15 Zero Waste Clothing Pieces to Add to Your Wardrobe This Spring + Summer

On the hunt for some zero waste clothing? With the warmer weather here, it’s almost time to pack up those sweaters and pull out the Summer threads! While it’s always more sustainable to wear what you already have or purchase something secondhand, maybe those aren’t options for you at the moment. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to make sure the clothes you’re buying aren’t from fast fashion brands. They tend to use unethical practices, create tons of pollution and chemical waste. Fashion is actually the second most polluting industry in the world. Thankfully, there’s a wide variety of sustainable brands that make their clothes ethically and waste-free. That’s why I’ve curated some of the cutest Spring/Summer clothes you can wear this season – guilt-free. Here are some zero waste clothing pieces you need too check out.

FYI, this is a guest post written by Sydney Montagna, a zero waste advocate and aspiring writer. This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Zero Waste Clothes for Spring and Summer

What’s the problem with fast fashion?

Fast fashion is popular because the prices are low and the products are cute. But how cute are those garments when they’re contributing to water pollution, exploitation, and tons of waste? Not cute at all.

North Americans send 9.5 millions tons of clothing to the landfill every year – most of which could be reused.

Truth is, there’s way too much textile waste in the fashion industry. That’s because there are way too many garments being produced and disposed of by consumers. Think about it: Fast fashion is always trying to get us to buy the latest trends and ditch the ones that are “so last season.”

But waste is only one problem with the fashion industry. They also use cheap, toxic textile dyes – which makes the fashion industry the second largest polluter of clean water globally after agriculture.

Fast fashion is also known to exploit their overseas workers to maximize profits. It’s especially hard for young and underage women. They work long hours with minimal pay and they work in unsafe working conditions.

The fashion industry generates 10% of CO2 emissions every year and it’s estimated that they use 1.5 trillion liters of water annually.

Plus, there’s a growing concern over pollution, chemical waste and microplastics. Washing one load of synthetic clothes releases millions of microplastics into the wastewater system.

Microfibers are also a problem because they absorb toxic detergent and fire retardant chemicals. Once in the ocean, they’re ingested by sea creatures like plankton, who mistake them for food. And then larger fish and whales will continue to eat each other for dinner. Eventually, these marine animals will be eaten by humans. Shockingly, a quarter of the seafood we ear contains microplastics. This number is only expected to rise if things don’t change.

Zero waste clothing brands

As you can see, the fast fashion needs to slow down. That’s why I always encourage people to shop in thrift or vintage stores FIRST before buying anything new! And if you have any old, but good condition clothes, please consider donating them to a thrift shop too.

That said, sometimes you don’t have access to thrift shops, or just prefer buying something new. I totally get it. And in those cases, I cannot recommend these zero waste clothing brands enough, which I’ll be highlight in this article:

• Amour Vert
• Reformation
• Pact

These brands consistently release ethically and sustainably made collections you can count on. And, unlike fast fashion, they aren’t releasing new stuff every single day. So it’s always extra exciting when they release something new!

In this article, I’m highlighting the new collections and items these three zero waste clothing brands have released just in time for spring and summer. I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about them and supporting their eco-conscious efforts! Cause lets face it, we shouldn’t have to sacrifice looking good for the sake of the planet. Why not do both?

Please note that since I’m linking actual products, items might sell out or become unavailable over time! So if you see something you really like, be mindful of this.

Amour Vert

Amour Vert is a sustainable, zero waste brand with sustainable practices that address all of their business operations, such as: The fibers and production processes, how workers are treated, how it gets to the consumer, and finally – whether it can be recycled or is forced into a landfill.

In collaboration with their partner, American Forests, Amour Vert will plant a tree for every tee that’s purchased. So far, they’ve planted over 339,000 trees in North America.

Amour Vert provides five different signature fabrics that are soft, sustainable and stand the test of time:

Dream Collection- Made from sustainable TENCEL™ modal fiber, our machine washable Dream Knit and Dream Rib fabrics feature the perfect drape and unmatched softness.

Washable Silk- Sourced from a fully-traceable and eco-friendly organic farm. Super soft to the touch and machine washable.

Paris Rib- Created from closed-loop and FSC-certified beechwood fibers.

Femme Fête- Crafted from a combination of organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and linen. This sustainable blend perfectly intersects softness and strength. Timeless, washable, and easy to style up or down.

Cottonseed Cupro- Made from repurposed seed fiber. This rescued cotton fabric features the softness and drape of silk, minus the dry cleaner. Completely plant-based and biodegradable.

