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A lavender v-neck t-shirt made responsibly by 337 BRAND.
17 Nov
A lavender v-neck t-shirt made responsibly by 337 BRAND.

The Ultimate Guide to More Sustainable and Ethical T-Shirts

Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more.

 

T-shirts are the ultimate wardrobe staple. This versatile and layerable basic has a place in every wardrobe, but if you’re looking for more sustainable tees, where do you even start? 

The best basic

If we had to crown a single item of clothing as the best basic, it would be the versatile and ubiquitous t-shirt. Whether paired with some jeans for a classic outfit combo, or worn under a jumpsuit or slip dress for a more quirky look, tees are a basic that will see you through all seasons and styles. Tees are a great building block for both giving your basics an ethical overhaul and for putting together a capsule wardrobe. Chances are, you know you want a t-shirt that meets your needs and the planet’s—but what makes a t-shirt more sustainable or ethical, and where can you find one?

What makes a t-shirt more sustainable and ethical?

Most of us will throw our t-shirt on in the morning without a thought about its origins. But as conscious consumers, it’s important for us to ask questions like: who made my tee? Were they paid a living wage? And is the tee made from lower-impact fabric? These questions aren’t easily answered. The good news is, there are tons of terrific tees out there that tick the sustainability boxes. But what about your boxes?

We don’t know about you, but what we’re looking for in a t-shirt is the right size, the right price, the right style, and the right ethics. We’ve scoured the planet for more sustainable and ethical t-shirts and rounded up our top brands that meet our ratings criteria to be classified as “Good” or “Great” overall.

It’s a long list, so we’ve organised it by country first. Don’t forget you can also search for brands in any category on the Good On You brand directory, where we’ve rated thousands of fashion brands. Let’s go.

The USA + Canada

éclipse

Rated: Great
man wearing light green ethical t-shirt by eclipse

Men’s 37.5® Tech Short Sleeve Tee – Ships internationally from the US

éclipse creates climate control UPF 50+ clothing essentials and accessories to help keep the whole family sunsafe. It manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint, and its entire product range is vegan-friendly.

Products are stocked in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop éclipse.

The Classic T-Shirt Company

Rated: Good
woman of colour wearing sustainable caramel crewneck tee by classic tshirt co

Womens Short Sleeve Crew Neck – Ships internationally from the US

The Classic T-Shirt Company is a US brand that creates premium, responsibly-made t-shirts with luxury and integrity. All of its products are made from GOTS certified organic cotton and it doesn't use any animal-derived materials.

The Classic T-Shirt Company’s range is available in US sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop The Classic T-Shirt Company.

Threads 4 Thought

Rated: Good
A teal responsibly-made crop t-shirt by Threads 4 Thought.

Maggie Triblend Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Threads 4 Thought uses a range of lower-impact materials including TENCEL™ Modal harvested from the limbs of beech trees. This process means that the trees are never cut down and 95% of the production materials to make the yarn are recovered and reused. The brand's manufacturers are a combination of Fair Trade USA certified and Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certified.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL, with an extended sizing range up to 3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Threads 4 Thought.

Vitamin A

Rated: Good
A white t-shirt with the word SALTY in orange letters across the middle, made by Vitamin A.

Salty Graphic Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Made locally in California, Vitamin A’s collections of swimwear and loungewear use a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including recycled nylon. The brand also uses a waterless process to print its designs with, reducing its chemical and water usage.

Find the pieces in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Vitamin A.

ALTER X Company

Rated: Good
A royal blue scoop neck organic t-shirt by Alter X Company.

Organic Boxy Scoop – Ships internationally from the US

US brand ALTER X Company crafts apparel that finds its true meaning and potential when a person of purpose decides to be the change they want to see in the world. Each purchase donates 20% to a cause of your choice at checkout.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ALTER X Company.

Amour Vert

Rated: Good
An earthy ribbed baby tee by Amour Vert.

Eleanor Paris Rib Tee – Ships to the US, Australia, Canada, Europe, and the UK from the US

Amour Vert creates beautiful, more sustainable staples in San Francisco, California. Its final stage of production is done in the US and it works closely with suppliers in all of its supply chain. The brand also uses lower-impact materials and promotes an anti-waste strategy.

