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, BIPOC-Owned, Gives Back, Plants a Tree With Every Order
Size Range: 0 – 12
Price Range: $$ – $$$
2. Amour Vert
Amour Vert is one of my favorite sustainable dress brands — and just favorite brands overall! They not only have 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-Friendly Fabrics, Locally-Made
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $$ – $$$
3. Grammar NYC
Grammar NYC’s dresses — all named after grammatical names like ‘The Quotation’ and ‘The xx’ — are made with 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. The sustainable fashion brand’s pieces are made locally and ethically in a family-owned factory in New York City by makers earning fair wages.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable, Ethical
Price Range: $$$
Explore Grammar NYC on Made Trade
4. Symbology
Symbology has striking fair trade dresses with unique prints. Every piece is handmade and hand-printed by artisans earning fair wages for their traditional time-honored crafts. The dresses are also printed with Azo-free dyes and natural materials.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade, Heritage Craft Preservation, Non-Toxic Dyes
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $$
Explore Symbology on Made Trade
5. 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: £-££
6. 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-Friendly Materials
Size Range: 6-18 UK
Price Range: £-££
7. 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: $
8. 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: Sustainable Fabrics, Small Batch Production, Black Woman-Owned
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $$
9. Altar
Altar is a Portland-based slow fashion brand creating sustainable dresses from deadstock fabrics locally in-house or in Los Angeles. The conscious brand’s pieces are handmade in small batches so they go quickly!
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Friendly Fabrics, Locally-Made, Size-Inclusive
Size Range: XS-6XL
Price Range: $ – $$
10. 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: $$ – $$$
Explore Eileen Fisher’s Dresses
11. Aliya Wanek
Aliya Wanek is a Black-owned sustainable fashion brand with relaxed fit clothing made from earth-minded materials like hemp and organic cotton. The brand’s clothing is locally dyed and handmade in the Bay Area.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable, Ethical, BIPOC-owned
Price Range: $$$
12. Passion Lilie
Passion Lilie creates beautiful fair trade dresses using cotton — including many from organic cotton — and eco-friendly dyes. The brand’s artisan partners use traditional block printing and handweaving techniques to create their streamlined pieces. Passion Lilie is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade-certified, Some Organic Pieces
Price Range: $ – $$
Explore Passion Lilie on Made Trade
13. 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-Friendly Fabrics, Traceable Supply Chain, Ethical Production
Size Range: XS-XXL
Price Range: $ – $$ CAD
Explore TAMGA Designs’ Dresses
14. No Nasties
No Nasties creates 100% organic cotton fair trade dresses perfect for wearing to the beach with flip flops or pairing with heeled sandals for date night. Their versatile sustainable dresses are comfy, organic, and affordable with most pieces priced at under $100.
Conscious Qualities: Organic Fabrics, Traceable Supply Chain, Fair Trade
Size Range: XS-L
Price Range: $
Explore No Nasties on Made Trade
15. Christy Dawn
Christy Dawn’s dresses are a fairytale come true with their flowy fit and dreamy prints. Their dresses are made from deadstock (i.e. leftover fabric) or regenerative organic cotton grown by Oshadi Collective. And each dress is produced ethically in California by dressmakers earning living wages.
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed & Regenerative Fabrics, Local & Ethical Production
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $$$
Explore Christy Dawn’s Dresses
16. Mata Traders
Mata Traders is a fair trade fashion brand with colorful dresses handmade by artisans earning living wages working in fair trade cooperatives based in India and Nepal. The brand uses cotton for all of their affordable, ethical clothing, including some organic cotton.
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade-certified, Some Organic Materials
Price Range: $
17. Rent the Runway
If you just need a dress to wear one time for a special occasion, rental is the way to go. While there’s still the environmental impact of shipping and the packaging with the back and forth of rental, it is preferable to buying a dress that you know you’ll wear just once.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable
Price Range: $ – $$
Explore Rent the Runway’s Dresses
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