A Guide to Sustainable Maternity Clothing from A Mama Who Loves Ethical Fashion
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Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Maternity Clothing
Are you pregnant and starting to worry about fitting into your current wardrobe? I had that feeling in the beginning, too, but I decided to wait to purchase anything. I’m not particularly eager to buy clothing I will only wear for a short time. I felt there had to be a way to get use out of what I already had and work around my growing belly. I’m happy to say I bought ZERO maternity clothes for my pregnancy. I want to follow this up by saying not all of us can do this, and I don’t want anyone feeling pressure to do so, either. I did not have to go to a job where I had a specific dress code, which helped me a lot! I was able to wear whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Also, I’m 5’2’’, gained about 20ish pounds when pregnant, and carried Elliott a few weeks short of 40. I never felt uncomfortable or too big for what I already had, so I could work with it. We all have different bodies and comforts, so I will share with you my tips you could hopefully use for most of your pregnancy, if not all, and then list some options of where to purchase maternity clothing - both secondhand and new!
Update: I recently had my second pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl on June 1st, 2023. I was able to go through the entire pregnancy without buying any maternity clothing. Despite gaining twice the amount of weight, I managed to work with what I had in my closet, mainly relying on flowy dresses and stretchy pants once again :D
How to Wear Regular Clothes as Maternity Clothing: Tips For Your Current Closet
Leggings: These were my go-to almost every day. I would go to Pure Barre in the mornings and stay in my leggings the rest of the day. No matter how big I got, the waistbands would always remain comfortably below the tummy.
Flow-y Garments: I had a lot of tunics and oversized tees, which had a lot of room in them. Many of my sundresses had lots of space, as well!
Stretch, Jersey Fabrics: When I wanted to dress up, I would turn to jersey fabrics because they would easily stretch - even at the end of the 3rd trimester!
I considered buying only a few things at first, but I'm glad I didn't because I learned to work with a small wardrobe. Outfit repeating becomes the norm when you're pregnant - well, it should be in general, but it's definitely easier to do when you don't fit into as much as you used to! I think you'd be surprised to see how much you can still fit into - so my advice is to spend some time in your closet first and wait until you really need to purchase a maternity piece.
Secondhand Maternity Clothing
My first recommendation would be to consult your friends who are mothers! They may still have some maternity clothes in their closet that they no longer use. Most people are happy to part with items they no longer need.
Check out your local thrift and secondhand stores to start with, but if you have no luck, we suggest checking these places out: Used Clothing Apps
Ethically-Made New Maternity Clothing
Okay, so if your current closet doesn't have enough, and secondhand isn't cutting it - or you want to spoil yourself... I get it - pregnancy is exciting, and you should be able to treat yourself! Fortunately, there are some brands that are creating sustainable maternity clothing, and there are a lot of cute pieces.
MARION
This high-end maternity office wear brand helps mamas keep looking great at work during pregnancy & nursing. Their chic, versatile designs allow mamas to re-wear core pieces again and again. They offer standard & petite sizing, with some extended size options. MARION's designs are made with luxury sustainable fabrics like TENCEL, organic cotton, and recycled nylon. Most styles include invisible nursing access, so breastfeeding mamas don't need to buy twice. Designs are also made to look like "regular" clothes after pregnancy (really!), making each piece a long-term wardrobe investment. In addition to workwear, MARION carries a line of sustainable maternity basics.
Warp + Weft
This brand is quickly becoming one of my favorites. They offer plus size options (00-24), and their jeans are priced under $100.
They even have super cute overalls for pregnancy!
Pact
This is one of my favorite organic cotton brands, and their prices are more affordable than most. Everything they make is very comfortable and washes well.
code: SustainablyChic for 15% off
Girlfriend
Another size-inclusive, sustainable brand, Girlfriend has a collection of maternity leggings, bike shorts, and nursing bras. Everything is made from recycled plastic bottles, and they go up to size 6XL.
Frugi
This is a UK childrenswear brand that has a small section for maternity. Frugi is one to check out if you love color and bold prints! They use GOTS-certified organic cotton for their designs.
Cosabella
Created 35 years ago by an Italian couple, Cosabella sells feminine lingerie, pajamas and loungewear. Find maternity underwear, camis, bras, pjs and more.
Postpartum Underwear
for after baby, you will love these!
Proof’s Postpartum Underwear has a super absorbent core, controls postpartum bleeding, has front-to-back protection & fights odor. Find different absorbency levels, colors, and styles.
Of An Origin
This brand offers a great minimalist capsule wardrobe for your entire pregnancy, postpartum, and even beyond.
Their tops, pants, and wraps are not only super practical for maternity and nursing, but they’re also timeless and can be styled in several different ways. Their feeding and pumping shirts, wraps, and cardigans don’t even look like nursing-wear!
Their clothing is Fair Trade and most of it is currently made out of natural cotton (they have some GOTS certified organic cotton styles coming!). They currently offer sizes Xs-XL and are working to expand their sizing options in the near future as well.
Whatever route you choose for your maternity wardrobe, I wish you a safe and healthy pregnancy. Your wardrobe should not add to the stress. I hope you find these tips helpful, and please feel free to share your own in the comments below.
Lots of love from one mama to another,
Natalie
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