19 Ethical Plus Sized Clothing Brands You’ll Love In 2024
I believe everyone should have the right to shop for ethical fashion, but when your clothing size is above a 14, your options are limited. The fashion industry is size exclusive and when you add the word ‘ethical’ to that, your wardrobe can look bare.
Plus sized ethical fashion is hard to find, but it certainly isn’t impossible.
With the help of Meagan Kerr, a plus sized fashion writer, and months of research, I’ve come up with a list of ethical fashion brands that cater to sizes and 18 and far beyond.
“The hardest part about shopping for plus size clothing when you have sustainable values is that there are markedly less options than there are for straight size people. Many brands exclude plus sizes, or only offer a limited range of plus size size options (for example, brands that end at an 18/20). If you’re over a size 24, those options are limited even further.”
- Meagan Kerr, Plus Sized Fashion Writer.
What you need to know before reading this:
We have listed brands that at a minimum go up to size 24 & noted their size range for ease of shopping.
Price ranges are in New Zealand dollars.
‘Made in’ refers to where the garments are made, not inclusive of where the fabric is made.
I haven’t trialled all of these brands personally but Meagan has! Where relevant, you’ll find her helpful reviews.
None of these brands are perfectly ethical. No brand, or person, is.
Buying second hand and shopping at places like TradeMe are also successful places to find ethical plus sized fashion. If you are in Auckland check out Gently Loved who regularly host curvy second hand markets, & Christchurch check out the Curve Collective.
The Carpenter’s Daughter
Cost: $50 - $385
Size range: 14 - 24
Main Materials: Cotton, Linen, Viscose.
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Email brand
Shipping: Worldwide
sloan
Cost: $69 - $340
Size range: Any size - made to fit
Main Materials: Cotton, retro sheets, tablecloths, thrifted fabrics, duvets, quilts.
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Can’t take returns but can alter pieces
Shipping: Worldwide
Meagan review: Choose your style, fabric, enter a couple of measurements, and they’ll make your item just for you! I’ve bought a few dresses from Sloan and love every single one - they’re a perfect fit thanks to each piece being custom made.
lost and led astray
Cost: $262 - $595
Size range: M - 4XL
Main Materials: Cotton, Viscose
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Within 10 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Meagan’s Review: I have quite a few pieces from LaLA and every single one gets worn on repeat. I really appreciate being able to visit their studio on Karangahape Road to try pieces on in person - an option that we often don’t have available to us in plus size fashion.
House of Boom
Cost: $28 - $176
Size range: 16 - 34
Main Materials: Cotton, linen, stretch velvet
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Unable to process returns
Shipping: NZ & Aus, email for Worldwide
Meagan’s Review: Wardrobe staples that are designed to outlive fashion trends, with a wonderful range of colours and prints. House of Boom really understands the importance of comfort in everyday items, and their clothes are designed with taller people in mind but able to be easily taken up for those of different heights.
Danni Rose
Cost: $110 - $310
Size range: 4 - 28 but can custom make
Main Materials: Cotton, linen, denim
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Unable to process returns
Shipping: NZ & Aus
Citizen Women
Cost: $70 - $350
Size range: 14 - 24
Main Materials: Cotton, Wool,
Made in: New Zealand
Returns: Within 14 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Ruby & Rain
Cost: $40 - $235
Size range: 14 - 28
Main Materials: Cotton, Linen, Viscose
Made in: Vietnam
Returns: Within 14 days
Shipping: NZ & Aus, email required for Worldwide
Meagan’s Review: This is a really fashion forward brand, with options that cater for people who love both both colours and classic neutrals. Their Birch tops are a staple for me, and Ruby & Rain is probably one of the most popular brands in my wardrobe.
