Love, Lydia - Notes from a geeky, plus sized artist.: Ethical Plus Size Fashion

Ethical Plus Size Fashion

Here's my ongoing list of ethical and/or sustainable brands that offer plus sizes.  Please let me know if you have a new one to share with me!  Thanks go out to Verena Erin of My Green Closet and this post at Let's Be Fair for helping me get this list started.  I just wanted to create a resource for folks like me, trying to figure how to buy with care.  If a link has a referral program (a loyalty program any customer has access to) I denote that by putting a * next to the link and if they are an affiliate to my site (by shopping through my link or discount code you help support my blog) there will be a ◊ by the name.

Price Ratings - $=most items $0-50, $$=most items $40-100, $$$=most items $80-250, $$$$=$150+



The Big List of Ethical Plus Size Stores!


Blue Sky Clothing Company is Canadian based and takes pride in making clothing for women of all shapes and sizes that's also fairtrade and eco-friendly.  They've got pieces that fit in the workplace or weekend with both great basics and more adventurous designs as well, in sizes XS-4X.  $-$$

Bombsheller ◊ (use code GEEKMEUP for a discount) Bombsheller specializes in beautifully printed leggings made in Seattle with fabric sourced ethically from Italy.  They have tons of designs with something for everyone.  Artists can even create their own legging designs, which will be stitched individually rather than mass produced.  This makes their leggings true to size!  Currently they make up to a 2X in most designs, which is about a 20/22, and 3X & 4X in select new designs.  Thanks to Kelly Sue DeConnick, author of Bitch Planet, Captain Marvel, etc, they will even be bringing in more sizes up to 6X in the future, though it's already here for their two Bitch Planet designs.  Click here to read my review of their #wyvernscale leggings. $$

Cherry Velvet is made in Canada and retro stunning.  They mostly make dresses inspired by vintage styles as well as the crinolines and hair flowers to go with them.  Their designs are incredibly well made and comfortable, mostly using cotton or cotton blends, in sizes XS-4X $$-$$$

Decent Exposures is a woman-owned business that custom-makes sports bras and other simple basics. They make all their products in the US and offer organic cotton and claim to treat their employees fairly/flexibly.  Their official size chart goes from XS-4X (57" hip) but they will custom-make larger sizes at no extra charge.  $$

Diane Kennedy is the sister site to Cherry Velvet, also made in Canada with eco friendly practices all the way through production. Their designs are more contemporary casual, including lots of great basics with a twist, in sizes S-3X $-$$$

Eileen Fisher makes ethical and sustainable clothing in elegantly timeless designs.  They specialize in the kind of quality pieces that help round out a wardrobe made to last, in size 0-24. $$-$$$$

Elegantees creates ethical tops and more in soft cotton/spandex blends.  Many of their items are ethically made in Nepal and the company has made a point of helping to support women making new lives for themselves after exiting sex trafficking.  All of this while making incredibly affordable, stylish pieces!  Sizes XS-2X $

Etsy shops come from all parts of the world, and many shops have one person who makes your clothes from start to finish when you order.  Just remember to read about their shop before you buy and you should be able to tell who is making your clothes and how well you're paying their salary!  Lots of custom sizes are available too. (please contact me if you wish to have your shop considered for its own entry on this list) $-$$$$

Girl With Curves is Made in the USA and the brainchild of blogger Tanesha Awashti.  Her line has casual graphic tops and more formal skirts and dresses in sizes 12-24. $$-$$$

Hope & Harvest is an Australian brand making ethically sourced plus size items in high style.  They even showed up at this year's New York Fashion Week to share their casual cool designs in US size 10-24.  $$-$$$$

Igigi excells in dresses, though they have some separates as well.  They're made in San Francisco with basic separates starting at moderate prices all the way up to wedding dresses that come in closer to $500.  They carry sizes 12-32.  $-$$$$

Love Your Peaches is owned by a fat woman. Their size chart goes to 6X (70" bust, 76" hip) but they will custom make items to different measurements at no extra charge. And everything is made in the US - New York in fact! $$

LuLaRoe is a shop you may not have heard of because they often do direct sales via Facebook and host pop-up shops, though you can also buy online.  They started as all American made except some of their leggings, and have expanded to fair trade certified (by SGS) factories in a number of contries as well.  They do small runs of all their fabric patterns, 1000 pieces usually, in a set variety of garments - the Irma top, perfect tee, etc.  Nothing in their store currently costs over $60 and they carry sizes XS-3XL though their sizing is different by piece.  $-$$

lur is a unique brand with fashion forward designs in cozy casuals and sustainable ideals.  Their clothing is made by folks paid a fair wage and made out of 100% recycled materials!  They carry sizes 00-24 (up to 20 in most designs). $-$$

