Nike is an American multinational corporation that creates shoes, clothing, and accessories. It's the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel but isn't the most ethical company.
More ethical, sustainable, and affordable alternatives to Nike exist if you need technical athletic apparel and footwear that doesn't sacrifice sustainability for a low price, high quality, or fabulous style.
Many fashion brands similar to Nike are more environmentally responsible, committed to being as eco-friendly as possible, and making sustainability efforts to protect people and the planet.
Check out our selection below of the best ethical and cheap alternatives to Nike that make similar beautiful and stylish garments and shoes under high standards.
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1. Veja
Category: Sneakers, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Paris, France
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, B Corp
Prices: $120-$130
Veja is a French footwear and accessories brand selling sustainable sneakers for men and women, similar to Nike. It sells eco-friendly shoes, bags, and accessories in 3,000 retailers in 60+ countries.
It makes its sneakers with organic materials, fair trade sourcing, and transparency. Veja sold more than 8 million pairs of sneakers worldwide.
Veja is one of the best destinations to buy sustainable, comfortable, breathable vegan sneakers. It aims to make the most ecological shoes possible.
Veja manufactures its sneakers using a large proportion of recycled materials. Its upcycling process creates a breathable and water-repellent fabric.
SHOP VEJA
2. Boody
Category: Basics, sportswear, loungewear, underwear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: San Diego, California, United States
Values: Organic, vegan, give back
Prices: $10-$90
Boody is a sustainable fashion label making everyday soft and comfortable clothing essentials. It uses organic bamboo fabrics to produce beautiful, eco-friendly, and sustainable athletic apparel similar to Nike.
Boody aims to deliver easy-to-wear pieces to help you feel good. It offers underwear, basics, loungewear, activewear, and accessories for women, men, and kids.
The brand ensures humane and ethical work conditions with the WRAP certification. And all bamboo involved in its production chain comes from FSC-certified sustainably-managed forests.
All Boody products are PETA Vegan Approved and certified. The clothing brand doesn't use animal products to make its garments, so they are 100% vegan.
SHOP BOODY
3. Allbirds
Category: Basics, loungewear, activewear, underwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, timeless, B Corp, made in New Zealand
Prices: $90-$130
Allbirds is a New Zealand-American sustainable apparel and footwear brand. It aims to make the world's most comfortable clothes with natural materials similar to Nike.
The brand was founded in 2014 by ex-soccer player Tim Brown and renewables expert Joey Zwillinger. It has quickly grown from an online retailer to a massive global brand.
Allbirds is now a global brand serving 35 countries, with 21 brick-and-mortar stores worldwide. It designs environmentally friendly alternatives to Nike.
SHOP ALLBIRDS
4. Organic Basics
Category: Basics, activewear, loungewear, underwear, knitwear, swimwear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $30-$60
Organic Basics is an eco-friendly brand that ethically makes affordable and sustainable activewear with organic cotton and recycled materials like Nike.
Organic Basics is committed to sustainable fashion production and puts sustainable thinking at the center of everything. Sustainability is its core mission.
The clothing label invests in quality fabrics and craftsmanship and designs its clothes with simplicity and function in mind. It also has a fund that supports grassroots activists and organizations that address environmental crises.
SHOP ORGANIC BASICS
5. SAOLA
Category: Sneakers, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Annecy, France
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $50-$130
SAOLA is a French footwear company that creates sustainable, casual, and cute shoes for women and men with eco-friendly materials. It only uses cruelty-free fabrics to make shoes similar to Nike.
Eco-construction is the central pillar of SAOLA's shoe development. The shoe brand uses recycled polyester, organic cotton, renewable cork, and bio-based polymers from algae to make its products.
SHOP SAOLA
6. Tentree
Category: Basics, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Vancouver, Canada
Values: Organic, B Corp, recycled, give back
Prices: $30-$60
Tentree is an Earth-first fashion brand designing long-lasting womenswear for a healthy, sustainable world with recycled materials and organic fabrics such as cotton and hemp.
It offers affordable and sustainable alternatives to Nike that are the perfect addition to any sustainable, all-season wardrobe. They are super soft, cozy, ultra comfy, and go-tos for the best outfit.
The sustainable fashion brand is B Corp certified and partners with global charitable organizations to plant trees and rehabilitate natural ecosystems.
Tentree aims to guide you on your journey and empower you to do your best for the environment. It planted over 75 million trees and restored land in over eight countries.
SHOP TENTREE
7. Vivobarefoot
Category: Sneakers, boots, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Natural, B Corp, give back
Prices: $100-$150
Vivobarefoot is a British minimalist running shoe company founded in 1997. It creates outdoor, active, everyday sneakers for women, men, and kids like Nike and with an increasing amount of natural materials.
Vivobarefoot offers vegan and sustainable shoes. The brand uses flexible materials that allow natural movement. Its goal is to become the most regenerative business on the planet.
