As awareness of issues such as climate change, human rights, exploitation of workers, and environmental damage caused by plastics, dyes and other chemicals have increased in recent years, more and more of us are looking to make more ethical, sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle choices in our everyday lives.
When it comes to ethical and sustainable fashion for men, for too long that hasn’t been an easy task. Maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have one sustainable fashion store in your town – but their range might be limited, and their prices high.
We know how it can be: You set out fully with the intention of making an ethical choice, but they don’t have the jacket in your size, and you’ve seen one that would make you feel like a million dollars at the big name brand store down the road. You want to do the ethical thing, but will one more jacket realy make that much difference?
It’s true that substantial change on an individual level is more likely to happen when it’s easier for us to do so, and in this example, a greater choice of products, and an increase in awareness of where to buy them are two barriers to entry we’re hoping to help wolf with this guide to UK ethical and eco friendly brands and the best sustainable fashion for men.
If you’re not explicitly UK based, and want to cast the net a little father, we already have these guides to the:
- Top 35 European sustainable fashion brands for men
- The 18 Best European Sustainable Shoes and Accessories for Men, and indeed
- Top 26 US & Canada Sustainable Fashion Brands for Men
What Makes an Ethical Brand?
We’ve all heard a lot about ‘ethics’ when it comes to shopping for everyday products. There are countless discussions on TV and in our workplaces surrounding eco friendliness, climate change, pollution, and so on. But the moment we see a cheap deal online, or while passing a flashy store, we have been conditioned to be triggered, and tend to forget where the product is from, whether it’s ethically sourced or not.
With this in mind, here’s a quick checklist of factors to consider the next time you feel yourself tempted into buying a product on sale or at a surprisingly good price:
- Is the company paying its workers a fair wage?
- Does the company have a strict and clear policy against child labour?
- Does the company have a strict and clear policy against forced/bonded labour?
- Are the working conditions safe and secure?
- Is the company hiring people by giving them just and suitable working hours?
- What’s the company’s take on animal testing and the use of toxic chemicals?
Website and App GoodOnYou is an excellent resource and independent assessor or the ethical and sustainable credentials of many fashion brands.
The Most Ethical and Sustainable Brands from the UK
We have researched some of the most ethical and sustainable brands from the UK, particularly those catering to male interest.
For ease of reading, we have broken down the list into categories such as clothing, footwear, accessories, food and drinks.
At the end, we have also picked a list of some of our favourite products from each of these categories. Continue reading to find out more.
ECO FRIENDLY CLOTHING BRANDS: Top 5 Picks
Thought Clothing
Thought Clothing is an ethical London-based brand that is known for creating sustainable, ethical, and eco friendly clothing, made from bamboo and hemp. The only downside is that this is exclusively an online store, so you won’t have the luxury of physically touching or trying on the clothes before you buy.
Nomads
Nomads is a Launceston-based company and, as the name suggests, they have a range of clothing which is made using traditional artisan methods such as wood printing, hand looming etc. – the typical Nomad style! Moreover, Nomads company is a member of the British Association of Fairtrade Shops and Suppliers, and they use only sustainable, eco friendly, and organic materials in the production of their clothes. Again, this is exclusively an online store.
Monkee Genes
An interesting name, right? This Glasgow-based brand specialises in one thing – Jeans! You can find an awesome collection of ethically produced jeans and trousers on their website or from one of their stockists. What’s better than a sustainably sourced and stylish pair of jeans coming straight from a GOTS certified company?
Boden
Boden is another well-known London-based brand that specialises in ethically sourced and eco-friendly clothing, shoes, and accessories. With three stores in London, and their products stocked by John Lewis all over the UK, and an online store, it’s quite accessible.
Café Mountain
Café Mountain is a luxury menswear brand based in Newcastle that produces high quality and eco-friendly t-shirts made from organic materials, handmade fleece, and sustainable fabric. Cotton t-shirts as well as wax pullovers from the company are a must-have for all outdoor, street-style fashion enthusiasts. Check out their collection at the Hip Store website.
ECO FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR BRANDS: TOP 5 PICKS
Bourgeois Boheme
Bourgeois Boheme is a London-based sustainable brand which specialises in footwear. All of their footwear is vegan, ethically sourced, artisan-made, and cruelty-free. With matchless style and top-notch quality, Bourgeois Boheme has it all. Check out their collection in all sizes at their website or from one of their stockists.
Will’s Vegan Shoes
As the name suggests, this is another vegan shoe brand. Will’s is a London-based carbon-neutral brand which specialises in stylish and ethically produced trainers, boots, sandals and so on. To check out their collection and sizes, tap here.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is a vegetarian English fashion designer, most famous for designing women’s clothes, but with increasing coverage for men and unisex too. With zero use of animal fur or leather, Stella is increasingly using recycled materials in her clothes and shoes too.
Ethical Wares
The next name on our list is a Lampeter-based brand which dates back to 1993. As the name suggests, Ethical Wares have a collection of ethically produced footwear, which is also 100% vegan. With reasonable prices and elegant styles, this brand is one of the coolest out there.
Green Shoes
Green Shoes is a Devon-based ethical and handmade footwear brand. The best thing about this brand is that apart from the available sizes and styles in their shop and online store, they also make customised shoes. Simply choose the fabric, design, and size, and let shoemakers from Green Shoes do the rest.
For the production, they use vegan material as well as waste (but high-quality) leather from big manufacturers that is no longer needed. Check out their website and we’re sure you’ll be as impressed as we were.
