B Corp Clothing: 20+ UK & Irish Brands
- Lou Lawton
- Apr 6
- 5 min read
Have you heard of B Corp? Rings a bell but not quite sure what it means? B Corp (the B stands for "Benefit for all") accredited businesses are essentially those which are doing good. They are companies which are certified as meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Across all industries, there are currently over 3,000 B Corps in the UK and over 400 in Ireland.
The B Corp Declaration of Interdependence states:
...all business ought to be conducted as if people and place matters. That through their products, practices, and profits businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.
Most of us are aware the fashion industry has been detrimental to the environment. Coupled with that, working conditions in clothing factories have often been highlighted but continue to be extremely problematic. So, while we the consumers have what can sometimes feel like limited powers in what we can do we can do - having an awareness of who these companies are can be a step in the right direction. It might occasionally influence who we buy from.
In the interest of transparency, I don't solely clothes shop from B Corps - but I'm just arming myself with this information in the interest of trying to make different choices as and when I can. As a personal stylist I'm as aware as anyone else, most of us have to shop within a budget or where shops are geographically located or those which are size inclusive. It is not always possible to shop from B Corps, and that's ok. It's also important to bear in mind, there are many smaller, independent businesses which are not B Corp certified (it's quite an arduous process) but we know it's important to support these traders too.
So with this in mind, I've recently been looking into who are the B Corp clothing brands we can access from within the UK and Ireland. Who we can consider to be doing good for the planet, their workers and society. Some you'll have heard of but may not have realised they are B Corp certified - but I've also tried to include a few businesses you may not have heard of yet.
I recently noticed the B Corp logo on their shop window which was a lovely surprise. Scamp and Dude is a wonderful story of a company who "give back" - for every one of their Superhero Sleep Buddies sold another is given to a child who has lost a parent or is ill themselves. Their jeans save up to 44 litres of water each versus what is the industry standard.
Hush strive to make clothes to last years and if possible, be worn by more than one person. They also state they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint they have set a target of using 90% recyclable or renewable and responsible materials by this year (2025).
When they were certified in 2021, Baukjen were the highest scoring B Corp in the UK fashion industry - quite an achievement. They are continuously working towards reducing their water and carbon footprint as well as doing their utmost of ensure an ethical supply chain. They donate 10% of their profits to charity.
FatFace use 100% sustainably sourced cotton and other materials identified as having a lower environmental impact. They are members of the Ethical Trading Initiative.
You might be familiar with this "vintage feel" brand. Choosing responsible fabrics and using accountable suppliers who are audited both for their social and environmental standards are just two of the reasons why Joanie gained their certification.
Finisterre have been a sustainable focused business since their founding in 2013 and recently improved their B Corp ranking. One thing they've done is to align their carbon footprint targets with the Paris Agreement's cap on global heating.
This contemporary, Scandi-inspired aesthetic brand has phased out virgin leather and is working on a living wage initiative across all their contractual suppliers. Interestingly they have linked management bonuses to carbon targets.
Chloe is the first luxury clothing brand to achieve B Corp accreditation. To do this they partnered with more Fair Trade certified suppliers while making commitments to promoting women’s equality.
There are lots of facts about this company to explain their certification. They are a founding sponsor of the Outward Bound Trust’s Women in Leadership programme, they regularly donate products to charity and have worked hard on reducing their carbon footprint.
This California based company is passionate about creating products which are durable, repairable and functional. They work to support the people who create their products and the company has donated millions to charity.
In 2005, Seasalt became the first fashion company to be certified by the Soil Association for using organic cotton. All employees earn at least a Real Living Wage and, similar to other companies, they are making great progress in reducing their carbon footprint.
Designed in London, this womenswear brand creates gorgeous pieces using globally certified materials. They have committed to being a Living Wage employer. It's an affordable fashion label creating pieces made to last, responsibly.
Another brand which has its origins in London, this label began in creating the perfect shirt tailored to women's bodies. 95% of their collection is made in Portugal - and their factories are predominantly staffed by women. They regularly visit their factories to ensure their code of conduct for ethical standards is being adhered to.
This luxury lifestyle brand rescues raw materials (such as decommissioned fire hoses) which would have previously gone to landfill and transforms them into accessories such as handbags, backpacks and belts. They are also a Living Wage Employer.
More than 90% of their cotton is organic. Amongst other things, 100% of their boutiques are powered by renewable energy and all of their factories undergo annual social audits.
This luxury fashion brand was the first Irish fashion brand to gain B Corp accreditation. Based on their 2022 impact report, 44% of their suppliers are based in Ireland and their most used material in 2022 was Irish wool. They are a business dedicated to slow fashion.
This London based, female-owned company creates gorgeous, colourful bags made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. All their employees are paid more than the local minimum wage and are on a permanent payroll.
Toms pioneered the One for One model - giving away one pair of shoes for every pair sold. They also now donate a third or profits to grassroots causes.
Another footwear brand whose shoes are made in high standard factories in Brazil and Portugal. Similarly, the materials they use for their trainers are sourced ethically, with consideration to the environment.
Camper shoes are now designed with minimal materials, glues and stitching to reduce CO2 emissions. Some of their products even have a lifetime guarantee.
This footwear brand has a strong ethical message at its heart. Their goal is to create regenerative footwear and experiences to bring us closer to nature. They help fund and nurture social and environmental projects.
This brand has helped revolutionise period and bladder care in offering an alternative solution to single-use disposable products. They source traceable fabrics. Their suppliers are chosen for their social and environmental credentials.
I love this brand and can personally attest to their quality. 90% of their range is biodegradable. Their warehouse is plastic free and their packages are delivered to customers in paper envelopes or boxes. Alongside this, their factories are independently audited to ensure they adhere to a code of conduct.
B Corp accreditation aims to ensure accountability, transparency, that ethical practices are in place and carbon neutrality of businesses. It shows a business is giving back to communities through donations and/or partnerships. Making ourselves aware of those businesses which are striving to make a difference means we're less likely to be affected by "greenwashing" which can only be a good thing. I do however understand it's not always possible to make that choice, but it's a step to have the knowledge.
Thanks for reading,
Lou x
Comments