Plus Size Ethical Clothing: The Updated Ultimate Guide (2024)

For years, plus size ethical clothingfeltimpossible to find. Fair trade clothes are already a niche market; asking ethical fashion companies that barely break even to add new patterns and models to their collections just didn’t seem realistic. I know this from personal experience; when I became interested in ethical fashion a few years ago, it felt like there were virtuallyno plus-size collections on the market. I wrote a post featuring five plus size ethical clothing brandsin 2015,and two daysafter I published it, one of them closed their plus-size line. But that post stayed one of the highest-ranked articles on Google for “plus size ethical fashion,” because there justwasn’tmuch else out there.

Or so I thought.

In the two years since I wrote that post, dozens more plus size ethical clothing collections have sprung up online — at different price points, and in different styles. Thanks to the work and help of many other plus size ethical fashion hunters, I’ve compiled a list of as manyfair trade plus size companies and collections as I can. I’ve even organizedthem into a spreadsheetby price and style, because you can take the girl out of college, but you can’t take college out of the girl.

How These Plus Size Ethical Fashion Companies Were Compiled

To write this post, I first dug through the internet to find as many fair trade plus size companies as I could. However, there will always be companies that I haven’t heard of or that operate in countries outside my own, which is where other bloggers come in. I’ve done my best to find and go through every round up of plus size ethical clothing companies online, and compile the stores listed into a single post. I found the following blogs and bloggers especially helpful; you can check out their posts by clicking on their names:

I then narrowed down the list primarily based on 3 criteria: ethics, availability, and sizing. If a company was not an “ethical” brand or collection in a traditional sense (for example, if it was a multi-level marketing brand, or used unethical practices in sourcing or production), I did not include them. Any lines or companies that are no longer available are also, obviously, not included. Lastly, any plus-size company needs to go above an XL/14 to be listed in this post.Because ethical fashion is so hard to find in plus sizes, I wanted to make sure that any companies listed were truly available to plus sized people, and not just going to an XL, which is available in most lines.

A Note on Activewear and Intimates

I’m currently working on two posts on ethical plus size activewear and fair trade intimates, which is why companies that exclusively sell activewear or intimates are not included on this list. Once those posts are up, I will share them here.

With that said, let’s take a look at the collections!

Key to Plus Size Ethical Clothing Chart

Sizes go by the sizes listed on the website, with a link to the size chart so you can compare to your own measurements.
Model refers to the sources or production method that makes this company ethical, organic, or fair trade, with a link to their mission statement or “about us.”
Price is grades from one dollar sign ($) to four dollar signs ($$$$) with four being the most expensive. This is the approximate breakdown:
- $ = most pieces $20 USD or less
- $$ = most pieces $20-50
- $$$ = most pieces $50-100
- $$$$ = most pieces $100+
Style refers to the basic aesthetic of the brand. Obviously, all brands differ in their style and aesthetic, so these are just very general terms used to generally categorize the many companies below. The style names I’m using for this post are:
- Bohemian, referring to loose-fitting, artistic-inspired, or hippie-style clothing
- Classic, meaning more traditional or feminine style
- Modern, meaning dramatic, sleeker, or edgier clothing
- Retro, meaning vintage-style clothing
- Sophisticated, meaning clothing that leans moremature, elegant, or office-appropriate
- Staples, referring to essential camisoles, tank tops, or other basics

Alternative Apparel

This USA-based brand focuses on primarily sustainable staples like tank-tops, tee shirts, and leggings.

Location: USA

Sizes: XS to 2X (3X in Mens) —View Size Chart

Model: NaturalFibers and Ethical Production Standards —View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style: Staples

Beth Ditto

This designer collection is exclusive to plus sizes and features edgy, modern pieces.

Location: USA

Sizes: to a 3X / 38 — Size Chart available on individual product pages

Model: Ethical Production Standards —View Mission Statement

Cost: $$$$

Style:Modern

Blue Sky Clothing Co.

Blue Sky Clothing Co. is a Canadian brand featuring classic, eco-friendly pieces in a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes.

Location:Canada

Sizes: XS to 4X— View Size Chart

Model: Natural Fibers and Ethical Production Standards —View Mission Statement

Cost: $$$

Style:Classic

Cherry Velvet

A Canadian brand specializing in vintage-inspired plus sized clothes.

Location:Canada

Sizes: XS to 4X— View Size Chart

Model: Made in Canada —View Mission Statement

Cost: $$$

Style:Retro

Decent Exposures

This Seattle-based company makes clothes, bras, and underwear in organic cotton. Their “un-bra” is made to your measurements.