ECO FRIENDLY ACCESSORIES BRANDS: TOP 5 PICKS
Wearth London
A sustainable, eco friendly, ethical brand, that has lots to offer, from bags to jewelry, homeware to food, toiletries to makeup. They simply have it ALL! All the products are vegan, cruelty-free, and the delivery and shipping process is also carbon-neutral. It’s a 100% foolproof ethical shopping experience.
Aequem
Aequem takes pride in being the sustainable shopping destination. It’s a London-based e-commerce platform with up to 70 sustainable labels using eco friendly, upcycled, recycled, and organic materials. The collection on their website is huge and wide-ranging.
In male accessories you can shop jewelry, wallets, bags, socks, hats, laptop covers, sunglasses, and so on. Using GOTS standard, Aequem is a guilt-free and planet-friendly shopping heaven.
WAKEcup
A zero-waste reusables brand, WAKEcup sources all its products from ethical suppliers from the UK, India, and China. The products range from bags, homeware, cups, bottles, straws, makeup, skin and bodycare, to clothing and other accessories. All the products are a treat to the eyes, creatively designed, in earthy hues, beautiful shapes and forms. Moreover, all the products are recycled, handmade, vegan, and natural.
Beyond Bags
Beyond Bags is another sustainable and eco friendly brand that deals with bags without subjecting animals to any form of cruelty, and officially certified as PETA-Approved Vegan. Their collection consists of a large variety of bags including backpacks, clutches, wallets, tote bags, shoulder bags, saddlebags, and so on. The brand guarantees ethical standards and high quality, plus the bags are quite a style statement.
Plant Faced
Just like its name, Plant Faced, a UK-based brand, is sustainability and creativity at its finest. The motto of the brand is that no humans, animals, or plants are exploited during the production process. Although its generally a clothing brand that caters to men, women, and kids, we really liked its collection of men accessories, including bags, beanies, caps, and hats. All the products are eco friendly and ethically made, fair trade, organic cotton, water-based inks, and recycled polyester.
ECO FRIENDLY FOOD BRANDS: TOP 5 PICKS
Exhale
Did someone say coffee?
With plastic free packaging, minimal waste, ethically and sustainably sourced materials, and organically farmed coffee, exhale is the best option if you want to enjoy a great and eco friendly coffee experience. The best part is that you can create your own subscription plan for as low as £7.95 and receive your organic coffee right through your letterbox weekly, biweekly, triweekly, or monthly.
Doisy & Dam
Who hasn’t heard the horrific tales involving child slaves working on cocoa plantations? Say Goodbye to such unethical chocolate brands and say hello to sustainability, good ethics, and eco friendliness with Doisy & Dam. Free from palm oil, vegan, and full of natural ingredients, Doisy & Dam chocolates are prepared from ethically sourced cocoa with no harm done. The company is also B Corp Certified.
Pukka Herbs
Herbal Teas by Pukka Herbs are an excellent alternative to the regular teas that we find routinely on the shelves of supermarkets. Why? Because Pukka Herbs has promised not to harm the planet by sticking to organic farming and fair trade and conservation. The packaging is sustainable, teas organically sourced, and the company is CO2 neutral. Starting from £ 2.99 for a pack of 20 sachets, Pukka Herbs is a must-try for all tea-lovers.
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat is probably the most delicious plant-based meat option, with a variety of plant-based meat options like sausages, meatballs, chicken, ground meat, and burgers- all made through planet-, environment-, and climate- friendly processes. You can find Beyond Meat online, as well as in supermarket aisles across the UK.
Proper Snacks
As their website states, Proper Snacks is Snacking Done Properly. This is a brand which is sustainable, focusing on a low carbon footprint, ethically sourced ingredients, and eco friendliness. Free from palm oil, they offer popcorn, popcorn bars, and chips- all vegan and under 136 calories. Proper Snacks is also, in fact, the first UK snack company to be certified B Corp.
Some Standout Products: Our Top Picks
The holiday season is approaching and the quest for finding the right gifts for our loved ones is also getting intense. To help with this, we’ve also previously listed 15 places to shop for sustainable gifts in the UK:
However, we’ve also saved you the hassle of going through each of the above-mentioned websites to find a suitable product with our pick of the top products below:
1. Cartographer Fairtrade Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Printed Shirt
Brand: Thought Clothing
Price: £59.95
Material: Soft, breathable cotton poplin
Great Size Inclusivity
2. Jack Relaxed Jean in Light Stonewash
Brand: Monkee Genes
Price: £50
Material: Organic Rigid Denim
Great Size Inclusivity (Buying one size up is recommended)
3. Brushed Cotton Dressing Gown
Brand: Boden
Price: £85
Material: Pure cotton with pure polyester lining
Great Size Inclusivity
4. WVSport Waterproof Hiking Boots
Brand: Will’s Vegan Store
Price: £116
5. Prawl Mole
Brand: Green Shoes
Price: £150
Size Inclusivity: Can be made to fit on order
6. Reusable Bamboo Coffee Cup
Brand: Wearth London
Price: £19
7. Zero Waste Starter Kit
Brand: WAKEcup
Price: £60
8. Ethical is the new black – Premium 100% organic cotton tote – Metallic silver
Brand: Plant Faced
Price: £14
9. Pukka Peace Herbal Tea
Brand: Pukka Herbs
Price: £2.99
