Dresses have always been in trend, but in recent years the maxi dress has seemed to be running with all the attention. And it is easy to understand why.
Maxi dresses are versatile, and can easily be used for many different occasions. It comes in a lot of different designs, and whether you like the boho-chic vibe maxi dress or prefer the classic minimalistic edition doesn’t matter. This guide got it all.
So without further ado let’s jump to the list of the best sustainable maxi dresses out there.
Christy Dawn
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses deadstock fabrics, created a farm-to-closet initiative where they work in close cooperation with the workers
Price starting point | $268
Why we love them
If all you have ever been wanting is to feel like one of those boho farm girls in the movies who always look like they are flowing around you just found your make-over machine. Christy Dawn creates sustainable maxi dresses that honor mother earth.
The dresses look like something out of a fairytale spiced up with an inch of chicness and modern design. Every dress is unique and made from the most gorgeous, printed fabric. The brand uses deadstock fabric in order to minimize textile waste and design timeless pieces that are made to last.
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People Tree
Location | United Kingdom
Ethics | Fair Trade brand, uses only eco-friendly materials and natural dyes.
Price starting point | $77
Why we love them
You could say that People Tree is a true pioneer in sustainable fashion. Cause it would be true. The brand was the first fashion brand ever to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation product label. Since then the amount of ethical and sustainable labels awarded to the brand has grown, and the mission is still the same – to create a truly ethical fashion brand that only does good.
However, it wouldn’t be much fun to have a truly sustainable brand that didnø’t quite got a grip on the designer part right? Luckily you don’t have to worry about that here. People Tree is also an expert at making everlasting pieces you want to wear again and again. And its sustainable maxi dresses are no exception.
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TAMGA Designs
Location | Canada
Ethics | Uses eco-friendly materials, ensures living wages, has a code of conduct.
Price starting point | $54
Why we love them
Colorful, printed, you could even add playful ethical maxi dresses created with people and the planet in mind. That is how you could describe Tamga Design. The brand believes in a bright future for the fashion industry and it wants to create through bright colors, inclusiveness, and high sustainable standards.
You can’t help but smile when you look at these eco-friendly maxi dresses, cause the prints, bold colors and flowy design simply puts you in a good mood. And isn’t that the goal? to be wearing an item that makes you look and feel good? That does something good for the planet while making you feel like a 10 out of 10.
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Underprotection
Location | Denmark
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-friendly fabrics, limits amounts of chemicals used as well as water waste.
Price starting point | $110
Why we love them
If you are trying to achieve that minimalistic, Nordic chicness Underprotection could be a helping hand. Being an expert at simplistic silhouettes and making black seem like an interesting color at least qualify the brand to be at least considered an expert in this field.
But not only does Underprotection has a gift of making black and white seem like lively colors, but it also has a mission. A mission to empower women, both the ones who wear the designs and the ones who produce them.
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The R Collective
Location | Hong Kong
Ethics | Reuse and recycle luxury materials, ensures living wages.
Price starting point | $75
Why we love them
Reuse, repurpose and recycle. If you didn’t already get it by the name, The R Collective kind of has a thing for words with R. At least if these words can inspire a sustainable practice. The brand itself has incorporated those three words into its own practice along with many other sustainable initiatives.
It only uses reused rescued excess materials from luxury brands in order to minimize its environmental footprint. But the brand doesn’t stop there. It also ensures living wages and has a code of conduct to ensure the highest quality of working conditions. on top of that it also knows how to design creative, out-of-the-box items that are still timeless. And that is rare to find.
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A.BCH
Location | Australia
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of sustainable materials, certified by Ethical Clothing Australia, traces most of its supply chain
Price starting point | $68
Why we love them
A.BCH is a circular fashion label. That means the brand has just as large as a focus on the beginning of an item’s life, that being the sourcing and production of an item, as at the end of a piece of clothes life. You can see it as a circle, where everything that goes into the circle stays there and keeps adding value.
A.BCH is known for its timeless design. It wants to create pieces you can wear again and gain no matter the trend or season. The brand also aims at making as accessible prices as possible while still running a sustainable practice, cause it believes everyone should be able to make a difference no matter the income.
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Reformation
Location | The United States
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-material, uses renewable energy, has a code of conduct, and traces most of its supply chain
Price starting point | $136
Why we love them
Reformation doesn’t want you to be neutral. Not in your choice of maxi dress and not in your choice of brand. The brand wants you to speak up. Whether that being in the way you dress or the fact that you choose a brand that actually fights for a more sustainable fashion world.
