20 Best Affordable And Sustainable Denim Shorts

Here is our selection of the best denim shorts for women and men. They are high-quality, ethically made, and budget-friendly to help you craft fashionable and sustainable outfits for every occasion.

This range of stylish and eco-friendly denim shorts includes a variety of styles including knee-length, high-waisted, asymmetrical, plus size, stretchy elastic waist, and more.

If you want to look and feel your best with a clean conscience, choose cute and stylish shorts from these sustainable denim brands that make jeans under high social and environmental standards.

They are leading the denim revolution and pioneering sustainability with ethical manufacturing practices and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, lyocell, hemp, and linen.

We've got you covered if you also need affordable and sustainably made denim skirts or denim dresses to complete your wardrobe.

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1. Made Trade Ikat Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, activewear, loungewear, underwear, bags, accessories, shoes
For: Women, men
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, vegan, BIPOC, made in the USA
Prices: $30-$50

Made Trade is a sustainable and ethical company that makes goods for the modern wardrobe and home. It offers organic, affordable, and cute denim shorts for women.

The company stocks shorts and other wardrobe essentials with a denim look that are made from sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Made Trade is committed to transparency and making a positive impact on the world. The curated online marketplace sells a great selection of ethical and organic products.

Made Trade adheres to sustainable and fair practices that support both artisans and the Earth's natural resources. It strives to make the world a more beautiful place through higher sustainability standards.

SHOP MADE TRADE

2. Nudie Jeans Frida Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, underwear, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, second-hand
Prices: $40-$120

Nudie Jeans is an ethical denim brand that makes affordable, high-quality jeans and denim shorts. It's well-known for its sustainability, both environmental and social.

Nudie Jeans offers a stylish and environmentally friendly denim selection made from Fair Trade and organic cotton. It aims to make some of the most eco-friendly jeans available on the market by taking responsibility throughout its entire supply chain.

Nudie Jeans encourages a smarter way to consume. It guarantees social standards verified by third-party organizations, including the Fair Wear Foundation.

SHOP NUDIE JEANS

3. Living Crafts Bermuda Shorts

Category: Basics, yoga wear, loungewear, underwear, sleepwear, knitwear, outerwear, denim, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Selbitz, Germany
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, vegan, transparent
Prices: $10-$80

Living Crafts is an organic clothing label designing and selling green fashion and natural textiles for kids, women, and men. It creates new collections twice a year.

The organic brand crafts denim shorts that last several years thanks to timeless cuts, durable quality, and the highest comfort. It's careful to produce its fashion items ecologically using GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Living Crafts is passionate about being environmentally responsible with strict ecological guidelines for production and manufacturing processes. The brand uses only renewable resources to create all its clothes.

SHOP LIVING CRAFTS

4. Threads 4 Thought Jean Shorts

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-$100

Threads 4 Thought is a lifestyle brand of everyday basics, denim, and other fashion produced responsibly. It creates affordable, cute, and high-waisted denim shorts made from organic and recycled cotton.

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, including organic cotton and recycled fabrics. It also partners with the International Rescue Committee to support in-need communities around the world.

SHOP THREADS 4 THOUGHT

5. Frank And Oak Jean Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Montreal, Canada
Values: Recycled, organic
Prices: $50-$70

Frank And Oak is a brand of eco-friendly clothing, ethically sourced and designed for good living. It works to save the planet and offers more sustainable products.

Frank And Oak designs innovative products that reduce fashion's environmental impact through a lighter footprint and longer lifespan. It aims to slow down climate change with eco-friendly garments.

The clothing brand creates comfortable, lightweight denim shorts made from organic cotton that are perfect for summertime. It also uses eco-friendly fabrics such as lyocell made with regenerated fibers sourced from sustainable forests.

SHOP FRANK AND OAK

6. Reformation Jean Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, underwear
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the USA
Prices: $10-$80

Reformation makes sustainable and affordable clothes for women. It offers a collection of eco-friendly basics and comfy denim shorts for petite up to extended sizes.

The clothing retailer designs effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure with the most beautiful and sustainable fabrics possible. It pays attention to minimize its social and environmental impacts.