Location:USA

Sizes: to a 4X— View Size Chart

Model: Made in America, Organic—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Staples

Diane Kennedy

This Canadian company sells both basic tank tops and slacks, as well as more dramatic, asymmetrical tops.

Location:Canada

The Dress Collective

Ethical, Australian-made classic clothing items.

Location:Australia

Sizes: 6 to 24— Available on individual product pages

Model: Ethically Produced, Made in Australia—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic

Eileen Fisher

An American brand that’s been a leader in sustainable higher end fashion for years.

Location:USA

Sizes: XXS to 3X — View Size Chart

Model: Natural Fibers, Ethical Production—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$$$

Style: Sophisticated

Fresh Produce Clothes

This beachy American brand has a plus size line and a Made-in-America collection.

Location:USA

Sizes: XS to 3X — View Size Chart

Model: Made in USA—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic

Gaia Conceptions

Gaia Conceptions focuses on ethical production and natural fibers for their bohemian-inspired line of clothes and staples.

Location:USA

Sizes: XXS to XXL— View Size Chart

Model: Natural Fibers, Ethical Production—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$$

Style:Staples, Bohemian

Hackwith Design House

A young and modern brand that has both a straight size and a plus size line.

Location:USA

Sizes: 1 to 4— Size chart available on individual product pages

Model: Made in America—View Mission Statement

Cost: $$-$$$

Style:Sophisticated

Hope and Harvest

An Australian line of dresses and tops, ethically produced.

Location:Australia

Sizes:12 to 26 — View Size Chart

Model: Ethical Production — Contact to Ask About Mission

Cost: $$-$$$

Igigi

This collection of dresses is great for special occasions and is made exclusively in the USA.

Location:USA

Sizes:14 to 36 — View Size Chart

Model: Made in USA— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic

Karen Kane

Classic and work-appropriate pieces made in the USA.

Location:USA

Sizes: XS to 3X— View Size Chart

Model: Made in USA— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$-$$$

Style:Classic, Modern

Kobomo

This Australian company produces beautiful classic and bohemian pieces with an ethical giving model.

Location:Australia

Sizes: XS to 3X— Size chart available on individual product pages

Model: Buy 1 Give 1 to Charity— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic,Sophisticated, Bohemian

Love Your Peaches

These pieces are designed and made with love by a plus size woman in the USA.

Location:USA

Sizes: 1X to 6X—View Size Chart

Model: Made in USA— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$-$$$

Style:Classic

Lur

Clean and classic pieces made of sustainable and recycled materials.

Location:USA

Sizes: 00-24— Available on individual product pages

Model: Ethical Production, Recycled Materials — View Mission Statement

Cost: $-$$

Style: Staples

Marketplace Handwork of India

Beautiful bohemian pieces made with a model of economic development in India.

Location: India

Sizes: S-4W, 6-32 —View Size Chart

Model: Economic Development — View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style: Bohemian

Mata Traders

Fun, patterned separates in straight sizes and plus sizes.

Location:USA

Sizes: XS to 3X —View Size Chart

Model: Fair Trade — View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic, Bohemian

On the Plus Side

Vibrant separates made in the US and available exclusively in plus sizes.

Location:USA

Sizes: 1X to 8X —View Size Chart

Model: Natural Fibers — View Mission Statement

Cost: $-$$

Style:Bohemian

Seasalt of Cornwall

Beautiful classic pieces in fun prints and sturdy materials.

Location:UK

Sizes: 6 to 24—View Size Chart

Model: Natural Fibers, Made in UK — View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Classic

SmartGlamour

Modern pieces made in the US and available in a variety of sizes.

Location:USA

Sizes: XXS to 6X—View Size Chart

Model: Made in USA— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Modern

Sudara

Beautiful patterned pajama pants and basic tees, made witha fair trade model.

Location:USA

Sizes: XS to XXL —View Size Chart

Model: Fair Trade— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Bohemian

Winter Sun

Beautiful patterned pajama pants and basic tees, made witha fair trade model.

Location:USA

Sizes: S to 3X —View Size Chart

Model: Fair Trade— View Mission Statement

Cost: $$

Style:Bohemian

There are now more fair trade plus size clothing companies and plus size ethical fashion collections than ever before.The companies above include clothes in a variety of styles and at different price points. Size doesn’t need to limit your ability to practice conscious consumerism.

If you know of other plus size ethical fashion companies or collections that aren’t included here, please comment below and I’ll add it to this list!