Forever 21 is an American clothing retailer that creates fast fashion for women, men, and kids. It offers the latest trends, styles, and deals, such as modern dresses, tops, tees, leggings, and more, but it isn't the most ethical company.
More sustainable and affordable alternatives to Forever 21 exist if you want to build an eco-conscious wardrobe with great style without breaking the bank.
Many apparel brands similar to Forever 21 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 Forever 21 that make similar beautiful and stylish garments under high standards.
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1. Tentree
Category: Basics, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Vancouver, Canada
Values: Organic, B Corp, recycled, give back
Prices: $30-$90
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 Forever 21 that are the perfect addition to any sustainable, all-season wardrobe. They are super soft, cozy, ultra comfy, and go-to's for the perfect 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 61 million trees and restored land in over eight countries.
SHOP TENTREE
2. Etsy
Category: Basics, outerwear, activewear, knitwear, loungewear, swimwear, underwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: NYC, New York, United States
Values: Organic, vintage, artisan craft
Prices: $10-$160
Etsy is an American e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage fashion items, homeware, and craft supplies. It offers a wide range of affordable and sustainable alternatives to Forever 21.
Many independent sellers list comfy, eco-friendly, cute, and cheap clothing on Etsy. The marketplace is very active and widely recognized as the most trusted vintage store.
SHOP ETSY
3. Nanushka
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: Budapest, Hungary
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan, luxury
Prices: $270-$650
Nanushka is a sustainable, luxury clothing brand founded by vegan fashion designer Sandra Sandor. The modern, bohemian brand makes versatile, day-to-night clothes to create a new informal form of beauty.
Sandra Sandor cherishes and protects the planet in everything she does, driven by an insatiable desire to explore more, gain inspiration, and become a better version of herself.
Nanushka offers a beautiful and exhaustive collection similar to Forever 21. It takes decisions with love and consideration for our planet and the people, committed to doing better.
SHOP NANUSHKA
4. WVN
Category: Basics, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, outerwear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Santa Cruz, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, B Corp
Prices: $10-$110
WVN is a new, modern clothing brand that makes sustainable women's clothing using artisanal, traditional techniques and practices. It offers stylish, ethical, and cheap clothing similar to Forever 21.
WVN uses GOTS-certified organic cotton fabrics and Fair Trade factories to create clothing that looks great while caring for the Earth. It offers beautifully handcrafted apparel and accessories for contemporary women.
SHOP WVN
5. Mata Traders
Category: Basics, dresses, maternity, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Values: Fair Trade, organic, artisan craft
Prices: $10-$100
Mata Traders is a design-driven, sustainable, Fair Trade clothing brand helping to end global poverty and inspire consumers to change the fashion industry. It offers affordable, colorful, original, and ethical apparel like Forever 21, all made by artisans in India and Nepal.
The Chicago-based clothing label is on a mission to fashion a better world by creating unique, sustainable fashion pieces up to extended sizes that empower women to use their buying power for change.
Mata Traders is passionate about fighting inequality, child labor, and global poverty. The brand is committed to keeping craft traditions alive while providing meaningful work, fair wages, and economic independence.
SHOP MATA TRADERS
6. Faithfull
Category: Basics, knitwear, loungewear, swimwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Bali
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury, B Corp
Prices: $90-$340
Faithfull is a womenswear label founded in 2013 in Bali by Sarah-Jane Abrahams and Helle Them-Enger. It's committed to creating thoughtfully produced, socially responsible garments similar to Forever 21.
Faithfull offers stylish and supportive apparel that minimizes its environmental footprint with recycled fabrics. It works closely with local communities to craft beautiful handmade products.
SHOP FAITHFULL
7. LA Relaxed Square Cami
Category: Basics, loungewear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, inclusive, made in the USA
Prices: $30-$40
LA Relaxed is an ethical and sustainable women's clothing brand that offers super soft clothes ethically made in Los Angeles, USA. It makes a wide range of cute and comfy garments like Forever 21.
LA Relaxed creates affordable, sustainable, inclusive clothing that offers comfort and quality. It helps you be comfortable with yourself, body and mind, and soul.
LA Relaxed makes choices that take less from our planet and avoid unnecessary damage to the Earth and pain to human beings making our clothes.
SHOP LA RELAXED
8. Toad&Co
Category: Basics, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, vegan
Prices: $50-$80
Toad&Co is a sustainable fashion brand making socially and environmentally committed clothes like Forever 21. The label creates affordable and ethical apparel for women and men.
