15 Classic and Sustainable Brands for Building Your Capsule Wardrobe

Image credit: Whimsy & Row

This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, EcoCult receives a small percentage of the sale price. We only recommend brands that we truly believe in. Support our editorial work by supporting them!

Pop culture used to valorize vast closets packed with jumpsuits and dresses for every occasion and shelves full of handbags and accessories. Times are changing, though, and women are gravitating to a more minimalist selection consisting of a few choice pieces that are timeless, high-quality, and that work well with most or all of your other clothes: the capsule wardrobe.

In fact, 87% of the fashion purchased in a year ends up either in a landfill or an incinerator, both of which are terrible for the environment and local ecosystems—less than 1% of them are actually recycled. But capsule wardrobes can help reduce this waste.

Rather than buy new fashion with every change of the season, true capsule wardrobes are designed to flow through the seasons without more than a few updates per season. Not only does this method help reduce fashion overproduction and waste, but it also cultivates a peaceful mind and a quality wardrobe.

The idea of a capsule wardrobe isn’t a 21st-century invention: Donna Karan first released her capsule wardrobe collection in 1985 called “Seven Easy Pieces” which included essentials from a dress and tailored jacket to a bodysuit and basic cashmere sweater. While the idea sat on the fashion backburner for years to follow, it eventually made another round with the rise of sustainable fashion, which encourages consumers to purchase long-lasting, timeless pieces that can be circulated until they’re too worn.

The ideal capsule wardrobe consists of a small collection of pieces that work well together and are easily interchangeable with other pieces in the wardrobe. A trick capsule wardrobe devotees use is choosing and sticking to one to three fun colors — on top of the neutrals — for added interest so that mixing and matching is easier. Most capsule wardrobes contain at least the essentials and a few stand-out pieces, such as a classic pair of trousers, jeans, and skirt, paired with a sweater or two and a few blouses that can be dressed up or down with the right jacket, shoes, or handbags. Many capsule wardrobes include a little black dress and/or a sundress, as well. 

It helps to shop at brands that offer extended return policies—so you’re not rushed into a decision—and aftermarket repair. For example, Barbour, Levi’s, Patagonia, and Nudie Jeans all offer repairs so you can wear your purchase for many more years. 

Over the years, we’ve researched countless brands that make non-toxic, sustainable fashion that’s meant to be worn time and time again. Here are our top picks for brands that offer perfect options for a capsule wardrobe.

What we love: Pact specializes in clothing that’s both cute and comfortable, from jumpsuits to the perfect cardigan. You can find options for capsule wardrobe basics, casual styles, and activewear. Pact has established a brand built on sustainability and transparency, from its GOTS-certified cotton pieces to production in Fair Trade factories. The brand also partners with SimpliZero to help track and thus reduce its carbon footprint anywhere it can- including responsible packaging. 

Price range: $20 to $148

What we love: French worker-owned brand Saint James is one of Alden’s favorite brands for long-lasting, classic tees. The heritage brand uses pure, ethically-sourced wool and GOTS-certified cotton to create versatile, timeless looks that are perfect for a long-term capsule wardrobe. The brand relies on its talented and seasoned Master Knitters to produce the “Saint James Quality” that it stands behind. 

Price range: $109 to $935

What we love: This B-Corp-certified brand is another that focuses on using non-toxic, sustainable materials to craft perfectly versatile pieces that go well with the business-casual vibe of most capsule wardrobes. Encircled is also Oeko-Tex-certified, using materials such as modal, tencel lyocell, bamboo rayon, organic cotton, linen, and merino wool, to name a few. We love that the brand offers a huge selection of capsule wardrobe-ready pieces, as well as a few basics kits, which are comprised of outfit staples intended for work, travel, and the like. 

Price range: $34 to $317

What we love: Kotn offers statement and neutral pieces in gorgeous natural hues in materials we love, from linen to organic Egyptian cotton to merino wool, for cute and classy timeless looks. The brand gets its Egyptian cotton from small, family-owned farms in Egypt to create the softest, most luxurious pieces for your capsule wardrobe. All its fabrics are traceable from farm to factory and eventually to your doorstep, which helps keep every involved party accountable and transparent about their practices. 

Price range: $28 to $148

What we love: Every capsule wardrobe needs bags and shoes, and Nisolo has it covered. From professional oxfords to summer-casual sandals, Nisolo uses beautiful leather to sustainably and ethically craft shoes, bags, wallets, and other accessories to match your wardrobe from any angle. The B-Corp-certified brand follows a five-step process to ensure sustainability and fair trade while making its practices available to the public through its sustainability facts label (featured on every product page). 

