10 Sustainable Alt, Emo, and Punk Brands to Know
Sustainable Baddie may love bright colors and funky designs, but that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about our baddies who only wear black! Perhaps you’re a dedicated alt gurl looking to add some new pieces to your wardrobe, or maybe your mother never let you physically embody the rage that runs within you and you’re finally breaking out of your punk cocoon. Self-identified punk or not, it's important to recognize that the alt, emo, and punk fashion movements are inherently sustainable ones. Alt, emo, and punk fashion encourage creativity, personal expression, and a DIY ethos. These subcultures have long been associated with rebellion, individuality, and a disdain for mainstream consumerism. By embracing alt and punk styles, we are making a statement against the harmful practices of fast fashion and the environmental damage it causes! To help you find the sustiest options, we’ve curated this list of ten sustainable alt, emo, and punk-inspired brands.
P.S. We may have added two surprise options at the end! 🤭
Based in Los Angeles, Tunnel Vision’s clothing is either raghouse-sourced vintage or their house brand original designs. Their garments are made in small batch runs in SGS, SEDEX, or WRAP-certified sweatshop-free environments.
2. Vitaly
Vitaly is an accessory design studio that creates contemporary statements and engineered staples from 100% recycled stainless steel. Based in Toronto, their design practice is inspired by the remnants of machines, skyscrapers, and car parts.
3. Psylo
Psylo embraces the "Ethno Punk" style, creating alternative streetwear that celebrates individuality. They’re committed to conscious design, using organic and upcycled materials, and employing in-house production and sustainable packaging practices to minimize their environmental footprint.
Founded by Meilun Yan, bittersweetheart embraces the fusion of fashion and art. With a focus on handcrafted techniques and the use of sustainable materials, bittersweetheart captures a raw and whimsical essence while paying homage to design tradition and history.
5. Agashi
Agashi by Christina O is where gothic elegance merges seamlessly with sustainable craftsmanship. Their custom handmade designs embrace the mystique of Halloween year-round while prioritizing sustainability. They upcycle over 95% of their fabric scraps and offer DIY kits to cultivate your own sustainable wardrobe!
6. LOUDBODIES
Founded by Patricia Luiza Blaj, LOUDBODIES celebrates every body size, offering stylish and comfortable clothing for all. They are committed to paying living wages, ensuring a safe and flexible work environment, and using natural and certified sustainable fabrics. We recommend filtering to the color black to find their alt-est designs.
7. Vicious Punx
Vicious Punx believes style knows no gender or limits. Handmade to order in the UK, their streetwear jewelry and accessories are affordable, made with minimal waste, and packaged using recycled materials.
With a focus on empowering women and femme-identifying individuals, their ethical and hand-crafted collections draw inspiration from diverse ideologies and symbolism. Church of Sanctus embodies slow fashion through conscious practices like in-house production, sourcing deadstock and organic fabrics, minimizing waste, and promoting education on sustainability and garment labor.
9. PerceptionF
PerceptionF is a sustainable luxury brand that creates unique and empowering couture. With a mission to break societal norms and inspire individuals to embrace their authentic selves without judgment, PerceptionF encourages self-expression and freedom through fashion. They offer tailored fitting options and donate a portion of their profits to mental health support.
10. Twelve
Founded in 2018 by Haley Peacock, Twelve’s dental designs have been seen on the likes of artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Rebecca Black. Their designs are so sick that they’re constantly getting ripped off by fast fashion corporations, so make sure to support small and original designers like Haley!
11. Secondhand
Take advantage of the millennials who cringe at their emo phase and donate all their alt clothes! You can always find vintage or secondhand alt style clothing at the thrift. There are also so many small biz baddies who will create a thrifted style bundle based on your Pinterest board in case you tend to get overwhelmed by all the options at the thrift (we love Glow With Litzy)!
12. DIY!
DIY is a pillar of alt and punk fashion. If your current wardrobe looks a little too put together, DIY your pieces to create distressed textures, or dye them all black! This is an opportunity to get super creative!