Vivobarefoot offers many ethical options made with plant-based or recycled materials, such as recycled plastics and bio-based polymers to reduce its reliance on petroleum products.
Its sustainable sneakers are perfect for running and everyday wear with responsive foot control and an adaptive fit. They offer maximum sensory feedback, durability, and functionality.
SHOP VIVOBAREFOOT
8. Wolven
Category: Basics, swimwear, activewear, loungewear
For: Women, men
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $50-$90
Wolven is a sustainable activewear brand that creates patterns inspired by nature to make sustainability sexy. It uses vibrant colors inspired by Indian art, celebration, and the roots of yoga.
Wolven believes we should do all we can to protect our home, the Earth. Beautiful fashion should not come at the expense of our planet.
Wolven makes sustainable apparel like Nike that helps with athletic performance and confidence. It uses healthy, safe, upcycled, and recycled materials and gives a second life to plastic waste to keep plastic out of ecosystems.
Wolven offers stylish, flattering, responsible activewear made from plastic bottles. It prevents them from entering our oceans and removes one pound of paste from the sea for every purchase.
SHOP WOLVEN
9. NAE Vegan Shoes
Category: Sneakers, boots, sandals, heels, flats, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Amadora, Portugal
Values: Organic, vegan, recycled
Prices: $60-$100
NAE Vegan Shoes makes sustainable footwear in Portugal. It creates ethical, vegan, affordable sneakers for women and men, similar to Nike.
The shoe company makes its products with GRS-certified recycled materials from plastic bottles. It also uses cork, organic cotton, pineapple leather, and polyurethane.
NAE Vegan Shoes is a 100% vegan brand that doesn't use any animal-derived materials in production. It offers high-quality footwear with increased responsibility towards the environment.
Its vegan sneakers are Oeko-Tex certified, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial. They are made from natural and recycled materials and offer high comfort and slip resistance.
SHOP NAE VEGAN SHOES
10. Una Pluma
Category: Basics, loungewear, activewear, outerwear, underwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, artisan craft
Prices: $20-$80
Una Pluma is a sustainable clothing brand that makes GOTS-certified organic cotton activewear and sweats like Nike. It designs its clothes in Oregon and crafts them in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Una Pluma employs skilled craftspeople and pays fair wages in safe working environments. It has committed to organic fabrics, natural fibers, and low-impact dyes to protect you, your loved ones, and our planet from toxic chemicals.
SHOP UNA PLUMA
11. Womsh
Category: Sneakers, boots, shoes
For: Women, men
From: Padua, Italy
Values: Natural, recycled
Prices: $120-$140
Womsh creates beautiful and sustainable sneakers that respect the planet and those who live on it. It produces sustainable sneakers to shape a better world and offers ethical alternatives to Nike.
The Italian sneaker brand also designs and produces a vegan line of sneakers made from Technonappa synthetic fabric and Appleskin without leather.
Womsh makes ethical shoes in Europe using recycled polyester, cotton, natural rubber, and sustainable bio-based materials, such as faux leather made from apple fibers and polyurethane.
Womsh upcycling and manufacturing processes ensure the highest comfort, lightness, and eco-friendliness. The final products are well-made and communicate sustainable beauty.
SHOP WOMSH
12. Outerknown
Category: Basics, activewear, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled
Prices: $50-$140
Outerknown is a clothing label that creates cute, cheap, and eco-friendly clothing for women and men rooted in sustainability and transparency, like Nike. It makes stylish leggings with the most planet-friendly fibers.
Outerknown keeps strict sustainability rules and aims to raise the standard for quality and sustainable design in the global fashion industry. It uses organic and recycled materials to reimagine and embrace circularity.
Accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), the ethical fashion brand invests in the livelihoods of over 5K workers through Fair Trade USA. Three of its partners are Fair Trade Certified.
SHOP OUTERKNOWN
13. Stella McCartney
Category: Clothing, sneakers, boots, flats, sandals, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury
Prices: $320-$770
Stella McCartney is a British apparel designer selling sustainable sneakers, clothing, and accessories for women, men, and kids. She offers eco-friendly, ethically-made, vegan shoes similar to Nike.
The luxury designer is committed to sustainability throughout its collections with a fair amount of circularity and material innovations. She aims to run a responsible, honest, and modern company.
Stella McCartney uses many sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled materials, to create high-quality clothing and footwear through carefully selected suppliers.
SHOP STELLA MCCARTNEY
14. Girlfriend Collective
Category: Basics, activewear, underwear, loungewear, swimwear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women
From: Seattle, Washington, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, inclusive
Prices: $10-$90
Girlfriend Collective makes sustainable and comfortable athletic clothing like Nike from recycled materials, such as recycled polyester from PET bottles and regenerated nylon.
Husband-and-wife-duo Ellie and Quang Dinh launched the brand in 2016 to create flattering, comfortable, and supportive garments. They offer cute, stylish, comfy activewear and loungewear.