It offers many eco-friendly garments made from organic cotton dyed using less water. 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
9. Bassike
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, knitwear, swimwear, outerwear, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: Sydney, Australia
Values: Organic, recycled, local
Prices: $130-$460
Bassike is a clothing brand of sustainable designer apparel similar to Forever 21. It ensures local makers in Australia who make all its clothes are treated respectfully, paid fairly, and working in a safe environment.
Bassike creates high-quality, clean, minimalist aesthetics with a commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Designers Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan launched Bassike in 2006 and now offer certified organic collections of wardrobe staples.
The Australian designer clothing brand produces quality, natural fibers such as linen that are better for the environment and biodegrade quickly. It reduces its carbon footprint using green energy and a short supply chain.
SHOP BASSIKE
10. Mara Hoffman
Category: Basics, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear
For: Women
From: New York City, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury, give back, made in the USA
Prices: $60-$730
Mara Hoffman is a premium designer brand that offers sustainable clothing similar to Forever 21. It uses hemp, recycled textiles, and other eco-friendly materials.
Mara Hoffman is well-known for its eco-friendly, casual, and chic fashion pieces made from pre and post-consumer waste. The designer label aims to reduce its impact and generate awareness.
It offers stylish and unique alternatives manufactured responsibly by smaller artisan groups under fair conditions. Many of its business clothes are made in Los Angeles to foster a healthy local economy.
SHOP MARA HOFFMAN
11. Christy Dawn
Category: Basics, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, maternity, shoes, accessories
For: Women, girls
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Upcycled, made in the USA
Prices: $80-$370
Christy Dawn is a sustainable fashion designer that creates affordable, ethical, stylish clothing like Forever 21 from organic fabrics ethically crafted in Los Angeles.
Christy Dawn designs each style with longevity in mind. Every fashion piece is intentionally timeless and versatile and tailored to fit petite to extended sizes.
The fashion designer aims to make simple, easy-to-wear pieces that will become wardrobe staples. Its dresses keep you comfortable while preserving the integrity and beauty of the Earth and its people.
SHOP CHRISTY DAWN
12. Ninety Percent
Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, knitwear, underwear
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, give back
Prices: $30-$250
Ninety Percent is a sustainable womenswear and menswear label that shares 90% of its profits. It uses organic cotton to make beautiful and eco-friendly alternatives to Forever 21.
Ninety Percent is GOTS and PETA Vegan certified and is on a mission to be the best for customers, producers, and the planet. It distributes profits between the causes it supports and the people who make its collection happen.
SHOP NINETY PERCENT
13. Outerknown
Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, swimwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled
Prices: $50-$220
Outerknown is a clothing label that creates cute, cheap, and eco-friendly clothing for women and men rooted in sustainability and transparency, like Forever 21. It makes stylish apparel with the most planet-friendly fibers.
Outerknown keeps strict sustainability rules and aims to raise the standard for quality, 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
14. 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-$70
Threads 4 Thought is a lifestyle brand of everyday basics, loungewear, and other fashion produced responsibly. It creates ethical and cheap alternatives to Forever 21 using regenerated 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
15. People Tree
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, activewear, knitwear, outerwear, underwear, sleepwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, artisan craft, give back
Prices: $30-$90
People Tree is an online garment retailer like Forever 21 that make sustainable clothing from environmentally friendly materials, including Fair Trade, GOTS-certified organic cotton, and Tencel lyocell.
People Tree became the first fashion company to receive the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) product label in 2013. It guarantees dedication and compliance with the Fair Trade principles.
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
16. Amour Vert
Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women
From: San Francisco, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the USA, give back
Prices: $90-$160
Amour Vert is a slow fashion brand that makes ethical and cheap staples like Forever 21. It offers stylish, lightweight, and breathable apparel for every season.
The sustainable brand creates fabulous clothes in limited quantities to contribute to a more eco-friendly future. Its clothing pieces are affordable, chic, comfortable, and better for the planet.
Amour Vert is committed to making fashion thoughtful, versatile, and sustainable. You'll want to keep its timeless pieces in your wardrobe forever.
The eco-friendly label has been planting trees in North America since it opened its doors with its partner American Forest. It promotes sustainable practices and positive environmental impacts.
SHOP AMOUR VERT
17. Kotn
Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, loungewear, bags, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Toronto, Canada
Values: Organic, recycled, B Corp, give back
Prices: $30-$80
Kotn is a sustainable clothing brand that ethically and sustainably makes stylish apparel similar to Forever 21. It's committed to supply-chain transparency and give-back initiatives.