The range is available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Amour Vert.

337 BRAND

Rated: Good
A lavender v-neck t-shirt made responsibly by 337 BRAND.

Zoey T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the US

337 BRAND's leisurewear is designed to make you feel at ease, always. Inspired by nature, comfort, and kindness, the brand introduces effortless style clothing made from lower-impact materials.

Find the range in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop 337 BRAND.

Sustain by Kat

Rated: Good
A pink tie dye avocado dyed organic cotton t-shirt by Sustain by Kat.

Avocado-dyed Shibori Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Sustain by Kat produces timeless organic women’s  and children's clothing, dyed with plants. This is a brand that really cares about the environment. It uses more responsible materials, including GOTS certified organic cotton, and uses only lower impact, plant based dyes, which is better for you and the planet. It’s possible to have clothes that also care for you with Sustain by Kat’s “clothing with a conscience”.

Find the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Sustain by Kat.

FM 669

Rated: Good
A black short cut boxy organic US cotton tee by FM 669.

T102 Little T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the US

FM 669 is a US brand that offers apparel made from homegrown cotton, including t-shirts, tank tops, and long-sleeve shirts. It proudly sources its GOTS-certified cotton from a collective of farms in Texas using regenerative practices, and uses lower-impact dyes in its limited production runs. Its designs are effortlessly wearable, with its laid-back, casual aesthetic in gender-neutral pieces.

Offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop FM 669.

Christy Dawn

Rated: Great
A regenerative cotton t-shirt by Christy Dawn with nature symbols and the words Folk The System on the front.

The Folk The System Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Christy Dawn is a minimalist showroom for vintage-inspired women's clothing and footwear, locally made with surplus fabric. The US brand rates "Great", making it a fabulous option for your wardrobe.

Find the clothes in standard sizes XS-XL, or shop the Extended and Petite collections.

See the rating.

Shop Christy Dawn.

MATE the Label

Rated: Good
A storm blue organic cotton t-shirt made responsibly by MATE the Label.

Organic Cotton Classic Tee – Ships internationally from the US

MATE the Label creates clean essentials made with GOTS certified organic fabrics and lower-impact dyes. Its goal is to offer women everywhere a clean product that is just as beautiful as it is responsible. It is proudly female-founded and is predominately operated by women. This US brand also manufactures locally to reduce its carbon footprint.

Find the range in inclusive sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop MATE the Label.

Neococo

Rated: Good
person laughing in t-shirt and close up of artwork by Neococo

Formation Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Neococo is a mission-based apparel company founded for the sole purpose of creating jobs for women refugees through the art of hand embroidery. Faced with challenges such as adjusting to a new culture and securing a job, Neococo provides refugees with community and support to make them feel safe and achieve financial independence.

Crafting pieces representing women’s empowerment, find the range in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Neococo.

tentree

Rated: Good
A black graphic tee by tentree with a circular recycling graphic on the front.

Circular T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Canada

Canadian brand tentree believes big change starts small. Small as in bringing your reusable bag to the grocery store, making fewer, more thoughtful purchases, and choosing to purchase more sustainably when you do. The brand plants ten trees for every item purchased to help regenerate ecosystems and provide planting jobs in communities around the world, and has already planted over 65 million trees.

All tentree’s products are created with an Earth-First approach, meaning they're made in fair, safe working conditions, and constructed using lower-impact and recycled materials.

tentree’s super comfy fabrics and easy wardrobe staples are typically available from XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop tentree.

TAMGA Designs

Rated: Good
woman wearing black t-shirt by canadian brand tamga designs

Rove Crew Tee – Ships internationally from Canada

TAMGA Designs is out to prove how colourful and exciting responsible fashion can be. TAMGA offers a range of tops, skirts, dresses, and accessories made from lower-impact fabrics like TENCEL and ECOVERO.

You can find the full range of this Canadian brand in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop TAMGA Designs.

FRANC

Rated: Good
A boxy grey long sleeve tee by FRANC.

The Long Sleeve Box Tee – Ships internationally from Canada

FRANC is a Canadian brand that makes basics so you can enjoy a complete wardrobe built on timeless essentials. The brand ranks "Good" on all fronts: it uses lower-impact materials, traces and visits its supply chain, and uses no animal products.