Reformation uses sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, linen, and Tencel lyocell. It also makes some of its clothes with upcycled and recycled materials, such as regenerated nylon or deadstock fabrics.

SHOP REFORMATION

7. Etsy Lily Denim Shorts

Category: Clothing, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men, children
From: NYC, New York, United-States
Values: Recycled, vintage, independent sellers
Prices: $10-$90

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on hand-made or vintage fashion items, homeware, and craft supplies. It offers a wide range of sustainable and affordable denim shorts made from organic cotton.

Many independents sellers list comfy, eco-friendly, cute, and cheap denim shorts on Etsy. The marketplace is very active and widely recognized as the most trusted vintage store.

SHOP ETSY

8. Thought Chambray Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, activewear, nightwear, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, underwear, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, give back
Prices: $30-$40

Thought is an eco-friendly fashion brand that creates cute and cheap clothes for women and men with sustainable materials, such as lyocell, organic cotton, and hemp.

Thought creates comfortable and affordable garments that help you look and feel your best, including denim shorts with an easy and flattering fit.

The organic brand is committed to considered design, responsible sourcing, and fostering change. It aims to show that there are 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 support the people and places making your clothing.

SHOP THOUGHT

9. Everlane Denim Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, activewear, underwear, bags, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$50

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, and sustainable denim shorts.

The clothing retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online. It uses a high proportion of sustainable and vegan materials such as organic cotton and recycled fabrics.

The apparel brand also offers ethically made and designed-to-last canvas shorts and other basics 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.

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10. Boden Devon Shorts

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, denim, knitwear, sportswear, swimwear, nightwear, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $40-$50

Boden is a clothing retailer selling high-quality and individual styles for women, men, and kids. It creates comfortable and affordable denim shorts using a large proportion of sustainable materials.

Boden takes climate change seriously and is taking steps to reduce its environmental impacts, such as using better cotton and regenerated fibers.

The clothing label also donates to numerous charities to support vulnerable families, educate young people, and empower workers in fashion supply chains.

SHOP BODEN

11. People Tree Denim Shorts

Category: Basics, leggings, trousers, vests, sports bras, shorts
For: Women
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, artisan craft, give back
Prices: $20-$110

People Tree is an online garment retailer making clothes from environmentally-friendly materials, including Fair Trade, certified organic cotton, and recycled materials.

In 2013, it became the first fashion company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) product label, guaranteeing dedication and compliance with the principles of Fair Trade.

People Tree offers a wide range of affordable and cute clothes for women, including blue wash, lightweight, denim shorts made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton.

People Tree is committed to working with disadvantaged farmers and workers to promote fairer trading conditions. It helps combat poverty and employs people in underserved communities around the world.

SHOP PEOPLE TREE

12. Monsoon Lucille Denim Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, sleepwear, swimwear, shoes, bags, accessories
For: Women, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $30-$40

Monsoon is a clothing retailer that makes sustainable and affordable garments. It offers a wide variety of chic and stylish clothing, including denim shorts.

Monsoon believes in transparency and sustainable manufacturing as a responsible retailer. It follows a sustainable approach to environmental protection and fair business practices throughout its supply chains.

The apparel company also operates its Monsoon Accessorize Trust to help women and children in Asian underserved communities by offering opportunities for better income, education, and healthcare.

SHOP MONSOON

13. Marks & Spencer Denim Boyfriend Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, underwear, swimwear, sleepwear, outerwear, maternity, bags, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, Fairtrade, recycled, Zero Waste
Prices: $20-$30

Marks & Spencer is a fashion retailer of affordable and sustainable clothing. It offers comfortable and stylish denim shorts for the modern woman.

Marks & Spencer stocks a wide range of eco-friendly clothes up to extended sizes. It implements sustainable operations to build and maintain its customers' trust.

Marks & Spencer takes sustainability seriously and has been taking numerous steps to become more sustainable over the last decade. It also uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, linen, hemp, jute, ramie, recycled polyester, and regenerated nylon.

