San Francisco has already established itself as the world’s tech capital, but did you know it’s also a growing hub of sustainable fashion?
We’re going to take a look at some of the San Francisco clothing brands that are using sustainable, ethical, and eco-friendly practices to change the fashion industry for the better.
Sustainable San Francisco Clothing Brands
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1. Allbirds
Sustainability: B Corp, recycled materials, shoe donation program,
What they make: Comfy, minimalist sneakers and running shoes, and sustainable activewear
Allbirds are footwear brand making waves in San Francisco and beyond. They’re a certified B Corp so you can be sure that they’re considering the environment as a key stakeholder.
The materials include recycled plastic bottles, castor bean oil, ZQ Merino fiber, BIO-TPU, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and other similarly eco-friendly materials. Furthermore, they have a Forest Stewardship Council® certification, which means that their materials meet strict standards to protect forests, and the animals, and communities around them.
They’ve also teamed up with Soles4Souls to donate lightly used returned Allbirds to communities in need all over the world. Their packaging is made from 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard.
Pay Allbirds a visit in San Francisco’s Jackson Square. They have stores around the USA in NYC, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, as well as a store in London!
2. Everlane
Sustainability: Transparent pricing, ethical factories
What they make: High-quality womenswear and menswear, focused on basics.
Everlane was founded in San Francisco and their flagship store is located on Valencia St.
This SF brand creates clean and well-designed essentials that everyone could use in their wardrobe.
Everlane partner with ethical factories to make sure their workers are treated fairly. They also have a highly transparent pricing model, showing you where their costs are incurred and the mark up they apply.
There have been discussions into whether Everlane is really a sustainable brand or not, but they’re still a long way ahead of most traditional fashion brands.
3. Cuyana
Sustainability: The SF clothing brand works with artisans to create bespoke products from responsibly sourced materials. Female-founded and BIPOC-owned.
What they make: Womenswear, footwear, accessories.
Cuyana is an awesome female-founded San Francisco clothing brand based in the heart of Union Square. As well as their flagship, they also have a recently store in Palo Alto’s Stanford Shopping Center.
Cuyana makes a range of womenswear, footwear, and accessories with clean, minimalist design. They believe in having fewer, better clothes, made by skilled craftspeople around Europe, South America, China, and the USA.
4. Harvest & Mill
Sustainability: Organic and nontoxic clothing brand creating casual clothing in the USA
What they make: Organic loungewear, minimalist t-shirts
Harvest & Mill is a Californian brand through and through. The brand has its headquarters in Berkley and creates all of its clothing locally around the San Francisco and Oakland area. But they don’t stop there – Harvest & Mill even sources all its cotton from across the USA.
The brand creates super soft basics like t-shirts and joggers from nontoxic dyes, and all of its clothing and packaging is compostable – now that’s what we call sustainable.
5. Tonlé
Sustainability: Zero-waste fashion brand using leftover textiles, natural dyes, and a fair trade supply chain.
What they make: Womenswear.
This zero-waste, fair fashion brand combines using clothes from leftover materials and creative pattern making that uses 100% of a given material. The remnant materials they use come from the leftover textiles from other brands, which, they are then cut and turned into yarn.
As well as that, Tonlé have a fair trade supply chain and only use natural dyes to reduce their environmental impact.
6. American Giant
Sustainability: Made in the USA, smart manufacturing processes to improve quality and reduce waste.
What they make: High-quality menswear & womenswear.
San Francisco is the tech capital of the world, and American Giant fit right in.
They are focused on creating the best Made in the USA clothing out there by using innovative fabrics and manufacturing processes ideal for casual or activewear.
American Giant makes both menswear and womenswear and their clothing is priced fairly considering they’re made in America.
Their HQ and flagship store is located on Natoma Street in San Francisco, and they also have a retail store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
7. époque évolution
Sustainability: Organic materials, work with fair factories, partner with nonprofit, DAD Sewing House
What they make: Minimalist womenswear
If you’re looking for sustainable, minimalist essentials, époque évolution is for you.