WARP+WEFT
Cost: $95-$163
Size range: 14 - 28
Main Materials: Denim
Made in:
Returns: Within 30 days
Shipping: Worldwide
MATE the Label
Cost: $49 - $339
Size range: 6 - 24
Main Materials: Cotton, Fleece, Linen, Alpaca
Made in: United States, Peru
Returns: Contact Brand
Shipping: Worldwide
dk Active
Cost: $29 - $144
Size range: 18 - 24
Main Materials: Cotton, Nylon, Spandex,
Made in: Australia
Returns: Within 30 days
Shipping: Worldwide
KoiNo
Cost: $90 - $220
Size range: 8 - 28
Main Materials: Cotton, Linen, Elastane
Made in: New Zealand only
Returns: Contact Brand
Shipping: Worldwide
Elle Evans
Cost: $78 - $272
Size range: XXS - XXXL
Main Materials: Econyl - nylon fibre, lycra
Made in: Australia
Returns: Within 20 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Sanct
Cost: $121 - $354
Size range: S-7XL, 8-30 & custom sizing available
Main Materials: Cotton, wool, elastic,
Made in: Australia
Returns: Within 14 days, no returns for custom pieces
Shipping: Worldwide
Citizen Wolf
Cost: $99 - $332
Size range: Custom sizing
Main Materials: Cotton
Made in: Australia
Returns: Offer alterations & returns
Shipping: Worldwide
Discount code: ETHICALLYKATE for $25 off your first order.
Pyne & Smith
Cost: $27 - $400
Size range: XS - XXXL
Main Materials: Linen, wool
Made in: United States
Returns: Within 14 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Lucy & Yak
Cost: $16 - $195
Size range: UK 4 - 32, US 0 - 28
Main Materials: Cotton, recycled polyester, linen, viscose, bamboo, hemp
Made in: India & Turkey
Returns: Within 30 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Kotn
Cost: $10 - $198
Size range: XS - XXL
Main Materials: Cotton, linen
Made in: Portugal & Egypt
Returns: Email brand
Shipping: Worldwide
Hackwith Design House
Cost: $ - $
Size range: XS - 4XL
Main Materials: Cotton, linen
Made in: United States of America
Returns: Within 21 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Altar
Cost: $51 - $502
Size range: XS - 6XL
Main Materials: Cotton, linen, denim, bamboo viscose
Made in: United States of America
Returns: Within 14 days
Shipping: Worldwide
Plus Sized Ethical Fashion FAQ
How can I encourage ethical fashion brands to extend their size ranges?
Talk to them! Ethical fashion brands want to hear feedback from you, so give it to them. Message your favourite ethical fashion brands on Instagram or email the ethical clothing labels you love with kind and encouraging requests to increase their plus sized ethical fashion options. Even if you don’t need plus sized clothing yourself, you can still email and message ethical fashion brands to motivate them. It’s important for us all to be a voice for plus sized ethical fashion.
Why is ethical fashion so exclusive?
I asked this question to a brand owner who wore plus sized clothing themselves. “Surely you want to make clothes for yourself?!” Turns out, it’s not that simple. Every new size involves creating a new pattern and new patterns cost money. For some companies, depending on how they run their production line, this means they can only choose 2 - 4 sizes to begin with. It sounds ridiculous, but ethical fashion companies are small and they have to start somewhere. This isn’t an excuse for excluding plus sizes from fashion ranges, but it explains why many ethical fashion brands exclude both petite and plus sized ethical fashion options.
Are ethical fashion brands getting better at offering plus sized ethical fashion?
Fortunately, yes! When updating 15 Ethical Swimwear Brands To Dip In recently, I found myself updating several of their size range sections because they now offer plus sized ethical swimwear options. The ethical fashion industry still needs to work on their sizing exclusivity, but it’s really encouraging to see how brands have listened to the requests of their customers and now offer plus sized ethical fashion.
Is plus sized fashion ethical fashion?
I read something recently that said ‘inclusivity is not sustainability.’ It’s true. There are several companies who hero the size inclusivity message as if they are ‘saving the world’ but they still produce their clothing from environmentally damaging materials and do not consider who makes their clothes or how the markets are treated. In an ideal world, fashion would be both inclusive and ethical - and the brands above are doing their best to get there! Still, some of the plus sized ethical fashion brands listed in this blog need to work on their environmental sustainability even though they’re doing great things in the space of sizing inclusivity.