5 Sustainable Uniqlo Alternatives

Basic yet stylish, functional yet innovative — that's the brand image Japanese retailer Uniqlo has cultivated. But is Uniqlo sustainable?

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Unfortunately, despite its carefully crafted image, Uniqlo is a fast fashion brand. The brand's strategy revolves around offering affordable, everyday fashion that consumers can easily discard and replace.

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At Commons, when we attempted to rate the brand, we encountered a lack of information about its sustainability initiatives. This prevented us from providing a complete rating, but this lack of transparency was sufficient for us to categorize the brand as Harmful.

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Given these concerns, here are 5 sustainable Uniqlo alternatives we recommend:

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Tentree

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Instead of Uniqlo's cashmere sweaters, which are linked to environmental damage and animal suffering, consider Tentree. It crafts sweaters from sustainable materials like organic cotton (grown without synthetic chemicals) and modal (made from beech wood fibers through a low-impact process). Tentree boasts both Climate Neutral and B Corp certifications and employs sustainable packaging practices — using organic cotton strings and 100% post-consumer recycled plastic for its mailers.

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CHNGE

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Uniqlo's t-shirts often use a blend of synthetic fibers like polyester with cotton or make 100% cotton t-shirts using SUPIMA® cotton — better than regular cotton but less sustainable than organic cotton. For a sustainable alternative, consider CHNGE. It creates environmentally and socially responsible t-shirts using 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. CHNGE also employs a pre-order system for some t-shirts, reducing waste and overproduction. All of its products come from Fairtrade factories, guaranteeing fair wages and safe working conditions.

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MATE the Label

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Like its t-shirts, Uniqlo's sweatshirts and hoodies are made from a cotton and polyester blend. For a sustainable alternative, consider MATE the Label's collection of sweatshirts and sweatpants that are crafted with 100% organic cotton and non-toxic dyes, starting at $90. MATE the Label also operates a take-back program, allowing customers to return used clothes for resale. The brand embraces hyperlocal production and transparently shares the names and locations of its production partners and some material suppliers.

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Boyish Jeans

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For a sustainable alternative to Uniqlo's imported cotton jeans, consider Boyish, a Climate Neutral certified brand offering denim options under $100. Boyish's jeans are designed for end-of-life recycling and use sustainable materials such as TENCEL™ Lyocell, REFIBRA blend recycled cotton, and deadstock fabric. The brand opts for plant-based dyes instead of harmful synthetic ones. Boyish is also certified by The Organic Content Standard, which ensures the tracking and verification of organically grown materials in their final products.

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Levi's SecondHand

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Levi's SecondHand offers a sustainable alternative to Uniqlo's jackets, which are made from synthetic fibers and animal fur. Levi's professionally cleans, sorts, and lists pre-owned Levi's jackets, including its popular sherpa jackets and truckers. You can filter these options by condition, size, color, and fit and find the one that suits your style and budget.

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