7 Affordable Alternatives to Fast Fashion

So you want to break up with fast fashion but can’t find sustainable options on a budget.

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First, we may suggest buying less clothes overall. “Haul” culture can make you feel like you need to buy several new items every month, but we have enough clothes on Earth to last six generations. So when you get the urge to buy fast fashion, try secondhand instead.

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Fast fashion brands keep their prices low by exploiting labor, using cheap fabrics, and encouraging overconsumption. But there are sustainable brands out there that are doing right by people and the planet while keeping prices relatively low.

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We’ve listed some of our top fast fashion alternatives below.

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Lucy & Yak

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Lucy & Yak shows you can have fun, colorful, affordable, and stylish clothes that are also kind to our planet! Its tops start at just $22 and cotton trousers at $40, making it a viable fast fashion alternative. Unlike fast fashion brands that rely on new synthetic materials, the brand uses sustainable alternatives including GOTS-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled polyester, hemp, bamboo, and even surplus fabric from other brands. You can also trade in your old clothes from the brand for a gift card, and it'll either resell or downcycle them.

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Everlane

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A pack of 3 Box-Cut Tees for $60 — sounds like a fast fashion price point, right? That's how affordable Everlane's products are. These t-shirts are made from 100% organic cotton, resulting in lower water usage, reduced pesticide use, and healthier soil. Its other affordable collections feature blends of organic cotton with recycled polyester or linen. Watch for discounts on the site — we found pants for $33 and a Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified Merino sweater for $47.

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Organic Basics

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Another sustainable alternative to fast fashion is Organic Basics. It uses sustainable materials that are recycled, recyclable, plant-based, and organic. The brand only works with factories that are committed to making good basics without harming the planet in the process. In fact, on every product page, you can see the details of the manufacturer and the carbon emissions of the product — details you would never find on a fast fashion brand’s website. Its t-shirts are affordably priced, starting at $20, with sale prices as low as $12.

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United by Blue

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United by Blue removes one pound of trash for every product purchased. As a B Corp certified brand, it makes affordable apparel from low-impact fibers like organic cotton, recycled polyester, linen, and EcoVero™ (a silky-soft fiber made from tree pulp). Unlike typical fashion brands, United by Blue follows a slow fashion timeline to minimize waste and overproduction. The company maintains a strict supplier code of conduct with all manufacturers, which bans subcontracting, ensures collective bargaining rights, and prohibits forced labor. Its website offers t-shirts and shorts for as low as $10.

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Yes Friends

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Yes Friends produces sustainable and ethical clothing made from 100% Fairtrade and organic cotton. Its solar-assisted factory offers workers a bonus scheme, and it maintains affordable pricing — t-shirts start at $15 and sweatshirts at $44. All the products arrive in its signature flaming hot orange bags that are made from 30% recycled plastic.

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thredUP

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thredUP is an online secondhand clothing marketplace that gives clothes a second life. The brand’s selection is extensive — a search for women's tops alone yields over 50,000 items, with prices ranging from $2 (for fast fashion brands) to $1,500. The platform is perfect for finding affordable designer and premium clothing, offering secondhand options across all categories — from dresses and tops to swimwear and activewear. Each product page clearly shows the environmental impact of choosing secondhand.

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More about thredUP->

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Depop

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What started as a social shopping app has become one of the biggest peer-to-peer marketplaces for secondhand clothes, shoes, and bags. When you visit the website, you'll find convenient price filters such as under $10 and under $20 — features typically found on fast fashion websites. By purchasing affordable secondhand clothes from these marketplaces, you help reduce fashion waste by extending the lifespan of clothing.

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