The ethical fashion industry seems to do floral dresses and linen frocks galore, but I’d argue that we don’t talk about the common ethical t shirt as much as it deserves! Eco friendly t shirts are a staple in every wardrobe.

With the help of my researcher, Stef, we’ve compiled a range of eco friendly t shirt options for you to choose from when it’s time to turn your old t shirts into tomato plant ties or use them to stuff pillows and foot stools. In this blog you’ll find organic cotton t shirts are the most common option available, with a few ethical t shirts made from hemp, merino, bamboo, and cashmere too.

What you need to know before reading this:

• Price ranges are in New Zealand dollars.

• The size range refers to the t shirt options (some brands have different sizes for their other products).

• ‘Made in’ refers to where the garments are made, not inclusive of where the fabric is made.

• If I have personal experience wearing a brand’s t shirts, I have left a little ethical t shirt review.

• None of these brands are perfectly ethical. No brand, or person, is.

Ethical t shirt Q&A

Why are some of these ethical t shirt options so much more expensive than others listed?

The price varies mainly because of the different fabric types. For example, organic cotton fabric costs less than merino. The price also varies a little depending on the style of shirt. Some of the basic shirts are lower in price compared to other ethical t shirts listed that have specific tailoring and design elements.

I’m plus sized, what are my organic t shirt options?

We’ve tried our best to list a range of options that suit all sizes in this ethical t shirt blog post, however you can find more plus sized brands here.

Why do these eco friendly t shirts cost so much more than conventionally made t shirts?

The ethical t shirts listed are made from sustainable fabrics that are produced in ways that have less impact on the environment. They’re also made by people who are paid fair wages and treated properly in the workplace. Generally, these ethical t shirt options will also last longer than the cheap fast fashion alternatives you can find in shopping malls. This mades the cost-per-wear of these ethical t shirts much less than the cost-per-wear of cheap fashion that won’t last long.