The eco-friendly label creates clothes around considered design, relentless quality, honest value, and positive impact. It aims to set the standard for conscious creation and consumption.
Kotn also uses cotton and no animal-derived materials. It's working with an Egyptian NGO to build schools and provide every child in its farming communities with safe, convenient, quality education.
SHOP KOTN
18. La Maison Simons
Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, activewear, swimwear, loungewear, underwear, sleepwear, bags, shoes, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men, children
From: Quebec City, Canada
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $10-$130
La Maison Simons is a Canadian fashion retailer and creator of sustainable staples. It offers many affordable and sustainable alternatives to Forever 21, designed in Canada from organic cotton.
The Canadian clothing brand creates apparel that combines style and durability by adhering to high social and environmental standards. It uses sustainable fabrics made from organic cotton and Tencel.
SHOP LA MAISON SIMONS
19. Frank And Oak
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women, men
From: Montreal, Canada
Values: Recycled, organic
Prices: $50-$120
Frank And Oak is a brand of eco-friendly clothing, ethically sourced and designed for good living. The Canadian clothing label works to save the planet and offers more sustainable products to Forever 21.
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 Canadian clothing brand creates comfortable, lightweight garments from sustainable materials. It also uses eco-friendly fabrics made from natural and regenerated fibers.
SHOP FRANK AND OAK
20. Thought
Category: Basics, knitwear, outerwear, loungewear, underwear, sportswear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, give back
Prices: $10-$80
Thought is a fashion label offering ethically made and sustainable clothing. It creates stylish and affordable alternatives to Forever 21 for women and men with eco-friendly materials like organic cotton.
Thought makes timeless pieces in a flattering shape and breathable fabric that work wherever you are. The organic brand offers many pure cotton and vegan options.
Thought is committed to responsible design, ethical sourcing, and fostering change. It aims to show 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 help the people and places making your clothing.
SHOP THOUGHT
21. Everlane
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, activewear, 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, organic alternatives to Forever 21.
The clothing retailer is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and sells primarily online. It uses sustainable and vegan materials such as organic cotton and recycled fabrics.
The apparel brand offers ethically made and designed-to-last clothing 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
22. Eileen Fisher
Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, denim, sleepwear, bags, accessories, shoes
For: Women
From: NYC, New York, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, B Corp, artisan craft, give back
Prices: $50-$250
Eileen Fisher is an affordable designer clothing brand selling sustainable wardrobe essentials, from casual clothing to timeless and elegant pieces, from the famous fashion designer of the same name, Eileen Fisher.
The luxury designer offers affordable and organic alternatives to Forever 21 that are also ethical and eco-friendly. It commits to sustainable materials and paying its workers a living wage.
Eileen Fisher ensures that all its workers have a voice, earn a fair wage, and are treated fairly in the workplace. It also supports women and girls through grants, events, and partnerships.
The clothing designer promotes inclusivity and diversity in the sustainable fashion movement and offers a wide range of sizes, from petite to extended.
Eileen Fisher also operates an alternative supply chain supporting over 450 families in and around Arequipa, Peru, with higher Fair Trade wages and investments in the local community.
SHOP EILEEN FISHER
23. Karen Kane
Category: Basics, outerwear, knitwear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women, children
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$140
Karen Kane is a fashion designer that creates cute, affordable, ultra-comfortable, and sustainable workwear in Los Angeles. She offers stylish and trendy clothing like Forever 21.
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
24. Encircled
Category: Basics, loungewear, knitwear, outerwear, sportswear, accessories
For: Women
From: Toronto, Canada
Values: Organic, recycled, B Corp, made in Canada
Prices: $70-$80
Encircled is a sustainable clothing brand that sells high-quality, comfortable, affordable alternatives to Forever 21. Its collections are proudly 100% sewn in Toronto, Canada.
Encircled produces its garments locally onshore for the planet, people, and its business. Its sewing studios are less than 35km from its Toronto office.
Encircled believes in a transparent process to make its fabrics sustainable and utilizes low-impact dyes, positively impacting the planet and your health.
It uses natural and eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton and linen to create sustainable styling options up to extended sizes and help you refine your wardrobe.
