10 Best Ethical T-Shirt Brands for the Summer

T-shirts are a wardrobe staple. They have so many uses and are a great casual wear option for almost everyone. Wear them to bed, wear them while you workout, or wear them as a casual day shirt; you can’t go wrong. While this versatility is great, they’re one of the cheapest items you can buy. And this often comes at a high social and environmental cost, through forced labour, poor working conditions, and environmental degradation.

Unfortunately, thrifting t-shirts is often very hard, as they’re easy to wear and tear. So, while thrifting is always a good option, it may not be the most pragmatic when it comes to t-shirts. Luckily, there are several certifications you can look for when shopping, especially for t-shirts.

If you want some great options for quality, ethical t-shirts, you’ve come to the right place. Here are several brands that offer just that!

Bella+Canvas

Bella+Canvas is a wholesaler and retailer based in Los Angeles. The company’s factory is right in California to ensure workers’ rights and focus on reducing waste. This is to ensure the highest worker and environmental regulations are maintained. 

The company also guarantees guiltless production. It uses solar power, high-efficiency dyers, and a wastewater purification system. Plus, the brand knows that t-shirts are a wardrobe necessity, so they offer several bundle deals to get three for cheap. 

Also, with a wholesale collection, it’s great for other businesses wanting to use higher quality shirts. So whether you’re looking for a shirt to add to your personal collection or looking for wholesale shirts for your own company, Bella+Canvas has got you covered.

PACT

PACT is an American-based apparel company that offers comfy, ethical t-shirts. It is GOTS-certified, which means their cotton is 100 percent organic, ethically produced, and sustainable. Plus, its factories are USA Fair Trade certified as well. 

Its wide selection of men, women, and children t-shirts are great for everyone. Also, they offer more than just basic t-shirts. From the Tie-Front Tee to the Hoodie Long Sleeve Tee, the brand offers comfort and style. PACT also sells a wide array of other basic cotton clothing, such as underwear and dresses. 

AS Colour

AS Colour is an apparel company, specializing in basics, based in New Zealand. It offers a wide selection of tees, hoodies, and dresses in bright colours and patterns to make your lazy days fun and bright.

Almost all of its fabrics are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. This means they are free from harsh chemicals that harm the environment. It also emphasizes 100 percent transparency from the farms to its suppliers. AS Colour is part of the Better Cotton Initiative, a global sustainability organization. By doing this, it is working toward 50 percent Better Cotton by 2023.

Know the Origin

This UK clothing brand says it all with its name. By making transparency a key goal in its business, Know the Origin is ethical and sustainable. 

The cotton used for the t-shirts is fairtrade and certified by GOTS. Plus, the low-impact dyes KTO uses are all backed by the OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and all products are 100 percent vegan. Featuring the styling Pocket Crop Tee and several graphic t-shirts, KTO will take your t-shirt style to the next level.

With affordable prices, timeless designs, and ethical products, KTO is a great go-to for all those basic tee needs.  

Etiko

Based in Australia, Etiko prides itself on vegan, organic clothing made in Fair Trade factories. Etiko believes that clothes should ‘do good.’ This means paying fair wage and using sustainable manufacturers.

With a wide selection of plain and printed t-shirts, Etiko offers the stylish, casual look you want. Their ethical t-shirts come in a variety of styles—swoop neck, v-neck, and long sleeve. And, the printed ones feature adorable graphics worth showing off. Plus, the shirts are GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and Fair Trade certified, so you can be sure of what you’re getting.

Organic Basics

Organic Basics’ name says it all. It’s a company dedicated to providing high-quality basic apparel to customers. With a good selection of tees, along with a ton of other basics, like tanks and bras, it’s sure to have what you need. These t-shirts scream comfort, and are great for lounging around the house.

Organic Basics stays true to its name. It uses only GOTS-certified cotton, recycled wool and cashmere, and eco-friendly synthetic fabrics. Plus, all of its products are cut and sewn in European-based factories that have strict labour rules. So, you can feel confident knowing where your shirt came from. 

The Classic T-Shirt Company

The Classic T-Shirt Company is a Los-Angeles-based company, which emphasizes ethical fashion. Focusing solely on t-shirts, the brand has several options for men and women. From a casual white v-neck for the hot summer days to the comfy long sleeves to keep you warm all winter-long. 

The t-shirts are GOTS-certified, made in the US, and shipped around the world in recycled packaging. In addition, The Classic T-Shirt Company donates 1 percent of its profits to causes they support. This includes organizations helping people access clean water, plant trees around the world, and clean up the ocean.

Ninety Percent

Ninety Percent offers staple t-shirts every wardrobe needs at an affordable price. With an array of t-shirts, you can complete your outfit, whatever the weather. These durable, ethical t-shirts come in basic colours, including white, navy, and black.

Ninety Percent prides itself on being a sustainable, transparent company. As a certified GOTS member, the brand uses only the best organic cotton for their t-shirts. Plus, it ensures that the farmers and workers have good working conditions.

Staying true to its name, the brand gives 90 percent of its profits between their workers and charities buyers can vote on.

Wolven

Wolven is an apparel brand with sustainability at its forefront. It offers a great selection of mens’ and womens’ graphic t-shirts for those long summer days. With catchy designs and slogans.

All the brand’s clothing is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and made from recycled plastic.

The brand is also Climate Neutral certified, meaning all the shirts you buy are offset through carbon credits.

Taking sustainability to the next level, Wolven lives out its ideals and creates unique, lasting tees.

Theo+George

Theo+George is an Irish-based company focused on Everyday Effortless. With a selection of classic and stylish t-shirts, it offers something to fit all your needs. From the classic v-neck to a stylish striped shirt you could dress up or down, Theo+George has it all. 

The brand makes high-quality products meant to last, sticking to its ethos of sustainability and transparency. Theo+George is also big on recycling, using recycled packing to ship items. It has also partnered with local textile recyclers to minimize the cycle of fast fashion.

T-shirts don’t have to be cheap, flimsy, fast fashion nightmares. You can easily find the perfect ethical and comfortable t-shirts. Simply look at brands, which focus on high-quality cotton, fair labour production, and sustainable practices.