In an era where conscious consumerism is more than just a trend, it’s a lifestyle, shirts for a cause has become top of mind and a model for sustainable and impact fashion.
This innovative approach to apparel not only dresses individuals in high-quality, stylish shirts but also serves a higher purpose—supporting local communities, promoting sustainability, and giving back to organizations that make a difference.
Sustainability is a core part of this movement, by choosing eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton, bamboo fabric, and recycled polyester, these shirts do more than just look good; they reduce environmental impact.
Each piece is a testament to the commitment of reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and promoting the longevity of our planet. But the impact doesn’t stop at the environment.
By sourcing materials ethically and employing local artisans, these shirts foster job creation and supports local economies, ensuring that the benefits ripple through communities.
For most of these shirts, a portion of every sale is dedicated to supporting various organizations—from environmental charities to social causes—demonstrating that fashion can be a powerful vehicle for positive change.
This model not only amplifies the impact of each purchase but also empowers consumers to be active participants in a global movement towards a more equitable and sustainable world.
The next time a friend or family members birthday comes up think about getting them a shirt that has an impactful story behind it.
Check out these Sshirts for a cause.
Tentree – Retro Juniper Classic T-Shirt
Tentree is a lifestyle apparel company based out of Vancouver, that plants ten trees for every item purchased.
By combining social and environmental consciousness with lifestyle apparel, tentree allows consumers to have a direct impact on the environment and communities worldwide.
The goal at the company is to become the most environmentally progressive brand on the planet by reducing the negative impact of the apparel industry and use it as a vehicle for change.
Every tentree item is made using a blend of sustainable fabrics. Check out a few examples of some of the environmentally progressive fabrics tentree is using in their products.
The company also works to promote fair labour practices and safe working conditions throughout their supply chain.
The company only works with socially and environmentally responsible factories that are WRAP approved, agree to yearly unannounced audits, and abide by the brands code of ethics.
MADI Apparel – Bamboo Staple Tee
The All Day Every Day, Anything But Basic Bamboo Tee is more than just a piece of clothing; it’s a commitment to ethical fashion and global support.
For every item purchased, a pair of underwear is donated to organizations worldwide that have made requests for support.
Regarding the redesigned fit, the staple basic tee, long considered a menswear classic in the collection, has undergone a significant transformation.
Originally tailored to fit a long and lean build, it has been redeveloped to accommodate a wider range of body types with a loose, non-hugging, and super soft design.
This tee is described as slinky, ridiculously soft, and is quickly becoming a favorite. For those desiring a tighter fit, a size down is recommended, exemplified by Isaac in the blue joggers.
Conversely, for a looser, silkier fit, customers can size up or maintain their regular size, as shown by David in the grey sweat shorts.
Designed for versatility, it is ideal for bed, the gym, or lounging, offering such comfort that one might wish to wear it all day and night.
Designed by the founder and recommended in a long and lean fit, sizing up is advised for those preferring a looser fit. This garment is cut and sewn in Kansas City, emphasizing local craftsmanship.
The fabric is a Stretch Knit Viscose made from Bamboo, consisting of 95% Bamboo and 5% Spandex. It is ethically produced, organic, and tested to be free from harmful substances and chemicals.
Notable for being sustainable, fast-drying, odor-preventing, biodegradable, breathable, and silky smooth, it resists shrinkage and pilling, offering a sensation akin to silk clouds.
This self-wicking fabric also reduces the discomfort of night sweats and is highly breathable for sleeping.
In terms of garment production, the bamboo t-shirts are proudly made in the USA, specifically in Kansas City by woman-owned small batch production teams operating within an ethical micro-factory.
The pattern makers, cutters, and sewers are compensated with a fair living wage, aligning with the commitment to be part of the mere 2% of the global fashion production industry that ensures their workers earn a living wage.
Each garment is meticulously cut by hand and sewn with care and quality, embodying the principles of slow fashion and ethical manufacturing.
This dedication to quality production and fair wages sets the brand apart in a market often dominated by fast fashion and offshore manufacturing.
After five years focusing on women’s wear and benefiting female causes and the environment, the realization dawned that a collective effort could have a more significant impact.
