Eco-friendly places to buy everything from clothing to candles

Urban Outfitters is a multinational corporation that sells everything from clothing to makeup to home goods to electronics.

But where are those products coming from? Is Urban Outfitters ethical?

Their lack of transparency and apparent lack of care for labor rights and environmental concerns tells us they still have a long way to go. They don’t tend to have on offer an abundance of thoughtfully-made, ethically-created essentials made by brands with a mission.

If you'd rather shop at a place that does, I’m with you.

That’s why I’ve put together this handy dandy little list of alternative shops where you can get (almost) everything you’d find at Urban Outfitters.

Of course, when you shop with the brands on this list, you’re giving your money to big-hearted businesses that are working to make the world a better place.

Talk about spending your money wisely!

Before we dig into the list, if you would like to learn about brands that are changing the way the world does business, be the first to know about new arrivals on DoneGood, and get exclusive discounts delivered right to your inbox, sign up for email from DoneGood below. We'll start you off with over a dozen ways to save on ethically-made products.

For your body

The first thing I tend to think of when I think of Urban Outfitters is their men's and women's clothing. Probably a common thought, given the name of the store.

Luckily for ethical shoppers everywhere, there are a ton of great sustainable clothing brands out there that are trying to reduce the immense environmental impact of the clothing industry. Some of those great clothing brands include:

Lev Apparel

WOMEN'S CLOTHES • ACCESSORIES 

Ethically-made apparel designed to empower women of all shapes and celebrate all bodies. They believe empowered women empower women; all their workers are paid and treated fairly.

ÉTICA

WOMEN'S CLOTHES • ACCESSORIES 

Family-owned premium denim brand ethically-made, sustainably sourced and designed to last.

Groceries Apparel

WOMEN'S CLOTHES • MEN'S CLOTHES • ACCESSORIES 

Simple and stylish apparel, made from 100% organic and recycled materials. Groceries Apparel is obsessed with supply chain transparency and creating good-paying jobs at their ethical factory in LA.

Saola

MEN'S & WOMEN'S SHOES 

Sustainable vegan kicks that value style, comfort, and versatility. SAOLA shoes are made with recycled plastic, organic cotton, cork, and algae.

For your home

Urban Outfitters doesn’t sell just clothing, though. They also have a range of items to outfit your house with all manner of home goods. Once again, home goods have been a particular focus of the ethical goods industry for a while now. There are many places to find home essentials made with heart. Some of my favorites are: 

UncommonGoods

KITCHEN • LIVING ROOM • GIFTS • DECOR

Thousands of unique and unusual gifts mindfully made by independent makers. From fun jewelry and cool accessories to creative home décor and kitchen items, UncommonGoods handpicks creative, purposeful products with impeccable design. 

Newly

KITCHEN • LIVING ROOM

B Corp certified goods from 100% recycled or repurposed materials that make home beautiful and give back 1% for the planet. Check out their collection of glasses, vases, trays, throw blankets, and more.

Under The Canopy

BEDROOM • BATHROOM 

Organic cotton essentials for bed, bath, and more at an affordable price! Certified Fair Trade, GOTS organic, and by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Save 10% off your first order with promo code CANOPY10

Ten Thousand Villages

JEWELRY • HOME • GIFTS 

Brick and mortar shop with a rotating supply of unique decor and home essentials. Their assortment of goods is created by artisans around the world who are receiving a fair wage for their work.

Take $20 off your $100 order with code DONEGOODTTV

For your vanity

Makeup and skincare are two more big sources of Urban Outfitter’s revenue. They sell some of the most popular products with huge followings, and some of them are cruelty-free, organic, or vegan while others aren’t.

If you’d prefer to shop in peace, without feeling like you’re navigating a minefield trying to avoid the products that don’t match your values, try shopping at places like these:

Nourish & Refine

SKINCARE • CANDLES

Nontoxic, completely natural, cruelty-free skincare products and candles, handmade in the USA. All products are made with five ingredients or less!

Teadora

SKINCARE • HAIR CARE

Luxurious skincare for men and women that check all the boxes. 100% vegan, cruelty-free, fair trade, sustainably made, and biodegradable.

J&L Naturals

SKINCARE • HAIR CARE • DEODORANT

All-natural, plant-based, and plastic-free self care necessities. J&L Naturals is a small, family-run company who puts sustainability at the heart of everything they do. 

Babo Botanicals

SKINCARE • HAIR CARE • SUN CARE • BABY

Organic skincare and beauty products that are proven to work. Vegan and cruelty-free items are clearly marked in each product’s description.

 

For your gadgets

This is where things start to get a little bit tricky, since electronics is one industry that’s extremely difficult to break into as a small business. It will be a while yet before we see an “ethical iPhone” on the market, I think. Still, you can be thoughtful about the accessories you buy for your devices. And here are a few places to buy ethically-made accessories for your electronics:  

MPOWERD

SOLAR-POWERED LIGHTS, SPEAKERS, AND CHARGERS  • RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES  

Lightweight, waterproof solar-powered lights and more. MPOWERD creates affordable, clean energy products for your home and adventures—and gives back their solar lanterns to provide clean, reliable lighting in the developing world. 

MADE FREE

BAGS & ACCESSORIES

Handcrafted laptop cases and bags for your gear. Every purchase supports crafters through self-sustaining employment, which means freedom from slavery and poverty.

 

   

Kayla Robbins
DoneGood Contributor

A freelance writer working with bighearted businesses who want to better our world.

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