Price range: $50 to $350

What we love: Partnered with textile recycling programs such as ThredUp, Frame designs its clothing, shoes, and accessories with circular fashion in mind. You can find your favorite fabrics, like organic Pima cotton, cashmere, wool, and silk in beautiful styles that write a new definition of elegant. Capsule wardrobes fear not the monotone nature of having clothes that all match, because Frame’s pops of color add depth and intellect to its pieces. Orders are shipped in 100% recycled poly mailers to help reduce its carbon footprint and supports several environmental, fair trade, and animal welfare projects.

Price range: $75 to $2,495

What we love: Amour Vert makes signature looks in timeless styles from soft, silky and sustainable materials. It uses fabrics including non-toxic bluesign-label silk and merino wool for a lux look and feel. Its artisans design the brand’s samples at its atelier studio in San Francisco. The brand supports circular fashion by offering its ReAmour program, which is an online marketplace for reselling pre-loved items. 

Price range: $17 to $500

What we love: Some of the cutest capsule wardrobe pieces we’ve seen from Whimsy & Row also happen to be made from some of our favorite fabrics: organic cotton, linen, Oeko-Tex-certified baby alpaca wool, cashmere, and tencel, among others. Its unique style means that each piece can be dressed up or down with ease. If you love a good jumpsuit or that one comfy go-to dress, you can find it here.

Price range: $35 to $398

What we love: This brand is the perfect one to build an entire capsule wardrobe, featuring the most versatile button-downs, blouses, and dresses. Using sustainable, Oeko-Tex-certified silk and Tencel, Numi creates gorgeous, long-lasting styles in the perfect shades. The brand states it is working toward a circular business model, which not only helps to reduce waste, but also to promote recycling. 

Price range: $60 to $220

What we love: Able is there to help you build your entire capsule wardrobe, whether it’s cute, coordinated outfits or the perfect accessories. Organic cotton and food industry byproduct leather are both common materials within its product line, and the brand offers impressive policies on exchanging sizes on select items and its lifetime promise, which is intended to keep your favorite products intact for years to come.

Price range: $30 to $385

What we love: Built upon a framework of “enlightened simplicity” as inspired by perfect literature, Grammar aims to only make clothing that can be worn generation after generation. This begins with quality, non-toxic fabrics like GOTS-certified organic cotton and with fair trade, which is a foundational pillar for the brand. Details down to the natural shell buttons on blouses are carefully crafted to last on truly timeless pieces that can serve as the foundation for nearly any capsule wardrobe style.

Price range: $245 to $545

What we love: Having just applied to be a B-Corp-certified, Aday is after the versatility and value of clothing that’s made to last for years. The brand partners with suppliers that share its values in sustainable manufacturing and longevity, and 77% of its products are manufactured using recycled and regenerated fabrics. The brand uses materials including Repreve polyester, Tencel, modal, and biofleece, all of which are either bluesign- or Oeko-Tex certified. 

Watch out for: Some of the products the brand offers are made from recycled polyester, which is more sustainable than using virgin plastics. However, this type of fabric can’t be dyed using non-toxic dyes, so be aware if you have sensitive skin.

Price range: $60 to $365

What we love: Known for its Paris-meets-New York style, Offtrack makes ethical leggings from sustainable materials, such as byproduct leather from the food industry. Its leather leggings are perfect for everyday wear from the office to a night on the town. The brand manufactures its leggings at its New York atelier.

Watch out for: Naturally, being real leather, the brand’s leggings are not vegan; however, the leather is ethically sourced.

Price range: $980

What we love: From using Oeko-Tex-certified organic cotton and Tencel, Sonderlier gets what it means to build a true capsule wardrobe. The brand offers a curated collection specifically for working from home, which ranges from a cozy trench to a cute convertible top. Its pieces are made to pair well with the others in its line, all of which are neutral colors with a few brighter ones to stand out. 

Watch out for: The brand does use recycled polyester in some of its products; while it’s better than virgin polyester, this fabric can’t be dyed using entirely non-toxic dye, and may be irritating to those with sensitive skin. 

Price range: $98 to $198

What we love: Marcella New York takes ethical production seriously — from free healthcare for its workers to a living wage. Focusing on timelessness, the brand works to create pieces that “could have been worn ten years ago or ten years from now”. Most of its pieces are designed with minimalism in mind, but with an edge that steers its collections into more interesting and elegant looks. It offers clothing, shoes, and bags that work with any outfit in a capsule wardrobe.

Watch out for: Quite a few pieces are made from polyester, which is typically dyed using azobenzene dyes that can be acutely irritating to those with sensitive skin. 

Price range: $45 to $378