62 Fashion-Focused Social Businesses

From Kenyan Running Apparel to Explosive Ethical Jewelry

— November 4, 2011 — Social Good
Fashion-focused social businesses are typically fairly vocal about the importance of fair trade and ethical practices. Fashion production stems from an industry that has been extremely tainted -- and rightfully so -- with stories of sweatshops and slavery. Many of these fashion-focused social businesses attempt to heal ruptured relationships between the so-called developing world and the so-called developed world. Others incorporate the ever-popular one-for-one model, which has been popularized in recent years by TOMS.

From Kenyan running apparel to opportunity-generating accessories, these fashion-focused social businesses are collectively changing the way the North American public looks at their relationship -- and implication with -- unethical conditions in the Majority World. Interestingly, with companies like Walmart (for better or for worse) thinking about incorporating fair trade into retail, turning a blind eye to dishonorable working conditions shouldn't be an option anymore.
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61
Tracking Apparel Origins
Tracking Apparel Origins
The IOU Project Allows Wearers to Learn About Each Product's Life Story
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60
Socially Conscious Crochet Duds
Socially Conscious Crochet Duds
Support Women and Children with Special Needs Through Booteek.org
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59
Conscientious Clothes-Tracking
Conscientious Clothes-Tracking
This Made-By Website Tracks Textiles Transparently
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58
Himalayan Body Wraps
Himalayan Body Wraps
Social Business Khunu Preserves Yaks and Mongolian Communities
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57
Fertile Fundraising Fashion
Fertile Fundraising Fashion
The Tohoku Cotton Project Will Revive Japan's Ravaged Prefecture
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56
Poverty Alleviation Footwear
Poverty Alleviation Footwear
Oliberte Strives to Build a Middle Class in Africa
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55
Cultural Clothing Tours
Cultural Clothing Tours
Verdes y Colores is the Vision of Sustainable Retail and Fashion
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54
Socially Conscious Scarves
Socially Conscious Scarves
The Fairtrade Foundation Raises Awareness with Fair-Trade Fashion
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53
Charitably Chic Pieces
Charitably Chic Pieces
KNO Clothing is a One-for-One Donating Attire for Every Purchase Made
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52
At-Risk Teen Tees
At-Risk Teen Tees
Tees at Risk Sells Original Works from Troubled Teenagers
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51
Fair Trade Bulk Apparel
Fair Trade Bulk Apparel
Epona Clothing Supplies Ethical Tees for Charities, Schools & Businesses
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50
African-Sourced Sneakers
African-Sourced Sneakers
SAWA's Classic Shoes Strike a Balance Between Style and Substance
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49
For-Profit Social Ventures
For-Profit Social Ventures
The TOMS Shoes Movement Creates Customer-Philanthropists
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48
Humanitarian Product Developers
Humanitarian Product Developers
Red Button Design's Midomo Bracelet Provides Potable Water
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47
Benevolent Beaded Bangles
Benevolent Beaded Bangles
The FEED Kenya Bracelet is a Stylish Strategy to Feed Hungry Children
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46
Caring Handcrafted Jewelry
Caring Handcrafted Jewelry
31 Bits Gives Ugandan Women a Safe Network of Creation
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45
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
Opportunity-Generating Accessories
'Hands Up Not Handouts' Uses Business for Positive Change
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44
Ethical Silk Scarves
Ethical Silk Scarves
‘Cambodian Threads’ Gives School Supplies to Impoverished Kids
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43
Afghan Heritage Jewelry
Afghan Heritage Jewelry
The Pippa Small for Turquoise Mountain Collection is Jewelry with a Cause
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42
Do-Good Sunglasses
Do-Good Sunglasses
The SHAUNS SHADES ‘Buy One Give Sight' Mission is Inspiring
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41
Ethical Eco Retailers
Ethical Eco Retailers
The Offset Warehouse Online Store Makes a Cost-Effective Statement
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40
Sustainable Stylized Tees
Sustainable Stylized Tees
Sutsu Clothing Offers Environmentally Aware and Fair Trade Products
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39
Psychedelic Handmade Belts
Psychedelic Handmade Belts
The Andean Collection is a Vivid and Ethical Line of Fashion
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38
Female-Owned Design Studios
Female-Owned Design Studios
'Creative Women' Supports Economic Independence in the Majority World
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37
Kenyan Art Clinics
Kenyan Art Clinics
The Bombolulu Workshops & Cultural Centre Empowers Artisans of All Abilities
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36
Artistic Activism
Artistic Activism
Part Of It Totes & Tees For Charity
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35
Discarded Designer Duds
Discarded Designer Duds
Rags2Riches is a Social Business That Creates Handbags Out of Scraps
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34
Conscious E-Commerce
