8 Hottest New Recycled Clothing Brands of the Year

As somebody who has worn sustainable clothing for many years, it makes me happy to see that more and more consumers are turning their back on the fast fashion industry that does so much damage to our planet.

In 2025, eco-friendly clothing is cool. Influencers and celebrities now walk around in hot new styles made from sustainable, organic, upcycled, and recycled materials.

Eco-friendly clothing brands are now able to turn old clothes and fabrics into new ones, at scale. You can even return your old or unloved items and swap them for newly recycled items!

Today I want to shine the spotlight on the best recycled clothing brands that are doing the most good, but still producing trendy, long-lasting styles at affordable prices.

Top Recycled Fashion Brands of 2025

They Say: It’s what’s on the outside that counts. Our sustainable swim + clothing begins with innovative, plant-based, and recycled materials. Swim (and lounge) in fabrics that are better for you and our planet.

We Say: Don't be fooled by the name! Vitamin A Swimwear isn't only for days at the pool or beach.

It's actually an all-round sustainable fashion brand for women - with sexy, stylish clothing and accessories as well as swimwear.

Vitamin A uses a variety of sustainable materials including 7 different recycled fabrics. They use recycled nylon, polyester, cotton, and cashmere, blending them with organic cotton and other plant-based fibers. You can read all about these in their Sustainable Fabric Guide.

I'm a massive fan of this brand, which is why I also recommended them in my upcycled clothes roundup. I have no hesitation in doing so again here.

Everything from their sustainability, quality, choice, and style is on-point. Whether you're heading for a day at the beach, or need some loungewear for a night out, I'm positive you'll love what Vitamin A Swimwear offers as much as I do.

They Say: Our wool products are made from 100% recycled merino wool, certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). The wool is made from the recycled fibers of wool sweaters and the production process is both ethical and responsible. Using recycled wool reduces the spinning and dyeing process, which saves water and energy.

We Say: With all garments made from recycled wool and/or organic cotton, Colorful Standard is a truly transparent, eco-friendly clothing brand that uses only sustainable materials.

A massive range of women's, men's, and unisex products in a variety of bold colors make this a brand that caters to everyone but helps you really stand out from the rest.

I tested a unisex zipped hoodie and an organic cotton t-shirt, both of which feel very soft and luxurious. At the same time, I can tell they are durable and will last for ages even under heavy use (which they are already getting).

Colorful standard is a clothing brand that is doing everything within its power to become zero-waste. This starts with the unique dyeing process which saves water and energy, and the precision cutting techniques which minimize fabric waste.

Even the small offcuts that simply can't be used for clothing production get reused as furniture filling.

The company is based in Denmark but most garments are made in Portugal. They ship internationally via regional outlets and distribution centers in the US, Canada, and Europe. I ordered online and my order arrived within 3 working days.

They Say: We believe that giving a damn about the earth and other humans is the most desirable, and we don’t think you have to forgo your values to look and feel your best. In pursuit of inspiring a more sustainable fashion industry, Ave Lumi was founded to offer modern families style options that won’t break the bank and that will fit into their multidimensional lives.

We Say: Looking for a sustainable and ethical clothing brand for the whole family? Ave Lumi, a woman-owned brand based in New Jersey, may just be the answer.

The adult, child, and baby ranges here are all excellent, combining style, durability, and affordability.

Ave Lumi makes ethical clothing and uses only sustainable materials, including recycled cotton and recycled polyester, which is why it makes this list. The company also upcycles fashion waste, and runs a recycling program where they buy back and re-sell used items you no longer want.

If you want a chance to try before you buy, or just want a new item for a one-off special occasion, Ave Lumi also offers a clothing rental service which is a great way to minimize waste.

I personally love the entire adult range: dresses, jackets, tops, and bottoms. I've seen some of the kids' clothing as well and confirm it's of equally high quality.

They Say: Most of our goods are made from recycled or repurposed materials. Instead of creating new threads, our partners find discarded yarns and plastics, then melt them down and spin them into new fibers. Our Trailhead Shorts, Pants, and Kachula Adventure Blanket are just a few of our items made this way.

We Say: Here's an eco-friendly clothing brand that combines recycling and upcycling to create a unique, stylish range for men and women.

The Coalatree Organics range is made from recycled materials such as fashion waste, blended with upcycled post-consumer plastic bottles, and - uniquely - coffee grounds!

If this sounds like an unusual combination, well, it is. But it works! The result is a range of hard-wearing, long-lasting, sustainable clothes that are perfect for outdoor use.

As well as keeping all those plastic bottles out of our landfills and waterways, Coalatree Organics adopts sustainable production methods that seek to reduce water usage and eliminate the use of harmful chemicals.

Another thing that appealed to me is their Giveback Program, which supports a range of environmental and community nonprofits, making the outdoors a better place.

This feels like an eco-friendly brand I can really get behind, and I'm more than happy to recommend them.

They Say: We help give outgrown pieces a second (or third, or fourth!) life through our signature ‘Pass It On’ resale platform - promoting a more circular and sustainable consumption model where everyone benefits.

We Say: Eco-friendly moms and pops will love the sustainable fashion at Firebird Kids.

The majority of the Firebird Kids range is made from organic cotton, so they are not primarily a recycled clothing brand. However, there are also several items that use recycled polyester.

This includes the gorgeous Unisex Contrast Sweater which I tested with the help of my niece, who absolutely loves it! I personally think their garments look great on her, and it's a comfort to know she's wearing organic clothing containing no harsh chemicals.

You also have the opportunity to contribute directly to the circular economy by reselling your used items on the Firebird Kids "Pass it On" platform. This allows you to sell any items that have been outgrown, in return for 110% brand credit.

