Ethical Alternatives to Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters has been caught with their pants down too many times: their CEO funds anti-gay civil rights legislature while targeting sales to liberal teens, and over and over both Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie have been accused of stealing independent designers’ work and manufacturing it as their own. So where does the ethical, fashion-conscious girl buy her clothes, if not at UO?

Why, these places, of course.

Based in the UK, Fashion Conscience is an all-around positive roll model for retailers everywhere. They ship everywhere in the world – there’s not one country they don’t ship to – and every designer on their website is ethical in some way. Created “with the sole intention of sourcing ethical clothing for stylish women with a conscience” (sound familiar?), Fashion Conscience has unearthed a plethora of conscious designers from the US, UK, Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Brazil, all of which are not only on trend and ethically made, but also high quality.

The only downfall we’ve found is the cost of international shipping: £12 for the first item, with £6 for every extra item. So you’re telling me that for a pair of ethically-produced pants and a single shirt, I’ll pay almost thirty dollars in shipping? Yes, it’s flat rate anywhere in the world, but that doesn’t make it any less prohibitive for those of us out of country and on a budget. I hope they can find a way to bring the cost down in the future, and spread the word to my UK friends until that time comes!

Are you ready for video-based shopping? ShopFlick is pioneering the idea, and it’s pretty cool! Each designer can upload videos of their inspiration, creative process and showrooms, connecting you to their brand in a whole new way. You can even upload your own videos, create custom collections of designs and buy directly through designers’ video feeds!

ShopFlick welcomes new independent sellers to join in – an Etsy seller’s next step? – and hopes their consumers will interact and get involved with their favorite independent brands. For extra eco points, hover over “Lookbooks” in the upper right-hand corner and click Eco-Friendly Designers.

If you’re Hollywood obsessed, Shop Robertson is the place to go. They collaborate with LA designers to showcase everything from basic staple items to the latest trends, and they’re constantly offering discounts on up-to-date items – I’ve never been disappointed in the selection or size range of their sale section. We found Shop Robertson through Vicarious by Nature (S.R. was one of the first to carry VbN) and are excited to see them grow.

Bad Joan is another retail website that supports independent and up-and-coming designers, and they also offer some screaming deals each day to entice even the stingiest of shoppers. Our favorite: the Pop Up Shops, where designers sell brand new, in-season items selected specifically for Bad Joan directly to you. (That and the “Regular Price” vs. “Bad Joan Price” under each item. I always feel a little more bad-ass when I can see exactly how much I’m saving off of retail.)

While Urban Outfitters is stealing from independent designers, Smashing Darling gives them a place to shine. They have over 300 online boutiques, some organic, some local to your hometown, and they’re all filled with high quality, often limited-run designs that you won’t find anywhere else.  A line from their Manifesto describes what you’ll find on Smashing Darling:

“We believe in stories that last, in clothes that communicate identity, and in fashion that shines far beyond this season’s magazines.  We believe in making glamorous dreams real.”

Smashing Darling really does tell the story of each independent designer it represents, and allows them to sell their wares to fashion conscious babes who will take the result of that story and make it their own. (And we love chatting with these ladies on Twitter. They’re so down to earth, and totally fun.)

We’ve mentioned Mata Traders before: their motherly love and gorgeous designs inspired an Ethical Designer Profile of the brand back in 2010. Mata Traders works with organizations that educate, employ, and empower women to create, market and sell fair trade clothing, most of which is made by hand in India. (I never thought I’d be so excited to have “Made In India” on a label!) They strive to bring gender equality to the workplace and guarantee that all of their products meet fair trade standards – and as you can see, the result of all this is not only an ethical company reaching across the globe to support its fellow women, but also gorgeous clothing that rivals the racks at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

Now that Urban Outfitters is out of the picture, where will you shop?

Tags: Awakened Options: Organic, bad joan, clothing, fashion conscience, independent designers, mata traders, shop flick, shop robertson, shopping, smashing darling, trends, urban outfitters, us-made, video

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