Find most products in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop FRANC.

LA Relaxed

Rated: Great
A red GOTS organic cotton fitted t-shirt by LA Relaxed.

Bebe Organic Tee – Ships internationally from the US

"Simplicity, sustainability, style" is LA Relaxed's motto. The brand reduces its climate impact by using renewable energy in its supply chain. It also uses some lower-impact materials, including organic cotton and TENCEL Lyocell.

Find the collection in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop LA Relaxed.

Shop LA Relaxed @ Cerqular.

Happy Earth

Rated: Good
A soft organic cotton light green tee with a peace hands symbol on the front in darker green, made by Happy Earth.

Peace Tee – Ships internationally from the US

Happy Earth Apparel is a US organic clothing brand that is inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it. Through its partnerships with non-profits and Happy Earth ambassadors, it's planting trees, fighting climate change, and cleaning up trash.

Find most items in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Happy Earth.

Europe + the UK

Mila.Vert

Rated: Great
woman wearing black t-shirt by ethical brand mila vert

Short-Sleeved Top – Ships internationally from Slovenia

Offers

Someone wearing a cream midi dress, and coats, by Mila.Vert.

Mila.Vert – Pre-Order

Mila.Vert's pre-order system helps reduce waste by ensuring that no excess garments are created. Save 30% when pre-ordering. (Ends: 26 APR)

Shop now

Mila.Vert makes chic, minimalist clothes that have a distinctly modern feel. The Slovenia-based brand produces clothes in small batches based on a pre-order system to minimise waste and help to avoid the ethical and environmental issues that the fashion industry represents.

Find the garments in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Mila.Vert.

Shop Mila.Vert @ Immaculate Vegan.

Yes Friends

Rated: Great
A sky blue organic Fairtrade t-shirt by Yes Friends.

Yes Friends Organic T-shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Yes Friends is a UK-based fashion brand that creates more affordable clothing for everyone. Yes Friends' first product, classic cut t-shirts, cost less than £4 to make and the brand only charges £7.99. Using large scale production and direct to consumer margins means Yes Friends can charge you an affordable price for its more responsible clothing.

Find the range inclusively sized in 2XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Yes Friends.

Kuyichi

Rated: Good
A navy responsibly-made menswear t-shirt by Kuyichi.

Buckley Dark Navy – Ships internationally from The Netherlands

Established in 2001, Kuyichi is the first organic denim brand. With top-scoring labour and environmental ratings, the brand designs durable yet trendy and modern pieces that never go out of style.

Offered in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kuyichi.

Dilli Grey

Rated: Good
A white organic cotton t-shirt by Dilli Grey.

Organic Cotton T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Dilli Grey offers a unique mix of block print womenswear and artisan homewares all made in Rajasthan, India.

Find the range in sizes S-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dilli Grey.

Neem

Rated: Good
A navy blue ZQ Merino wool tailored menswear t-shirt by responsible brand Neem.

ZQ Merino Wool Jersey Navy T Shirt – Ships internationally from Europe

Neem is a menswear brand that looks to make clothing waste good again. From the UK, Neem exists to produce men's clothing that has been made with care, a result of a transparent supply chain with the safeguarding of our environment as the focus.

Find most items in sizes S-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Neem.

Colorful Standard

Rated: Good

Classic Organic Tee – Ships internationally from Denmark

Colorful Standard is a Danish clothing brand that makes organic fashion essentials for men and women. The brand doesn't care much for seasons or trends, instead, it creates timeless and long-lasting products to avoid the downward spiral that is over-consumption.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Colorful Standard.

ASKET

Rated: Good
man wearing light ethical long sleeve t-shirt by asket

The Long Sleeve T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Sweden

ASKET has been creating timeless wardrobe essentials since 2015 with revolutionary sizing and fair pricing. The brand disregards seasonal collections, cuts out all the middlemen, and only sells directly to you—putting its entire focus on building a single permanent collection.

Find the range in sizes 2XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop ASKET.

Iron Roots

Rated: Great
A sand coloured unisex organic cotton and TENCEL Modal blend t-shirt by Iron Roots.

