Best ethical clothing brands for sustainable summer style

At Natural Collection we’re committed to bringing you the best in sustainable fashion and ethical clothing brands in the UK and beyond. You can focus on finding your style and rest assured we’ve got everything else covered.

From slow fashion clothing to fair trade and eco-friendly materials, these brands are helping reshape the fashion industry for the better.

Check out some of our favourite brands and their ethical credentials below.

Lily & Me – ethical clothing made in their own factory

Close up of a woman wearing a Lily & Me seersucker dress

Transparency and traceability are key issues in the fashion supply chain, but they’re easily solved by simply owning your own factory. That’s what Lily & Me do, meaning they can ensure not just fair pay and good working conditions but also the most eco-friendly manufacturing methods.

In 2024 they were named “Sustainable Brand of the Year” by Boutique Magazine.

Their use of low-impact fabrics and thoughtful design makes them a strong example of ethical summer clothing, from breathable seersucker dresses to timeless wardrobe staples.

Nomads – slow fashion clothing built to last

A woman wearing a pair of Nomads wide leg jeans in green and a green and white frilled top.

In a world dominated by fast fashion and its environmental and social costs, Nomads are proud to embrace the slow fashion label.

Their small-batch clothing is made using sustainable materials such as:

  • Organic cotton
  • Eco-friendly viscose derived from wood pulp

By prioritising durability and ethical sourcing, Nomads help reduce textile waste and encourage conscious consumption. Their wide leg jeans and  frill shirt are designed to be worn for years, not seasons.

Komodo – sustainable fashion supporting rainforest conservation

Close up of a person wearing a komodo jersey top in blue

As members of 1% For The Planet, Komodo donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes – specifically the Sumatran Orangutan Society.

Their mission supports rainforest conservation and ecosystem restoration while producing stylish, ethical clothing such as this jersey top and chambray culottes.

Natural World – organic and eco-friendly footwear

The shoemakers at Natural World use only organic raw materials like cotton, cork and rubber. Their centuries-old eco-friendly production process is designed to minimise environmental impact while maintaining comfort and durability.

They create shoes for adults and children alike, all packaged in recycled and recyclable cardboard boxes. Their classic designs like these marino blue sandals will keep your feet cool during the hot weather.

White Stuff – Fairtrade cotton clothing for everyday wear

A close up of a woman wearing a White Stuff striped cardigan

The cotton farmers supplying White Stuff aren’t just paid the Fairtrade Minimum Price – the cooperatives also receive a Fairtrade Premium to fund schooling, healthcare and irrigation systems.

White Stuff are currently the biggest UK fashion retailer of Fairtrade Sourced Cotton and they show no signs of slowing down.

A 100% cotton garment is just the thing for summer – treat yourself to a leaf print shirt or a green stripe cardigan.

Pachamama – handmade knitwear with ethical production

Close up of a woman wearing the Pachamama knitted sun hat

The antidote to mass-produced clothing, Pachamama’s bespoke and ever-changing designs mean you’ll always stand out from the crowd.

Pachamama have formed close relationships with their suppliers and ensure good working conditions and fair pay.

The clothing is mostly produced by villagers who can fit their knitting around other work and family commitments. Knitwear might not be your first thought in warm weather, but a daisy sun hat will keep you nice and cool on a sunny day.

Why choose sustainable fashion brands?

Choosing ethical clothing brands helps reduce environmental impact, supports fair wages, and encourages responsible production methods.

By investing in slow fashion and sustainable materials, you’re helping to create a more responsible and transparent fashion industry.

Explore our full collection of eco-friendly clothing and sustainable fashion brands to shop more consciously this season.

From producer to pantry: the journey of an ethical product

Traceability and transparency are important values for any ethical product, but maybe none more so than chocolate. The chocolate industry is notoriously rife with exploitation and unfair treatment of farmers, meaning vigilance is of paramount importance.

A close up of three pairs of hands holding the range of 90g Divine Chocolate bars against a purple background

Come with us on a journey through the production chain for one of our favourite brands, Divine Chocolate.

Cocao beans: the start of ethical chocolate

Did you know cocao beans are technically seeds? They grow on the trunks and branches of cacao trees in 15-30cm ovoid pods. Cacao trees also have white-and-pink flowers that are pollenated by midges. They grow in hot places within 20 degrees of the equator – like Ghana, where Divine Chocolate sources their beans.

A Divine Chocolate worker holding a cacao pod

The amount of cocoa in chocolate varies by brand. Most Divine chocolate is 70% cocoa or more, which isn’t just good for flavour but ensures cocoa farmers get more work and better pay. Divine stick to natural ingredients and avoid monoculture crops like palm oil.

Harvesting cocoa sustainably

There’s an art to harvesting cacao beans. It must be done at the exact right level of ripeness and without damaging the rest of the tree. The pods are cut down, opened and scraped out – it’s skilful and labour-intensive work.

A Divine Chocolate worker handling cocoa seeds

Divine Chocolate was founded by Kuapa Kokoo, a Ghanaian cocoa farming collective who saw it as a more secure and profitable endeavour than dealing with the exploitative chocolate giants. Divine grew in leaps and bounds, but Kuapa still own 45% of the company – meaning fair treatment and fair wages remain a priority.

How chocolate is processed

Untreated cocao beans don’t taste much like chocolate – in fact they’re very bitter. The process of turning them into the sweet treat we all know and love is surprisingly convoluted. They first need to be wrapped in leaves and left in the heat to ferment, then spread on tables in the sun to dry out. Once dried, they’re stored in bags marked with a village code, keeping everything transparent and easily traceable.

Four Divine Chocolate producers

After being roasted, the beans are crushed to remove the cocao nibs from their shells. These nibs are then ground into cocoa mass, which can be separated into cocoa butter and cocoa powder. Both these products have their separate uses, but we’re making chocolate here; so butter and mass are recombined in a carefully controlled ratio, with milk and sugar added as appropriate.

A bit of conching (continuous stirring over several days) and tempering (slow cooling) later, Divine Chocolate have the basis of their chocolate. This is when it can be mixed with other ingredients like fruit, nuts, salt, or whatever flavour you like. Then it’s ready to be packed.

A close up a 35g wrapped Divine Chocolate creamy white chocolate bar

Ethical distribution and sustainability

Carbon-neutrality is a common aim for ethical businesses – Divine Chocolate’s warehouse for online orders goes one better by being carbon-negative. Air freight is kept to a minimum, and packaging is reviewed annually to make sure it maintains the highest environmental standards. No wonder Divine is certified both by Fairtrade International and B Lab.

Check out the full Divine Chocolate range.