7 Must-Have Sustainable Dresses For That Perfect Summer Getaway

Long days, lazy afternoons, an endless expanse of blue and balmy summer evenings are what summer dreams are made of, and what better way to romanticise summer than by spending all day in flowy, sustainable dresses that keep you and the planet cool.

Here’s a short round up of sustainable dresses you won’t regret adding to your wardrobe this summer. 

1. Nobody’s Child

This dress from London based Nobody’s Child was love at first sight. Soft and feminine, this peachy pink dress is perfect for sipping cocktails under the summer sunset. 

Sustainable features we love: 

Fabric: 100% organic cotton including its lining 

Product passport: Complete transparency showing us the product’s journey right from manufacturing to distribution

Product footprint: You can see the product’s carbon and water impact from cradle to grave, i.e. from sourcing raw materials to the end of use.  

Packaging: Adhering to its forest fibres policy, NC has ensured that the paper tags used on this product are sustainable. They’ve been crafted from paper that’s 100% certified and sourced from forests that are managed responsibly. The plastic packaging used is recycled and further recyclable. 

Personal favourite feature: I mean the colour couldn’t be dreamier, but I also love that this dress has side pockets, making it pretty and practical. 

Good On You Rating: Good

2. Reformation

Having worn Reformation every summer I can vouch for its durability. Flattering silhouettes, pretty prints and a lower product footprint make Reformation a favourite when it comes to sustainable brands. 

One of the dresses I’ve been eying this summer is the Naira dress, a full length floral dress that could be your go-to this summer. Wear this on an afternoon at the farmer’s market, a catch-up with the girls or a cute date night. 

Sustainable features we love: 

Fabric: While made from viscose, 49% of the viscose in this dress is made from Circulose, which is made from 100% recycled textile waste

Product footprint: Reformation claim this product’s carbon footprint is 15% lower than most clothes manufactured in the USA

Happy Endings: Reformation offers ‘Happy Endings’ options, which means once you’re ready to let go of a Ref piece, instead of sending it to a landfill, you could resell it through your Reformation account or you could return your Ref clothing to the brand for them to recycle while giving you Ref credit which you can use for your next purchase. 

Personal favourite feature: Definitely the print which I feel makes it look a little vintage but also modern at the same time.

Good On You Rating: Good

3. Gaala Paris

This is a sustainable brand that I absolutely love. Very French and chic, Gaala Paris’s collection is definitely one to check out. My Gaala pick for this summer is the Barbie corset dress. Summery and elegant, this piece can definitely be worn from sunrise to sunset. 

Sustainable features we love: 

Fabric: 100% sustainable rayon. The brand primarily uses upcycled and low-impact textiles

Ethos: To create quality timeless pieces that stand the test of time

Labour practices: Fair labour practices that honour the artisans that craft the garments

Personal favourite feature: Side pockets (great to keep your lip gloss or scrunchy to hand) but also this is a piece you can dress down or dress up. Wear a light cardigan and flats for a low-key vibe or kitten heels and accessories for a more elegant evening look. 

Good On You rating: Not listed

4. Pact

Pact does summer dresses that are sustainable and made from low-impact materials. Breathable, easy to wear and practical at the same time, a Pact dress could just be your elevated trackies this summer. 

Sustainable features we love: 

Fabric: 95% organic cotton (5% elastane) 

Fair trade factory: Manufactured in a fair trade certified factory 

Water savings: 17 gallons organic cotton water savings 

Carbon offset: 7 (lbs) carbon offset for climate

Personal favourite feature: I don’t own a Pact dress yet but have other pieces of clothing from the brand. They are the most breathable and comfortable pieces I own. 

Good On You rating: Good

5. Christy Dawn

Los Angeles based Christy Dawn’s Farm To Closet collection is definitely something that can’t go unacknowledged. Born out of a collaboration with Oshadhi farms in Southern India, all the dresses in this collection are made from regenerative cotton. 

This collab focuses on regenerative farming, where the cotton is grown using ancient regenerative practices that replenishes the soil and helps sequester carbon from the atmosphere. 

Sustainable features we love:

Fabric: Regenerative cotton 

Climate impact: Sequestered tons of carbon from the atmosphere, replenished the soil resulting in biodiversity returning to the lands

Financial independence for farmers: The farmers working on this project have gained financial independence as they are paid a living wage, are given access to healthcare, and opportunities for growth and education

Personal favourite feature: A product that replenishes instead of depleting the soil.

Good On You rating:  Good

6. Unfolded

This UK based brand have got it right. In order to be sustainable and eliminate production waste they manufacture clothing only after an order has been received. The savings made from reducing wastage are then passed on to consumers in the way of better prices, garment makers in the form of higher wages, and the community in the form of literacy funding for children living near Unfolded’s factories. 

Sustainable features we love

Fabric: Some lower-impact materials including recycled materials 

Zero wastage: Since items are made to order, nothing is sent to landfills. Items are delivered directly from factories, cutting out the need for and cost of  warehouses.

Community focus: Items are designed in collaboration with the community of shoppers, and savings resulting from reduced wastage are used to offer better prices to buyers, higher wages to garment makers and education funding for kids living near factories

Personal favourite feature: The made to order approach truly eliminating waste and resulting in affordable prices. 

Good On You rating: Good 

7. No Nasties

Indian brand No Nasties is hitting the sustainability brief just right. Their promise is that every No Nasties product has a positive impact on the planet. There’s a multi-pronged approach they are following to achieve this, such as using 100% organic cotton and linen, up-cycled materials and zero-waste techniques. They measure the carbon footprint of their products and ensure that they offset 300% of their footprint by investing in renewables, and planting 3 trees for every product purchased, eventually making the product carbon negative. 

Sustainable features we love

Fabric: 100% organic cotton and linen and up-cycled materials. No toxic pesticides used on the crop

Ethical factories: Made in ethical factories in India that are audited by third parties. No child labour or unsafe working conditions.

Carbon negative: They are offsetting carbon footprint in a way that makes them a carbon negative company.

Personal favourite feature: Focus on organic vegan clothing that highlights the versatility of cotton.

Good On You rating: Great 🙂

This post is all about sustainable dresses you may want to add to your wardrobe for your responsible summer glow-up 🙂

And on The Flix List

Maybe I’m a bit biased because Greece is my favourite holiday destination or maybe it’s Abba’s music, I don’t know, but think summer getaway and Mama Mia immediately comes to mind. Blue waters, romantic flowy dresses and boho-chic denims, hmm dreamy dreamy!! 

The Final Verdict

People have said ‘Life is short! Buy The Dress’. I’d say Buy the Dress and give it a long life! 

Until the next read, 

Geeta x 💫