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These brands are more stylish and sustainable than Zara

+ pretty pointelle picks

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Barely a week goes by without the mainstream fashion media christening another new Zara item as the viral “it” product that’s predicted to sell out iminently. This false sense of urgency is a key element in the fast fashion business model, which relentlessly pushes people into a cycle of buying and discarding more stuff, and more quickly, than ever before. The Inditex-owned brand helped to pioneer fast fashion a few decades ago, and it remains a big player in the space. Zara has long pushed constant consumption to further its profits, and unsurprisingly, our analysis shows that the brand isn’t doing or disclosing enough about its impact.

Zara’s middling rating “It’s a Start” shows that while it is taking some good actions, it isn’t doing enough to minimise the harmful impacts of its business model. The brand doesn’t provide evidence that it ensures all the workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage, for example, which is vital for a business with such vast network of people involved in the making of its products. So which brands are doing the work? 

This week, we’re sharing a guide to the more sustainable brands producing stylish clothes within the boundaries of doing better by people, the planet, and animals. 

In this week’s issue:
  • Cool brands doing better than Zara: style doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet
  • Pointelle picks: the fabric may be trending now, but we’ve long known it as a lower impact option. Here are our favourite items from better brands
  • On a budget? These exclusive discounts for readers could help you save when you next need to buy new.
Zara rates “It’s a Start”. It has introduced some measures to put its business on a better path, like opting to use some lower-impact materials, providing training and mechanisms for dealing with harassment to workers in its supply chain, and supporting organisations that are addressing the impacts of microplastics. On the other hand, it’s still using polyester—a key depositor of microplastics, it doesn’t state that everyone in its supply chain is paid a living wage, and it still promotes overconsumption with its fast fashion business model, which will never be sustainable. Here are our top four picks. Click through to see the full list.
  • Lanius (“Good”) is a PETA-approved vegan brand from Germany making stylish men’s and womenswear from lower-impact materials 
  • Istanbul-based OhSevenDays (“Good”) is loved for its dresses made using reclaimed end-of-roll fabrics from the city’s garment factories
  • JAN N’ JUNE (“Good”) is a women-owned brand making cool essentials using materials including GOTS certified cotton and linen
  • US brand Toad&Co (“Good”) makes clothes inspired by outdoorsy pursuits that work just as well for a brunch date
All the alternatives to Zara.
Pointelle has been trending recently thanks to the likes of Zoe Kravitz, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter wearing the style. But we’ve long known that it is more than a fashion statement: it’s a great lower-impact material to add to your underwear (or casualwear) collection, since it is most commonly made from organic cotton and has a knit structure that doesn’t require the addition of stretch fibres. What’s more, its popular off-white colour requires no dyeing to achieve, meaning it’s a staple in the ranges of many brands that focus on non-toxic clothing. Here are four favourite from top-rated brands.
Discover all the more sustainable pointelle picks.
Clockwise from top left: alchemist cap; No Nasties dress; Pangaia lilac shorts; Kuyichi pink trousers; Undercover bralette; SeamsFriendly orange and yellow dresses’ alchemist red top

Being comfortable doesn’t have to come at the expense of being stylish, and these vibrant picks from top-rated brands prove it. There are bright dresses in lower-impact materials, cosy loungewear in pastel hues, and more. Plus, they’ve all got discounts available for Good On You readers as part of our initiative to help you save a little money while supporting better brands.

Check out our picks above, and click through for details of each brand’s offer.
See all discounts and offer codes.
Good On You publishes the world’s most comprehensive ratings of fashion and beauty brands’ impact on people, the planet, and animals. Use our directory or app to search thousands of rated brands.

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