SHOP MARKS & SPENCER

14. NA-KD Raw Hem Denim Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, underwear, swimwear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $20-$30

NA-KD is a next-generation fashion marketplace, a mobile-based online shopping sanctuary for fashion addicts. It offers sustainable, adorable, and fashionable denim shorts for women and men worldwide.

NA-KD sells many different clothing labels at various price points and designs a range of cute and stylish clothes, footwear, and accessories under its brand.

The NA-KD brand is one of the fastest-growing on social media. To launch new collections, it regularly partners with influencers such as Andrea Hedenstedt, Anika Teller, Astrid Olsen, Camille Botten, Dilara Avci, Pamela Reif, Kristin Sundberg, and more.

SHOP NA-KD

15. ASOS Marketplace Denim Cut Off Shorts

Category: Clothing, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Vintage, artisan craft, animal welfare, no fakes
Prices: $20-$40

ASOS Marketplace sells pre-loved clothing from independent brands and vintage boutiques online. It launched in 2010 with just 20 sellers and is now a leading online platform for thrift shopping.

The marketplace represents over 800 boutiques from all over the globe. It offers a unique product range including vintage denim shorts from small brands to larger high-street names.

ASOS Marketplace not only sells vintage 90s clothing from famous large brands but also new hippie-chic designs from international boutiques and skilled artisans.

SHOP ASOS MARKETPLACE

16. Toad&Co Coaster Cord Shorts

Category: Basics, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $50-$70

Toad&Co is a sustainable fashion brand making socially and environmentally committed outdoor clothes. The label creates cute and affordable shorts with a denim look for women and men.

Toad&Co aims to make a difference to clean up a dirty apparel industry, educate people on sustainable practices, and inspire folks to live their fullest 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

17. Karen Kane Denim Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, children
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$110

Karen Kane is an American fashion designer that creates cute, affordable, ultra-comfortable, and sustainable denim shorts in Los Angeles, USA.

Karen Kane believes ladies should feel beautiful and comfortable, always. She offers adorable and comfy clothing made in the USA with the finest fabrics from all over the world.

Karen Kane creates products with passion and integrity, guided by respect for people and the planet. Most of her collections are designed and manufactured in Los Angeles.

SHOP KAREN KANE

18. Mud Jeans Abby Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Laren, Netherlands
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, B Corp, rental
Prices: $80-$90

Mud Jeans is a sustainable denim brand founded in 2013 by Bert van Son and based in the Netherlands. It sustainably and ethically makes high-quality denim shorts for women and men.

After 30 years of experience in the fashion industry and realizing how dirty and unfair it is, Bert launched its denim brand to make ethical jeans available to more people.

The denim label aims to change the fashion industry for the better. It creates jeans, tops, jackets, shorts, and skirts with organic cotton according to the circular economy principles.

SHOP MUD JEANS

19. Kuyichi Demi Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, jeans, jackets, shorts, shirts
For: Women, men
From: Utrecht, Netherlands
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $70-$80

Kuyichi is a Dutch fashion brand founded in 2000 and named after the rainbow God K'uychi or Coichi worshipped by the Incas, connected with fertility, bringing color and positivity to the Earth and all living things.

Kuyichi started after a visit to the cotton fields of Oro Blanco, Peru that made apparent the disastrous impact of the cotton industry on people and nature.

It's the first denim brand that launched jeans from 100% organic cotton back in 2003. It aimed to create a production chain that benefits everyone.

Kuyichi wants to stay a pioneering, style-conscious brand that inspires younger generations to wear organic jeans. It creates collections that last beyond the season, including denim shorts, with a perfect fit and premium quality.

SHOP KUYICHI

20. Finisterre Daly Shorts

Category: Basics, denim, dresses, sportswear, swimwear, knitwear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, give back, B Corp
Prices: $30-$70

Finisterre is a pioneering, sustainable outdoor brand, built to inspire a love for the sea and anchored in exceptional products. It makes products for adventures more responsibly and transparently.

The outdoor brand is born from the need to make innovative products for hardy British surfers. It pushes push innovation and product development with a better way of manufacturing.

Finisterre offers affordable and sustainable denim shorts made from organic cotton. It's committed to the original design ethos of functionality and sustainability, innovative product, environment, and people.

SHOP FINISTERRE

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.