24 Deadstock and Zero Waste Clothing Brands

Last Updated on April 9, 2024

We know the fashion industry is incredibly wasteful.

Millions of tonnes of clothing end up in the landfill every year. It’s shockingly estimated that less than 1% of virgin materials which enter the clothing production cycle will actually end up being recycled into new clothes, and 25% of fabric (or possibly more – this is considered a conservative figure) is waste before the garment is even in stores. Also, as we recently learned, the secondhand clothing cycle can be far from sustainable.

This is why circularity initiatives are critical for a more sustainable fashion industry.

And fortunately some brands are already working to change the way we view and use textile “waste”. Through things like zero waste fashion production, using offcut, reclaimed, and deadstock materials, upcycling existing garments, and even taking back and recycling their own clothes.

Here are our top picks for zero waste and circular fashion brands:

Brands Upcycling Used Clothing

Upcycling isn’t just recycling – it’s transforming it into something better. With clothing that might involve taking secondhand garments and updating, repairing, or re-designing them, or maybe shredding old clothes to turn into new fabrics.

Anian

Women’s and men’s shirts made from natural fibre clothing that has been shredded, spun, and woven into new fabrics.

Eileen Fisher Resewn

Eileen Fisher takes back their garments and anything that can’t be resold in their secondhand Renew Shop is reworked into new zero waste styles. Check out the tour I did of their “tiny factory” where all the Renew clothes go! (pictured right)

Frankie Rework

Sweatpants and tops made from vintage and secondhand garments.

Kindom

Offers a small collection of upcycled garments.

Mud Jeans

The “worlds first circular denim brand” – Mud Jeans takes back your old jeans to get shredded and become part of new jeans. (You can watch the process in this video)

Neo Thread Co.

Transforms secondhand garments into new styles.

Pantee

Underwear and bras made from upcycled t-shirts.

Patagonia Recrafted

Garments made from deconstructed clothes and repurposed materials. (pictured right)

Re/Done

Luxury label upcycling old jeans into new jeans.

Rokit Originals

Vintage/secondhand store with a collection of reworked and upcycled clothes.

Brands Using Deadstock Fabrics

Deadstock is also known as remnant, overstock, or surplus fabric. This might be from other brands who ordered more than they actually needed, or from mills who either made a mistake (like the colour wasn’t exact), an order was cancelled, there was some damage or flaws, or they produced too much.

There is some debate around the sustainability of making deadstock clothing- the main argument being that mills can intentionally produce extra fabric to sell, or companies can over-buy and sell the excess, purposely creating the “waste”. While I do think this is something to be aware of, I also know that there is an insane about of pre-consumer textile waste (check out my visit to Fab Scrap for a tiny peek) and I think it is good to support brands trying to do something with all the extra fabric. Unfortunately there isn’t a way to really verify where a brand’s fabric came from, but I do believe that many sustainable brands are genuine with their waste reduction mission and sourcing true deadstock.

Anekdot

German label making lingerie and swimsuits from sustainable and surplus fabric. (pictured right)

Antiform

Clothing, knitwear, and accessories made in the UK from deadstock and reclaimed materials.

Bastet Noir

Dresses (including formal options) and clothes made from deadstock materials.

Christy Dawn

Romantic dresses made from deadstock.

Dorsu

Women’s and men’s basics and staples made from remnant fabrics.

Love Faustine

Californian brand making their collection in-house from deadstock fabrics and upcycled garments.

NAZ

A Portuguese label that uses deadstock and also has a line of knitwear spun from recycled textile waste. They recently also started using new sustainable materials as well. (pictured right)

Nudnik

Canadian children’s clothing brand with colourful, gender-neutral styles made from deadstock fabrics.

Preloved

Blends deadstock fabrics with upcycled vintage and reclaimed secondhand garments.

OhSevenDays

Colourful collection made from deadstock fabrics.

Whimsy + Row

LA based brand using some deadstock, but also some new fabrics.

Zero Waste Daniel

Bright and colourful unisex designs featuring their signature “ReRoll” – a modern-take on patchwork. (pictured right)

I hope you found this roundup helpful and, as always, let me know if there are any great zero waste clothing brands I missed.

Let’s keep that clothing cycle circular!

Also check out my bag roundup for some brands making zero waste and upcycled bags and purses!