Ethical Alternatives to Madewell

A favorite for classic basics with a carefree vibe, Madewell has been a popular topic in the ethical fashion world for the last few years. After all, their timeless styles, sustainability promises, and even their name hints that their clothes are...made...well.

Madewell is a prime example that conscious consumerism and advocacy really does make a difference. Once just a typical fast fashion brand under the J. Crew umbrella, Madewell has made serious strides in the sustainability world over the last decade. That must be due in large part to consumer demand. But do all these changes mean that we can now consider Madewell an ethical and sustainable brand? This article will review Madewell's ethics and sustainability practices and discuss:

• Is Madewell Ethical?
• Madewell Sustainability Statistics
• 6 Brands like Madewell That are Ethical & Sustainable

Is Madewell Ethical? 

Madewell has taken some steps on the ethical side of things. They have a code of conduct that prohibits child labor, forced labor and demands reasonable work hours and at least minimum wages. Their factories are audited by a third party, and a little over half of their denim is made in the B Corp and fair trade certified factory Saitex. These steps forward are worth celebrating!

However, looking closer, even at these small victories, it's important to see the issues. In 2022, about half of Madewell's denim was made in fair trade factories, that's only 56% and it's only their denim. That leaves thousands of other products that have much less oversight into how they're being made and how their workers are being treated. As of 2024, they've increased that number to 90%, still leaving 10% of their denim unaccounted for. And what about the rest of the materials used in their clothing?

That's where their code of conduct comes in. Their 2019 code of conduct shows that their factories are audited by a third party to ensure that factories are abiding by the code. But in their 2019 audit, only 40% of factories were in full compliance. 56% had mild to moderate compliance issues and 4% had serious issues. Madewell still had work to do in transparency, certifications, and paying workers living wages. In 2025, their Supplier Code of Conduct lists restrictions on things like forced and child labor. But did it take too long to get there?

Madewell Sustainability Statistics

Madewell has made some headway in the area of environmental sustainability. They have a preloved program that recycles or resells pre-worn Madewell denim to cut down on textile waste. They are also beginning to use recycled fabrics and materials in their collections. These are steps that we love to see.

It seems Madewell is aiming to lower their carbon footprint. Madewell made some bold sustainability goals a few years back, but their 2019 practices don't seem to be matching up to their lofty goals. 

 

• Carbon: Madewell states that they plan to be carbon-neutral by 2030. This is a hefty goal, and when you look at what they're doing to get there, they mention successes like switching to LED lights, paperless receipts, and offsetting their shipping. These are great starting places for sure, but nowhere near the action that needs to be taken for a massive company to be carbon neutral!
• Materials: Back in 2019 Madewell had the goal of 100% of their key fibers sustainably sourced and free of virgin plastic. And for a progress report, Madewell cites that 67% of fabric for their spring collection is sourced "more sustainably." But this is part of one of their collections, and the "more sustainably" phrase is vague and troubling if we're talking about actual progress.

As of now (early 2025) we are still waiting on their 2024 report to see if they have made progress. Let's hope they have!

6 Brands Like Madewell That Are Ethical & Sustainable, And Always Have Been

So, as we've seen, Madewell is a mixed bag. We applaud the steps they've taken towards more ethical and sustainable manufacturing. We appreciate the goals they've made and cheer them on as they work towards them. But...they've still got a little way to go. So, in the meantime, we've got some brand recommendations for you.

These brands are similar in style to Madewell, but they're going above and beyond when it comes to taking care of people and the planet, and they've done so since the beginning! Let's check them out.

1. ÉTICA

If you were going to Madewell for jeans, you may have just found the perfect swap! ÉTICA is a family-owned brand committed to making durable, high-quality denim that's leading the way in ethics and sustainability. And their numbers are just better than Madewell's.

Compared to traditional brands, ÉTICA designs reduce water usage by 90%, energy consumption by 63%, and chemical usage by 70%. 100% of their products exceed fair trade standards, providing workers with living wages, health benefits, on-staff doctors, and free meals in an ÉTICA-owned factory.

2. Bee & Alpaca

Bee & Alpaca is a sustainable fashion brand committed to reducing environmental impact by upcycling excess, deadstock, and discarded textiles into high-quality, casual wear.  Instead of mass production, they focus on creating great pieces while saving materials, even for batch sizes of a few pieces. Plus. 100% of emissions caused by their entire processes are offset via carbon certificates.

3. Toad & Co

If you love Madewell's basics, you'll love Toad & Co's colorful and fully sustainable take on colorful basics. Toad & Co is an eco-conscious casualwear brand that embodies the mission to "live well, do good." With over 20 years of commitment to sustainability, Toad & Co uses ethical manufacturing practices and eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled materials in all of their stylish, functional clothing. The brand goes beyond creating sustainable products by using reusable mailers and giving 1% of its revenue back to environmental causes. Additionally, Toad & Co partners with non-profits that support adults with disabilities, further expanding their positive impact on both people and the planet.

4. Reistor

Reistor is a mindful and conscious clothing brand dedicated to creating minimal, versatile styles that are as timeless as they are eco-friendly. Emerging from a need for change in the polluting fashion industry, Reistor focuses on reducing its environmental impact through designs crafted from sustainable materials like hemp, biodegradable trims, and compostable packaging. They only use Oekotex® and bluesign® approved dyes and they offset their carbon footprint through GreenStory. Beyond sustainability, Reistor empowers women from disadvantaged communities by offering fair-wage vocational training, inspiring ethical fashion choices and contributing to a more sustainable future.

5. Nisolo

 

If you're into Madewell's shoes and accessories, you'll want to check out Nisolo for classic boots, sneakers, purses, bags and more. It's all made with sustainably-sourced leather that's a byproduct of the meat industry and made in Nisolo-owned ethical factories. Nisolo pays their workers above fair trade wages, provides healthcare benefits, and offers life-changing personal development programs. 

And if you loved the idea of Madewell's buyback program, Nisolo has a take back program too! But instead of reselling preloved Nisolo products, Nisolo donates them to entrepreneurs in the developing world who repair and resell the shoes to help further develop the economy in their communities. And as a sweet byproduct of keeping shoes out of landfills and helping lift up developing countries, Nisolo also offers $40 toward a future purchase. Not bad! 

5. DoneGood

 

OK, so DoneGood isn't exactly a brand. We're a marketplace where you can find dozens of brands that are better than Madewell—brands like all the ones above. When you shop DoneGood, you'll find thousands of products that were all made with fair labor and eco-friendly practices with slow fashion principles. 

 

We make sure our brands model transparency by disclosing sourcing, production, environmental practices and more. We check that they're using sustainable materials and low or zero-waste production practices. Then, we ensure they've got ethical certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, GOTS, Rainforest Alliance, FSC, Peta-approved vegan and more to back up their claims.

We're all about trying to make ethical shopping as convenient, affordable, and stress-free as possible! Check out our collection of women's, men's and kids' clothes for thousands of more ethical alternatives to Madwell! And find out more about us here!

We're grateful for the steps Madewell has taken to empower workers and take care of the planet. Little changes add up—especially for huge brands. They've got a ways to go and we hope they'll keep making changes.

But in the meantime, you can find alternatives to Madewell! Lots of brands out there are killing it when it comes to sustainability, worker empowerment, and more. Check out the brands above who are taking care of people and the planet, and make sure you check out our collections to find even more!

 

This blog was originally written in October of 2021 and was updated in 2022 and again in 2025 to reflect updated information and brand inclusions.