They Say: Dreamt up in a dorm room in 2002 by a girl who loved vintage fashion, we still stay true to this aesthetic through our classic-meets-contemporary designs...made ethically by factories around the world.

We Say: Modcloth is an ethical and inclusive brand that uses recycled materials in many items in its range.

My personal favorite is the What's The Scoop A-Line Dress, which has a 100% Recycled Polyester shell. It's a versatile little number that doubles as evening wear and a beautiful day dress in the summer and (in my humble opinion) looks great on all occasions.

Like many of the recycled clothing brands I'm recommending, Modcloth has its own resale platform (Modcloset) for buying and selling pre-loved items in return for 100% store credit.

It's always good to see brands putting a commitment to circular fashion before their own profits, and I hope consumers continue to support these initiatives.

International shipping (and returns) are available, and the Modcloth website supports multi-currency purchases.

They Say: You can’t build great clothing without great materials, so we source organic, recycled, or otherwise sustainable components for all of our gear. Our beefy Heavy Bag blend is built with up-cycled cotton and recycled polyester, and it requires zero water to manufacture.

We Say: Taylor Stitch takes organic, upcycled, and recycled materials and builds them into a range of stylish, hard-wearing men's clothing that can literally last a lifetime.

By recycling headstock materials, and any returned items, Taylor Stitch ensures that absolutely no usable fabrics go to waste.

Their range of heavy bag t-shirts, made from upcycled and recycled yarns, is one of my personal favorites, but there is so much more to see here that you really need to take a few minutes to browse the range for yourself.

To make extra certain that none of their own range ends up in a landfill, Taylor Stitch offers a lifetime repair or replace service on any damaged or defective items.

Everything comes in recycled packaging made from post-consumer waste.

If you're an eco-friendly man (or are buying for one) then this is one of the fashion brands you should definitely look at.

They Say: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do — but we believe just saying that isn't enough. Whether we're restoring a forest in Indonesia or sourcing sustainable cotton in Turkey, we want our community to know about it.

We Say: Tentree is well known for using a range of eco-friendly materials, but has become almost mainstream due to its popularity. They haven't compromised on their sustainable practices though, which is reassuring.

I noticed one particularly style-conscious (but not especially green-minded) friend of mine wearing a Tentree top recently and asked her about it. She said she had no idea it was eco-friendly clothing, but she just bought it because it looked amazing!

It turns out that, like much of Tentree's range, the top was made from recycled bottles and textile waste - who knew?

If you shop at Tentree online, your order will be shipped in fully recyclable and compostable packaging. They are also carbon neutral, which means they have reduced carbon emissions as far as it is possible to do so, and then offset the rest.

What is Recycled Fashion?

Recycled fashion involves the use of materials from old or discarded clothing and other textiles to create new and unique pieces of clothing. The idea is to reduce waste and promote sustainability in the fashion industry by reusing existing materials instead of creating new ones.

When you choose to buy from a recycled fashion brand, you are supporting this process. But in terms of quality, you would never know the difference. Recycled clothes look and feel as good or often better than any other high-end fashion item - but with a lower environmental footprint.

Many of the top recycled clothing brands also offer garment recycling programs. These are for pre-worn items that are still in good condition, and suitable for somebody else to wear. You can use their platform to buy second-hand clothes from other people, or sell your own in return for store credit.

Recycled Clothing vs Upcycled - What's the Difference?

Recycled clothing is made from materials and fabrics that have been used as clothing before. That's the difference between recycling and upcycling.

If you see brands making clothes from recycled plastic waste (for example recycled plastic bottles or recycled fishing nets) then this is actually upcycling, not recycling. This is because these materials have never been clothing before.

Our guide to upcycled clothing brands explains more.

As I mentioned in that guide though, the terms are often confused (even by sustainable brands themselves) and you may often see items made from recycled plastic bottles described as "recycled" when they are in fact upcycled.

It's nothing to get upset over, and it's not a case of one being better than the other. At the end of the day, both are good for the environment and both help us reduce textile waste and move away from fast fashion.

Why is Recycling Clothing Important?

Still wondering why you should buy from a recycled clothing brand? Recycling clothes has many benefits both to you and the environment.

• Helps to reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills.
• Conserves water and other natural resources by reducing the need for new materials to be produced.
• Helps lower carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption associated with manufacturing new textiles and traditional clothing production.
• Provide economic benefits by creating jobs in the recycling industry and helping to support local communities.

Read more about the benefits of eco-friendly clothing brands and other ways in which they make a difference in our guide to the best sustainable clothing brands.

To get the raw data on why this is so important, check out these horrifying fast fashion statistics.

Are recycled clothes cheaper?

No, recycled apparel brands are not necessarily cheaper than fast fashion brands. However, they are certainly better for the environment.

Recycling waste materials to make sustainable clothes can be costly, and part of that cost does need to be passed on to the consumer. However, in return, they do produce high-quality clothing that is made to last, which is the exact opposite of fast fashion.

Using recycled textiles means less waste in landfills and fewer raw materials consumed, which justifies a slightly higher price range.

The Final Word

If you want to do something about the excessive clothing production, unethical practices, and massive environmental damage done by the fast fashion industry, then buying clothes made from recycled material is a great way to start.

As I hope I've demonstrated, you won't need to sacrifice style or quality. Recycled clothing is affordable, and usually much better made than the fast fashion rubbish you find in the malls.

It feels amazing to receive a top-quality, long-lasting garment made from recycled materials and shipped in plastic-free packaging. But don't just take my word for it! Browse some of the fantastic brands above and find out for yourself...