15 Best Ethical And Cheap Alternatives To Free People

By Alex Assoune Apr 01, 2024

Free People is an American clothing retailer and one of the many fast fashion companies to avoid, like the other URBN brands, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, BHLDN, and Terrain.

More ethical, sustainable, and affordable alternatives to Free People exist if you want to build an eco-conscious wardrobe with great style without breaking the bank.

Many apparel brands similar to Free People 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 Free People that make similar beautiful and stylish garments under high standards.

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1. Passion Lilie

Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Values: Organic, Fair Trade, zero waste, timeless, artisan craft
Prices: $30-$80

Passion Lilie is a sustainable fashion brand that makes affordable and stylish garments similar to Free People. It uses eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton and handwoven patterned textiles from Indonesia to create gorgeous apparel for women.

Passion Lilie is committed to improving the world we live in through fashion. It supports local communities and helps build a more equitable future.

Passion Lilie designs each item with fit and comfort in mind. It crafts timeless and effortless garments, ethically handmade in small batches by craftspeople dedicated to preserving heritage techniques.

SHOP PASSION LILIE

2. 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-$210

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 Free People.

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

3. 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-$340

Reformation is a clothing brand that makes sustainable and affordable clothes similar to Free People. 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

4. Mata Traders

Category: Basics, dresses, maternity, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Values: Fair Trade, organic, artisan craft
Prices: $10-$130

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 Free People, 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

5. 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-$320

Christy Dawn is a sustainable fashion designer that creates affordable, ethical, stylish clothing like Free People exclusively from upcycled 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

6. Valani

Category: Basics, denim, loungewear, accessories
For: Women
From: San Leandro, California, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, zero waste, vegan, BIPOC, made in the USA
Prices: $100-$130

Valani is an ethical clothing brand that creates fashion inspired by sustainability, compassion, and the strength of women. It offers timeless, dreamy pieces similar to Free People.

Valani is a sustainable fashion house that makes romantic, feminine, attractive garments designed to be elegant and versatile. They help you live beautifully with compassion and self-love.

Valani is committed to sustainability and ethical production practices. It uses super soft and beautiful banana or hemp fabrics to design affordable, sustainable, and stylish clothing pieces.

SHOP VALANI

7. 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-$190

People Tree is an online garment retailer like Free People 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

8. 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-$110

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, sustainable clothing similar to Free People.

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 knitwear 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

9. 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-$150

Amour Vert is a slow fashion brand that makes ethical and cheap staples like Free People in timeless colors like navy, white, black, heather gray, and more.

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 first opened its doors with its partner American Forest. It promotes sustainable practices and positive environmental impacts.

SHOP AMOUR VERT

10. LA Relaxed

Category: Basics, loungewear, sleepwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Organic, inclusive, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$80

LA Relaxed is an ethical and sustainable women's clothing brand that offers super soft clothes ethically made in Los Angeles, USA. It stocks a wide range of cute and comfy clothing similar to Free People but made from eco-friendly materials.

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 away from our planet and avoid unnecessary damage to the Earth and pain to human beings making our clothes.

SHOP LA RELAXED

11. Tasi Travels

Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, outerwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Federal QLD, Australia
Values: Organic, timeless, give back, made in Australia
Prices: $60-$180

Tasi Travels is an Australian-made slow fashion label for conscious wanderers. It creates versatile clothing pieces like Free People for women to wear every day.

Tasi Travels believes in traveling through life with fewer timeless styles. It designs and manufactures affordable and sustainable apparel for small adventures or journeys around the world.

Tasi Travels makes clothes in limited amounts that last and will be relevant for years to come. It only uses eco-friendly, sustainably sourced fibers and ethical manufacturing processes.

Tasi Travels designs and makes its collections in Queensland, Australia. It's committed to helping protect our natural environment by donating 1% of all sales to 1% for the Planet and planting one tree for every item sold.

SHOP TASI TRAVELS

12. Sézane

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, activewear, underwear, loungewear, outerwear, sleepwear, shoes, bags, accessories
For: Women
From: Paris, France
Values: Organic, recycled, timeless, give back, B Corp
Prices: $100-$200

Sézane is a sustainable fashion label founded by Morgane Sézalory from a love for vintage. It creates high-quality, perfectly-cut pieces to wear forever with similar styles to Free People.

The French apparel company makes clothing, accessories, and shoes for women. It offers a collection of basics, activewear, underwear, loungewear, outerwear, bags, and more.

Sézane is committed to making modern fashion for all women looking for luxury quality at a fair and accessible price. It creates timeless pieces that for (almost) every season.

The clothing brand from Paris releases a seasonal collection four times a year, a highly curated capsule every month, new drops, and several most-wanted restock every week.

Sézane also runs a philanthropic program that supports several charities and projects. It helps children and young adults worldwide get equal access to education, culture, and opportunities.

SHOP SEZANE

13. TAMGA Designs

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Aurora, Ontario, Canada
Values: Organic, recycled, luxury, give back
Prices: $70-$140

TAMGA Designs is a sustainable clothing brand that produces affordable, fashionable, comfortable, and sustainable alternatives to Free People. It uses eco-friendly, renewable fabrics and natural dyes.

The Canadian fashion label ethically makes versatile, high-quality garments for modern women. It creates fashion through recyclable garments and ethical production that enable workers to thrive.

TAMGA Designs is passionate about making fashion more sustainable. It only uses environmentally friendly materials and organic dyes. It also donates a portion of annual sales to environmental organizations.

SHOP TAMGA DESIGNS

14. Lucy & Yak

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, loungewear, outerwear, underwear, bags, accessories
For: Women
From: Brighton, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, inclusive
Prices: $20-$60

Lucy & Yak is an ethical and sustainable brand of indie dungarees, jeans, dresses, boilersuits, and tees. It offers beautiful and comfortable clothes like Free People but made from eco-friendly fabrics.

Lucy & Yak ethically makes stylish and original apparel only using the best materials. The award-winning brand makes its clothes in India in a certified factory that pays fair wages and cares for nature.

SHOP LUCY & YAK

15. Hackwith Design House

Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, outerwear, swimwear, underwear, accessories
For: Women
From: St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Values: Organic, recycled, made-to-order, made in the USA
Prices: $40-$270

Hackwith Design House is a sustainable clothing brand run by Lisa Hackwith. Lead designer Lisa operates a design studio in St. Paul, finds delights in the details, and loves the process of creating beautiful things.

Hackwith Design House creates sustainable, long-lasting, versatile clothes like Free People, all made in the USA. It makes every piece to order and releases a limited edition design every week.

The designing and making process all happens in one place with a small team. The studio includes a conference room, industrial sewing machines, cutting tables, an inventory, and a shipping station.

SHOP HACKWITH DESIGN HOUSE

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

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.

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