5 Ethical Designers Disrupting The Fashion Industry

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Luxury fashion has evolved far beyond designer logos and runway trends. Now, many of the industry’s most exciting brands are proving that exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and responsible production can go hand in hand. While these pieces come with a higher price tag than fast fashion — or even many of our favorite affordable sustainable brands — they’re often designed to be worn, loved, repaired, and passed down for years to come.

That doesn’t mean you have to buy everything brand new. We love shopping secondhand for luxury pieces, whether it’s through online consignment shops, vintage boutiques, or trusted resale platforms like Vestiaire Collective. Investing in a well-made blazer, handbag, or pair of shoes secondhand is often one of the most sustainable (and budget-friendly) ways to build a wardrobe that lasts.

The designers below are raising the bar with timeless silhouettes, high-quality materials, and a growing commitment to responsible production — from lower-impact fibers and artisan craftsmanship to circular design initiatives and transparent supply chains. Whether you’re saving for an investment piece or simply exploring what’s possible in sustainable luxury, these are the brands redefining what luxury fashion looks like today.

Looking for more options at every price point? Be sure to explore our favorite sustainable fashion brands, too.

1. Stella McCartney

Best For | Ready-to-wear fashion for all genders & ages, swimwear, sunglasses & bags
Sustainability | Cruelty-free, no fur or leather, re-engineered cashmere & ethically sourced wool, organic cotton & recycled textiles, 100 percent PVC-free, sustainable packaging

Stella McCartney has been reshaping fashion since launching her first collection in the early 1990s. Known for creating modern garments that exude natural confidence, the UK-based luxury designer is a pioneer of alternative materials and eco-friendly practices. Continuing to set the bar high for social and environmental sustainability in the fashion industry, Stella McCartney regularly conducts audits and measures impact, too. A member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, the brand is also careful with its selection of suppliers, many of whom are small businesses and artisans in Europe. As a bonus, the Stella McCartney brand gives back to organizations like Bioplanet, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Million Trees Miami.

Woman wearing a one-shoulder red mini dress and black heels holds a rectangular black handbag with gold chain straps, standing against a plain light background.

Woman with straight dark hair holds a beige handbag with braided edges and handle, wearing a long-sleeve brown dress, seated against a plain light background.

2. EILEEN FISHER

Best For | Inclusive & petite sizes for women, minimalist staples
Sustainability | Organic, recycled, & sustainable garments, natural dyes, secondhand shop

EILEEN FISHER is passionate about disrupting the linear production model touted by most luxury fashion brands. The eponymous Illinois-bred designer paints in circular brushstrokes, recycling and giving new life to old textiles and discarded garments. The result? Luxurious and sustainable womenswear with a particular focus on inclusive and petite sizing. Loved for her use of recycled fabrics, organic fibers, and natural dyes in production, it comes as no surprise that the EILEEN FISHER brand is a certified B Corp with several sustainable initiatives like secondhand shops called Renew and Waste No More.

Woman wearing a loose-fitting, short-sleeve blue dress, black slide sandals, and a black crossbody bag, standing against a plain beige background.

A woman stands against a plain background wearing a teal button-up blouse with a drawstring waist, loose light blue jeans with front pockets, and black sandals.

3. Fe Noel

Best For | Tropical-inspired colors & styles
Sustainability | Natural fabrics, made-to-order options, handcrafted in NY

For luxury garments inspired by Grenada, we’re turning to Fe Noel’s work. This womenswear brand based out of Brooklyn, NY combines tropical colors, bold prints, and stunning styles for a gorgeous collection that works from the beach to the runway. Fe Noel’s line includes wide-leg pants, flowy tops and dresses, and eclectic swimwear. Sustainable pieces are handcrafted out of its New York studio, with typical sizes ranging from XS through XXL— but you can also choose a made-to-measure option for a guaranteed perfect fit. Founder Fe also launched the Fe Noel Foundation, so proceeds from the brand also support underserved youth who want to launch their own businesses and make an impact on a global scale. This is exactly what ethical and social responsibility looks like.

Woman stands against a tan background wearing a brown puff-sleeve top, a gradient green-orange wrap skirt, and green heeled sandals.

Two people wearing strapless, structured outfits; one in olive green with peplum and wide pants, the other in rust orange with a fitted bodice and full skirt; both standing against a plain wall.

4. Gabriela Hearst

Best For | Timeless, elevated staples and statement pieces
Sustainability | Deadstock and recycled materials, plastic-free packaging, gives back

Launched in 2015, Gabriela Hearst is a brand committed to sustainability, from the manufacturing process to the materials used, with the goal that the final pieces will be so loved that their owners won’t ever want to throw them away. This is a brand that values tradition more than trend, where the details matter. Of Uruguayan and American descent, Hearst uses the wool of her family’s six-generation merino sheep farm in Uruguay to produce piqué and twill suits. The company also has a partnership with Manos del Uruguay, a venerable non-profit and women’s cooperative empowering rural women who work in the production of Gabriela Hearst hand-knits. The brand continues to set aggressive eco-conscious goals for itself, raising its own standards of sustainability, including creating carbon neutral shows at Paris Fashion Week with 60% deadstock materials. With a refined, elegant aesthetic and rigorous attention to craft, these are pieces that you can feel good about owning for decades to come.

Person wearing a long, beige trench coat with voluminous sleeves and matching wide-leg pants, standing on a neutral background.

Person wearing a light gray button-down shirt, white top, brown high-waisted pants, and beige shoes stands with hands in pockets against a neutral background.

5. TOVE

Best For | Timeless, luxury classics
Sustainability | GOTS organic cotton, Oeko-Tex certified, recycled labeling & packaging

Founded by Camille Perry and Holly Wright in 2019, TOVE is a Danish girl’s name that means strength and beauty, the epitome of the brand’s aesthetic goals. Each design is meticulously vetted as part of an edit of signature pieces. With generously cut fabrics and carefully designed details, these pieces are meant to seamlessly transition between occasions and events. Elevated minimalism for the modern woman, this brand is inspired by the women they design for, with expert craftsmanship that ensures longevity. Sustainability is at the center of the brand’s philosophy: Fabrics are sourced from mills committed to low environmental impact. Natural, organic, and recycled fabrics are at the heart of these designs, and manufacture is kept mainly at source to minimize their carbon footprint. Each collection is created with a timelessness in mind, purposefully conceived to transcend seasons.