13 Ethical Apparel Brands From the Netherlands to discover

Alchemist emphasizes ethical production and sustainability by ensuring their collections are made from sustainably sourced and mostly certified materials, avoiding harmful dyes and chemicals. The brand rejects discount culture by not participating in Black Friday sales, opting instead to support initiatives like Fashion Revolution for industry transparency and fairness. Alchemist maintains high-quality standards, with collections designed to be versatile and compatible with previous ones, while all production facilities they partner with must have at least one social certification, reflecting their commitment to ethical manufacturing.

Studio Elsien Gringhuis champions sustainability by producing exclusively in the Netherlands, supporting local craftsmanship and stimulating the local economy. The brand adopts a made-to-order model to counteract fashion industry overproduction, ensuring no excess stock and reducing environmental impact. With a commitment to high-quality, certified materials and a timeless, ongoing collection, the brand minimizes its carbon footprint by sourcing materials close to home and maintaining a production process with fewer travel miles.

ENDANGERED commits to sustainability by producing clothing exclusively in the Netherlands using sustainable materials, aiming to reduce environmental impact and support local economies. The brand's design ethos highlights the plight of endangered species, with a collection that brings awareness to their conservation. Importantly, ENDANGERED donates 10% of the revenue from each clothing item sold to the IUCN Netherlands land acquisition fund, directly contributing to the protection of wildlife habitats.

Goat Organic Apparel champions ethical fashion by ensuring their entire clothing line is 100% vegan, avoiding any materials derived from animals. Their production processes in Bangladesh prioritize the welfare of workers through fair wages, safe working conditions, and regular monitoring, aligning with their "people first" philosophy. The brand's commitment to the planet is evident in their use of organic cotton, which significantly reduces water, energy, and CO2 footprint, and recycled polyester, which lowers CO2 emissions and the demand for new petroleum extraction.

Kings of Indigo prioritizes sustainable practices in the fashion industry, utilizing over 99% sustainable materials in their collection and ensuring fair and safe working conditions across 100% of their audited production facilities. The brand's holistic approach to sustainability is reflected in their 100% vegan jeans, the elimination of PP spray from denim production, and the introduction of circular denim styles in their '10 years anniversary' collection. With a commitment to full supply chain transparency by 2023 and goals to achieve all-denim EIM scoring and use exclusively recycled or natural fibers by 2025, Kings of Indigo is recognized with a 'Great' rating by the independent platform Good On You.

Kuyichi prioritizes sustainability by using organic and recycled materials, such as certified organic cotton since 2016, recycled cotton from production waste and post-consumer sources, and innovative fibers like TENCEL™ Lyocell and T400 Ecomade for their denim products. The brand emphasizes transparency in its supply chain, naming all suppliers and adhering to the Transparency Pledge, and employs environmentally conscious practices, including low-impact washes and water-saving techniques, while also being a member of the Fair Wear Foundation to ensure fair labor conditions. Kuyichi's commitment to sustainability extends to offering vegan products, utilizing vegetable-tanned leather, and engaging in initiatives like the Open Apparel Registry to collaborate on improving industry standards.

Mochi's commitment to sustainability is reflected in its use of deadstock materials and production of garments in small quantities to prevent overproduction and waste. The brand has adopted a pre-order model to minimize fashion waste, ensuring each piece is made on demand within a 4-to-6-week timeframe, promoting slower fashion and reducing overproduction. Mochi is exploring sustainable materials, reducing water usage in the supply chain, and aims to offer a rental service and develop virtual changing rooms to decrease returns and environmental impact, while also encouraging customers to recycle unwanted clothing.

MUD Jeans integrates sustainability into its core by adhering to circular economy principles, using up to 40% post-consumer recycled cotton and aiming for 100% recycled jeans. The brand ensures fair production by collaborating with selected manufacturers, using GOTS certified organic cotton, and maintaining a transparent and short supply chain. MUD Jeans also offers a leasing model, encourages recycling of any brand's jeans, and is CO2 neutral, showcasing a commitment to reducing environmental impact and fostering responsible consumption.

Noumenon prioritizes ethical production and sustainability by utilizing pure, vegan fabrics sourced from GOTS and BCI certified suppliers, ensuring responsible and cruelty-free garment creation. The brand's commitment to timeless, seasonless designs supports longevity and reduces environmental impact, challenging the fast fashion industry's cycle of overconsumption. Noumenon's use of materials like organic cotton, Ramie, and Lyocell reflects their dedication to comfort, elegance, and eco-friendly fashion, with each style offered as a limited edition to promote exclusivity and reduce waste.

RVDK, founded by Ronald van der Kemp, is recognized as the world's first sustainable couture label, prioritizing ethical production and timeless design since its inception in August 2014. The brand crafts limited-edition, seasonless statement pieces from high-quality existing materials and remnants, all handmade by skilled artisans in the Netherlands. RVDK's mission is to merge glamour with sustainability, proving that fashion can be both luxurious and environmentally conscious, while advocating for a return to the personalized, lasting nature of traditional haute couture.

Unrecorded's approach to sustainability is exemplified by its use of natural and recycled materials such as RWS certified wool and organic cotton, striving for environmentally friendly fashion. The brand maintains a minimalistic collection cycle with only two seasonal collections per year, encouraging a timeless wardrobe and reducing CO2 emissions through decreased returns. With a commitment to transparency and quality, Unrecorded ensures GOTS-certified production primarily in Portugal and Italy, and ships orders in FSC™ certified cardboard, reflecting their dedication to sustainable practices.

Unrobe commits to sustainability by using only organic cotton with the highest Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification and recycled materials, ensuring safe and ethical production processes in GOTS and SA8000 certified facilities. The brand minimizes waste through a limited production model, offers a free repair service, and is developing a recycling plan for used garments. Unrobe's dedication to transparency is evident through product QR codes that detail the manufacturing journey, and they provide a cost breakdown to ensure fair pricing and wages.

Zazi Vintage champions a sustainable and regenerative approach to fashion, focusing on a collaborative model that empowers over 1100 artisans worldwide, integrating traditional crafts and storytelling into each garment. The brand emphasizes co-creation with artisan communities, fostering relationships that respect cultural heritage and contribute to local economies, while prioritizing regenerative materials and practices that go beyond sustainability. By honoring the entire value chain, from the bio-cultural history of materials to the financial and social independence of female artisans, Zazi Vintage strives to weave a narrative of interconnectedness and responsible stewardship into the fabric of its collections.