As someone who cares about fashion but also wants to make conscious purchases, I was thrilled when I discovered Frank & Oak a few years ago. Their commitment to using sustainable materials really spoke to me. I loved building a versatile capsule wardrobe with their smartly designed essentials.
However, over time I found myself wanting to branch out. Don‘t get me wrong – I still believe Frank & Oak makes quality ethical clothing. But a girl can only own so many boxy tees and slim-fit button downs before craving something new!
I set out on a mission to discover brands that could satisfy my thirst for sustainability AND style. Beyond simply replacing staples from my favorite Canadian retailer, I wanted unique statement pieces from mission-driven companies.
Through extensive research (and more than a little shopping!), I found several brands that fit the bill. In this post, I‘ll compare Frank & Oak with 5 standout contenders offering their own twist on ethical fashion.
What Makes a Brand "Similar" to Frank & Oak?
While no brand can fully replicate another, several key markers make alternatives cut from the same cloth:
Eco-Friendly Materials: Hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester and other fabrics made sustainably with minimal environmental impact. These brands minimize virgin plastics.
Ethical Sourcing & Production: Fair wages, good working conditions and benefit programs for employees. Supply chain transparency allows customers to verify claims.
Quality & Durability: Careful stitching, reinforced seams and fabrics built to last through seasons of wear (not fall apart after a few washes).
Stylishly Designed: On-trend contemporary pieces mixing classics with statement styles suited for modern tastes. Not just boring basics.
Fair Prices: Conscientious production doesn‘t have to drain your wallet. While costs can add up, transparency helps justify higher price tags.
Armed with criteria, I scouted dozens of brands making waves. After sampling products from many contenders, I narrowed it down to five rising stars:
#1: Reformation
- Founded: 2009
- Standout Materials: TENCEL Lyocell, EcoVero Viscose, recycled fabrics
- Certifications: Climate Neutral, Fair Labor Association member
- Sample Products: Wrap dresses, vintage-inspired jeans, wedding dresses
- Price Range: $$$
- My Take: On-trend pieces effortlessly taking you from weekend to workplace. Flowy dresses and jeans retain shape wonderfully and feel great on. Products feel very luxe and have held up nicely over multiple wears.
As a fellow LA-based company, Reformation shares Frank & Oak‘s laidback yet sophisticated West Coast vibe. For glamorous, eco-friendly essentials (with a bit more playfulness), Reformation delivers.
#2: ADAY
- Founded: 2014
- Standout Materials: Recycled nylon & polyester, merino wool, TENCEL Lyocell
- Certifications: Bluesign approved, PETA-approved vegan, packaging is plastic-free & recyclable
- Sample Products: Multipurpose pants, crop tops, bike shorts, blazers, sweaters
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- My Take: Incredibly versatile pieces ready for workouts, workdays and weekends away. Breathable yet structured fabrics hold up through daily use without sagging. Love their recycled nylon utility pants which have replaced jeans as my go-to legwear thanks to lightweight comfort. Easy to mix & match separates.
Structured minimalism in sleek performance fabrics define ADAY‘s unique spin on ethical style. Truly versatile high-quality construction at accessible luxury price points make them my current brand obsession.
#3: Outerknown
- Founded: 2015
- Standout Materials: Organic cotton, recycled nylon, ECONYL regenerated nylon/polyester
- Certifications: Fair Trade Certified, Bluesign approved textiles
- Sample Products: Henleys, hoodies, joggers, button-downs, shorts, sweaters
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- My Take: Handsome classics made modern with unexpected touches like hand pockets on button downs and open necklines on henleys. Relaxed fits in soft eco-materials; products feel broken in from Day 1. My boyfriend lives in their S.E.A. joggers which he hikes, lounges and hits the gym in thanks to the lightweight durability. Definitely his new favorite brand!
As a surfing buddy of founder Kelly Slater, the Outerknown brand oozes chill SoCal vibes coupled with conscious ideals. While favoring casual over formalwear, Outerknown still delivers sharp, design-forward pieces any guy would feel good sporting.