SHOP ENCIRCLED
25. PACT
Category: Basics, knitwear, loungewear, activewear, underwear, sleepwear, maternity
For: Women, men, children
From: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled
Prices: $20-$120
PACT is a leading sustainable fashion brand using organic fabrics and fair trade factories to design stylish essential clothing. It creates ethical and fashionable alternatives to Forever 21.
The fair trade clothing brand chooses the best ingredients, such as organic cotton and recycled materials, to make the best clothes. It promotes organic and ethical clothing for everyday use.
PACT considers the people who make the clothes as important as the people who wear them. It encourages people to care about what they put in their bodies and what they put on their bodies.
PACT designs fair trade clothes that are affordable, practical, comfortable, and effortless. It offers ethical alternatives that fit the lifestyle of conscious consumers because doing good should be easy.
SHOP PACT
26. Summersalt
Category: Basics, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, sleepwear, knitwear
For: Women, children
From: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury
Prices: $60-$120
Summersalt is a designer clothing brand making quality essentials for modern women. It offers a range of chic and sustainable alternatives to Forever 21 made from organic and recycled fabrics.
Summersalt creates luxury pieces designed to keep up with you. Its clothes are comfortable, stylish, and made from organic or recycled materials to offer the best designer quality at the best price.
Summersalt makes beautiful pieces 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 to be better every day.
SHOP SUMMERSALT
27. ABLE
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women
From: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Values: Organic, artisan craft
Prices: $50-$160
ABLE is a sustainable clothing brand working with worldwide communities to stop the cycle of poverty by producing slow fashion and paying a living wage to women.
The label makes beautiful, functional, affordable, sustainable alternatives to Forever 21. It uses eco-friendly materials such as certified organic cotton, lyocell, and linen for its collections.
ABLE believes in progress over perfection and aims to be transparent and accountable to end poverty in the fashion industry. It publishes on its website the lowest worker wages of its manufacturing partners.
SHOP ABLE
28. Scotch & Soda
Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, loungewear, knitwear, swimwear, accessories
For: Women, men, children
From: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $40-$190
Scotch & Soda is a Dutch fashion company that celebrates individuality, authenticity, and the power of self-expression to create unique and beautiful clothes similar to Forever 21.
The Amsterdam-based label cares for our planet and makes more responsible choices every day that reduce its environmental impact. It combines original design with clever functionality to help you build a modern, versatile wardrobe that lasts.
Scotch & Soda uses a large proportion of sustainable materials such as organic and recycled cotton, regenerated nylon, and Tencel lyocell. It aims to create a fair working environment and constantly improve working conditions in its supply chain.
SHOP SCOTCH & SODA
29. Made Trade
Category: Basics, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, outerwear, swimwear, underwear, sleepwear, bags, accessories, shoes
For: Women, men
From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, recycled, vegan, carbon-neutral, BIPOC
Prices: $10-$90
Made Trade is a fair trade retailer sustainably and ethically creates goods for the modern wardrobe and home, like Forever 21. It offers handcrafted apparel, accessories, and footwear for women and men.
Made Trade is committed to transparency and making a positive impact on the world. The well-curated online marketplace sells a great selection of ethical handcrafted products made with sustainable and natural materials.
Made Trade adheres to sustainable and Fair Trade practices that support both artisans and the Earth's natural resources. It strives to make the world a more beautiful place through higher ethical standards.
SHOP MADE TRADE
30. Reformation
Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, activewear, loungewear, underwear
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, Fair Trade, carbon-neutral, made in the USA
Prices: $10-$180
Reformation is a clothing brand that makes sustainable and affordable clothes similar to Forever 21. It offers a collection of stylish dresses 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 minimizing 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.
Six of its suppliers have attained a social compliance certification like Fair Trade, SA8000, or WRAP. They are working to increase participation in social certification programs to ensure good working conditions.
SHOP REFORMATION
31. NA-KD
Category: Basics, denim, outerwear, knitwear, underwear, swimwear, nightwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $20-$30
NA-KD is a top next-generation fashion marketplace, a mobile-based online shopping sanctuary for fashion addicts. It offers affordable, stylish, and sustainable alternatives to Forever 21.
NA-KD sells many different clothing labels at various price points and designs cute and fashionable clothes, footwear, and accessories under its brand.
The NA-KD brand is one of the fastest-growing on social media. It regularly partners with influencers to launch new collections, such as Andrea Hedenstedt, Anika Teller, Astrid Olsen, Camille Botten, Dilara Avci, Pamela Reif, Kristin Sundberg, and more.
SHOP NA-KD
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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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