Guide To Sustainable & Ethical Party Dresses In The UK

Need some help finding an ethical party dress? Let me share with you my favourite places to shop.

Whether you’re gearing up for a fancy soirée or a night out with friends, you may well be looking for a sustainable dress to impress.

When it comes to dressing up ethically, the journey starts with finding brands and retailers that prioritise sustainability, fair labour practices, and transparency in their supply chains. This might sound like a hard task, but ethical fashion has come a long way in recent years. There’s never been as much choice when it comes to dressing sustainably, without compromising on your sense of style.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some of my top shops to find gorgeous sustainable and ethical dresses you’ll want to dance the night away in. I’ll also share my go-to spots for finding pre-loved dresses because it’s always the most affordable and most sustainable way to dress.

Guide To Sustainable & Ethical Party Dresses

Here are my ethical favourites. Use the quick links to jump to a specific brand, or keep scrolling for the full guide:

• Komodo
• Thought Clothing
• Palava
• Nancy Dee

Komodo

Caters for UK sizes 8 – 16

As one of the pioneers in ethical clothing, with a legacy dating back to 1988, Komodo (available at Immaculate Vegan) is a must-look for ethical party dresses.

Its wide range of ethically sourced, organic, and natural fibre fashion is every bit as conscious as it is chic. Plus, the majority of Komodo’s collection is vegan-friendly.

Embracing premium quality organic and eco-friendly fibres, Komodo is Global Organi Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified and proudly affiliated with the Soil Association. Its dedication to sustainability extends to eliminating single-use plastic from its supply chain.

And as a member of 1% for the Planet, Komodo donates to the Sumatran Orangutan Society. This charity is restoring natural rainforests and ecosystems, through the purchase and repurposing of palm oil plantations. So your clothes can do good as well as look good.

Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Immaculate Vegan newsletter.

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Thought Clothing

Caters for UK sizes 6 – 20

Thought Clothing (available at Ethical Superstore) is another solid ethical choice. They produce easy-to-wear fairtrade clothing made from bamboo, hemp, and/or organic cotton, often in beautiful prints. 

This pretty Vermeer dress is just beautiful. Ok, I might not pair it with socks and brogues myself – maybe tights and boots or heels – but it’s definitely got party written all over it!

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Palava

Caters for sizes UK 6 – 28

Palava’s uniquely printed dresses and skirts are made from organic cotton in Europe and the UK. Available at Hope & Story, an online store for conscious consumers looking for British Made products and brands with ethics, you’ll find a great selection of dresses

If you’re after a unique print, then Palava is the place to go. Their dresses are pricey, but they sure are head-turners! 

Get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the Hope & Story newsletter.

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Nancy Dee

Caters for UK sizes 6 – 18.

Nancy Dee – available at Ethical Superstore – offers British-made fashionable ethical clothing for every occasion. Its beautiful pieces are ethically made with sustainable eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, linen and deadstock fabrics.

Waste reduction is key at Nancy Dee. Its patterns are designed to minimise fabric wastage. Plus any leftover fabric is used for the following season’s samples, or re-dyed and used for a brand-new design.

Find gorgeous dresses you’ll want to wear again and again.

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Which dress would you pick? I can’t decide! If you need any more inspiration, do check out my guide to over fifty ethical clothing brands.

If these dresses are out of your budget (because let’s face it, money is tight at this time of year), then I always heartily recommend searching eBay for something secondhand. 

I’ve picked up many a pretty dress on eBay over the years: pretty much all of which have been barely worn. I know some people won’t wear the same dress twice to parties/weddings, so eBay is teeming with party dresses that have only been worn once. It’s certainly the most ethical and budget-friendly way of bagging a party dress!

I also have a guide to the best places to shop online for secondhand clothing, where you might also pick up some pre-loved gems!

PS: While we’re on the subject of parties, then if you have kids, I’ve got a super handy guide to eco-friendly party bag fillers for your next kids’ party!