I have been working on this blog post for about 4 months now. I didn’t want to publish this post without testing out the brands I recommended, but I’m hoping it was worth the wait!
When I made a commitment to learning more about sustainability and making some changes in my home, one of the first things that came up was kids’ clothes. In the past, we have bought most of Amalia’s clothes for school at Old Navy and Carter’s because the prices are insane and I don’t feel bad when she gets them filthy at daycare.
And although I still buy pieces from there from time to time, I’m trying to focus on filling more of the holes in her wardrobe with clothing made by eco-friendly, ethical, and/or sustainable brands. I asked my Instagram followers for some of their favorite brands and found that a lot of them either were really expensive or just not our style. We like really comfy, easy-to-wear (mostly) separates that are colorful, patterned, happy.
Whenever I try to buy Amalia anything muted or plain, she refuses to wear it. Bring on the rainbows and polka dots in our house! After months of trying out some new-to-us brands, these are the sustainable kids’ clothes brands that have passed the Dzafic girls test.
Joules
I put Joules first because Amalia’s dress (sold out) pictured above is from this brand. I discovered it through Mac & Mia boxes (RIP) and loved everything that we’ve gotten from sweaters to dresses to leggings. They make cute and colorful kids’ clothing that isn’t too dressy or too casual. It’s the perfect in-between and the style is on point with what both Amalia and I love. They are famous for their rainboots, although we haven’t personally tried them. You can read about their dedication to being “responsibly Joules” here. They also sell their products on Amazon and Bloomingdales.
Hatley
We became Hatley fans last year when Amalia got a pair of their organic cotton PJs as a gift. We love the PJs because they’re really thick cotton and last wash after wash. Last week I bought Amalia this Hatley unicorn raincoat from Amazon which she is very into because the unicorns change color when they get wet. You can also buy their products on Amazon and Nordstrom. And read more about their social and environmental awareness here.
Mini Boden
This British brand is super cute and colorful and basically right up our alley. We only have a few shirts so far but they’re all really good quality and very sweet. And I know Amalia would love this apple winter coat! You can also find a great selection of their products at Nordstrom. Read more about their sustainability practices here.
H&M Conscious Collection
I feel so conflicted in sharing this because I know H&M has historically been one of the biggest offenders when it comes to environmental and social issues, but their conscious collection seems like a good start to rectifying that. I would hope that the brand moves in this direction with their entire line but I don’t think that’s realistic. That said, their organic and sustainable kids line is really wonderful and really affordable. Amalia lived in the onesies when she was first born and we still love their basics like 5-packs of tees ($29) and jersey leggings.
Monica & Andy
I have seen this brand around and always wanted to try it but never did until Amalia got two organic cotton dresses for a birthday gift from a friend. She loves the dresses because they’re patterned and comfy. We are definitely going to be buying more from this brand. You can read more about them here.
Hanna Andersson
I grew up wearing Hanna Andersson which makes it even more fun for me to dress Amalia in the brand. I recommend waiting for their (fairly regular) sales before purchasing because the prices can be a little high for my taste. Currently, the entire site is 40% off including sale items so now is a good time to shop. We love their PJs (both sleepers and long johns) and buy matching sets for Amalia and her tiny uncle (aka my 1.5-year-old half brother) for every holiday. The striped night-night sleeper (only $24 right now!) has been our go-to since she was a little baby. We currently have them in 3 colors.
While putting together this post last night, I also bought this flannel plaid dress for holiday festivities. It was on sale!
Moon & Back by Hanna Andersson
I didn’t know this existed until yesterday so I can’t attest personally to the quality but I was excited to see that HA has a more affordable line available on Amazon. If anyone has tried this, let me know how it is. From what I can see it’s basics for babies/toddlers including onesies, leggings, and PJs. The look reminds me of Burt’s Bees Baby which we loved when Amalia was little.
Garnet Hill Kids
I didn’t know GH had a kids line until I did a partnership with them last month. Their organic cotton leggings fit really well and are the perfect thickness. It definitely isn’t cheap so we’ll buy some more stuff when it goes on sale and report back. But I’m a brand fan in general so it’s fun to see that they make cute stuff for kiddos. Read more about the brand here.
Lamaze Organic
I discovered this brand after a friend of mine posted photos of her kids in their $11 organic cotton lemon PJs that she bought on Amazon. We scooped up the same pair and found the quality to be great, especially for the price. We followed up with a 4-pack of leggings for $14 and also liked them a lot. Based on the research I’ve done, it’s rare to find a company dedicated to sustainability that is so affordable so this excites me a lot. Read about their commitment to “quality and caring” here.
Alternative Apparel
They don’t make Amalia’s size so we can’t personally test it out but I’ve bought a few of their adult products and really love what this brand is doing. They don’t have a ton of youth options but what they do have are classic basics in a lot of colors. If you have older children, please try this out and let me know how it is for the kid stuff. Read about their commitment to social and environmental responsibility here.
Patagonia
Obviously Patagonia had to be on this list. I think their tiny fleeces and vests are just so cute! But it is for sure pricey so we have bought her one coat each fall/winter and keep it at that. This fleece jacket is at the top of our list this year.
Out of all the brands out there making sustainable/organic/eco-friendly/responsible clothing for kids, these are our favorite brands so far. If you have a brand that you love that isn’t on our list, let me know what it is so we can test it out… but keep in mind our love for pattern and color!
And just a reminder for any new followers who have kids, check out the Lemon Stripes Mamas Facebook group. It’s a great (private) group where moms give and get parenting advice from a very non-judgemental group!
Photo by Julia Dags.
