Last Updated on May 28, 2023
I’ll keep it blunt: Everlane is shady. Their “radical transparency” is kind of a joke, their sustainability initiatives often feel like greenwashing, it’s difficult to find info about their factory standards and wages, and the recent union busting and allegations of a racist and toxic work environment further solidify they aren’t to be trusted. Plus, as we saw testing their product, the quality isn’t great either.
But if you love Everlane’s style, where can you shop instead? I’ve put together some brands like Everlane and ethically-made dupes for Everlane’s best selling pieces.
(please note: some affiliate links are used in this list)
Basics & Essentials
Everlane is probably best known for their classic pieces, and KOTN has a very comparable overall vibe to Everlane with similar styles of basics and wardrobe staples, plus a sprinkling of trendier cuts. As we saw in the tee comparison video, KOTN also has better quality and more transparency around their sourcing and manufacturing.
KOTN has a unique “farm to closet” approach, working directly and fairly with cotton farmers in Egypt and is hands-on through the whole manufacturing process.
Organic Basics (which you can also see reviewed in the video) is another great options for tees and basics, and is based in Europe.
Jeans & Denim
Luckily there are lots of alternatives for more conscious denim! Here’s a few brands to check out:
Warp + Weft – They have a vertically integrated approach starting with processing and spinning the cotton, and various practices to reduce their environmental impact (although I wish they had more info about wages and ethical standards). I especially like that they focus on designing for different body types, with sizes from 00 to 24 for women, and extended and hard-to-find sizes for men. They also have comparable and even more affordable prices than Everlane.
MUD Jeans – I have to give Netherlands-based MUD Jeans a mention because they are my personal favourite. I love their circular approach and transparency, and they have great styles and fit!
ÉTICA – With many sustainability initiatives, ÉTICA claims to use up to 90% less water and over 60% less energy to make their denim clothing. The jeans are fairly made in their own factory in LA.
Nudie Jeans – With retailers around the world (though only two in North America), Nudie is a great option for those who prefer being able to try jeans on. Their jeans are made from organic cotton and they manufacture in Europe, Tunisia and India where workers are paid a living wage.
Casual & Loungewear
Everlane’s more casual clothing and lounge pieces always seem to show up on their bestseller list, so clearly they’re popular. A great alternative to these pieces is MATE.
MATE has joggers, tees, tanks, sweat sets, and waffle knits in a rainbow of colour options. All their pieces are responsibly made in LA from natural and organic materials. And it’s not just lounge clothes! MATE also has some lovely dresses and linen pieces that would be perfect alternatives to Everlane’s.
Active
An easy substitute for Everlane’s activewear collection is Girlfriend Collective. They have similar recycled tops and leggings (as well as other styles) in more colour options, available in a larger size range (XXS to 6X), AND at a lower price! How could you not make the switch?
Girlfriend makes most of their clothes out of recycled water bottles and the fabric has Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. Their textiles are made in Taiwan and then cut and sewn in Vietnam in a SA8000 certified factory. Learn more on their website about what this certification means and their sustainable practices.
Also check out our activewear round-up for more eco-friendly exercise brands!
Cashmere
Classic cut cashmere sweaters have been a staple for Everlane, but despite their “radical transparency” Everlane offers almost no information about their cashmere sourcing.
For a more conscious alternative check out Naadam. They claim to be “the world’s fairest cashmere,” practicing direct trade and sourcing their cashmere from farmers in Mongolia’s Gobi desert. They pride themselves on having 100% traceability with their cashmere products.
Unlike wool, cashmere can actually be obtained through brushing off the goat’s winter coat (the same as bushing your dog or cat). Naadam only works with herders who hand-comb, and they also help invest in veterinary care and have animal welfare standards.
Style-wise, Naadam offers the same classics as Everlane, as well as some more fashion-forward and unique cuts like their cashmere cropped tank, joggers, or dresses.
You can also find more responsibly made sweaters in our cozy sustainable sweater roundup, and learn about what to look for when buying wool, cashmere, and alpaca in our guide to these materials.
More Sustainable Stores & Brands Like Everlane
Tradlands – From classic shirts to jumpsuits, to dresses and knitwear, Tradlands has many styles that would easily fit in a former Everlane-lover’s wardrobe. They take a “modern approach to foundational pieces” with a focus on quality and longevity.
Amour Vert – Boasts a great selection of classic pieces for work or weekends as well as some more fun colours, prints, and styles. Amour Vert uses a variety of sustainable materials and manufactures their collection in California.
ABLE – A clothing, shoe, bag, and jewellery brand with timeless styles and a focus on employing women and wage transparency.
Staiy – A curated marketplace of sustainable brands, Staiy offers many options in a similar classic and minimalist style. They are also based in Europe, which is perfect for those who’d like to shop Everlane from the UK or EU.
Beaumont Organic – This UK-based brand that focuses on organic cotton has a classic, minimalist aesthetic with some unique design details.
Shoes
BHAVA (vegan) – high quality vegan shoes in a variety of classic and unique styles.
Fortress of Inca – classic leather shoes fairly handmade by artisans in Peru.
Nisolo – large selection of leather shoes with many similar styles to Everlane. Nisolo is passionate about wage transparency and fair manufacturing.
Poppy Barley – ethically made leather flats, heels, sandals, and boots in timeless styles.
Rothy’s (some vegan) – large variety of flats that are 3D-knit from ocean plastic (dupe for Everlane’s re-knit flats). While Rothy’s has some good sustainability initiatives, I wish they had more info about their ethics and wages.
VIVAIA – another brand making 3D knit, washable shoes from plastic water bottles. They have many different styles including flats, heels, loafers, sandals, and boots.
Also check out more sustainable and ethical shoe brands in our footwear roundup!
If you’re are a fan of Everlane’s style I hope you’ve discovered some great brands in this list! I will update it if I find more sustainable/ethical brands that are a good fit, and please share in the comments if you know of any other ethical stores similar to Everlane.
kibbysblendedlife.com
Radical Transparency? H M and Zara Are Actually More Transparent Than Everlane It s true. I have recognized this before, but chose to largely ignore it; Everlane doesn t name its factories by actual name (they use the term The Core Sweater Factory for example), and in many cases, H M, Zara, Gap, etc., DO name factories and contractors they work with. Just how transparent is THAT? The Fashion Law goes into legal reasons for Everlane s not naming names, which is interesting, but not necessarily good enough. I ll write more about this later, including my much more in depth thoughts on Everlane in general, but in spite of this, I DO think Everlane is trying, and in that way is a better choice than some other clothing brands, but there s also something a little fishy about it, and a little disingenuous.
Verena Erin
Even if they are trying there are still way better brands to support than Everlane!
Janne
If you’re in Europe, Goat Organic Apparel is a nice shop for basic T-shirts and loungewear. I have a couple of shirts and they are very soft and light, fit well and last long. They don’t use plastic in their packaging.
They claim that they use organic cotton and produce the clothes fairly, but I am not sure if they have certificates for it. Maybe someone else here knows?