Ethical Denim: The New Class

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Remember when ethical denim was hard to find? For years, shopping for jeans with sustainable manufacturing ethics meant unfamiliar brands and overseas shipping. Now, with new players entering the field, ethical jeans are more stylish and accessible than ever. Here are my top denim picks for conscious consumers:

Best for Tall Women: Prana

Ethics: Organic cotton, certified through GOTS or OCS
Price: $89-99
When looking for a new pair of skinny jeans, I had Prana at the top of my list thanks to their option for 33” inseams (29” and 31” also are available). A friend’s discount allowed me to buy the jeans for half price. I ordered the mid-rise London jeans, and I found them so comfortable and flattering that I immediately ordered a pair in black. After a year of wear, my original indigo jeans offer a slouchier fit than I would prefer; the denim becomes loose after a few hours. However, the black pair of London jeans hold their shape and style well and are one of my favorite things to wear when I want to look good.
Bonus: Prana offers extended sizes up to 22W and also offers jeans for men. 

Best for Fashionistas: ABLE

Price: $128-$158
Ethics: Handcrafted in Mexico
A dear friend bought a pair of ABLE jeans at a Nashville boutique, and she raved about the quality and fit (they did look amazing!). One afternoon I tried on a pair at ABLE’s flagship store, and those jeans rocketed to the top of my wishlist. The material and workmanship in the jeans justified the higher price point, and the style was incredibly flattering. I just bought my own pair of ABLE jeans after saving for a few months, and I have not been disappointed. The denim is comfortable enough for coffee house writing time but stylish enough for my neighborhood’s trendiest cafes. ABLE seems to specialize in offering of-the-moment silhouettes and styles, so they are my pick for anyone wanting to stay ahead of the fashion curve. 

Best for Busy Women: Madewell/J.Crew

Price: $89-$128
Ethics: Fair-trade certified
Ethical fashion fans everywhere have been encouraged to hear that mega-brand J.Crew and its Madewell label are offering fair trade options for denim. While not all of the brands’ denim has fair trade certification, both stores offer several fair trade styles. I visited Madewell and J.Crew at my local mall to try on their jeans in person. In both stores, salespeople were delighted to help me find fair trade jeans. They made sure I had everything I needed, even when I confessed I was only doing research. Available in retail stores across the nation, Madewell and J.Crew’s fair trade denim lines may be game-changers for shoppers who want easier access to ethical fashion, especially since the brands offer a ship-to-store option for hard-to-find sizes and styles.
Bonus: Both brands offer up to a pants size 37 in some styles, and J. Crew offers fair trade styles for men

Best for the Budget-Conscious: Everlane

Price: $68-$78
Ethics: Made with transparency in a socially responsible factory
Everlane’s new denim line got lots of buzz, but the 28″ inseam the company originally offered was a bit short for me. Eventually, I decided to use referral credit (thank you, readers!) to risk a style I wasn’t sure about, and I ordered a pair of Everlane’s high-rise skinny jeans. The jeans are surprisingly comfortable, and they are made from thick denim that reminds me of an old-fashioned pair of Wranglers. While I wouldn’t have been happy with the short length and norm-core feel if these were my only pair of jeans, they work for an interesting variation. After I bought these jeans, Everlane added options for stretch denim and longer inseams, so shoppers looking for more traditional skinny fits may find what they need (along with straight cuts and light washes for you 1990s fans). Everlane also offers a variety of jeans for men.

Best for Plus-Size Women: Reformation, Prana, Madewell, and J.Crew

Price Range: $89-$128
Ethics: Varies according to brand
I was excited to find that cool-girl brand Reformation offers a line of extended sizes, including denim. Most of their jeans are made sustainably in a factory in Los Angeles. The amazing news is that the Ref is one of several options available to plus-size shoppers; Prana offers styles up to size 22W, while Madewell and J.Crew offer their fair trade denim in the equivalent of a size 24. (If you are a curvy girl and have tried denim from one of these brands, I would love to hear from you about the fit and durability of these offerings.)

Looking for more denim options? Here’s my original denim round-up from several years ago. My friend Leah offers in-depth reviews of several jeans over on StyleWise, so check out her site if you want more details on specific styles.

Happy shopping!