Discover my favourite sustainable kids clothing brands that you can trust won’t sacrifice the environment and are meant to be lived in.
When Amelia was born I bought everything as cheap as humanly possible. I thought ‘more’ was better for a newborn,
Here’s what I found: nothing, and I mean nothing, lasted. Sometimes I would get one wear out of an outfit.
As I embarked on my journey to become a more conscious consumer I have to admit I felt a lot of guilt about my past shopping habits. My ‘buy more, spend less’ mentality not only impacted the environment but human beings.
What is Fast Fashion
Fast Fashion is a term that refers to low-quality, trendy clothing that is priced inexpensively. It is a “design, manufacturing, and marketing method focused on rapidly producing high volumes of clothing.” When clothes are inexpensive the low quality makes them easily disposable and encourages consumers to buy more.
It also creates the need for more as trends change quickly. Mass producing inexpensive, throw away trends has us buying every time a new trend surfaces.
Who is impacted? The environment, the garment workers, and you. Believe it or not, you are spending more when you are paying less because you are replacing poorly made items more often. All elements of fast fashion, like trend replication, rapid production, low quality, competitive pricing have an impact.
How is fast fashion detrimental to the environment? Toxic chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fabrics pollute water supplies. Then, because of the quick turn over and low quality of fast fashion clothing, it is thrown out – chemicals and all – and ends up in landfills where it doesn’t break down.
There’s more – these garment workers are not only exposed to harsh chemicals, but endure long hours and unfair wages.
10+ Ethical & Sustainable Kids Clothing Brands
An added bonus to the list I’ve compiled is that these brands are Canadian, as well. If they aren’t manufacturing their clothing right here in Canada, they can speak to where it is made and that it is done so in an ethical and sustainable way.
Here are some things I considered:
- What is the clothing made of
- Where is the material made or sourced
- Where is the clothing made
- The transparency of the business
I have purchased from many of these brands for my kids since making a commitment to purchasing high quality, sustainable, and ethically made clothing. I buy less often and I have been able to pass down pieces from my daughter to my son.
Little & Lively
Little & Lively is Canadian, family-owned owned business that is built on the concept of just that: family. They create high-quality, sustainably sourced, and ethically made clothing that are carefree, effortless, and meant to be lived in. Their values as a business include being inclusive, functional, and conscientious so everyone sees themselves in their brand, ensure they create clothing to be lived in, and do right by the planet.
Their clothing is made with bamboo/cotton fabric making them uber soft against their skin and won’t cause irritation or allergies. Clothing comes in a wide range of sizes from babies to youth and are meant to be loved by kids with fun, lively colours, patterns and prints – but the basics are there too!
Little & Lively is under the umbrella of The Kindred Studio which creates a range of clothing brands for the entire family including Dwelling Apparel, Pretty Laundry, and Bek & Jet.
Nest Designs
Nest Designs is a Canadian brand for parents looking for modern, functional, and environmentally conscious clothing for babies to youth, and even adults!
They use materials like bamboo and GOTS certified organic cotton with a focus on functionality and longevity. Each piece is meant to last and never go out of style.
Mini Mioche
Mini Mioche is the real deal when it comes to ethic and sustainable kids clothing. The MM way is to create a better future for our kids by making a better product parents want to invest in.
Mini Mioche specializes in basics, but better basics. Basics that are timeless, gender neutral, and super soft. Even more important: Mini Mioche clothing is made locally in Toronto, Ontario from start to finish. This means they visit the factory regularly and can ensure the people making your clothing are paid a living wage.
Remember the toxic dyes that are problematic with fast fashion? Mini Mioche uses non-toxic, low impact dyes from natural sources and dyes their fabric sustainably in Toronto. Additionally, Mini Mioche does not receive or ship products in plastic and uses recycled matter in their hangtags, shopping bags, and mailing material, which can also be recycled. This sustainable commitment is exceptional.
I recently purchased Theodore some Ribby Sleepers from Mini Mioche. I love that they are soft for sleeping but also could be worn as an outfit. They are breathable, comfortable, and meant to be lived in.
Parade Organics
Parade Organics uses only organic cotton, free from pesticides and harsh chemicals, because it keeps our plant, farmers, and children safe.
