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Finding the perfect pair of sustainable shorts can be tricky. You want a pair that fits well, moves with your body, and looks stylish.
However, with many clothing brands greenwashing, finding a genuinely ethical and sustainable pair of shorts can be challenging.
We’ve curated a list of the following sustainable clothing brands creating ethical shorts from low-impact materials to make shopping for your next pair easier.
So whether you’re looking for organic cotton shorts, bike shorts, or sustainable denim shorts, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s jump in.
The Best Sustainable Denim Shorts
1. Nudie
Sustainability: Fair Trade and GOTS certified brand creating sustainable denim shorts from GOTS certified organic cotton
Best For: Sustainable denim shorts
Sizes: W24-W38
Ships to: Worldwide
Sustainable denim brand Nudie Jeans is a Swedish brand creating high-quality denim shorts ethically from 100% GOTS organic cotton. We love the classic style of the brand’s denim shorts available in blue and grey, perfect for pairing with a simple t-shirt in the summer. Plus, Nudie jeans offer free repairs on its garments so that you can wear your pair for years.
The brand is transparent about its materials and supply chain. In addition, it is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), which audits its partner factories to ensure that everyone throughout the supply chain works under fair conditions.
2. Levi’s
Sustainability: Reducing water usage, moving to sustainably sourced cotton, and auditing factories to ensure fair working conditions
Best For: Denim shorts and skirts
Sizes: 2XS-2XL
Ships to: Worldwide
Levi’s is a household brand recognized worldwide, but did you know the denim company is taking steps to reduce its water and energy usage and ensure fair working conditions for its workers.
You can’t beat the classic look of Levi’s denim shorts, and with sustainable shorts styles available, their high-quality means a pair should last for years.
You can buy either from Levi’s website or shopping vintage Levi’s or second-hand is a great way to be more eco-conscious.
3. Outland Denim
Sustainability: Certified B Corporation creates ethical shorts made with 100% organic cotton
Best For: Denim Shorts
Sizes: XS-XL
Ships to: Australia & International
Australian brand Outland Denim creates jeans with up to 86% less water, 57% less energy, and 83% fewer chemicals, and they aren’t stopping there.
The brand is committed to ensuring workers in its supply chain work in safe conditions and are paid fair wages.
Outland Denim has achieved 100% transparency in Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers and audits its suppliers to ensure they meet Outland Denim’s Sustainability and Ethics Criteria.
4. prAna
Sustainability: Ethical shorts created in Fair Trade Certified™ Factory from organic cotton
Best For: Denim shorts, fabric shorts, organic cotton shorts
Sizes: US 0-14
Ships to: the US & International
prAna creates practical outdoor clothing for people who are always on the move.
Their sustainable shorts collection features versatile denim shorts and practical cotton shorts perfect for long hikes or casual strolls.
prAna partner with Fair Trade Certified™ factories and create their ethical shorts from sustainable materials.
Organic Cotton is more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton, as organic cotton saves up to 10x the water, and requires no harmful pesticides.
Eco-Friendly Organic Cotton Shorts
5. Colorful Standard
Sustainability: PETA-approved organic cotton shorts made ethically in Portugal
Best For: Colorful organic cotton shorts
Sizes: XS-XL
Ships to: Worldwide
Add a splash of color to your summer wardrobe with Colorful Standards organic cotton shorts.
Created with environmentally friendly Oeko-Tex®certified dyes, these gorgeously soft organic sweat shorts are perfect for running, hiking, relaxing, and everything else in between.
Available in 38 different shades, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Plus, Colorful Standard will plant a tree for every order placed.
6. For Days
Sustainability: Zero-waste, sustainable brand creating recyclable shorts from recycled materials
Best For: Comfy shorts, cotton shorts
Sizes: XS-2XL
Ships to: the US only
Slow fashion brand For Days design comfortable and relaxed shorts, perfect for chilling out on warm summer days.
The brand creates fully recyclable clothing from sustainable materials, including organic cotton and recycled materials. You can recycle your old For Days clothes and earn credit to spend on new items.
Read our full breakdown of For Days’ sustainability credentials here.
7. Girlfriend Collective
Sustainability: Sustainable bike shorts made from recycled plastic bottles
Best For: Bike shorts, sweat shorts
Sizes: 2XS-6XL
Ships to: Worldwide
Are you looking for sustainable bike shorts? Look no further than Girlfriend Collective, which creates stylish and practice cycling shorts in dreamy colors.
Girlfriend Collective’s bike shorts look great for a workout and are worn casually with a shirt or classic Tee. Or, you can even match your bike shorts with a matching sports tank or bra.
Girlfriends’ bike shorts are made from recycled plastic bottles, with one pair diverting up to 18 plastic bottles away from landfills.
8. Harvest and Mill
Sustainability: Made in the USA from organic cotton grown in the USA.
Best For: American made shorts, organic cotton shorts
Sizes: S-XL
Ships to: the US & International
Harvest & Mill is an American brand, creating all of its products ethically in the USA from domestically sourced materials; this means the organic cotton used is grown in the USA.
By shopping Harvest & Mill, you can support USA cotton growers, American heritage mills, and the local sewing community.
9. Mate the Label
Sustainability: Climate-neutral certified brand creating organic cotton shorts ethically in Los Angeles
Best For: Organic cotton shorts in soft terry fabric
Sizes: XS-XL
Ships to: the US
Another sustainable brand on this list creating relaxed shorts ethically in Los Angeles is Mate the Label.
Mate creates its cotton shorts from 100% organic cotton, which uses 63% less water than conventional cotton. In addition, Mates organic shorts are free from any toxic chemicals or pesticides.
Mate’s shorts are so soft you won’t want to take them off!
10. Aligne
Sustainability: Sustainable materials and ethical labor
Best For: Tailored shorts
Sizes: UK 6-18
Ships to: the UK
Aligne designs versatile, modern clothing from sustainable materials, including organic cotton and Tencel. Their short selection is small but perfect for anyone looking for a classic pair of tailored shorts.
The brand partners with Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit certified factories to ensure fair and safe working conditions for people creating their clothes.
11. Boden
Sustainability: Responsible production and sustainable practices
Best For: Summer shorts, patterned shorts
Sizes: UK 6-22
Ships to: the UK and International
On the hunt for patterned shorts, perfect for a summer holiday? Check out, Boden.
UK clothing brand Boden creates high-quality clothing from sustainable materials, including recycled polyester, BCI cotton, and recycled cotton.
12. Organic Basics
Sustainability: Certified B Corporation creates ethical and sustainable clothing from eco-friendly materials
Best For: Summer shorts and Eco-friendly bike short styles
Sizes: XS-XL
Ships to: Worldwide
For cool breezy shorts perfect for summer, check out Organic Basics, a minimalist Danish clothing brand creating must-have wardrobe basics.
The sustainable brand uses fabrics such as Tencel and organic cotton to create its super soft shorts.
We’re obsessed with Organic Basic’s matching shirt and short sets, which can be worn buttoned up, or with an organic cotton t-shirt for a chic summer look.
Wrapping Up: Sustainable Shorts
We hope you’ve found your next perfect pair of sustainable shorts. Pair them with a sustainable sneaker and a organic T-shirt and you’re summer ready.
Looking for sustainable skirts? We’ve got a post for that too!
Let us know if you have any feedback in the comments below.
