Organic Cotton Brands For Babies & Toddlers
By Ella Hackworth
Image: Mini Rodini
Hand-me-downs and thrift store shopping are great ways to purchase kids clothes sustainably, but an alternative is to purchase from brands that specialize in sustainable clothes for children. Organic cotton is a popular material choice for sustainable children’s clothes because it has never been treated with pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms. Because of the lack of toxins in organic cotton, it is softer and gentler on sensitive skin—which is ideal for babies and toddlers. In short, not only is organic cotton great for the environment but it’s great for your little ones’ health, too. To learn more about organic cotton you can refer to our article Organic Cotton: Fashion
We’ve rounded up 6 eco-friendly, ethical brands that will keep the littlest members of your family comfortable and stylish year after year. Plus, all of these collections are as cute as can be!
WINTER WATER FACTORY
Ethical prints for playful kids
This print focused baby, children’s, and women’s clothing brand is made in Brooklyn, NY. They aim to provide fun clothes that make kids excited to wear while providing unmatched comfort for a fun day of play ahead.
Location: United States
Sustainability Efforts:
GOTS certified cotton
Manufactures in the US to reduce carbon footprint
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Sweatshirt ($46)
Harem Pants ($42)
HANNA ANDERSSON
Based on Scandinavian principles of happiness and design
Hanna Andersson was founded on a meaningful way of thinking that celebrates the simplicity of life. They believe that the time for change is now if we are going to build a better world for our children.
Location: United States
Sustainability Efforts:
Fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified
Durable construction made to wash again and again, and be passed down generations
Price: $$
Our Picks:
SENSE ORGANICS
Colorful, stylish, and affordable!
Sense Organics is an established German brand that has been dressing kids in colorful, organic cotton basics for over 20 years. Their super-soft, dye-free clothing for babies and children is as affordable as it is stylish. At Sense Organics they believe their kids clothes should be beautiful and good for the earth.
Location: Germany
Sustainability Efforts:
All children’s wear starts with 100% organic cotton and carries the strictest eco-label called GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). If you buy garments that are GOTS certified, it means that all parts of the supply chain have been audited, not just the cotton farmer or the sewing factory. Also dyeing, printing, or embroidery units are certified and controlled once a year by independent institutions. With GOTS you avoid the harsh chemicals used in the traditional cotton manufacturing process, and our organic baby clothes are soft and feel good on little ones’ skin.
GOTS also ensures fair working conditions and salaries for the employees in the factories.
They donate to Fairtrade Deutschland.
Price: $
Our Picks:
Baby Muslin Tunic ($15)
Fairtrade Boy’s Vest ($5)
OOBI
Ethical Aussie Fashion
Oobi is an Australian girl’s fashion, swimwear, homewares and lifestyle brand. In addition to creating sweet, stylish, feminine clothes for children, the brand makes sure it uses low-impact, non-toxic dyes throughout its range of products. It also uses no animal products and uses sea freight to transport products to reduce its climate impact.
Location: AUS
Sustainability Efforts:
Uses some eco-friendly materials including organic cotton.
Reduces climate impact through its use of sea freight for shipping its products.
Use of low impact non-toxic dyes in all its products.
All factories are audited and reported through Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit which meets the SMETA Best Practice Guidance standards.
Sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labor abuse and ensures payment of living wages.
The entire product range is vegan.
Price: $
Our Picks:
LITTLE GREEN RADICALS (0-8 YEARS)
Playful basics for free-range kids
Little Green Radicals creates organic clothing for little adventurers. Their adorable range of children’s wear is always made from 100% organic, Fairtrade-certified cotton, so you know the brand cares about the planet, workers, and your little one, too!
Location: United Kingdom
Sustainability Efforts:
All garments made from 100% fair-trade, organic cotton, free from pesticides
Plastic-Free Journey: Packaging is compostable or recyclable. As of February 2020 they have moved to entirely compostable bags.
Price: $$
Our Picks:
Natural Playsuit ($19)
Star Joggers ($21)
MINI RODINI
Unique patterns for trendy babies and kids
Mini Rodini is a Stockholm-based brand known for their unique patterns of unisex sustainable baby and kids clothes. By supporting Mini Rodini, the whole family has the opportunity to continue their sustainability education with online lessons.
Location: Sweden
Sustainability Efforts:
Their website offers sustainability lessons for the whole family.
All sewing factories provide living wages (over minimum wage).
Use of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and modal.
Their collections also include upcycling materials used from previous collections.
They never use fur, leather, wool with mulesing or conventional silk in any products.
No harmful or toxic chemicals in the production of raw materials, dyeing or printing.
All garments are unisex and are never categorized by normative gender.
Price: $$$
Our Picks:
Panther Ribbed Sweater ($37)
La Mer Trousers ($46)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ella Hackworth is a Brand Account Manager and Contributing Writer for SISTAIN and has a background in design, dance, and visual arts. She celebrates her love of nature, beauty, and connection through her passion for living mindfully and sustainably.
