7 Ethical and Sustainable Maternity Clothing Brands
As individuals and communities, we’re making many changes and adaptations to live more sustainably, from adapting diets to rethinking wardrobes.
If you’ve got a baby on the way this gives you even more reason to think about the future.
And might leave you pondering questions such as can I still live sustainably as an expecting mother? What am I going to wear?
A changing body and a growing belly might mean rethinking your wardrobe, but it doesn’t have to mean a whole new wardrobe either.
When you’re pregnant, you want to be comfortable, both physically and in the knowledge that you’re making conscious clothing choices.
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Fast Fashion & Maternity Wear
The fast fashion mindset has consumers convinced that expecting mothers need a whole new wardrobe, but these habits and attitudes increase our negative environmental impact.
Maternity wear and its transient nature can contribute to the problem when viewing clothing as disposable.
For example a lot of expecting purchase new maternity wear, only to be left with items they no longer wear once baby’s born and nursing’s done.
However, this doesn’t have to be the case. There are steps expecting mothers can take that enable moms to continue dressing sustainably.
Green Closet Tips for Expecting Mothers
Assess Your Closet
Before you buy anything new or even secondhand, inspect and assess your own closet.
You’re sure to find several items that can accommodate your growing belly.
For example consider searching your closet for any long tees, flowy skirts, and billowing dresses that have a bit of give and are able to adapt to your changing body.
Pack Away Clothes That Won’t Adapt to Your Changing Body
Store away items that won’t fit while pregnant for easy access to roomier items.
It will make getting ready in the morning or before going out a lot easier; you’ll get less frustrated and be less likely to impulse buy new clothes.
Adapt What You Have
If you’re crafty, pick up a needle and thread and adapt what you have already. If you’re not, there are tons of tutorials online.
It’s a valuable skill to learn with a baby coming along because before you know it you’ll be mending rips, tears, and loose buttons.
Shop Secondhand Maternity Clothing
If you’re on a budget or want to stay sustainable, shop secondhand.
Nothing says you have to buy clothes specifically labeled as maternity wear.
Like with your closet search, be on the lookout for items that are long, stretchy, bigger than you’d normally buy, and that wrap and fold.
Online thrift shops such as ThredUp have maternity wear categories on their website.
Maternity Clothes Swap
Borrowing from friends is another option; many will be happy to let go of maternity wear they no longer need, especially if they don’t plan on having more children.
You can return the favor by loaning your items that don’t fit at the moment. Start an exchange with fellow pregnant friends: switching, swapping, mixing, and matching for a variety of outfits.
Once baby’s popped out and growing you can pay it forward by lending your maternity wear to other expecting mothers.
Consider Renting Maternity Clothing
Renting clothes is becoming popular too, with platforms like Armoire, creating a circular and ultimately more sustainable pathway for the fashion industry as clothing is kept in circulation instead of being thrown out.
Borrowing and renting are particularly helpful for formal wear or winter coats that you’ll only wear once or just need seasonally.
8 Ethical and Eco-friendly Maternity Clothing Brands
If you need something new, there are brands to choose sustainable and ethical maternity wear. Some also have resale platforms, so you can continue applying sustainable practices.
Frugi: Organic Cotton Maternity Clothing
While Frugi is best known for their organic cotton children’s clothing, this UK based brand expanded into organic cotton maternity clothing.
With clever hidden details and fab features, their handy Frugi Bloom guide shows moms how their maternity and nursing clothes work to ease the stress.
Along with using sustainable materials and ethical practices, every year Frugi donates 1% of sales to charity.
Girlfriend Collective’s Ethically Made Maternity Leggings & Nursing Bras
Girlfriend Collective’s range includes maternity wear, as well as items such as leggings, sweats, nursing bras, and joggers.
Their clothes are made from recycled materials and shipped in packaging that is 100% recycled and recyclable.
Girlfriend Collective is SA8000-certified, ensuring fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and zero forced or child labor.
They’ve also started the ReGirlfriend program, allowing you to send back old items which they reuse to create new ones, giving you store credit in return.
PACT’s Affordable Fair Trade Maternity Clothes
Everything at PACT from their range of men and women’s clothing to their maternity wear and baby clothes is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton in Fair Trade certified™ factories.
With PACT’s maternity clothes you’ll find everyday basics that can be worn long term as your belly continues to grow.
Their packaging is made from recycled materials and is recyclable.
You can also reuse their boxes to participate in their Give Back Box program; just pack gently used clothes (from any brand), send them to PACT, and they’ll donate them to non-profits organizations. Use the the discount code HONESTCONSUMER20 for 20% off your first purchase.
Storq’s Maternity Wear for Minimalists
Specializing in maternity wear, Storq is all about thoughtful design and timeless style, ensuring minimal waste in their manufacturing process and longevity in your wardrobe.
This maternity clothing brand uses eco-friendly or natural fibers when possible and Storq products are ethically made in China, Peru, the Philippines and the United States.
Through their partnership with the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco, Storq takes back any of their gently used products to donate to families in need.
Symbology’s Cute & Stylish Maternity Clothing
Symbology’s clothing line ranges from casual loungewear and jumpsuits for all body types to wedding dresses and maternity wear.
Women empowerment is at the core of Symbology’s philosophy, as they work with artisans in India whose handmade crafts incorporate traditional techniques such as block-printing, tie-dye, and embroidery.
We hope this guide gives mama’s to be some hope when thinking about the sustainability of their wardrobe!
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