As sustainability becomes a larger conversation, you can be part of the change by making the conscious choice of opting for clothes made with sustainable fibers below.

Preferred Cotton Better Cotton Initiative Cotton made in Africa Fair Trade Cotton Organic Cotton Organic Fair Trade REEL Cotton Recycled Cotton

Preferred Cellulosics TENCEL™ Lyocell TENCEL™ Modal Preferred Viscose Recycled Cellulose

Preferred Animal Fibers Responsible Down Traceable Down Downpass Certified Recycled Down Organic Wool Responsible Wool Recycled Wool

Preferred Cotton

Cotton has historically been one of the most produced fabrics in the world, leaving devastating impacts when grown irresponsibly. Preferred cotton distinguishes the sustainable productions that are ecologically and/or socially progressive to the ecologies and livelihoods of farmers, making it a much better alternative to traditional cotton.

Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative works with a wide range of personnel across the cotton supply chain to promote measurable, continuous improvements for the environment as well as cotton production communities.

Cotton made in Africa

Cotton made in Africa is an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation that supports better living conditions for cotton farmers in Africa.

Fair Trade Cotton

Fair trade cotton is produced by small-scale, marginalized farmers and workers with environmentally sound agricultural practices, certified by the Fairtrade Minimum Price (FMP) and a Fairtrade Premium.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is grown using a system that builds soil fertility, protects biodiversity, and does not use synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides or GMOs, certified by The Organic Content Standard (OCS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Organic Fair Trade Cotton

Organic fair trade cotton is certified to both Fair Trade and organic standards. Fair Trade standards ensure minimum pay for farmers while organic farm standards ensure that the cotton is grown in an environmentally-friendly system without the use of any synthetic fertilizers, hazardous pesticides or GMOs.

REEL Cotton

REEL Cotton is created by Cotton Connect, promoting sustainable cotton farming by improving cotton farmer education, healthy business practices, and enhancing community livelihoods.

Recycled Cotton

Recycled Cotton is sourced from two main sources – from the by-products of industrial cotton production, or used consumer products. The cotton is then reconditioned and re-manufactured into new textile products.

Preferred Cellulosic

Cellulose or cellulosic fibers are fibers created by dissolving natural materials such as cellulose or wood pulp. Preferred Manmade Cellulosics are sourced from sustainably managed forests, meaning chemicals, water and energy are properly managed to avoid pollution and human exposure.

TENCEL™ Lyocell

Derived from sustainable wood sources and created from wood pulp, this fiber uses a closed loop system that supports an economical use of energy and water. The resulting fabric is smooth, vibrantly colored, and absorbs moisture much more efficiently, providing less favorable environments for bacterial growth.

TENCEL™ Modal

An incredibly soft material manufactured from the renewable source of raw material beech wood and sourced from sustainable forests in Austria and neighboring countries. The material is much more durable than cotton, and able to retain color vibrancy much better as well.

Preferred Viscose

With Viscose being the third most used fiber in the textile industry.

Recycled Cellulose such as REFIBRA™ upcycles a substantial proportion of cotton scraps and wood pulp, creating a circular economy in the textile industry and ensuring less waste and supporting the better usage of materials.

Preferred Animal Fibers

Preferred Animal Fibers come from supply chains with strong animal welfare principles in place, supporting cruelty-free, humane treatment with organic and recycled third party standards.

Responsible Down

Responsible Down is certified to the Responsible Down Standard, which ensures that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to unnecessary harm such as live feather plucking or force feeding.

Traceable Down

Traceable Down is certified to the Global Traceable Down Standard, which ensures that ensures that down in apparel, household, and commercial products comes from a responsible source that respects animal welfare and can be fully and transparently traced.

Downpass Certified

Downpass Certified is a standard geared towards the ethical sourcing of down and feathers, further supporting animal welfare by reviewing suppliers in the industry supply chain.

Recycled Down

Recycled Down is a mix of goose and duck down reclaimed from cushions, bedding and similar used items that cannot be resold. It is hypoallergenic and offers the same performance benefits as virgin down.

Organic Wool

Organic Wool is made with refined cultural and management practices, excluding commonly used chemicals in wool production that can be toxic to both the sheep and the people exposed, while also prohibiting the use of synthetic hormones and genetic engineering in sheep.

Responsible Wool

Responsible Wool is made as a response to increasing consumer and industry demand to improve land management and animal welfare, guided by the Responsible Wool Standard for best practices in wool production.

Recycled Wool

Recycled Wool is wool sourced from previously used wool items that is typically sorted, cleaned, shredded, re-dyed and repurposed for new products.

To learn more, you can download the full report below:

Preferred Fiber & Materials Benchmark 2018 - Textile Exchange