Girlfriend Collective aims to make luxurious, responsible clothing and be as transparent as possible. It fosters a community of people who care about beautiful designs and people making their clothes.
The sustainable label makes eco-friendly and high-quality textiles from recycled materials in its facility in Taiwan. It also offers affordable leggings, bras, shorts, briefs, thongs, basics, sweats, and more.
SHOP GIRLFRIEND
15. Ecoalf
Category: Clothing, sneakers, flats, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Madrid, Spain
Values: Natural, recycled, vegan, B Corp, give back
Prices: $50-$140
Ecoalf is a Spanish fashion brand founded in 2009 by Javier Goyeneche. It creates ethical sneakers in Europe made from recycled materials such as recycled polyester, regenerated nylon, recycled rubber to reduce its environmental impact.
Ecoalf is Bluesign and Oeko-Tex-certified. It makes its shoes under the REACH regulation. Many third-party organizations verify Ecoalf suppliers' compliance with the highest social standards, such as BSCI, SA 8000, and SMETA.
Ecoalf offers great trainers for women, men, and kids similar to Nike and with natural, vegan, and extremely light materials. They are comfortable, sustainable, and stabilizing.
SHOP ECOALF
16. Threads 4 Thought
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, sportswear, knitwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: NYC, New York, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $20-$60
Threads 4 Thought is a lifestyle brand of everyday basics, activewear, and other fashion produced responsibly. It creates ethical and cheap alternatives to Nike using organic cotton and recycled fibers.
The clothing label supports sustainable initiatives to move the fashion industry towards a healthier future for all. It sets an example by exceeding industry standards through innovation in materials and production.
Threads 4 Thought manufactures its clothes in Guatemala and China. It ensures the best working conditions and sustainable production processes.
Threads 4 Thought uses eco-friendly materials to create stylish and comfortable clothes. It also partners with the International Rescue Committee to support in-need communities.
SHOP THREADS 4 THOUGHT
17. Summersalt
Category: Basics, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, sleepwear, knitwear
For: Women, children
From: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury
Prices: $60-$90
Summersalt is a designer clothing brand making quality essentials for modern women. It offers a wide range of affordable and sustainable leggings for women, similar to Nike.
Summersalt creates luxury pieces designed to keep up with you. Its athletic apparel is comfortable, chic, and made of recycled materials to offer the best designer quality at the best price.
Summersalt makes beautiful and comfy activewear and swimwear from luxurious fabrics that offer a flattering, body-skimming fit. It uses breathable and wrinkle-resistant materials for more stretch and comfort.
Summersalt is committed to numerous strategic initiatives for more diversity and inclusion. The brand is passionate about spreading love and kindness and learning how to improve every day.
SHOP SUMMERSALT
18. Everlane
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, activewear, swimwear, underwear, bags, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$90
Everlane is an ethical fashion brand creating modern and beautiful essentials, at the best factories, without traditional markups. It's a great destination to buy high-quality, affordable activewear like Nike.
The clothing retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online. It uses sustainable and vegan materials such as recycled fabrics and organic cotton.
The apparel brand also offers ethically made and designed-to-last athleisure and accessories for women and men. It believes in exceptional quality to make a difference.
Everlane is widely known for its radical transparency. It educates consumers on its supply chain, factories, employees, and the price breakdown of each product.
SHOP EVERLANE
19. Thought
Category: Basics, activewear, nightwear, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, underwear, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, give back
Prices: $10-$40
Thought is an eco-friendly fashion brand creating ethical and sustainable activewear like Nike for women and men with organic materials, such as cotton and hemp.
Thought creates comfortable and affordable yoga wear that keeps you secure, including leggings, bras, bralettes, tops, socks, and accessories.
The organic brand is committed to considered design, responsible sourcing, and fostering change. It aims to show more sustainable ways to live, dress, and be.
Thought supports TRAID, a UK charity that works to minimize, improve, and transform the environmental impact of clothing manufacturing. Send your clothes back to TRAID to help the people and places making your clothing.
SHOP THOUGHT
20. Toad&Co
Category: Basics, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $50-$90
Toad&Co is a sustainable fashion brand making socially and environmentally committed clothes like Nike. The label creates affordable and ethical athletic apparel for women and men.
It offers many eco-friendly garments made from recycled fabrics. They are soft on your skin and gentle on Mother Earth.
Toad&Co aims to make a difference and clean up the dirty apparel industry, educate people on sustainable practices, and inspire folks to live their best lives.
The brand believes in sustainability and spontaneity because every day is an adventure. It uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, and recycled fabrics to make affordable clothes.
Toad&Co offers a large selection of sustainable and vegan outdoor wear and equipment, ethically made with cruelty-free and eco-friendly materials.
SHOP TOAD&CO
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About the Author: Alex Assoune
What We're Up Against
Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior.
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