White Sand T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the Netherlands

Iron Roots is a Dutch sportswear brand that makes all its apparel from plant-based fabrics. Its pieces effortlessly combine more responsible design and functionality.

Find most items in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Iron Roots.

TWOTHIRDS

Rated: Good
Organic cotton beige kids tee with brown fingerpaint style words Sea You Soon on the front by TWOTHIRDS.

Bronte Kids T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Spain

TWOTHIRDS sees itself as a brand for people who are awake and aware of the immense value of our oceans, but also have a thirst for style and substance. It manufactures all its products locally to reduce its carbon footprint, as well as audits all of its final stage of production.

The clothes can be found in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop TWOTHIRDS.

Armedangels

Rated: Great
A classic grey menswear t-shirt by Armedangels with a coral graphic print square on the back.

AALEX Protect Oversize Tee – Ships internationally from Germany

Innovative, responsible, and on-trend. Germany’s Armedangels gets a top score overall from us. The brand covers all the basics in womenswear, menswear, and kidswear. Armedangels' quality and long-lasting pieces are made from lower-impact and certified materials, like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton. The brand also adopted the Fair Wear Foundation Code of Conduct to protect its workers abroad.

Its products are available in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Armedangels.

Shop Armedangels @ Earthkind.

Shop Armedangels @ Cerqular.

NIKIN

Rated: Good
woman wearing dark green t-shirt by nikin

TreeShirt Women – Ships internationally from Switzerland

If you’re the kind of person who likes to wear their morals, look no further than Swiss brand NIKIN. Not only is a tree planted every time you purchase a NIKIN product, you also get to show your tree pride.

Products are available in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop NIKIN.

LANIUS

Rated: Good
A boxy black and white striped hemp and organic cotton t-shirt by LANIUS.

Striped Shirt – Ships within Europe from Germany

“Love fashion, think organic, be responsible” are the maxims of LANIUS. The German brand uses lower-impact materials, like GOTS certified cotton. All LANIUS facilities are SA8000 certified and it is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation.

LANIUS' clothes are available in EU sizes 34-44.

See the rating.

Shop LANIUS.

KnowledgeCotton Apparel

Rated: Good
A basic brown t-shirt made from organic cotton by Knowledge Cotton Apparel.

Basic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Believing in more sustainable menswear that makes a difference, KnowledgeCotton Apparel creates long-lasting and high-quality products, using a high proportion of lower-impact materials, including GOTS certified organic cotton.

Find the items in sizes S-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop KnowledgeCotton Apparel @ Brothers We Stand.

Shop KnowledgeCotton Apparel.

Mother of Pearl

Rated: Good
woman wearing white t-shirt with pearls from mother of pearl

Mintie T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

Mother of Pearl is a more sustainable and ethical luxury womenswear and accessories designer brand from the UK that celebrates individuality and authenticity. The brand uses a high proportion of more responsible materials including organic cotton and ensures the payment of a living wage across some of its supply chain.

Find most products in UK sizes 6-16.

See the rating.

Shop Mother of Pearl.

Shop Mother of Pearl @ Rêve en Vert.

Shop Mother of Pearl Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Plant Faced Clothing

Rated: Good
man wearing black earthling t-shirt by vegan brand plant faced clothing

Earthling Tee – Ships internationally from the UK

Streetwear without the sweatshops, that's the motto of this British 100% vegan and cruelty-free streetwear apparel brand that is all about promoting a new wave of consciousness that supports the non-harming or exploitation of any beings in fashion production.

Buy Plant Faced Clothing in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop Plant Faced Clothing.

WAWWA

Rated: Good
A plum coloured organic cotton WAWWA logo t-shirt.

Basic Logo Heavyweight Organic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from the UK

UK brand WAWWA aims to make clothing that puts the Earth and its inhabitants first by creating organic, fair trade, and vegan-friendly clothing with a positive social impact. It uses lower-impact materials including recycled materials, lower-impact non-toxic dyes, and reuses its offcuts to minimise textile waste.

Find the range in sizes XS-2XL.

See the rating.

Shop WAWWA.

