How We Rate Our Brands

We aim to simplify sustainable shopping for you…

At Sustainably Chic, we understand that sustainability is a subjective matter and there is no such thing as a perfect sustainable brand. We acknowledge that other similar sites may rate a brand differently from us, but we always take our personal experience into consideration when we rate a brand. The Editor, Natalie, and a handful of contributors have personally used many of these brands over the past decade and are well-acquainted with their products.

Sustainable fashion is an ever-evolving industry and we believe that every brand listed on our site is working towards a healthier and fairer future, making them better than the majority of fashion brands out there today!

We rate our favorite brands on a 3-leaf system:

= Exceptional
= Impressive
= Noteworthy

When deciding to add a brand to Sustainably Chic, these are the factors we consider:

  • transparency in manufacturing with fair wages and safe working conditions

  • fabric content or materials are made with non-toxic, eco-friendly fibers and dyes

  • exceptional quality that is made to last you many years

  • packaging and shipping method has minimal impact on the planet

  • inclusivity within product offering and marketing

  • sustainable certifications

  • end of life planning for their product

Only brands that we have personally tested and approved can receive an ‘exceptional’ rating. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of brands adopting sustainable practices, and while we are doing our best to review them all, it is taking some time. However, we will not feature brands we aren’t confident in. We are also continuously updating our ratings, so thank you for your patience as we work through them all in 2025!