Sustainable Fashion That Actually Caters To Plus-Size Individuals

Finding fashionable clothes is really difficult when you're a plus-sized person. Finding clothes that are fashionable and made in a way that protects the environment can feel impossible. Sustainable fashion has a well-earned reputation for not being size inclusive because very few of the popular brands carry clothes above an XL. Project Cece, an organization that helps people find sustainable, ethically-made clothing, explains that this is because of the myriad barriers to creating size-inclusive sustainable clothing. Ethical and sustainable brands take on much higher business costs — like expensive fabrics, manufacturing processes, and shipping — than fast fashion brands. This often leaves them with less budget for quality expanded sizes.

Producing an excellent plus-size line involves hiring several plus-size models and doing multiple rounds of fit testing before even manufacturing a product for sale instead of simply sizing up patterns like many brands do. It's also really difficult to find eco-conscious materials with enough stretch to fit plus-size bodies comfortably. And many sustainable brands (incorrectly) believe that there just isn't a market for fashionable and sustainable plus-size clothes. With smaller budgets than fast fashion brands, sustainable brands literally can't afford to produce a line that won't sell.

So, eco-conscious plus-size fashionistas often think they have no other option than fast fashion. But that's not true! Here are a few ethical and sustainable brands that actually do cater to folks of all sizes.

Most brands focus on regular sizes Small to Extra-Large and then launch plus-size lines to expand their market. And it's really clear to plus-size folks that those brands aren't focused on their bodies. But not Superfit Hero. Their brand is exclusively dedicated to plus sizes Large through 7X. They worked extensively with plus-size influencers, models, and activists to fit test their clothes on all types of bodies, and it shows. Their products fit and fit well on a wide variety of bodies, as their website clearly shows.

Superfit Hero is also dedicated to manufacturing their clothes ethically and sustainably. They partner with two factories that pay fair wages and meet rigorous standards for employee well-being. Most of their clothes are made locally in California, reducing their carbon footprint from shipping, and their fabrics are certified non-toxic. They're working on sourcing more eco-friendly fabrics, despite the fact that it would be much easier and cheaper to use synthetic fabrics, and all their packaging is made from recyclable materials.

Superfit Hero's sports bras, tanks, leggings, bike shorts, and bodysuits are the definition of workout basics — simple, cute, and comfortable. Bike shorts, tanks, and sports bras start at $75, leggings at $95, and bodysuits at $105.

If you love bright, colorful, basics with an artistic twist, Big Bud Press is exactly what you're looking for. Their tanks, tees, sweatshirts, pants, shorts, overalls, jumpsuits, and more all go up to a size 7X, and they're all fairly gender-neutral. They're simple enough to pair with any outfit but stylish enough to make sure you stand out.

Big Bud Press also takes sustainability super seriously. All of their manufacturing is done in the U.S., and the majority is done in California, where they're based. The vast majority of their 100% cotton fabric is produced in California, and the rest is made on the East Coast. Big Bud Press also uses recycled materials and deadstock — scraps from other garments — to make their clothes whenever possible. All their packaging is made from recycled materials, as well.

Big Bud Press is also a bit more affordable than some of the other sustainable brands with plus-sized lines. You can snag a tee on sale for as low as $35, and retail for a tee starts around $48. On-sale pants start at around $55, and retail starts at around $90.

Altar is all about creativity and community. Their mission is to support artists local to the Portland, Oregon area and to create "objects with meaning." Each of their garments is a wearable work of art, created from deadstock materials — scraps that would just end up in the trash. All of their clothes are made in the U.S., and the majority are made right in Portland. Since each piece is handmade, sizes vary. Most of their clothes are available in 3X and 4X, and select pieces are available up to a 6X.

Altar's manufacturing process is based on the goal of "zero waste." Any scrap fabric that can't be used to make garments is used for accessories, like scrunchies. Scraps that absolutely can't be used are sent to a third-party recycling program. In 2021, Altar launched a resale program as well to ensure that customers get the maximum use out of each of their garments. And, all their packaging is compostable!