The brand makes statement pieces. Pieces that have an opinion, have been produced in a sustainable way, and most certainly have a wow-effect. The maxi dresses are versatile and can be used as a cute summer dress with a pair of sneakers as well as big events. Reformation also shows you how big an environmental footprint your eco maxi dress had on the website.
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Mila.Vert
Location | Slovenia
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-materials, manufactures locally, traces most of its supply chain, and ensures living wages
Price starting point | $158
Why we love them
Mila.Vert can be described as that effortlessly chic girl in the class who is not even trying, but just look luxurious in herself. Doesn’t hurt that the brand is manufacturing locally in order to minimize its environmental footprint, ensure living wages for workers and secure that the quality is high.
I mean, who doesn’t want to be associated with a brand like that. The brands maxi dresses are versatility and minimalisic. Perfect for when you want to create a timeless sustainable wradrobe.
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Outerknown
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-materials, non-toxic dyes, has a code of conduct, and traces most of its supply chain
Price starting point | $122
Why we love them
Outerknown describes themselves as relentless sustainably. It was the first brand to pursue Fair Labor Association accreditation before ever shipping a product. More than 90% of the fiber the brand sources are either organic, recycled, or regenerated.
The brand is also a member of Fair Trade USA, where it invests in the livelihoods of more than 5000 workers who make the sustainable maxi dresses the brand designs. The plan is to create a future where clothing does no harm but contributes to a world where planet and people prosper.
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Able
Location | United States
Ethics | Has a mission to empower workers from disadvantaged areas and aims at improving social conditions
Price starting point | $120
Why we love them
Besides making cool maxi dresses Able also has a mission to empower its workers. The brand wants to challenge the culture of the fashion industry, and it wants to do it through the creation of transformative opportunities for women.
It is an ethical brand that employs women as a solution to end poverty. This is done through an educational program, a fair wage, training, and general investment in the local women where the production takes. So when you invest in a maxi dress from Able, you also invest in the women who made it.
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Amur
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses eco-friendly materials, don’t use fur
Price starting point |
Why we love them
This New York Based brand designs breathtaking maxi dresses that definitely have that wow effect. You don’t see these pieces everywhere and I can almost guarantee you people will be turning their heads if you walk down the street in one of these eco maxidresses. In a good way, I promise.
Amour uses eco-materials to create its dresses in order to minimize its environmental footprint. The brand is also has a goal of making 100% of its packaging biodegradable by 2022.
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Thought
Location | United Kingdom
Ethics | Uses eco-materials including offcuts to minimize textile waste, has a code of conduct, and ensure living wages
Price starting point | $69
Why we love them
Though is all about being innovative. Especially when it comes to the use of fabrics. The brand offers a unique collection of all organic clothing containing innovative materials such as hemp and bamboo.
Even though comfort might not be the first word that pops into your mind when you hear that, I promise you comfort is what you will feel when wearing one of Thought’s organic maxi dresses.
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Amour Vert
Location | United States
Ethics | Manufactures locally, uses eco materials, limits amounts of chemicals in production, traces most of its supply chain
Price starting point | $88
Why we love them
Amour Vert loves nature. The brand actually loves nature so much it plant trees when you buy an item from its collection. Right now the brand has planned more than 350,000 trees.
In order to ensure fair working conditions and minimize its environmental footprint 97% of its products are made in California. The brand has also chosen to only make each product in limited quantities. This is done to ensure the highest production standards and to eliminate any excess waste.
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Vetta
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco materials, renewable energy, manufacture in the USA, and ensure living wages
Price starting point | $59
Why we love them
If you ever wanted to create a capsule wardrobe but felt like the whole concept sounded a bit too overwhelming Vetta will help convince you a capsule wardrobe is just what you need. It will actually make your life easier will you minimize your environmental footprint.
If you didn’t already guess it Vetta has specialized in making capsule wardrobe items including some cool ethical maxi dresses. The brand’s versatile pieces can be bought one item at a time. But if you want to make it really easy for yourself choose the 5-piece collection that allows you to create a multi-wear wardrobe of 30 outfits.
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Symbology
Location | United States
Ethics | Ensures living wages, chases supply chain
Price starting point | $180
Why we love them
Symbology was made to make fair trade sexy. Through colorful prints and boho-chic maxi dresses, the brand empowers women artisan all around the world. All fibers used are natural, and sourced from India.
The fabrics are hand-dyed by artisans and then hand block printed before it is sewn and cut by hand. The brand uses its platform to empower and sustainably employ artisan women in India, who are all amazing at making beautiful printed garments.
