15 Best Ethical And Cheap Alternatives To Hot Topic

By Alex Assoune Apr 01, 2024

Hot Topic is an American clothing retailer and one of the most famous pop culture and music-inspired fashion businesses. It specializes in alternative apparel for guys and girls but isn't the most ethical company.

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

Many apparel brands similar to Hot Topic 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 Hot Topic that make similar beautiful and stylish garments under high standards.

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1. Skydance

Category: Basics, knitwear, outerwear, loungewear, underwear, nightwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: Rzeszów, Poland
Values: Natural, local, inclusive, give back
Prices: $20-$60

Skydance is an alternative clothing brand that creates ethical apparel similar to Hot Topic and in multiple colors. It uses high-quality, durable materials that are incredibly soft and comfortable.

Skydance makes alternative clothing inspired by 90s grunge, punk, and goth to offer unique, quality clothing that disregards social standards. It uses locally sourced materials and produces its pieces in local sewing studios.

SHOP SKYDANCE

2. Gloomth

Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, loungewear, underwear, swimwear, accessories
For: Women
From: Toronto, Canada
Values: Recycled, made-to-order
Prices: $60-$120

Gloomth is an alternative clothing brand that ethically makes beautiful garments similar to Hot Topic. It creates apparel for the misfits of the misfits, for everyone who doesn't fit in and doesn't want to.

Gloomth has committed to ethical manufacturing and only manufactures what has sold to limit waste. It uses recycled or vintage materials and repurposes wasted items to keep them out of landfills.

SHOP GLOOMTH

3. Noctex

Category: Basics, denim, knitwear, loungewear, underwear, knitwear, swimwear, shoes
For: Women
From: Vancouver, Canada
Values: Organic, recycled, made in Canada
Prices: $10-$120

Noctex is an ethical clothing brand that creates beautiful and organic garments similar to Hot Topic. It offers nocturnal, socially, and environmentally responsible designs proudly made in Canada.

Noctex locally manufactures clothing made from deadstock textiles. It produces garments with transparent practices without the imposition of the fast-paced modern fashion industry.

SHOP NOCTEX

4. SamsaraWear

Category: Basics, dresses, activewear, loungewear, accessories
For: Women
From: Newquay, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, artisan craft, custom, fair trade
Prices: $30-$60

SamsaraWear is an ethical clothing brand that makes organic alternative fashion with delicate lines and a feminine look. It offers a wide range of practical, easy-to-wear, comfortable clothing similar to Hot Topic.

SamsaraWear sells eco-friendly, flattering designs made from organic and recycled fabrics. The brand is a small collaboration of eclectic designers from Cornwall.

SHOP SAMSARAWEAR

5. Jawbreaker

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, underwear, knitwear, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Recycled, timeless, inclusive
Prices: $10-$40

Jawbreaker is an ethical clothing brand that makes alternative fashion that stays in your wardrobe long past the latest season. It offers affordable and sustainable clothing similar to Hot Topic.

Jawbreaker is committed to manufacturing small quantities and repurposing surplus fabrics to waste nothing. It encourages donating, swapping with friends, and recycling.

SHOP JAWBREAKER

6. Calluna

Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom
Values: Natural, recycled, artisan craft
Prices: $40-$70

Calluna is an ethical and independent brand that makes alternative clothing similar to Hot Topic. It takes inspiration from the polarities found in nature and us all.

Calluna is committed to using natural and recycled materials to create beautiful alternative clothing for every mood and season. It uses responsible fabrics that are soft on the skin and friendly to the environment.

SHOP CALLUNA

7. ASOS Marketplace

Category: Clothing, bags, accessories, shoes, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Vintage, artisan craft
Prices: $10-$50

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 alternative clothing range similar to Hot Topic, from small brands to famous high-street names.

ASOS Marketplace sells vintage 90s alternative clothing from popular brands and new trendy designs from international boutiques and skilled artisans.

SHOP ASOS MARKETPLACE

8. The Last Kult

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, underwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Values: Recycled, custom, made-to-order, made in the UK
Prices: $50-$120

The Last Kult is an ethical clothing brand that makes apparel similar to Hot Topic by hand with high-quality materials in the UK. It specializes in post-apocalyptic and gothic fashion, couture, and accessories.