Making It Big carries a variety of styles in 90% natural fibers.  Many of their pieces are made in the USA, and those that aren't are made by thoughtfully chosen partners.  Materials are as eco friendly as possible, and made with more gentle fiber reactive dyes.  They carry size 1X-8X!  $-$$

Marketplace Handwork of India is a non-profit that helps women break the cycle of poverty, becoming leaders along the way.  11 cooperatives make all kinds of clothing with a more casual feel including lovely hand painted fabrics in some garments.  They go up to a size 32 (UK perhaps? Their size chart doesn't look as roomy as most) $-$$

Mata Traders is a brand that's carried at Modcloth, but you can also find more designs at their own site.  They're fairtrade and currently developing better plus size designs so they're up to a 2X will soon be back up to a 3X again.  $$


Modcloth◊ is one of my personal favorite sites, they also happen to carry a good number of fairtrade and Made In The USA brands.  Many of their pieces are available up to a size 4X and recently they've come out with their own line.  Pay attention as you shop if you want to be sure of each brand's integrity.  $-$$$

Poshmark* (You can use invite code PYIHF to get $5 or more off your first purchase!) Poshmark is a site for individuals to buy and sell new and gently used clothing.  You do the legwork of taking pictures, creating listings, mailing off each order according to community standards, and get to set your own prices for what you sell. $-$$$ 

Smart Glamour carries sizes XXS-6X and makes designs with classic appeal.  Their pieces are versatile with a bit of edge with great crop tops, lovely dresses, and fun skirts.  They're handmade in NYC and affordable for most budgets! $-$$

Sudara is a fairtrade organization based in India.  They help women who were formerly in slavery or sex trafficking by teaching them sewing skills so they can create casual clothing and "Punjammies" up to a size 24 with tall pant lengths too.  $

Sumissura is created in China by fairly paid workers with full benefits.  The way their site works is you pick the details you want for business ready basics, with a recorded 1,500,000 combinations, though there are more fabric choices than design choices.  Everything on their site is made to your measurements, and if you're not happy with it they'll remake you item. $$-$$$$

Thred Up* (By using this link to sign up you can $10 or more off your first two purchases.) Thred Up is a great source for new and gently used secondhand clothes, and you can sell your items there as well.  They send you a postage paid bag, which you fill with whatever you think they might want.  They're selective about what they buy and pay you about 1/4 of what each items sells for.  It's not as profitable as Poshmark, but it's much easier and less time consuming. $-$$$

Winter Sun specializes in hand painted fairtrade clothing with lots of beautiful details, it's truly art clothing.  Pieces come in size S-3X.  $$-$$$

30 comments:

  1. Hi, I read Fatshionista on LJ, and a friend pointed me at your blog. Here are a a few other retailers that could be argued to count as ethical:

    MakingItBig.com carries a few Winter Sun pieces in sizes up to 7X (71" bust, 77" hip) and also a number of natural fabric items (same size chart) made in the US. They are committed to green practices. $$-$$$

    DecentExposures.com is a woman-owned business that custom-makes sports bras and other simple basics. Their official size chart goes to 4X (57" hip) but they will custom-make larger sizes at no extra charge. They make all their products in the US and offer organic cotton and claim to treat their employees fairly/flexibly. $$

    LoveYourPeaches.com is owned by a fat woman. Their size chart goes to 6X (70" bust, 76" hip) but they will custom make items to different measurements at no extra charge. I believe everything is made in the US. $$

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I'll definitely add these to my list and check them out as well. Yay for more options!

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  3. I'm picky. I don't want material too thick, too thin, too slippery, etc. I pretty much live in yoga pants, since I both teach and practice. There are a couple of work out gear brands which are personal favorites, but when it comes to quality and price, these cannot be beat.

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  8. Lularoe is basically a pyramid scheme. Comfy clothes, but I'm not sure I'd put them on an ethical list.

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  9. I'd also take a look at Holy Clothing! They advertise as ethically made in India, and go up to a 5x.

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  10. Thank you for the work in compiling this list, it's really helpful for us to have as many resources as possible, but please reconsider including LulaRoe. LulaRoe is a terrible Multi Level Marketing (MLM) company that takes advantage of it's "employees" who spend thousands of dollars on inferior products that are not sustainably produced that they cannot sell. LulaRoe ruins women's lives. I've attached a link to a Vice video article about the company . https://youtu.be/L6eujSJ0-RU
    I realize this list was created some time ago and may not be updated to reflect current information. Thank you again for your effort to share resources with our community!

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