As a Canadian company based out of Vancouver, British Columbia Parade Organics ensures that their products are ethically made in India. They visit their production facilities to ensure a safe work environment, that labour standards are in place, and that employees are paid fairly.
Parade Organics has clothing from newborn to 10 years old. They also make accessories, like The Everything Blanket I loved so much when Theodore was born, and sustainably made toys.
I love their Jammies for the kids and especially love that because they are so well made I can pass them along from Amelia to Theodore.
Wooly Doodle
Wooly Doodle is a Canadian company that outfits the whole family with comfortable and functional company.
Every piece of clothing that Wooly Doodle puts a label on is ethically made in Canada, many within Ontario, and using sustainable material. Further to that, Wooly Doodle launched a paperless initiative to encourage customers to opt out of receiving paper materials like invoices and donates $1 to a Canadian charity that supports women in need.
You’ve probably seen the coveted Love Crew sweaters sported by Tori Wesszer from Fraiche Living that I’ve never been quick enough to snag!!
I love their tanks for the kids and for myself and their super soft rompers!
Jax and Lennon Clothing Co.
One mama making clothing at home turned her sewing hobby into a leader in ethical and sustainable kids clothing. A personal favourite!
Jax & Lennon Clothing Co. creates luxuriously soft bamboo and organic cotton for the whole family, from the tiniest newborns to men. These pieces are made in Canada and are meant to be played in and passed down.
I brought Theodore home from the hospital in a Jax & Lennon outfit and have since passed down items Amelia wore to him. Even being well loved they are super soft and comfortable.
Petit Lem
The first piece of clothing I bought when I was pregnant with Theo was sleepers from Petit Lem – they were unbelievably soft for my tiny newborn. Since then I’ve continue to buy from Petit Lem.
Petit Lem, based out of Montreal, Quebec, specializes in high-quality, organic cotton pieces from those first days of life through childhood. There are even some pieces for mama like their Modal Rib Essentials. Theodor has a pair of joggers and I’m itching to get my own.
Wheat Kids Clothing
Wheat Kids Clothing is Danish designed clothing for babies and children that combines comfort with lasting, Scandinavian style.
Wheat ensures that 90-95% of the jersey garments are produced by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified manufacturers. What does that mean? The Oeko-Tex system guarantees that textiles that are certified are free from harmful concentrations of substances that are deemed detrimental to health.
While Wheat clothes are made in Bangladesh, they are produced at a “green” factory that is dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact of their production such as reducing CO₂ emissions by 50%.
The factory also ensures workers have a safe working environment, fair wages, healthcare, childcare and free transportation.
Os & Oakes
Os & Oakes is a London, Ontario based clothing line that designs and manufactures bamboo clothing for the whole family in Canada. Materials are eco-friendly and sustainably sourced.
Their pieces are ultra soft, functional for play, and meant to last.
I love the classic design of Os & Oakes pieces that are versatile, stylish, and comfortable for you and your kids. Amelia and I are personally big fans of the pink knit beanie and wear it daily! #twinning!
Rowe Apparel
Here’s a motto any mama can get behind: functional, unfussy, and stylish! That’s Rowe Apparel!
Rowe Apparel is known for their incredibly soft, super function zompers: a romper with a zipper rather than the unnecessarily painful snaps!! Genuis!
Clothing pieces are made in Calgary, Alberta with zippers from Quebec and labels from Toronto.
Brok Boys
Brok Boys is a British Columbia based bamboo clothing company for the entire family.
As a mama who waits by the dryer for my lounge top and lounge joggers to be cleaned, you and your babes will live in these super soft, high quality pieces.
Brok Boys clothing is manufacturing in British Columbia.
Why to Buy Sustainable Kids Clothing?
Of course, you can purchase directly from any of the brands in person or online. Here are a few of my favourite shops that specialize in ethical and sustainable clothing:
Looking for more brands you can trust including in your home? Check out the Simply Caffeinated Small Shop List where Savannah from That Caffeinated Mom and I round up our favourites.
Want to know what I noticed when I was putting together this list of sustainable kids clothing brands: how many of the brands I trust are created by mothers. As you get to know these brands you’ll see how many women started out making clothing for their kids with a focus on material that was better for their skin. To me, that says a lot about mamas!
Have a favourite sustainable kids clothing brand? Let me know! I’d love to have this list grow and be available as a trusted resource for years to come.