#4: Girlfriend Collective
- Founded: 2016
- Standout Materials: Recycled post-consumer bottles & fishing nets (ECONYL), recycled foam
- Certifications: Global Recycled Standard, SA8000 Social Accountability Standard
- Sample Products: Leggings, unitards, bras, sweatshirts, shorts
- Price Range: $-$$
- My Take: Their ultra popular leggings upcycled from water bottles provide the absolute perfect fit. Compressive without restricting, squat-proof yet breathable; I can easily teach five back-to-back yoga classes in these without needing to adjust once. For stylish activewear actually designed for athletes by athletes, Girlfriend Collective is a home run.
This Gen Z darling makes statement athleisure from recycled materials that perform as good as they look. Bright colors, bold textures and minimalist silhouettes exude chill yet sexy confidence. Female-founded and focused on radical transparency, Girlfriend Collective makes ethical look fabulous.
#5: Taylor Stitch
- Founded: 2008
- Standout Materials: Organic cotton, linen, TENCEL Lyocell
- Certifications: B-Corp, Climate Neutral
- Sample Products: Chore jackets, pants, shirts, shorts, knits
- Price Range: $$-$$$
- My Take: Finally – clothes flattering real men‘s bodies, not just waifs! As someone who sews, I appreciate their fine attention to fit and function in every garment. My husband‘s pants have nicely articulated knees allowing him to crouch easily for gardening. His chore coat is rugged yet tailored – it‘s become his favorite layering piece. Most impressive is each item only gets better rather than shabbier with wear.
Bringing elevated design sensibilities to heritage workwear, Taylor Stitch commits fully to ethical ideals and practices. Rugged classics built for longevity, not cheap seasonal thrills – quite a refreshing concept! My partner‘s head-over-heels for them.
Evaluating "Green" Marketing Claims
While touting trees spared and rivers cleaned makes for good PR, discerning reality from puffery now comes with the territory of buying purpose-driven goods. When dealing with unfamiliar brands, I apply three rules before swiping my credit card:
Rule #1: Verify Third-Party Certifications
While certainly not foolproof, respected independent organizations help substantiate major ethical and sustainability assertions. I give bonus points for brands achieving certifications like:
- Fair Trade
- B Corp
- Bluesign
- Climate Neutral
Lack of oversight should raise eyebrows. Dig into what standards they follow for fair wages, waste reduction or emissions guidelines.
Rule #2: Review Supply Chain Transparency
The best indicator of authenticity? Granular supply chain details covering:
- Factory locations
- Fair wage data
- Textile origins
- Chemical elimination practices
I love when brands map their products’ lifecycles from seed to factory to distribution centers. By quantifying water usage, carbon emissions and wage fairness at each link, transparency builds trust.
Red flag any overly vague “sustainably made” speak not backed by real metrics.
Rule #3: Corroborate Claims on Ethical Sites
My final litmus test? Checking expert reviews from reputable organizations like:
- Good on You
- Remake
- EcoCult
- Ethical Consumer
Multiple ethical fashion platforms provide unbiased assessments on labor conditions, environmental impacts and corporate responsibility. Get the full picture instead of relying solely on brands’ own happy stories.
Final Thoughts: Expanding Options for Feel-Good Fashion
While initially daunting, searching for Frank & Oak alternatives introduced me to so many inspirational change-makers demonstrating ethical can pair perfectly with covetable. We vote not only with ballots, but budgets – collectively our purchasing behaviors steer businesses towards more conscious decisions by rewarding integrity.
I encourage you to explore emerging labels aligning values with quality and style. Relish getting to know the real people behind brands building transparency directly into products without cutting corners on coolness.
And let favorites like Frank & Oak know we appreciate them starting critically important conversations…but now expect fellow companies to fully embody those same values from the very first stitch. When better options exist, why settle for less?
I‘d love to hear if you discover any stellar sustainable gems in your own shopping adventures. This "green scene" continues evolving everyday thanks to folks like you advocating for apparel as responsibly made as beautifully designed.
Here’s to feeling as good wearing new finds as you do discovering them!