Altar's Houseline includes fun and flirty dresses in a wide array of styles. Lots of floral and bright, eye-catching patterns. Their dresses start around $130, but you can snag one on sale for around $90.

For almost two decades, IGIGI was an off-the-rack fashion brand. But after examining the environmental impact of the fashion industry, owner Yuliya Raquel decided that it was time to make a change. What really changed her mind was the fact that up to 20% of fabric used in the production of ready-made clothes and the majority of prototypes, display garments, and unsold pieces ends up in landfills because it can't be used. So, she chose to convert the entire company to custom-made clothing to reduce waste.

All of IGIGI's clothing represents a collaboration between the customer and the creator of the garment. You choose a base style from the selection on their site, then customize it to your exact measurements and preferences. Then, a local seamstress, who's paid 35% more than the local standard wage, creates your garment just for you.

The semiformal and formal dresses IGIGI's seamstresses make do come with a big price tag, though. Custom tunic blouses start at $175 and the less formal dresses range from $218 to $375. But if you need something to wear for a special event or a really fancy night out, IGIGI is worth the splurge.

At The Standard Stitch, sustainability has always come first. They aren't one of those brands that shifted their business model to sustainable fashion. They designed their entire manufacturing process based on rigorous ethical and sustainability standards.

All the clothes The Standard Stitch produces are made from natural cotton, recycled cotton, or a combination of the two. All of the scraps of fabric that aren't used for one garment are combined with natural cotton to make a new garment. Even their tags are made of recycled materials! All of their packaging is made of recycled material and is either recyclable or compostable. Their dyes are eco-friendly and use less water than standard clothing dyes. All of their garments are made within 10 miles of the home office, greatly reducing the environmental impact of their manufacturing process. And, all their employees are paid a livable wage.

The Standard Stitch's comfy, casual basics won't break the bank either. You can snag an on-sale sweatshirt or pair of joggers for around $45 or a tee or tank for under $30. Non-sale sweatshirts, joggers, and shorts are between $75 and $95, while tees and tanks are about $60. And all their clothes go up to 5X.

It's no surprise that the first activewear brand to go up to a size 32 was founded by a plus-size model. Candice Huffine has been representing plus-size bodies on the runway and in ad campaigns for nearly 20 years. In that time, she's had way too much experience with the fashion industry's lack of size inclusivity. She decided she wanted to do her part to change that, and she did so by creating her own activewear brand, DAY/WON.

Huffine also wanted to change the way activewear is made, so she opted for sustainable manufacturing practices. All the clothes DAY/WON makes are made from recycled materials and made on demand, so there isn't overstock. Unfortunately, DAY/WON was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the factory they were working with had to close, so the brand is currently on hiatus. However, Huffine promises DAY/WON will be back with a new size-inclusive line soon.

Levi's? On a list of sustainable clothing brands that cater to plus-size folks? We're shocked too. But it turns out Levi's is really doing the thing. Levi's has been a leader in ethical work practices since 1991 when they contracted to provide fair and ethical working conditions at all of their factories. In 2003, their ethical work practices were recognized by the Human Rights Campaign.

Levi's is as committed to the environment as they are to their workers. They developed a water use program for all their factories that reduces the amount of water used to manufacture their sustainable denim and reuses as much of that water as possible. As of 2021, 95% of their garments were made from organic materials, recycled cotton, or Better Cotton, cotton that meets a certain sustainability standard. Levi's also launched a resale program to ensure their clothes are used for longer, and they're one of the few major clothing manufacturers with a transparent plan to address climate change.

The only downside is that Levi's clothing currently only goes up to 4X, which means it's not really size-inclusive. That being said, 4X is a lot larger than some other mainstream brands. And Levi's garments are much more affordable than a lot of sustainably and ethically made clothes. So, they're not perfect, but they make our list because they're making sustainable fashion a bit more accessible.