Guide To UK Ethical & Sustainable Maternity Clothes

If you’re looking for the best ethical and sustainable maternity clothes, I’ve got heaps of suggestions for you. From sustainable brands to where to buy secondhand maternity wear, it’s all right here.

As someone who has had two kids, I know only too well the dilemma of trying to dress ethically and sustainably when it feels like your body is changing shape on a daily basis. Everything is expanding out the way, and you’re never too sure if something is going to fit from one week to the next.

As I’ve navigated this maze twice now, I thought I’d help you out with the planet-friendly and budget-friendly approach I took in my own pregnancies. I’ve also got suggestions for great ethical maternity clothes brands.

A Sustainable Approach to Ethical Maternity Clothes

Here’s how you can dress the sustainable way – use the quick links to jump to a specific section or keep scrolling for the full post:

Shop Your Own Wardrobe

Before you go buying any ethical maternity clothes, try shopping your own wardrobe. Your existing wardrobe may hold some lots of items that can still work, even with a bump. From my existing non-maternity wardrobe I looked for the following:

• Cardigans
• Leggings and tights
• Stretchy tops and jumpers
• Stretchy dresses and empire line dresses. A word on dresses. As your bump gets bigger and bigger your existing non-maternity dresses will get shorter and shorter on you so you might want to wear them as tunics with maternity jeans or leggings underneath.
• Wrap dresses
• Elastic waisted skirts
• Shirts – wear unbuttoned over a stretchy vest or top
• Oversized clothing

I put away anything I couldn’t wear. So for example, a lot of my tight dresses got put away. I don’t have a big wardrobe. Heck, I don’t even own a wardrobe. I just have one chest of drawers and a box under my bed. Therefore, I didn’t have a massive amount of clothes to choose from but the things I did have were surprisingly versatile!

As the months progress I sincerely doubt you’ll be able to get through your whole pregnancy just with what’s in your wardrobe already. The good news is that there are a few other avenues to explore before having to resort to buying new ethical maternity clothes!

Rent Or Borrow

With so many maternity clothes out there, all worn for under 9 months, I say why buy when you can rent or borrow?

When I was pregnant, I borrowed a few items of maternity clothing from friends with children. Most people are happy to see their clothes put to good use, so I always recommend asking your friends if they have any maternity clothes you can borrow.

Renting is particularly good if you have an event coming up, such as a party or wedding, and don’t want to splash out on an expensive maternity dress that you’ll wear only once or twice. It’s not just economical but eco-friendly, helping to reduce waste and over-consumption. Sites where you can rent maternity clothes include By Rotation.

Renting is less economical if you want some jeans, leggings, or other everyday staples.

Shop Secondhand

If you’re looking to buy everyday maternity staples, the most sustainable and affordable way to shop is preloved. Try my big guide to secondhand clothes online for my top recommendations.

During my 1st pregnancy, I found two beautiful secondhand maternity dresses on eBay that I wore for pretty much the whole duration of both of my pregnancies. If you like wearing dresses (I know not everyone does) then I found it quite an economical way of dressing whilst pregnant. You only need one item of clothing – whereas with trousers you need a top as well.

Both times around I was heavily pregnant in winter so a cardigan out of my existing wardrobe helped keep me warm. The best thing with that is that there is no need for special maternity cardigans!

Other good things to look for preloved are maternity jeans and trousers. I’d have been lost without my maternity jeans!

While you’re on secondhand clothes sites keep an eye out for maternity bundles. This is where people are selling their maternity clothing in bulk packages. You might get a whole new-to-you ethical maternity wardrobe for not much money!

What To Look For In Charity Shops

I normally love a good rummage in a charity shop, but I didn’t have a great deal of luck finding maternity clothes in charity shops. What I did find were regular clothes that worked well with a bump.

Skirts with elasticated waists are handy for wearing below your bump – see my collection above. I still wear these to this very day! I also found that wrap dresses were surprisingly good at covering bumps.

DIY Options

Making a bump band is a great way of eking out the life of your non-maternity tops and bottoms with a band that covers the gap between your top and your trousers!

The good news is a bump band is not difficult to make. Here’s an easy bump band DIY from A Beautiful Mess. If you really can’t sew you could always cut an old stretchy vest in half (horizontally across the middle) to make your band.

You can also use a hair bauble to extend the life of your non-maternity jeans. I did this both times around and can confirm it works. Just keep a spare hair bauble on you in case you lose one!

Best Ethical & Sustainable Maternity Clothes Brands

If you need or want to buy something new, then there are a few ethical maternity clothes brands worth looking into:

Polarn O. Pyret

Polarn O. Pyret (PO.P) is a great choice for ethical maternity clothing, offering high-quality, sustainable pieces like maternity leggings and nursing tops – all made from eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton.

With nearly 50 years of experience in durable design, PO.P ensures garments are made to last, reducing waste. PO.P also runs a handy re-sell service, where you can re-sell your old items to PO.P to ensure that the garment is used to its full potential when it is no longer of use to you.