Conscious E-Commerce
Ethical Ocean is an Online Marketplace for Eco, Organic & Fair Trade Products
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33
Social Good Shopping Sites
Social Good Shopping Sites
'Histoire' Boutique is an Online Store Devoted to Creating a Just World
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32
Socially Aware Streetwear
Socially Aware Streetwear
Ed's Threds Supports the Nettlefold Foundation to Prevent Youth Suicide
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31
Positive Impact Retailers
Positive Impact Retailers
Blue Button is a Social Business Making a Mark
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30
Poverty-Fighting Footwear
Poverty-Fighting Footwear
These Keen Santiago Shoes Kick-Start Social Change
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29
Socially Responsible Neckwear
Socially Responsible Neckwear
FIGS Ties Combines Luxe Materials and a One-for-One Model
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28
Community-Made Handicrafts
Community-Made Handicrafts
Rag Tag 'n' Textile Supports Those Recovering from Mental Health Issues
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27
Chic Fair Trade Clothing
Chic Fair Trade Clothing
Amana Provides Training and Jobs for Women in Morocco
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26
Chic Coastal Collections
Chic Coastal Collections
The Hessnatur by Eviana Hartman Fall 2011 Line Focuses on Eco Ethics
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25
Fair Trade Tees
Fair Trade Tees
African Apparel Founders are on a Mission to Rebuild a Continent
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24
Humanitarian Fashion Lines
Humanitarian Fashion Lines
David Peck Takes Inspiration from and Gives Back to Ugandan Villagers
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23
One-for-One Glasses
One-for-One Glasses
TOMS Eyewear is the Next Chapter in this Innovative Business Model
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22
One-for-One Tees
One-for-One Tees
Out of Print Marries Lost Literary Covers with Book Donations
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21
Culturally Relevant Luggage
Culturally Relevant Luggage
Ethnotek Creates Bags Using Direct Fabric Trade
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20
Hip Handwoven Attire
Hip Handwoven Attire
Bhalo Employs Rural Bangladeshi Women to Produce Fair Trade Fashion
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19
Cozy Eco-Chic Knits
Cozy Eco-Chic Knits
The Tara St. James StudyNY Fall/Winter 2011 Collection Makes Bold Statements
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18
Fair Trade Lifestyle Brands
Fair Trade Lifestyle Brands
People Tree is a Stylish Social Business Spearhead
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17
Fair-Trade Eco Fashions
Fair-Trade Eco Fashions
Awamaki Lab Brings Tradition and Fashion Innovation Together
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16
Newsworthy Flip Flops
Newsworthy Flip Flops
Paper Flops are Made Using Upcycled Newspapers
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15
Fashionable Fair Trade Apparel (UPDATE)
Fashionable Fair Trade Apparel (UPDATE)
Indego Africa Gives Artisans a Protected Place to Create
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14
Flat-Top Shades
Flat-Top Shades
Look Super Sleek and Stylish in These One-for-One '4sight' Sunglasses
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13
Handmade Snakeskin Shoes
Handmade Snakeskin Shoes
These Pauline in Love Snakeskin Shoes are Classy and Socially Conscious
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12
Responsible Bedroom Slippers
Responsible Bedroom Slippers
The Chilote House Shoe is Eco and Ethically Principled
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11
Ethical Web Boutiques
Ethical Web Boutiques
'Future:Standard' Offers Environmentally and Socially Responsible Clothing
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10
Ethical Shopping Sites
Ethical Shopping Sites
Magnifeco is an Eco-Fashion Source Featuring All Things Socially Good
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9
Cause-Conscious Clothing
Cause-Conscious Clothing
United by Blue Removes One Pound of Trash from Oceans for Every Item Sold
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8
Haitian Artist Wearables
Haitian Artist Wearables
Moral Fibers is a Socially Innovative Start-Up Building Human Capital
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7
Fair Trade Underwear
Fair Trade Underwear
Pants to Poverty is a Hip Social Enterprise That Raises “Underwearness"
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6
Ethical Tribal Print Fashion
Ethical Tribal Print Fashion
The Nicole Miller Indego Africa Collection Focuses on Fair Trade
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5
Upcycled Fair Trade Fashion
Upcycled Fair Trade Fashion
Liz Alig Links Consumers & Producers to Support Ethical Practices
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4
Socially Minded Lifestyle Brands
Socially Minded Lifestyle Brands
Elvis & Kresse Creates Accessories out of Reclaimed Fire Hoses
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3
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
Explosive Ethical Jewelry
'peaceBOMB' Bracelets Embrace War-Inflicted Cities
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2
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
Fair Trade Ugandan Goods
One Mango Tree's Clothing and Accessories Have a Beautiful Story
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1
Hand-Dyed Ikat Handbags
Hand-Dyed Ikat Handbags
Push Pull Cambodia is a Social Enterprise with a Sense of Style
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