Amour Vert also provides packaging that is completely recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. Their boxes are made from recycled materials and printed with soy-based inks.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from their new spring and summer attire!

1. Margeaux Zero Waste Blouse

I love this top – I can just envision myself sitting under some cherry blossoms and enjoying a gentle spring breeze with it on. It would go great paired with Amour Vert’s rowan zero waste pant (which I talk about below FYI).

2. Rowan Zero Waste Pant

Spring can get kind of chilly, so I’m really digging these pants for those colder days. This would go great paired with the Margeaux Zero Waste Blouse too (mentioned above)!

3. Linette Blouse

Isn’t this blouse perfect for a spring day spent outdoors? Maybe a nice picnic. This would go great paired with the Willow Paris Rib Pants in Rose or Navy.

4. Varden Washable Silk Dress

Such a beautiful dress for spring and summer combined. The silk would keep you nice and cool on hot days. On cooler spring days you could pair it with some sort of pretty cardigan or shawl.

Reformation

Reformation’s mission is to bring sustainable fashion to everyone. They’re aware that garment workers are often subjected to terrible working conditions. Which is why they created their own factory in LA where they work with people around the world to create a safe, healthy and fair working environment. Reformation is partnered with the Fair Labor Association, conducting on-site social responsibility audits, and a commitment to ensuring workers have a voice.

They balance all the water and waste used to make their clothes, making them a 100% carbon neutral company. They’re committed to pushing the industry forward and investing in future-focused solutions. Which is why they plan to be Climate Positive by 2025.

5. Cynthia Doodle High Rise Jeans

The creative cutesy doodles on these jeans kill me. I love them so much – they look like so much fun to wear. Especially love the strawberries! I think it’d go great with this cute Brittany Linen Top.

6. Novena Top

I’ve got a thing for citrus prints on my clothing (as you’ll soon see again below) so this is truly adorbs. Would go great with pants in the spring or shorts in the summer! I really love this paired with the Cynthia High Rise Straight Jeans personally.

7. Hank Dress

I LOVE this dress and think it would look so cute wearing it strolling along the bay, at a family picnic, or lounging in the garden. Great for the really balmy spring days and summer days as well.

8. Grapefruit Linen Top

Such a cute top that would look great paired with Reformation’s Cynthia High Rise Straight Jeans! In the summer, shorts will do.

9. Amy Button Fly High Rise Jean Shorts

These shorts would look bomb with any of the Reformation tops mentioned so far honestly. The model has it paired with the Radish Top and I really like that combo myself.

Pact

Pact is another fashion brand I absolutely love!

All of Pact’s fibers and materials are 100% organic. They choose to use organic cotton because it sustains the health of soils, ecosystems, and people by using natural farming processes. This means no toxic chemicals are used and 91% less water than non-organic cotton. They’re also Fair Trade Certified, because they ensure care for both people and the planet by providing safe working conditions.

When you order from Pact, you’re given the option to offset the carbon footprint of your shipment using eco-technology that will calculate the shipment’s distance, the carbon footprint created, and the cost to offset that carbon locally.

You’re also highly encouraged to reduce Pact’s packaging footprint by reusing their boxes to donate used clothing to inspiring nonprofits. Their packaging consists of paper envelopes made from 100% post-consumer recycled paperboard and cardboard boxes made with 98% post-consumer recycled materials.

10. Crush Midi Slip Dress

Really cute dress perfect for walks on the beach at sunset or warm spring days. If it gets chilly, pair with a cute cardigan or shawl!

11. Woven Drawstring Short

I love these shorts paired with one of these cute graphic tees! So comfy and adorable.

12. Woven Field Jacket

I’m in love with the color and design of this jacket – the way it gently pinches at the waist is so flattering to me. And that army green color gets me every time! Perfect for a chilly spring day – will also come in handy in late summer into fall.

13. Crush Button-Front Jumpsuit

I’m not usually a jumpsuit fan but I REALLY like this one. The color is so nice and it looks perfect for a slightly breezy spring day. You could easily toss a light jacket or cardigan over it to make it warmer when temps dip in spring.

14. Fit & Flare Tank Mini Dress

This light hearted summer dress is just so cute – it’s got several different pattern options so you can choose something playful or more solid in color. It’s also got a cute little peep hole on the upper back, which is fun.

15. Revive V-Neck Tank Dress

Really like how this dress is part solid, part pattern! And the V-neck is a nice touch. Great for summer days you’re feeling a sun dress is enough.

What’s your favorite zero waste clothing brand?

For my sustainable clothing, check out these 8 zero waste activewear brands.

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