Shop

My Favorite Budget-Friendly Brands to Shop From… That Aren’t SheIn

Last night, over Brewery Bhavana’s crab rangoon and General Tsos, one of my oldest friends admitted to wearing a SheIn jacket.

*I will not be addressing any of the issues regarding SheIn in this post. As of 2022, SheIn has claimed that they will clean up their act. If you’re interested to learn more, I encourage you to read the articles I have linked below and do your research.

I’ve worked with every imaginable budget, and I understand that everyone must live within their means. A huge part of my role as a stylist is to figure out how to make every dollar of a clothing budget count. I work to find better, healthier alternatives to brands like SheIn, all while staying in the same budget bracket. Although there is a myriad of issues we could discuss regarding SheIn (child labor, fast-fashion, poor working conditions, pollution… to name a few), as a fashion consumer and an industry professional, I have to also address another issue: how we’ve become lackadaisical consumers and how we lack intentionality when shopping for items to add to our wardrobes and put on our bodies.

Before I dive in, I’ll clarify one thing: you won’t find clothing cheaper than SheIn. There is no competition, which lends to the problem. The fact that they can price their items as low as they do should be our first red flag, but we also need to ask if the little amount we’re spending is even worth the poor quality, ill-fitting, short lived, band-aid fixes that SheIn provides us. We need to be willing to invest more in our clothing.

I’ll tell you what I told my friend (and all the other friends who have texted me about fast-fashion thanks to TikTok): let’s find better places to shop, and let’s not rush into purchases to satisfy our short-term needs. We need to have a longer lens, and think about quality, longevity, and sustainability. Style evolves, but does not chase trend after trend. If you’re continuing to purchase from fast-fashion retailers, you’ll end up spending more money by constantly revolving cheap clothes in and out of your closet each season instead of investing in pieces that reflect your style and last for decades.

All this to say, I thought I’d share my list of brands that I shop from when I’m working with a smaller budgets. You can click on the names of the brands to be directed to their website. I encourage you to scroll to the bottom of each homepage and click the links titled ‘Sustainability’. The brands that are forthright about their sustainable policies and goals to better the planet are one's I’d recommend investing in. I’ve also included some good sustainable practices and articles about sustainable fashion in the links below.

The industry is not perfect. The fashion industry is a big polluter. Almost every brand has a skeleton hiding in its closet, but you can make changes and do your own research so you buy from brands that align with your values.

  1. & Other Stories

  2. Amour Vert

  3. Aritzia

  4. Arket

    Arket is not yet shipping to the U.S., but there’s talk that it’s coming soon!

  5. Bershka

  6. COS

  7. Everlane

  8. H&M

  9. Madewell

  10. Mango

  11. Marine Layer

  12. Modern Citizen

  13. Nordstrom Rack

  14. Pixie Market

  15. The RealReal

  16. Uniqlo

Thrifting or Consignment Shopping

We can’t talk about sustainability without discussing thrift or consignment. Both are great ways to get quality-made clothing for a lesser price. Typically designer goods are more expensive because they are hand made, use quality materials, and/or give their workers a living wage. Purchasing quality items off of a consignment shop (like The RealReal or ThreadUp or Poshmark) can give items a second life.

Wait for Sales

I understand that not everyone can afford designer goods. However, if you purchase these items when they’re on sale, you can get them at a fraction of the cost. Waiting for end of season sales is a great way to get well-made goods that will outlive trend and multiple washes. Keep your eye out for sales. You’ll be surprised at what you can get for not much more than what you already spend!

Shop Less

Yep, you heard it here first. Save your pennies, buy what you absolutely LOVE, and invest in pieces that are of better quality. This same friend that I mentioned above also said that she currently hates everything in her closet. She’s living proof that shopping SheIn isn’t the way. If you are more intentional with what you purchase, you’ll spend less time and money buying lesser than items and actually be able to save up for pieces that you love and actually wear.