenes look at their production process, all done in-house by a team of four tailors.
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed Fabrics, Transparent Production
Size Range: S-L + custom sizing
Price Range: $
20. Míe
Defying typical design boundaries, Míe’s dresses have a loose, comfortable fit but feature unique design elements like off-the-shoulder puff sleeves, making them the ultimate summer staples. And every dress is crafted consciously in Nigeria using breathable, natural fibers like linen.
Conscious Qualities: Natural Fibers, Black Woman-Owned
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $$$
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