époque évolution is a San Francisco based sustainable brand creating versatile, timeless pieces to ensure you’ve always got the perfect outfit for every occasion.
They use a range of organic materials to create their clothes, and equally as important, work with factories and mills that are committed to improving the working conditions of their staff, and are reducing carbon emissions.
For example, their work with San Francisco based D.A.D. Sewing House, a nonprofit that employs people going through hard times or who have had employment issues in the past, like homelessness, incarceration or mental health issues. They also work with a range of other factories using their work to make a positive impact.
8. Valani
Sustainability: All vegan materials, GOTS certified facility, plant tree f or every item sold
What they make: Womenswear
Valani is a sustainable plant-based, vegan clothing line based in California, but all of their garments are ethically produced in Chicago, as well as a GOTS certified facility in India.
They use hemp, Tencel and banana fabrics to create beautiful, flowy and flirty garments with the perfect amount of feminine flair.
All fabrics are biodegradable so they can be composted at the end of their useful life. As a brand built on compassion and self love, they have a few giveback initiatives.
Not only do they plant 1 tree for every garment sold, but they also offer free breathwork sessions for their community.
We chatted to founder Vanni, who told us she wanted to create a brand who’s clothing was fun, flirty, bold and feminine.
9. Tellason
Location: San Francisco // Online
Sustainability: Made in California, built to last
What they make: Denim, menswear
Tellason are a San Francisco-based denim brand. They create high-quality selvage denim, jackets, shirts, and accessories.
They’re committed to maintaining their California-based production and the culture around their denim making process.
Tellason isn’t cheap, but the quality and craft that goes into every item makes it worth it.
10. Punk Majesty Streetwear
Sustainability: Zero Waste, products are handmade to order and crafted with the highest quality, ethically sourced materials. ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX© certified ink and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX© certified material as well as certifications from SGS Printing, minimal packaging and FSC packaging made from 100% recycled materials.
What they make: Statement Fashion Streetwear, footwear, and accessories for all genders and kids
Location: Online
Eclectic San Fransisco clothing brand Punk Majesty Streetwear creates basic everyday wearable streetwear silhouettes with bold statement designs inspired by high fashion and elements of punk designs.
Does San Fransicso Have an Eco Fashion District?
Yes, San Francisco has a vibrant eco-friendly fashion scene. Check out Union Square and Noe Valley for some great sustainable fashion stores. Sustainable fashion brands like Cuyana, Amour Vert and Reformation also have brick and motar stores in the center of San Francisco’s shopping district.
If you’re looking for smaller independent stores, Oakland and Hayes Valley are great places to look.
Overall, you won’t be short of shopping locations in San Franciso as there are many sustainable stores and independent shops. Check out the amazing vintage stores, thrift shops, and craft stores, as they’re perfect for finding an eclectic range of clothing, accessories, and homeware.
Wrapping Up – Best Eco-Friendly Brands in San Francisco
San Francisco’s tech scene is rubbing off on the fashion industry. These brands are all making waves in the sustainable fashion industry thanks to their innovative and ethical practices.
We highly recommend checking them out if you’re visiting SF.
Wondering what other US cities have to offer? Check out our guides on New York, Nashville, Chicago, and Los Angeles!
I love this list! Another SF sustainable brand to check out is Epoque Evolution!
Great suggestion, thank you! They’ve just been added to the article.
Please check out eco-artisanal sustainable womenswear brand AGAATI. AGAATI derived from the Sanskrit word Agati means “Origin”, arrival or arising. For us this translated to the emergence of a passionate brand with a purpose-to power the eco-artisanal fashion movement. We create one-of-a-kind designs that aspire to connect artisans to consumers, empower women and inspire a sustainable lifestyle. AGAATI also curates a select group of artisans from all over the world who create eco, ethical and hand crafted jewelry, bags and home designs