Jorgen House

Jorgen House, available at Wolf & Badger, is another great place to look at, as they offer ethically made, adaptive clothing designed to grow with you – through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Their basics, made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, and other eco-friendly fibres, eliminate the need for constant new purchases, reducing textile waste while providing comfort at every stage.

Nobody’s Child

Nobody’s Child doesn’t have a specific maternity section. However, don’t overlook this brand as it has identified a ‘bump-friendly’ range, including midi and mini dresses and mini dresses, tops, hoodies and more, all with elasticated waists or roomy smock silhouettes that will easily accommodate a growing bump.

Nobody’s Child is a good step in the right direction. It prioritises the use of eco-friendly fabrics, such as organic cotton and recycled fibres. It offers a reasonably priced repairs and alterations service – helping you to make your clothes last longer.

Nobody’s Child also says that all of its direct suppliers of finished garments are audited to SMETA or BSCI standards. SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an audit framework that assesses a company’s supply chain practices, focusing on labour rights, health and safety, environment, and business ethics. Meanwhile, BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) is a similar initiative that promotes ethical business practices.

Beyond Nine

Beyond Nine offers ethical maternity wear that adapts to the changing needs of women throughout life. By using high-quality, sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester, their clothing prioritises both comfort and longevity.

With a focus on minimal waste, they use deadstock fabric and limit stock production, ensuring their pieces are made to last. Beyond Nine is also committed to fair manufacturing practices, collaborating with factories that pay a living wage and use eco-friendly processes.

The BShirt

The BShirt, available at Wolf & Badger, is another top choice for ethical maternity wear, offering practical and stylish clothing for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. This certified BCorp – a business that does good for both people and the planet – makes organic cotton and vegan-friendly clothing – with a focus on ethical manufacturing. Find maternity tops and vests, and breastfeeding-friendly tops and dresses.

Isabella Oliver

Isabella Oliver is another brand to check out, offering stylish, sustainable clothing that prioritises both comfort and environmental responsibility. As a B Corp-certified brand, it meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance.

Isabella Oliver’s clothing is produced in family-run workshops across Portugal, Romania, England, and Bulgaria, ensuring fair working conditions through regular visits and close relationships with these suppliers. The brand uses eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, mulesing-free wool, and viscose from Lenzing Ecovero. Isabella Oliver supports women’s and children’s causes and plants a tree for every order.

Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer Maternity Wear is another option to explore for ethical maternity clothes. Although not perfect, Marks & Spencer is a cornerstone of the British high street, and their Plan A demonstrates their commitment to sustainability.

Boob Design

Boob Design is an ethical clothing brand specialising in maternity and nursing wear. Its entire range is made ethically from sustainable fabrics, including GOTS-certified organic cotton.

Tiffany Rose

Tiffany Rose specialises in ethically made maternity occasion dresses and maternity evening wear, with all pieces designed and made in Britain. Their pieces are definitely high-budget and have been worn by celebrities and royalty.

Ethical Maternity Bras

The only thing I haven’t skimped on is maternity/nursing bras. When you’re pregnant you need all the support you can get! I couldn’t find any ethical maternity or nursing bras, so I settled for the Marks & Spencer maternity/nursing bras, which I really rated.

The Maternity Clothes You Don’t Need To Buy

I’ve always found that the maternity clothes market tries to sell you things you don’t really need. I found that I didn’t need maternity-specific leggings, tights, knickers, and pyjamas/sleepwear.

The good news is you don’t need too many clothes. Depending on how often you do laundry then maybe about five days’ worth of clothing (so you don’t get completely sick of wearing the exact same things over and over again).

A word of warning for the first-time mums-to-be. You may need to keep wearing your maternity clothes after you’ve had your baby for a little bit, as post-birth it can take a little while for your body to go back to some kind of normal. So I can promise you, whatever you buy you will be sick of it by the time you go back to wearing normal clothes!

Ethical Nursing Clothes

While I’m here, a note on nursing. If you’re planning on breastfeeding some people say you should stock up on specific nursing tops. The thing is, breastfeeding is a totally normal activity and does not need a brand new wardrobe or a specialist wardrobe, ethical or otherwise.

I breastfed both my kids and owned precisely zero specifically designed nursing tops. Instead, I found the best approach for nursing discretely in public was to wear a vest under whatever I was wearing.

When my daughter needed feeding I reached down and unhooked my nursing bra. I then pulled the vest down just enough and pulled the outer top up just enough so I could discretely feed without exposing myself. It takes practice (just like breastfeeding takes practice), but once you’re used to you can feed discretely without having to buy a whole new wardrobe.

Other Sustainable Maternity Resources

Do you have any ethical maternity clothes tips or nursing clothing tips? Do share in the comments below! 

I’ve also got heaps of sustainable maternity and parenting resources to help you out:

• My big guide to sustainable baby clothes brands
• My guide to ethical kids’ clothes. 
• My top eco-friendly baby products.
• A beginner’s guide to washable nappies and eco-friendly disposable nappies.
• And here’s what to do with your old maternity clothes after your pregnancy to avoid sending them to landfill.