Clothing businesses which are rooted in nature’s intelligence are a joy to buy from. And yes, of course quality clothing and healthy creative self-expression are a basic need and human right, and there shouldn’t be money involved, creating an artificial scarcity. Nonetheless there are amazing people out there who understand what it means to support life and who are changing the apparel industry from the inside out – with their presence and the businesses they build.

Whether it is the use of natural, truly organically grown, biodegradable materials to produce fabrics and dyes, the re- and upcycling of waste products via collaborations with other initiatives, the minimising of packaging, or the equal inclusion of all body shapes and sizes, there are many ways in which to reflect nature. Fair compensation of those who give their time and skills across the company and supply chains, ethical work conditions rooted in direct, personal, nourishing relationships, durability of products, rooting the business in local community structures, integrated in the existing web of lands, waters, and cultural and societal fabrics – through all these avenues life is prioritised over money.

Ethical clothing also reflects cultural responsibility. Many people and clothing businesses love indigenous motives, colour schemes and patterns. Not only do these designs convey stories and cultural and historical meaning but they also reflect the skills and Earth-connectedness of those who produced them. Ethics here means full acknowledgement, permission for use and just exchange – including the peoples who are inherently tied to these designs, conveying the context of motives and patterns. In other words, ethical clothing is rooted in transparency, not commodification.

A business is a community of all those who contribute. Doesn’t that call for shared decision-making structures? Shouldn’t everyone who provides materials, skills and services have a say when change is wanted, or needed? These are the questions we need to ask to create true sustainability. Unfortunately many clothing businesses have not found a good balance yet between organic materials, fair trade and affordability. Perhaps our financial system and the ways in which we provide what is needed to meet basic human rights and requirements have to change in their entirety to ensure a life in dignity for all of us.

Yet below are some examples of exciting companies which are moving to the right direction (there are many more out there), reflecting no-harm principles consciously and as best they can. We are all still transforming, but progress towards ethical clothing is gaining momentum, and it is up to all of us to support what we want to see.