EcoCult Recos: Brands that use No or Natural Dyes

Better choices for your skin and overall health.

Hey readers,

I truly do want to hear about your experiences with brands, good and bad. A reader messaged me this week to tell me that her order from YesAnd smelled like chemicals, but when she tried to get a refund, the site was down and she didn’t get a response. We’ve taken YesAnd out of our listings.

Unfortunately, this might keep happening. All small brands are struggling, especially sustainable ones. And I’m not sure new ones are coming up to replace the ones that don’t make it. So let’s keep sharing with each other the brands we’ve had both good and bad experiences with. Hopefully we can continue to support the good ones.

Sincerely,
Alden

If you struggle with chemical sensitivities, switching to dye-free or plant-dyed clothing could make all the difference.

But that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a bland, colorless wardrobe! You might be surprised at just how beautiful heirloom cotton varieties can be, or how stunning natural dyes like indigo are. We gathered our favorite brands that combine style and substance to bring you clothing without any synthetic dyes, even on natural materials.

(Do you struggle with sensitivity around clothing dyes? What works for you? Let us know in the comments!)

Industry of All Nations

This brand works to bring manufacturing back to the source to combine ancestral methods with modern practices. It only uses organic, recycled, or biodegradable materials, including natural dyes. It also carries an undyed collection, and offers repairs and re-dyeing of indigo garments. Its prices range from $20 to $745 (including coats), and it ships from LA.

IOAN, as it calls itself, sent me some items to try. Everything was very high quality, though because it is a genderless brand, it didn’t play well with my very womanly hips. I sized up on the undies, loved the tee, and I decided to keep the jeans and get the waistband taken in (which I’ve done for other jeans). So it would work well for you if you have a straighter stature.

Use code ECOCULT for 10% off of your entire IOAN purchase.

The Cotton Project by Imogene and Willie

The Cotton Project is an initiative to grow, process, and manufacture organic cotton shirts and jeans within 400 miles of Nashville, TN. The project partners with the last denim dye house in the U.S., which has switched to natural indigo. Its tees start at $56, its denim starts at $235, and it ships from Nashville and Austin.

Aizome

We love Aizome, which provides “healthcare you can wear.” The brand specializes in intentional skin-soothing plant dyes, each selected for their unique properties. It primarily offers bedding, but offers t-shirts and eye masks too. Its prices range from $49-$799, and it ships from the U.S. and Germany.

I’ve slept on these sheets and worked closely with the founder Michel and his team, and they are the real deal. I highly recommend this brand if you suffer from sensitive skin or eczema.

Older Brother

Older brother is another genderless and creative brand that uses natural dyes like indigo, madder root, and many more to create clothing that feels good on the skin. Its collection includes jeans, shirts, vests, and jackets. Its prices range from $135-$650, and it ships from the U.S.

Harvest & Mill

If you’re looking for gorgeous undyed cotton grown in the U.S., this is your brand. All of its styles come in dye-free and bleach-free options. In addition to selecting naturally colored heirloom cotton, the brand also uses low-impact commercial dyes. Its prices range from $12-$185, and it ships from the U.S.

I have a pack of its heirloom, naturally-colored socks that I really like. They aren’t as tight as other socks, because they keep the elastane content really low. But they’re super comfy and elegant looking.

Christy Dawn

This regenerative farm-to-closet brand uses organic dyes and traditional blockprinting practices to achieve its prints. The waste water from its dyeing process is recycled back into its system for reuse. Its clothing prices range from $68-$498, and it ships from LA.

I’ve visited both the regenerative cotton farming co-op that supplies the fabric, and the traditional blockprinting workshop that does Christy Dawn’s more fun patterned items, both in different parts of India, and both gorgeous and nourishing. So I can personally attest to the quality of Christy Dawn’s supply chain!

Loup Charmant

Loup Charmant, a brand that EcoCult has featured for over a decade, is a family-owned brand that works with craftspeople in Madagascar and New York. It collection of undyed items includes slips, bloomers, and dresses. The prices of this collection range from $60-$385, and it ships from the U.S.

Kings of Indigo

This denim brand prioritizes being as low-impact and transparent as possible. It offers several undyed products, as well as natural indigo pieces. Its prices range from $52-$457, and it ships from the Netherlands.

Q for Quinn

Created by a mother whose son struggled with eczema, Q for Quinn offers dye-free and plant-dyed socks and underwear. Its prices range from $15-$76, and it ships from Toronto.