Linen is the quintessential sustainable fabric of summer — the breathable, lightweight natural fabric will keep you cool through the hot days ahead with its natural thermo-regulating properties.
And there is a lot more to love about linen. As a natural fiber, linen is also biodegradable as long as it’s untreated! (Avoid linen garments that have been dyed with synthetic dyes, treated with toxic chemicals like bleach, or that have been blended with unnatural fibers.)
Plus, linen is chemically similar to cotton but is superior in terms of properties and environmental friendliness. It’s more durable, stronger, dries quicker, and more sunlight resistant.
And on the environmental front, flax is resilient, allowing it to grow even in poor soil and requiring far less water than cotton, according to Good on You.
What type of linen should we look for?
Prioritize linen that is certified organic and dew retted as opposed to chemically retted linen. As CFDA says, “dew retting is preferred in terms of sustainability, which requires no additional inputs of energy, water, or chemicals and allows nutrients to return to the soil through natural decomposition.”
Shop secondhand first
Remember to browse local thrift stores and online secondhand shops first! Check out Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal for luxury and premium brands or ThredUP and Poshmark for more affordable (as well as some premium) brands.
Note: This guide includes partners and/or affiliates. As always, brands must meet high standards for sustainability and ethics — and I only share brands that I believe in.
Price Range Key: $ = Under $100 | $$ = $100 – $200 | $$$ = $200+
Where to Find Eco-Friendly Linen Clothing
1. SAUTHS
SAUTHS effortless, timeless garments are Oeko-Tex certified and made with care from quality 100% European flax linen.
And, the brand’s dreamy loose-fit linen clothing is all made in a European-based family-owned production facility.
Price Range: €-€€ / $-$$
Size Range: XS-XL
5. Whimsy & Row
Whimsy & Row’s 100% linen garments are made Belgian flax plants and are colored with certified low-impact dyes using recycled water. All of the brand’s pieces are produced slowly in small quantities and are shipped in recycled packaging.
Note: Whimsy & Row refers to their production as ethical, but does not provide specific information about wages or benefits for their makers.
Price Range: $ – $$
Size Range: XS – XL
3. Velvety
Online ethical fashion store Velvety has a vast selection of linen garments, from romantic dresses to laid-back button downs. Focusing on curating only timeless pieces from conscious European and Australian labels, Velvety has the slow made linen clothing you’ve been dreaming about!
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS-XXL
4. Not Perfect Linen
Part of the appeal of linen is its creases, wrinkles, and imperfect nature — something that Not Perfect Linen embraces with their collections. Using OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified linen fabric and producing responsibly in Lithuania.
Price Range: $ – $$
Size Range: XS – XL, Option for custom garments for other sizes
5. Sotela
Sotela is an inclusive sustainable fashion brand with vibrantly hued relaxed-fit garments. The label has a collection of linen button-up lightweight linen shirts, trousers, dresses, and jumpsuits. Prioritizing natural materials, Sotela has pieces made from linen and from their organic cotton-linen blend (made up of 60% organic linen) and they use tagua seed instead of plastic for their buttons.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
Size Range: Unique sizing system; range goes from waistband of 24 inches to 44 inches.
6. Eileen Fisher
Slow fashion label Eileen Fisher has elegant, minimalistic garments made from eco-minded fabrics, including organic linen. Eileen Fisher’s easy breezy linen garments are timeless and produced with the highest quality, ensuring they’ll be summer staples in your closet for years to come.
Price Range: $$$
Size Range: XXS – XL
7. Mate the Label
While Mate the Label primarily uses organic cotton, the brand has a collection of effortless garments made from breathable, lightweight linen. The LA-based brand has published a 2020 impact report detailing their current practices and future plans, such as joining a coalition with California farmers to source locally and regeneratively-grown cotton.
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS – XL
8. Two Days Off
Two Days Off is a Black-owned sustainable fashion brand creating trans-seasonal clothing made-to-order or in small batches in Los Angeles. The independent label designs each piece for longevity and uses earth-conscious fabrics like deadstock (leftover) fabric from LA and linen from North America.
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS – 2XL
9. Beaumont Organic
UK sustainable fashion brand Beaumont Organic creates effortless pieces in natural fibers like linen. Beaumont Organic’s flowy, breathable hand-spun flax linen pieces are made responsibly in Portugal, where makers earn fair wages and do not have to work overtime. There isn’t much further detail about production, but the brand reports that they are working on bringing customers full transparency from seed to garment in 2020.
Price Range: ££ – £££
Size Range: XS – L
10. Poplinen
Sustainable, ethical, and size-inclusive, Poplinen is one impressive conscious brand. Poplinen produces their clothing in small batches in Los Angeles, paying makers living wages and using earth-minded materials like organic cotton, Tencel, and organic linen. The brand also ships their pieces in recycled packaging.
Price Range: $
Size Range: XS – 3XL
11. LAUDE The Label
With the tagline “Honoring Earth + Maker”, LAUDE The Label is a slow fashion brand that cares deeply for both people and planet.
The minimalist brand’s comfortable and effortless pieces are handmade from organic linen and organic cotton (always synthetic fabric free!) by artisan women who are paid fair trade wages.
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS – 2XL
12. Linen Handmade Studio
This small slow fashion label has a gorgeous selection of timeless linen clothing in their Etsy shop!
Linen Handmade Studio uses OEKO-TEX standard-certified linen and designs each piece to last through several seasons to come. And shoppers love this store — they have a 5-star average rating from over 5,000 reviews.
Price Range: $$
Size Range: US 2-10
13. Quince
Quince creates affordable linen clothing made using 100% European flax. The linen fabric they use has been certified by the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, which tests for toxic substances.
Additionally their linen shirts, dresses, shorts, and trousers are made in BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) certified factories.
Price Range: $
Size Range: XS-XL
14. Art of Simplicity
With puffed sleeves, off-the-shoulder necklines, and side slits, Art of Simplicity’s linen clothing is feminine and flirty. The brand’s romantic garments are made from natural fibers, including many from linen or linen blends.
Size Range: XS – 2XL
Price Range: $$
15. Linen Fox
The beautiful linen clothing from Lithuanian fashion brand Linen Fox is all made by a team of 20 people in Lithuania. Their simple, durable linen pieces are non-toxic and OEKO-TEX certified. The label follows fair trade principles and reduces fabric waste by selling their fabric scraps and making garments from multiple fabric pieces.
Price Range: € – €€
Size Range: XS – XL
16. Neu Nomads
With a mission to create simple, sustainable luxury at affordable prices, Neu Nomads offers quality classics made from earth-minded materials, including organic linen.
You’ll find linen trousers, effortless shirts, chic blouses, summer dresses, and even linen blazers in a range of colors among Neu Nomad’s consciously crafted selection.
Price Range: $ – $$
Size Range: XS – XL
You May Also Want to Check Out:
21 Organic Cotton Fashion Brands
What is Zero Waste Fashion? + 7 Circular Fashion Brands
32 Affordable Ethical Clothing Brands
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