Ethical brands for colourful, comfortable wardrobe updates in my forties

[Wildgarlic80]

I want to upgrade my wardrobe!

I’ve been living in M&S jeans and Landsend T-shirts for the last few years while I had little kids, and I am desperately lacking colour and style!

I’m 43, size 12, straight up and down shape (no boobs!)

I’d really like to choose high quality fabrics from ethical brands. Avoiding polyester!

I’d love some jumpsuits/dungarees, bright trousers, heavy cotton dresses, comfortable blouses, soft easy-wear jackets…

Can anyone steer me to brands that might be a good start?

Obvious choice would be Lucy & Yak.

Obvious choice is Palava

https://palava.co/

So I was going to go Lucy and Yak, but then I found myself down a Reddit rabbit hole, with many saying they’ve lost their way and sizing is all over the place, and people had customer service problems…

Happy to be corrected if people still find them good though?

Colourful Standard for bright basics/ essentials 🙂

I have a pair of trousers, a dress, and a few tops from this little company which I really like:

https://om-baby.co.uk/collections/adult

They make to order so you can choose the fabric and specify the length you like.

Jambats do funky dungarees but I haven’t tried them- I liked Run&Fly but they’re slowly closing down.

Have a look on Vinted for Roake Studio, Lucy & Yak, Run & Fly rather than buying new. They keep a decent resale value there so if you don’t get on with them you should be able to get your money back again and try something else.

Thanks for the rec for Jambats. I saw a pair of tartan dungarees which will be perfect for DM’s birthday next month.

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/best-sustainable-clothing-brands

Komodo fashion (I’ve got an old tiger print tshirt from there). There are lots of brands if you google, eg Veja, Sugarhill Boutique but some are more eco conscious and sustainable than others.

What about making your own clothes from eco conscious fabric? Not as hard as you’d think.

https://goodonyou.eco/colourful-clothing-brands/

Oh, also these: https://www.zimbabalooba.co.uk/

A friend bought some 20 years ago while living in Botswana, and she’s just had to replace them now. They’re super comfy and practical as well as funky.

Second hand is the most ethical so try Vinted

It depends if you want to go down sort of hippy route eg colourful or colourful and stylish.

It is but sometimes you want something new. Nothing wrong with that if vinted isn’t cutting it.

Forgotten Tribes are good. I have a few pairs of their bamboo leggings for yoga and they are gorgeous, so soft and lovely colours. I've heard good things about their other stuff too but not bought anything else yet. But I ❤️ the designs.
https://www.forgottentribes.com/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=677468514428&tw_campaign=20672455100&tw_kwdid=kwd-301430850865&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20672455100&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh-HPBhCIARIsAC0p3ccqY4ZvsW8iigGyDuz6ecjJY4T9z7BYyEZStc15CpWvrsWRDir6UfcaAn7bEALw_wcB

Community Clothing might be a bit utilitarian for your taste but some of it's in bright colours, including T shirts, hoodies and cotton or linen dresses. It's all made in the UK using natural fabrics.
https://communityclothing.co.uk/

I'm afraid I have to disagree with @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain about making your own clothes. It's much harder than I thought, although tremendously satisfying if it all comes together!

Carrier Company also make everything in the UK, most of it in Norfolk:

https://www.carriercompany.co.uk/collections/womens

Second hand MOST ethical start 😊

Kindred of Ireland

https://kindredofireland.com/

Don't know if anyone mentioned GudrunSjoden
Swedish design with a colourful soul

My aunt recommended them for my mum but mum wasn’t keen.

I find making my own clothes fairly easy but then I’ve been to classes. Plus my mum is good so any help I just go to see her.

I’ve bought clothes from here at a local fair and they’re very nice, my mum prefers the dungarees to her Lucy and Yak ones:-

https://www.noumoon.com/product-information

Beaumont Organinc
Stalf
Women's Ethical Clothing: 40 Best UK Brands For 2026 - Moral Fibres

Floisme has recommended a brand on other threads but I can't remember the name.

Thank you guys I have loads to work through here! Glad I asked ☺️

I have some stuff I like from Rapanui.