The commitment to donate a pair of underwear for every ethical basic purchased stems from the recognition that underwear is the most under-donated clothing item.
With a steadfast commitment to ethical labor practices and environmental sustainability, the brand exemplifies how working together can achieve a greater difference.
Taylor Stitch – The Cotton Hemp Tee
Taylor Stitch is a sustainable clothing brand that produces high-quality, stylish clothing for men and women. Taylor Stitch is committed to sustainable manufacturing practices and ethical sourcing.
Constructed to perfection and responsibly built for the long haul. They’ve taken 10 years of feedback and are doubling down on their commitment to building the best possible clothing while pledging to limit environmental impact.
Keep Nature Wild – Pride Bear Unisex Tee | Sage
Keep Nature Wild products are crazy cozy, super soft, and exceptionally comfy. They design outdoor apparel and accessories to bring a smile to your face, to brighten your day, to enable your next adventure, to spark connection, to build community, and to make our planet a better place.
10% of the proceeds of the Pride Collection will be donated to The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Ecoalf – PLANET B Shirt
Leveraging cutting-edge recycling technologies, ECOALF undertakes the ambitious task of converting discarded materials into treasures.
Items that once littered oceans and landfills, such as fishing nets abandoned in the sea, plastic bottles carelessly thrown away, worn-out tires, and even the remnants of coffee consumption, are meticulously transformed.
These materials undergo a sophisticated recycling process, being reborn as high-quality fabrics that serve as the foundation for ECOALF’s fashion line.
The brand’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond merely sourcing eco-friendly materials; it is woven into the very fabric of their business model.
Each piece of clothing in the ECOALF collection is designed with intention, embodying both style and substance.
The brand challenges the conventional fashion paradigm, proving that eco-conscious practices can coexist with luxury and style.
ECOALF’s innovative approach does not stop at recycling. They are constantly exploring new ways to reduce their environmental footprint, from minimizing water usage to reducing carbon emissions throughout their production process.
Their dedication to sustainability is matched by their commitment to transparency, providing consumers with a clear insight into the lifecycle of their products, from raw material to retail.
The Good Tee – The Responsible Ringer Tee
As shoppers, we rarely consider the implications our purchases have on the communities who actually make the clothes we wear. As a result, companies are incentivized to drive prices and quality lower.
However, there are ways to produce market products ethically and sustainably, and that’s where The Good Tee comes in. The Good Tee was created to make it easier for you to purchase guilt-free, responsibly made fashion basics.
They believe in humanizing the apparel industry and celebrating the makers who make their clothing. They maintain fair and honest relationships with manufacturing partners and emphasize 100% transparency of a traceable supply chain.
Their Fair Trade certified t-shirts are designed and delivered to you with the environment and humans’ lives in mind. The Good Tee is there right from the farm to creation and right through to delivery.
You can shop with us knowing that we have developed products around the principles of the products’ life cycle, relentless quality, honest value and a positive impact.
Outland Denim – Johnny Heritage Tee
For the jeans and tee dad, we love Outland Denim. Outland Denim offers an ethical wardrobe staple with jeans made by women rescued from human trafficking and exploitation in Cambodia.
They are also experimenting with various sustainable textiles, like making pocket linings from recycled packaging and organic cotton. Get dad the perfect everyday denims with a variety of styles and fades to choose from.
Allbirds – Men’s Sea Tee
Allbirds has been gaining in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. Allbirds shoes are not only environmentally friendly, but they are also incredibly comfortable.
Wool is a natural material that is moisture-wicking and breathable, so your feet will stay dry and comfortable all day long. The eucalyptus fiber used in Allbirds shoes is also environmentally friendly and provides a soft, comfortable fit.
But, did you know they also make sustainable clothes?
The Allbirds Sea Tee is carbon neutral thanks to a combination of sustainable practices, like using natural materials and carbon credits. But before they balance the emissions, its footprint starts at 7.0 kg CO2e. Think of this measurement like a nutrition label for your closet.