Australia + New Zealand

Citizen Wolf

Rated: Good
woman wearing black sustainable t-shirt by citizen wolf

The Short Crew – Ships internationally from Australia

Citizen Wolf uses revolutionary technology to give you high quality custom-fit t-shirts that it guarantees will be the best you’ve ever worn. After capturing your customisations, the brand handmakes each tee in Sydney using certified lower-impact fabrics like cotton, hemp, and Merino wool milled in Melbourne.

See the rating.

Shop Citizen Wolf.

Boody

Rated: Good
man wearing dark grey ethical long sleeve t-shirt by boody

Men’s Long Sleeve Crew Neck T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Founded in Australia by two best friends, Boody is a clothing brand with comfort, style, and health at its core. It creates comfortable, thoughtfully-made everyday essentials made from organically grown bamboo. It reduces waste through lower-waste cutting techniques and using a closed-loop system in its supply chain, supporting the green and ethical movement.

Find the range in sizes XS-4XL.

See the rating.

Shop Boody.

Afends

Rated: Good
A white recycled cotton baby tee by Afends with an earth and flowers graphic on the front saying F Plastic.

F Plastic Baby T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Born in Byron Bay, Australia, Afends is a more responsible brand leading the way in hemp fashion. Drawing inspiration from the environment, streetwear, and surf culture, Afends’ mission is to create more sustainable clothing through innovation, action, and positive change. As true hemp advocates, it purchased 100 acres of farmland called Sleepy Hollow to grow its own hemp crops and ignite the hemp revolution.

Find most of the range in sizes XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Afends.

Etiko

Rated: Great
Three blue organic cotton Less Plastic More Love t-shirts by Etiko.

Kids Less Plastic More Love T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Australia

Etiko is an Australian designer of organic fair trade clothing and shoes. The brand constantly sets the bar for upholding and campaigning the human rights of people working in traditionally exploitative industry supply chains.

Find the clothes in AU sizes 8-20, and the shoes in UK sizes 3-13.

See the rating.

Shop Etiko.

Kowtow

Rated: Good
Pink Fairtrade boxy jersey t-shirt by Kowtow.

Oversized Boxy Tee – Ships internationally from New Zealand

Kowtow is a New Zealand brand that uses organic, fair trade cotton and non-toxic dyes to produce its clothes. It designs elegant, timeless womenswear, and also has a range of ceramics.

Find the clothes in sizes XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Kowtow.

Maggie Marilyn

Rated: Good
A black organic cotton A-line t-shirt made responsibly by Maggie Marilyn.

01 T-Shirt – Ships internationally from New Zealand

Need-to-know designer Maggie Marilyn’s clothes are defined by her strong sense of luxury and fresh point of view. Inspired to create collections that are more sustainable as well as beautiful, the New Zealand-based label utilises organic cottons and responsibly-produced silks to craft effortlessly glamorous designs.

Sizes available are XS-L.

See the rating.

Shop Maggie Marilyn @ Farfetch.

Shop Maggie Marilyn Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Maggie Marilyn.

Asia

The R Collective

Rated: Great
A brown organic cotton waste t-shirt by The R Collective with the words END FASHION WASTE on the back.

End Fashion Waste Tee – Ships internationally from Hong Kong

The R Collective's womenswear collections are made by reusing rescued excess materials from leading luxury brands and reputable manufacturers. The brand uses a high-proportion of lower-impact materials, which limits the amount of chemicals, water, and wastewater used in production. It also ensures the payment of a living wage in its supply chain.

The garments are typically offered in two sizes: XS-S and M-L.

See the rating.

Shop The R Collective.

No Nasties

Rated: Great
A black open knit menswear tee by No Nasties.

Noir Open Knit Tee – Ships internationally from India

Another leader when it comes to responsible fashion, No Nasties makes simple and stylish clothing from Fairtrade organic cotton in India where it is actively working to grow the ethical consumer market.

Find styles in sizes 2XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop No Nasties.

Shop No Nasties @ Made Trade.

Dorsu

Rated: Great
A sand coloured basic cotton t-shirt by Dorsu.

Classic T-Shirt – Ships internationally from Cambodia

Based in Cambodia, Dorsu creates everyday basics and key signature favourites that form the core of any conscious wardrobe.

You can find the full range in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Dorsu.

Shop Dorsu @ Wearwell.

Editor's note

Feature image via 337 BRAND, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use the directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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