Ever since we posted our guide to home decor alternatives to Anthropologie back in March, this here blog has felt a little incomplete. That’s because while Anthropologie home decor is highly coveted, half of the brand is dedicated to gorgeous fashion of the sophisticated bohemian variety. But for conscious consumers, finding ethical and sustainable alternatives to Anthropologie takes a little more time and energy than this stylish one-stop-shop.
Fear not, flowy, print-adoring friends! We’ve spent entirely too much time on the internet in search of ethical fashion for many years now, so we’ve built up quite the resource list of sustainable alternatives. And guess what? They totally can compete with Anthropologie (some might even be stocked on their shelves–we fully support our small biz friends that find opportunity with big box retailers), offering styles that align for that trendy Anthro aficionado.
10 ethical and sustainable alternatives to anthropologie dresses
Based in Spain, Blue Anemone offers handcrafted, sustainable clothing with a vintage boho twist. Bonus: all of their packaging is plastic free. Yay!
RŪPAHAUS (based in Australia) is a really unique sustainable brand working with artisan communities in Indonesia to revive beautiful traditional natural dyeing techniques. These striped wide leg pants are hand-dyed and woven on a traditional handloom. They have menswear too!
Opia is an Australian-based slow fashion brand inspired by nature and the ocean. While they began as a brand making everything by hand-in house, they now employ a small family-run production team in Indonesia. Opia offers cotton and linen dresses and tops for that elevated boho look.
For those that appreciate Anthropologie’s affection for color, look no further than Mi Golondrina and their stunning hand-embroidered floral blouses. This brand tells you exactly where their garments come from in each product listing, and learning the artisan story behind them more than makes up for the jump in price.
Ethically produced in small batches, Portland-based Monochromatic is a curated marketplace of unisex, womens, and mens clothing from sustainable designers.
Designer slow fashion brand Celia B produces artful women’s clothing in Bali. Celia is the queeeen of print, OMG! Any Anthropologie fan would agree that Celia B’s spring collection is to die for. Full transparency: I have noticed that there is not a lot of information given within the product descriptions themselves, so be sure to check the materials and ask questions if you’re unsure of a particular design’s environmental impact!
London based womenswear brand Baukjen, a certified B corp, focuses on eco-friendly and ethical clothing. They publish regular impact reports, use innovative eco-fabrics, and have a rental program! (Don’t you think all fashion brands should offer clothing for rent, too? Just sayin.) Did I mention they have an OUTLET?
Eco club sustainable directory member and one of our favorite sustainable fashion brands Bel Kazan is an incredible alternative to Anthropologie. First of all, Anthro vibes? UM YES. And then some. The dress above is from their latest collection of colorful womenswear hand-printed in Bali. Each collection has something completely new and surprising, and I always look forward to seeing the creative prints they dream up!
NYC based sustainable clothing brand Leroli has that easygoing Anthro feel without the questionable materials or practices. They focus on materials like tencel, linen, and cupro. They’re one of our top favorites for adding color to your wardrobe.
Based in Jaipur, em & shi is home to the most beautiful feminine floral dresses, jumpsuits and blouses. I just want to sit in a field all day eating fruit while wearing this lovely jumpsuit, don’t you? This summer picnic dress is another sweet design!
6/1/21 edited to add more lovely alternatives to Anthropologie
Our member Omi Na Na offers clothing in that perfect mix of feminine boho and effortless elegance, carrying brands like em & shi and Mati, featured above. Accessories like this upcycled scrunchie give off those Anthro vibes too!
Christy Dawn has the prettiest, farm-to-closet sustainable dresses, tops, and jumpsuits, along with petite and extended sizes.
IKKIVI curates the best ethical fashion brands from India and delivers worldwide. So many of their brands exude those coveted Anthro vibes, and most offer inclusive sizing and even accommodate custom requests.
I realize that many of these shops like Anthropologie are based in different countries around the world. I find this so inspiring, especially since Anthropologie is known for “globally inspired” goods. At the same time, I know that shipping single garments halfway across the world isn’t the most sustainable way to shop. As with all things sustainable fashion, we have to weigh our options. I don’t expect you to ditch a US based brand for several international ones that have to produce & ship from separate locations–but I figure there’s no harm in discovering a new favorite brand that may just have that perfect item that currently only big box stores seem to offer! Thanks for joining in this important discussion and we can’t wait to continue the conversation!
Do you have any favorite sustainable alternatives to Anthropologie? Please share below!
[…] the prettiest, glitteriest, Celia B sequin dress. I’ve been a fan of Celia B for years as an ethical alternative to many popular fashion brands and having recently joined Nuuly I had the chance to try it out for […]