5 Ethical Fashion Brands Taking Stances & Being Activists

More and more fast fashion brands are being exposed for using sweatshops or relying on greenwashing and other unethical practices.

So, since I feel like we could all do with some hope and positivity lately, I decided to focus on the opposite: ethical fashion brands that, as well as using kind materials and fair production practices, are going the extra mile, whether that’s by donating to charities or being vocal about what they believe in, on social media.

If you want to vote with your money and support brands that are having a positive impact (while adding beautiful, timeless pieces to your wardrobe), this is a great place to start.

5 sustainable fashion brands that are taking stances, being activists, or donating to causes that matter

It was hard to choose! But here are some of the activist brands I’m currently obsessed with.

1. 8000Kicks – Fighting the stigma around hemp production

Hemp is one of the most sustainable fabrics, much more than the most commonly used ones: polyester and conventionally grown cotton.

And yet there’s a big stigma around it, and hemp is still illegal or heavily regulated in some countries.

The team behind 8000Kicks talks about this a lot on their social media, and they also organise pop-up events to spread awareness. 

In fact, their CEO was arrested during their Berlin pop-up, and their hemp plants were seized:

“It was a pretty scary moment when the police suddenly appeared at our door. We knew it could happen, but it happening is a whole new game,” Bernardo said. “Also, they were dressed pretty heavily, like intervention police. In the end all went well, because we were confident we were not doing anything wrong. It was just pure activism."

Talk about standing for what you believe in!

Shop 8000Kicks

2. Pitod – Standing for the LGBTQ+ community 

This is a genderless fashion brand, based on the belief that the frame we are born in does not define who or what we are.

Pitod supports the LGBTQ+ community and isn’t afraid to take stances (for example, they criticised the UK’s Supreme Court ruling excluding trans women in the definition of a woman, Viktor Orban trying to ban Pride in Hungary, and Trump's anti-DEI policies).

⁠They also talk about the importance of continuing to raise awareness outside Pride month, too.

Shop Pitod

3. Mejuri – Turning jewellery into hope

Despite its charming shiny look, most jewellery is shady when it comes to its production and the conditions workers are in, and it has a terrible environmental impact (to give you an idea, a single gold ring generates over 20 tonnes of waste).

Instead, Mejuri is actively driving change.

40% of their pieces are made from recycled gold and materials, and they’re using funds and partnerships to give scholarships to women and non-binary people, especially from Black communities.

Shop Mejuri

4. Reistor – Giving a future to women in need

India is plagued by sweatshops and workers trapped in modern slavery conditions. Fast fashion brands, in particular, keep exploiting them.

Luckily, there are also brands that are actively doing their part to improve this difficult situation.

Reistor is one of them. 

They partnered with NGO Srujna to help more Indian women build sustainable and self-sufficient lives.

They also use kind materials like hemp, and they believe that sustainability needs to be integrated into every aspect of fashion.

Shop Reistor

5. Elvis & Kresse – Ethical luxury 

You’d be excused for assuming that, given their price tags, all luxury items are automatically ethical. Sadly, that’s not the case.

Many luxury clothing and accessories companies use the same sweatshops and materials as fast fashion. What you’re actually paying for is the brand, not sustainable practices or eco-friendly materials.

Elvis & Kresse is different. 

They specialise in stylish accessories—especially bags—made under fair working conditions using niche repurposed material.

And they also donate a whopping 50% of their profits to charity.

Shop Elvis & Kresse 

Find more activist fashion brands on Project Cece

In a world where fast fashion is becoming even faster and more ruthless, it’s inspiring to know that there are also brands taking important stances and creating positive change, isn’t it?

And these were just some of my current favourites. There’s plenty more, though.

On Project Cece, we brought hundreds of fair trade brands in one place and added filters to simplify your choices. If you want to focus on those standing for something or donating to charity, use the Good Cause filter.

Let’s help these brands amplify their impact!