The Last Kult designs and manufactures alternative clothing and accessories for the gothic subcultures. It believes in slow fashion and long-lasting clothing made from fabric waste and upcycled materials.

SHOP THE LAST KULT

9. Ovate

Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, jewelry
For: Women
From: Montreal, Canada
Values: Organic, artisan craft, made-to-order, timeless
Prices: $40-$220

Ovate is an ethical clothing brand that creates alternative womenswear like Hot Topic made from natural fabrics like linen and hemp. All items are uniquely made to order with hand weaving and natural dyeing.

Ovate is entirely handcrafted in Montreal, Canada, in a small studio and only uses high-quality, natural materials. It helps you avoid trends as much as possible and create a durable, personal and handcrafted wardrobe.

SHOP OVATE

10. Psylo

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, activewear, knitwear, accessories, jewelry
For: Women, men
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled
Prices: $30-$90

Psylo is an ethical fashion brand that makes alternative clothing like Hot Topic with various elements from gothic styles. It designs bold, edgy, rebel, and punk fashion for women and men.

Psylo has a multinational design team and its factory in Bali, Indonesia. It uses organic cotton, upcycles its fabric waste, and makes patchwork designs from leftover fabric.

SHOP PSYLO

11. byFrennka

Category: Basics, dresses
For: Women
From: Kyiv, Ukraine
Values: Organic, custom, made-to-order
Prices: $10-$170

byFrennka is an ethical clothing brand that creates beautifully soft, lightweight, and comfy alternative fashion like Hot Topic. Its garments are high-quality and well made from European linen.

byFrennka offers flattering and elegant witchy clothing for women. It makes black and white linen clothes with a soul from Ukraine.

SHOP BYFRENNKA

12. FOXBLOOD

Category: Basics, loungewear, outerwear, underwear, swimwear, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry
For: Women
From: Los Angeles, California, United States
Values: Vegan, minimalist, inclusive, made in the USA
Prices: $60-$80

FOXBLOOD is an ethical clothing brand that makes alternative to Hot Topic. It offers a beautiful signature gothic fashion collection designed and produced in-house in Los Angeles.

FOXBLOOD creates limited edition pieces with a moody look that features high comfort and movement. It offers minimalist ready-to-wear lines of high-quality, inclusively-sized, vegan, and cruelty-free clothing.

SHOP FOXBLOOD

13. NUIT Clothing Atelier

Category: Basics, dresses, knitwear, loungewear
For: Women, men
From: Toronto, Canada
Values: Organic, timeless, artisan craft
Prices: $120-$230

NUIT Clothing Atelier is a sustainable alternative clothing brand that designs and handmakes beautiful and ethical garments in its Toronto atelier. It uses natural materials like cotton and linen to create unique pieces.

NUIT offers timeless classics with beautiful draping and modern silhouettes. It combines historical apparel with contemporary design to make minimalist, alternative clothing similar to Hot Topic.

SHOP NUIT

14. Church Of Sanctus

Category: Basics, dresses, loungewear, underwear
For: Women
From: London, United Kingdom
Values: Organic, recycled, made in the UK
Prices: $70-$220

Church Of Sanctus is an eco-friendly clothing brand that makes gorgeous alternative fashion like Hot Topic from deadstock fabrics. It handmakes all its pieces in London.

Church Of Sanctus creates organic alternative clothing that reflects your inner greatness and empowers you to embody your divinity. It only makes small quantities to instill preciousness in its pieces.

SHOP CHURCH OF SANCTUS

15. Voriagh

Category: Basics, dresses, outerwear, underwear, shoes, accessories
For: Women
From: Paris, France
Values: Organic, artisan craft, timeless
Prices: $60-$190

Voriagh is an ethical clothing brand that creates effortless and feminime alternative fashion like Hot Topic from organic fabrics. It uses 100% linen to design and make long-lasting garments in a European atelier.

Voriagh offers traditional, pure linen, gothic clothing cut and sewn by hand by talented artisans and seamstress. It creates gorgeous garments influenced by nature and ancient lands across Europe, folklore and craftsmanship.

SHOP VORIAGH

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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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