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Whimsey + Row
Location | United States
Ethics | Hand-crafted in the USA, uses a high proportion of eco-friendly materials
Price starting point | $148
Why we love them
Whimsey + Rox is a sustainable lifestyle brand, whose goal is to create eco-friendly essentials for the modern and conscious woman. High quality and sustainable practice are some of the keywords here.
By using recycled and locally sourced materials the brand creates unique low-impact pieces that will last for many years to come. All items are made in limited amounts and are hand-crafted right around the corner from the headquarter in California.
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Oh Seven Days
Location | Turkey
Ethics | Made from deadstock fabrics, limited production to minimize textile waste, do not use animal products except recycled wool
Price starting point | $85
Why we love them
Oh Seven Days is putting zero waste on the agenda. The brand is doing is by using deadstock fabrics that are the leftover fabrics from other fashion houses. You might think that kind of fabric isn’t of the highest quality, but all the deadstock fabrics go through strict quality control.
The great thing about using deadstock fabrics, except for all the environmental benefits, of course, is that a beautiful fabric that would otherwise have ended up on a landfill now gets to get a new home. The brand chooses the most gorgeous colors and prints which makes every single style so unique.
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No Nasties
Location | India
Ethics | Completely organic, fair trade, vegan, and carbon-neutral.
Price starting point | $60
Why we love them
100% organic fair trade cotton is what each of No Nasties sustainable maxi dresses is made from. Actually, that is what all its items are made from. The brand doesn’t want to be just another half-performing sustainable brand. They want to be the best in the class.So No Nasties chose to go all in.
That is when it decided to only use organic cotton, become 100% Fair Trade, Peta vegan approved and carbon-neutral as well. Know you are probably thinking “okay, it doesn’t get any more sustainable than that”. But yes is does. tha brand has zero-plastic packaging too, and it traces its whole supply chain, which is pretty rare.
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Two Days Off
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-materials, manufactures in-house in California by a small team, traces the whole supply chain
Price starting point | $140
Why we love them
Did you ever wonder where boho-chic, eco-conscious, sustainably-living, sun-kissed California girls shop? Two Days Off is a pretty good suggestion. The brand is an independent women-owned brand that cut and sewn all its items in small batches in-house in Los Angeles.
The brand sources its fabrics locally in L.A. from deadstock fabrics, however, it only chooses natural fiber textiles. All its products are plastic-free and the packaging is reusable and 100% recyclable and biodegradable. The items are made to last, but if you want an item you need to be fast, cause the brand only makes a few of each style.
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Mie
Location | Nigeria
Ethics | Locally made, made from natural and biodegradable fabrics,
Price starting point | $165
Why we love them
The eco-conscious brand Míe creates elegant, yet functional sustainable maxi dresses made from natural and biodegradable materials. All of the brand’s clothes are locally made by seamstresses and artisans in Lagos, Nigeria where Mié is based.
The brand has an eye for detail and designs luxurious pieces for conscious women, who want to wear beautiful and ethical styles. All items are versatile and can be used year after year and for many different occasions.
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Mara Hoffman
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses a high proportion of eco-materials, use compostable packaging, has a code of conduct, traces most of its supply chain
Price starting point | $250
Why we love them
Mara Hoffman has a devotion to color. The brand loves to play with colors in a way that almost makes the colors seem alive. But the inspiration from colors doesn’t just appear out of the blue. The colorful collections are inspired by and in celebration of women
The goal is to create, empower and transform with care. The brand isn’t afraid of raising its voice when it comes to racial and social justice, and it encourages you to do the same. To make a choice and choose consciously. The brand design all kind of maxi dresses from almost overwhelming robes to simple everyday wear.
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Morther of Pearl
Location | United Kingdom
Ethics | Ensures living wages, traces supply chain, visits manufacturers regularly, and uses eco-materials
Price starting point | $269
Why we love them
Contemporary, responsible design and celebration of individuality are some of the things that characterize Mother of Pearl. It is a sustainable luxury womenswear brand that does not compromise on its environmental performance or ethics.
Every step of each piece of garment’s life is considered, and every detail, sewing and decision are carefully made. The clothes don’t only look luxuries, it also feels like it. You will feel like a (sustainable) star when wearing one of these sustainable maxi dresses.
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Cuyana
Location | United States
Ethics | Uses eco-friendly materials, has a limited production run to minimize waste, traces supply chain
Price starting point | $115
Why we love them
Cuyana appreciates fewer but better things. That is why the brand makes timeless women’s apparel you can use again and again. Cuyana helps you create a minimalistic, versatile wardrobe through carefully selected fabrics, precise silhouettes and attention to detail.
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