This can be an overwhelming journey to go on so take it one step at a time! Use what you have, budget well, and don’t jump straight to the expensive options if you don’t want to! There’s also no need to replace everything you have, I see no benefit in that! Each time you need a new item first really question if you do need it, then read the more general post I have on how we choose a brand, and then make a better choice with each new purchase.
If you want to know some brands we’ve actually shopped, I’m including them below. There are many other great ones but I wanted to give the ones we’ve actually chosen personally and have experience with. If you want a blog more on how we look at a brand and choose where to start or why we’re even on this journey you can read THIS POST HERE.
ABLE is another personal favourite of mine going above and beyond with a mission based company with strong values in how they employ, champion and care for people. I have a number of pieces from them. Through 2020 I’ve especially loved their dedication to getting the people who are making their products paid despite lower sales where other companies haven’t done that.
I have jeans, a leather jacket, shoes and accessories and love them all.
A US based brand we LOVE for basics, and more recently bed linens. Everything is certified fairtraid, GOTS cotton and being basics and timeless, it’s more affordable.
A family run British brand that we’ve used since I was a child, I remember it for always giving a snippet of information about the model like their favourite food or what they did when they weren’t modelling which I always loved reading as a child. They have a fun approach to kids wear and focus on items that will last. When we need to buy new this is my go to for kids.
I’m newer to reformation jeans and I was gifted a pair this year and instantly bought another. They fit so well, and honestly the store experience was so nice! Their big focus is saving water in the process which is a large factor with denim.
These are to me the gold standard of denim, but they come at a high price. That said they last really well and they actually come with free repairs for life which saves a LOT of money in replacing jeans. I also love a company with that philosophy. Jared has a few pairs and some that have been repaired more than once.
We have a few backpacks, legging, shorts and running shirts fr
om Cotopaxi and we love them. They’re built to last and they’re replace them if they don’t which I love. You can listen to a podcast about them with Kestral Jenkins on Concious Chatter and learn more about the company HERE. They have a range of backpacks made from the scraps of other fabrics to reduce waste which is what we have and it’s my go to for travelling with kids. Link goes to the 100% repurposed fabric collection that are one of a kind.
My go to Patagonia hat was actually a $3 thrift store find but it’s a great brand for long lasting outer wear. They’re a B corp who are really taking care of people and planet and building clothes that are designed to last and be worn over and over. We bought a kids jacket that we sized up and lasted 3 seasons and then got passed down and our kids loved and was so well made.
Their WORN line is a line of worn, returned, and certified reused items. I have a pair of sweatpants and I love the idea and the pants.
I wanted to cover this because I own a lot of Everlane clothing and I knew 
people would ask. I said earlier in 2020 that I’d stepped back from working with them officially because of some questions I had on transparency. That transparency question wasn’t on the conditions of manufacture but on a situation with US based employees trying to un
ionise, lay offs, and subsequent huge shipping delays and lack of communication. If your’e moving out of fast fashion and looking for a good place to start I do think they can be a helpful place to start but do your own research. I still think it’s a better option than fast fashion, and I do own and wear a lot of their items as part of my wardrobe.
We loved their recycled down and outerwear items from plastic bottles, their moving-to-zero-waste trainers the “Tread” and their denim.
A British brand I adore for knitwear and more timeless, very well made pieces. If you can find a sale they’re great!
parenting lifestyle items.We love Jojo mostly for when people want to buy new clothes for our kids and we want to help them shop well. If you’re looking fo
r a wide range of items and want to buy new from a B Corp brand or in some places actally shop on the high street this could be a great option.
Read about their mission and shop HERE
Organic Basics are the black leggings I’ve worn most days for a year (if you’ve watched any instagram story you’ve seen them!). Initially they gifted me a few items and I didn’t think I’d love the leggings but they’re honestly of all the more ethical leggings I’ve tried, hands down my favourite.
This brand gets better and better for me. They’re mostly really well made more timeless shoes but have added an Ethical Marketplace I find really useful for gifts and extra – look at the sunglasses! I got their Chelsea Boots last year and LOVE them.
Shop the Chelsea boots and ethical marketplace HERE.
All I can say is it’s the most supportive meets stylish sports bra I have and that’s saying something big in my world. I love the leggings too – they’re honestly buttery soft and stylish.
Outdoor VoicesI loved these especially post partum for thicker, supportive higher waisted leggings.
The British classic is what Jared has for his jacket (along with an Everlane Parker) and when I called them I discovered there are only 3 styles that are still made in the UK. Their website talks a lot about what they’re doing and things like being part of the better cotton initiative but when I called they were very unsure so the jury is out there for me but you can read more HERE. The three styles still made at their small factory in the UK are Beaufort, Bedale, and Beaumont.
I’m not instantly won over by one for one models but after listening to a podcast by the founder and knowing the giveback model is into a community he is from and understands I loved the company and bought a pair. I love mine.
My go to socks for kids as the only ones I’ve found that are made in a way that feels like they’re designed to be mended rather than replaced. They’re made in a small family factory in Alabama from just natural materials and are really well made. The customer service is also personal and amazing! It’s all I buy.
A newer find for us for mostly for adult socks!
Typically more selection that Thred up but each item ships from an individual seller so you pay shipping for each item vs one order for Thred up.
My go to Patagonia hat was actually a $3 thrift store find but it’s a great brand for long lasting outer wear. Their WORN line is a line of worn, returned, and certified reused items. I have a pair of sweatpants and I love the idea and the pants.
These are to me the gold standard of denim, but they come at a high price. That said they last really well and they actually come with free repairs for life which saves a LOT of money in replacing jeans. I also love a company with that philosophy. Jared has a few pairs and some that have been repaired more than once.
If you’re more local to us or live in London I can’t not mention my TOP choice of charity shop FARA. There are multiple locations across London and they actually have an online arm as well. The online is nothing like the in-store so this is mostly a recommendation for in store shopping but it’s where I’ve got 80% of our kids clothes from since birth.
I hope that helps to read some of the places we love. There are of course lots more and there always new ones appearing which I love seeing. But I wanted to share just the ones we personally have purchased and have experience with.
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