Vivid Roots – Happy Tee
The tri-blend fabric of this t-shirt gives it a vintage, fitted appearance, while its exceptional durability ensures that it can withstand repeated washings and remain exceedingly comfortable.
- The composition is 50% polyester, 25% combed ring-spun cotton, and 25% rayon.
- The fabric’s weight is noted at 3.4 oz/yd² (115.3 g/m²).
- It is pre-shrunk to enhance durability.
- The material is of 40 singles quality.
- It features a regular fit.
- The t-shirt is constructed with side seams for a structured look.
This product is crafted specifically for the customer upon order placement, which results in a slightly longer delivery time.
The practice of producing items on demand rather than in bulk significantly contributes to reducing overproduction. The brand appreciates the customers’ thoughtful purchasing decisions, as they align with efforts to promote sustainability.
All purchases will provide clean water for life to people in need.
Vivid Roots is a social enterprise that gives clean water to those in need with every purchase. They teamed up with Rotary International to fund their first water project in Chiquimula, Guatemala.
They are now continuing the partnership with multiple Rotary clubs & the non-profit Water For The Americas to implement sustainable clean water systems in developing countries.
The team consists of four friends, all in their early 20s, from Boise, ID who decided to start a brand that embodied their fun and energetic passion for impacting the world in a fun way.
Ungalli – Sustainable Tshirt Dress
Made from 100% recycled cotton, this dress is made with NO NEW MATERIALS and is fully biodegradable.
Recycled cotton prevents additional textile waste and requires far fewer resources than conventional cotton.
The t-shirt dress has a soft + lived in feel complete with a classic crew neckline, a front chest pocket, and a relaxed fit throughout.
Ungalli Clothing Co. is a Canadian clothing brand based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario designed and produced of 100% sustainable materials. At Ungalli they are fiercely determined to change the way people think about their clothing.
They want people to realize the negative impact the clothing industry has on the planet, and are dedicated to finding people who believe its time for change.
The mission is to encourage and empower you to make better clothing choices that can collectively lead to large-scale change.
Cotopaxi – Do Good Tee
Cotopaxi sells amazing outdoor gear and give back to humanity. They want to disrupt the outdoor industry and inspire companies to do more for the world. Because they sell directly to you online, they offer higher-quality products without the retail markup.
Each piece of Cotopaxi gear is tied to a humanitarian cause in one of the poorest regions of the world. We tell you where your money goes in a tangible way. For example, buy a Cusco pack and help educate a child in Peru for one week at Qosko Maqi.
When you buy a Cotopaxi +India water bottle, you give clean water to a person in India for six months through our partner, charity: water.
Known Supply -Unisex T-Shirt
KNOWN SUPPLY’s model is based on radical transparency, something that’s often sorely missing in the apparel industry.
When you purchase an item from KNOWN SUPPLY, you’ll have the opportunity to “meet” the makers; each product contains the signature of the maker who crafted it, and KNOWN’s online search function gives you the opportunity to learn more about each maker.
The company works with underserved populations to provide meaningful work and to show the powerful impact clothing purchases can have if made thoughtfully.
Mi Terro – Logo Tee
Mi Terro is a biotechnology company that reengineers leftover milk into sustainable fibers that can replace plastic in the fashion, medical and packaging industries.
Mi Terro rescues excess milk from its dairy farm partners, skims it to remove fats before dewatering it to turn the liquid into powdered milk.
It is then dissolved once again and purified to remove the bacteria, or the so-called ‘bad’ casein, from expired or spoiled milk. Casein makes up 80% of milk protein.
Once the ‘bad’ casein is removed, the remainder protein is spun through a spinneret to solidify it into fiber. The fibers are then stretched and spun into yarn for clothes manufacturing, but, according to Luo, can be also used in bed linen, food packaging, face masks, or toilet paper.
The first version of the milk-to-clothing process took about two months to complete, with one glass of milk making up five T-shirts.
The company is currently developing the second version of its milk waste fiber, which they claim requires 60% less water than organic cotton, and is 100% biodegradable.
Repurposing milk waste into clothes is not Mi Terro’s first foray into sustainable fashion – the team has previously designed a travel bag made from ocean plastic and cork.
