How to Buy Sustainable and Ethical Breastfeeding Clothes (+ My Favourite Brands)

Breastfeeding is hard (as you might have figured from my breastfeeding story)! And among the difficulties is the fact that, for the time you’re feeding a child, your wardrobe has to change a bit. Easy access is essential, as is room for potentially fluctuating sizes. Some ladies like a little modesty too, where possible. 

But all of this can come at a cost. Specific breastfeeding clothes can be expensive, and they can end up being barely worn, especially if you don’t feed little one for long. It can be tempting to dive into fast fashion to get you through, or to throw out perfectly good clothes because they no longer work for you. Instead, I’d like to give you a few tips to build a sustainable breastfeeding wardrobe that works for you. The bonus is that it may well save you a bit of money compared to some of the big nursing brands out there! 

Top tips for ethical and sustainable breastfeeding clothes

1. Consider what’s already in your wardrobe

Before you go out and buy new, take a look in your wardrobe to see what might already work for breastfeeding. Shirts and shirt dresses are excellent, for obvious reasons, as is pretty much anything stretchy! I also love wrap dresses and jumpsuits, because they look chic whilst still being functional.

You can make most tops work for breastfeeding by putting a little vest underneath, allowing you to lift up the top and still be covered by the vest. 

Similarly, if you’re not breastfeeding at the moment but know you will be in future, try to buy clothes that will work through maternity and nursing. That way you won’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe for each new stage.

2. Look after your clothes

As with any clothing, the vast majority of the carbon emissions are in the production and transportation (ie. before the piece reaches you) so the more you use it, the more you get out of those initial resources. Choosing clothing you can wear beyond breastfeeding is a great place to start, so you can continue to use things and get maximum wear out of them.

For things that really won’t last beyond nursing, consider donating them to a friend, or if you’re planning to have more children, lend them out so you can have them back when you next need them. You could even consider chipping in together with friends and passing them between you as needed.

It’s also a good idea to wash your clothing carefully, according to the instructions. Avoid tumble drying unless absolutely necessary, as it will wear clothes quicker. If you or a family member is happy sewing, try mending holes rather than immediately getting rid of things. I have a couple of posts on mending which might help with this.

3. Buy from local independent businesses

Buying locally will not only potentially reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing, but often gives more transparency on the supply chain of your clothing. Plus, by seeking a high quality maker, you can invest in clothing that will last the test of time.

4. Use secondhand

Happily it’s already really common to give and receive secondhand items from friends and family. Make the most of it! You also don’t need to immediately reject any clothing with holes in, or things that aren’t to your taste. Consider mending or upcycling things so you can love them for a little longer.

Another option is to buy secondhand, either at charity shops or on websites like eBay or Depop. Maternity and nursing items tend to be really common, because most people only wear them for a short time.

5. Pick biodegradable fabrics

Synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic are essentially plastics, so won’t biodegrade and will release microplastics into the water supply. Natural fabrics like linen, organic cotton and hemp are not only comfortable on a post-partum body, but also won’t stick around in landfill for hundreds of years.

So, with all that in mind, there are still lots of situations where you need to buy new, and if so, you can take a look at some of these lovely shops for eco-friendly, ethical options.

My favourite sustainable nursing clothing brands

Boob designs

Boob is a Swedish company specialising in sustainable maternity and nursing clothes. Their beautiful, minimal designs are made from eco-friendly materials in factories which adhere to a high standard of ethics. One of my favourite things about Boob is that their pieces don’t look like nursing clothes. They’ve been really clever with how they put boob access in, which means you can wear styles which would usually be difficult whilst breastfeeding. The price point is pretty high, but the quality is excellent, so you can be sure that these pieces are going to last many years. 

Pictures courtesy of Boob Designs

Isabella Oliver

Sustainability is key to Isabella Oliver, with a focus on social responsibility, low waste production and promotion of a circular economy. They’re a certified B Corp (or Better Corporation - a community of organisations aiming to demonstrate their positive impact on people and the planet as well as profit) and signatories to The Fashion Pact. Not only that, but they actively promote the resale of their clothing via a preloved section on their website. So you could even pick up a bargain whilst caring for the planet!

They also have a rental scheme available, which is fantastic if you know you’re only going to wear your pieces for a few months.

Pictures courtesy of Isabella Oliver.

Jojo Maman Bebe

I wanted to include Jojo as a ‘best of the rest’ option. While this company could do more on the sustainability front, they are doing a lot more than most high street stores. They’re a certified B Corp and do a significant amount of charity work. They’re also very accessible, having a slightly lower price point than some of the other brands I’ve mentioned, and there’s the benefit of being able to go into a store to try things on!

Pictures courtesy of Jojo Maman Bebe

Modibodi

Modibodi are known for their period pants, but they also make a couple of maternity and breastfeeding items, including this lovely vest with in-built absorbency so you don’t have to wear breast pads! They’re particularly good for nighttimes, when breast pads can slip about while you sleep. Sustainability-wise, the company scores really well. They do an impressive amount of work to alleviate period poverty, and are committed to promoting low-waste products for women throughout their range.

And a word on bras…

If there’s one thing it’s worth investing in when you’re breastfeeding, it’s bras. Your boobs will change shape practically minute to minute, so you need something supportive yet comfortable. Generally speaking it’s also a good idea to avoid underwire or anything else that puts pressure on your breasts, since this could lead to blocked ducts. Here are my favourite bra brands.

Hiccups and Juice

All handmade to order by Fiona in her own home, Hiccups and Juice bras are wonderfully supportive and comfortable. I don’t think I will buy another bra anywhere else! There’s usually a fair amount of waiting time since everything is made to order, but they’re worth the wait.

Molke

If you can’t wait for a custom order, then my next choice would be Molke. These bras are also wonderfully comfortable, and the brand has wonderful sustainability credentials to boot.

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If you liked this post you might like my YouTube video on minimal baby essentials!

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