10 Ethical Denim Brands You Should Know Exist
Eco-Friendly Jeans & Ethical Denim
Many of us live in and love our denim. 👖 A good pair of jeans blends fashion and function in a way that not many pieces of clothing can.
That's why, when we searched for sustainable denim brands, we looked specifically for brands that combine ethics and quality to revolt against the trends of fast fashion and irresponsible denim production. These sustainable denim brands are pushing the limits when it comes to eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing, asking tough questions about supply chains, and building products that last—or, in this case, your new favorite pair of jeans.
For American-made denim, check out our guide to the best denim brands made in the USA.
*Article updated July 2022
1. Reformation
Ethics | FLA certified fair labor & wages, Climate Neutral Certified, OEKOTEX & Bluesign certified sustainable & organic fabrics
Styles | Bootcut, flare, relaxed, skinny, straight, wide leg, shorts
Sizing | 23–38 (up to 2X)
Starting At | $78
Reformation’s vintage-inspired jeans are sure to turn heads, from its simple bootcuts to flirty shorts. Made from organic cotton, Tencel, and two percent elastane, this denim will last you for years to come. These pieces are sewn together in Turkey where employees are paid fair wages. Plus, Reformation’s eco-friendly processes save thousands of gallons of water, too. Chic, affordable, and sustainable.
Shop Reformation Denim
2. Mott & Bow
Ethics | Artisan-made in Honduras, vertically integrated production, sustainably sourced denim
Styles | Midrise skinny, high-rise skinny, slim boyfriend, mom jean
Sizing | 24–33 (0–14)
Starting At | $96
Sourcing quality cotton denim from the world's finest mills like Turkey’s Orta Andalou and blended with sustainable Modal, Mott & Bow is making the best denim at an accessible price. By keeping production in-house—at a longstanding family-run fair wage factory in Honduras—Mott & Bow can sell directly to consumers without all the retail markups. Plus with easy returns and exchanges, it’s never been easier to find a pair of sustainable jeans you’ll live in forever.
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3. Warp + Weft
Ethics | Fair labor & wages, vertically integrated factory, sustainable practices & materials
Styles | Skinny, straight, bootcut, wide leg, shorts
Sizing | 00–24 (3X)
Starting At | $68
As one of the more size-inclusive, ethically made, and sustainable denim companies on the market, it’s no surprise that Warp + Weft is on our list. This family-owned brand of three decades is obsessed with the perfect fit, with options up to women’s size 24 and 44” waists for its Big and Tall collection. Warp + Weft also saves and recycles 98 percent of the water it uses, thanks to its vertical manufacturing operation. Now that’s the kind of denim we want to invest in.
Shop Warp + Weft Denim
4. Levi’s
Ethics | Ethical production & sourcing, sustainable practices & materials, secondhand shop
Styles | Straight, skinny, slim, boyfriend, bootcut, taper, flare
Sizing | 00–26 (2XS–4X)
Starting At | $26
Levi’s is almost synonymous with denim. For decades, it’s been a leading manufacturer for jeans, jackets, and every kind of denim in between; and with great power comes great responsibility. That’s why the brand shifted to eco-friendly practices that reduce water consumption, recycle and re-purpose old vintage denim, responsibly source cotton and Tencel Lyocell, and more. Whether you’re all about slim fit, high rise, or tapered jeans, there are limitless fits, sizes, and colors here for the whole family—little ones included.
Shop Levi's Denim
5. Boyish
Ethics | OEKO-TEX certified organic & recycled cotton, GOTS certified eco-friendly & low waste factories, Climate Neutral Certified
Styles | Straight, skinny, tapered, wide leg, stretch, shorts, overalls
Sizing | 22–32 (00–14)
Starting At | $108
500 billion gallons of water are used to make U.S. denim, every year. Instead, Boyish produces sustainable jeans with only a fraction of the water needed—and it’s all recycled. Pair that with certified sustainable fabrics, eco-friendly packaging, and ethical practices, and you’ve got denim that’s as pure as it feels. Elevate your look with frayed jeans, bring back the denim skirt, or hop into some stylish overalls. No matter what look you’re going for, Boyish has timeless and easy fits to match.
Shop Boyish Denim
6. Outland Denim
Ethics | Certified B Corp, organic cotton & recycled materials, ethically made in Cambodia
Styles | Skinny, relaxed, wide, shorts
Sizing | XXS–XXXL (22–34)
Starting At | $105 AUD
For over a decade, Outland Denim in Australia has worked tirelessly to make the fashion industry better. This certified B Corp teams up with at-risk women in Cambodia to produce its ethical denim collection. In 2020 alone, the brand employed 750+ staff, used 57 percent less energy in production, and gave back around $250K AUD. Help uplift people and the planet with these jeans.
Shop Outland Denim
7. Loup
Ethics | Ethical production in NYC, made in small batches, repair program
Styles | Straight, cropped, wide-leg, shorts
Sizing | XXS–4X (up to 53” hips)
Starting At | $110
If you’ve ever struggled with the right fit for jeans—we know we have—then you’ll love Loup as much as we do. Designed with real bodies in mind, curves included, this NYC-based brand offers work pants you can also play in. Available in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors, you can grab the gorgeous terracotta wide-leg pants or the sunflower gold denim jeans and everything in between. Best of all, Loup touts a generous repair program so you can enjoy this ethical denim for years to come.
Shop Loup Denim
8. Oliver Logan
Ethics | Recycled & sustainable materials, BSCI or OEKO-TEX certified ethical production in China, carbon-offsetting
Styles | Relaxed, wide leg, flare, straight leg, shorts
Sizing | 24–34 (00–18)
Starting At | $68
Oliver Logan uses denim as a force for good. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, OL’s pieces are made from recycled yarn and organic cotton in ethical factories across China. (You can read about all three partner factories on the OL site!) Grab your favorite slow denim style here, from relaxed taper fits in an ecru wash to a dark wash straight leg—whatever you choose also comes with a lifetime guarantee and access to the brand’s repair program.
Shop Oliver Logan Denim
9. Buck Mason
Ethics | Responsibly sourced cotton, some made in the USA
Styles | Men’s denim (standard or tapered)
Sizing | 28–40 (Men’s XS–3XL)
Starting At | $125
Buck Mason was founded by Erik Allen and Sasha Koehn with the ideals of American staples (from tees to Oxford shirts to ethical denim) at its core. To date, the brand has made hundreds of thousands of products in the U.S. growing its domestic production by over 100 percent per year since 2014. The team has now expanded to international production as well, ensuring that products are fairly and responsibly made. You can also find Buck Mason’s retail shops in LA, NY, and SF.
Shop Buck Mason Denim
10. DL1961
Ethics | Eco-friendly & energy-efficient production, sustainable & recycled materials, vertically integrated manufacturing
Styles | Skinny, straight, relaxed, bootcut, flare, wide, shorts
Sizing | 23–34 (00–16)
Starting At | $128
For DL1961’s dreamy jeans, the team uses innovative recycled fibers and a vertically integrated system to reduce its amount of water, dye, and energy needed. The pieces also incorporate Tencel and Modal to increase durability, softness, and sustainability. And of course, DL1961 has an undeniable pulse on chic denim fashion and ethical innovation. Thoughtful and timeless, the brand gets two thumbs up from us.
Shop DL1961 Denim
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Featured image includes model Norrine Maupin wearing shirt by Reformation; denim by Boyish; jacket by French Workwear (vintage); sunglasses by Crap Eyewear; jewelry by Apse
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