The onset of social events and the pressure to make a remarkable appearance can be both exciting and overwhelming. Be it your best friend’s rehearsal dinner, a black tie event, or a destination wedding reception, all these glitzy evenings call for an even glitzier dress. And when you go shopping, you get hoarded with cheap synthetic dresses with plastic sequins and beadings that may appear exotic at first, but you barely go back to them the next time. Not Fair!
Curvy Babes, we got you! Finding good-for-the-earth brands that offer sustainable plus size cocktail dresses might have been unfeasible at some point. But hey, size-inclusive sustainable brands are making conscious efforts to bring out dresses made from ‘clean & green’ materials to help you look your glam self.
And suppose you’ve got a calendar full of wedding invites? Well, in that case, fair fashion brands are offering stunning sustainable plus size wedding guest dresses, and plus size bridesmaid dresses to nail all your wedding attendee looks.
Now let’s get back to the list of 15 sustainable brands with amazing cocktail dress collections that we’ve compiled just for you!
15 Best Sustainable Plus Size Cocktail Dresses for Women to Stand-Out
1. Amour Vert
2. Reformation
3. Whimsy + Row
4. Mara Hoffman
5. Stella McCartney
6. Boden
7. LOUD Bodies
8. Symbology
9. Eileen Fisher
10. Baacal
11. Quince
12. Carolina K
13. Made Trade
14. Dôen
15. Rent The Runway
Gorgeous dresses ethically made using eco-conscious fabrics are the new sensation, and these are totally rocking this concept.
1. Amour Vert
Place of origin: San Francisco, California
Founders: Linda Balti and Christoph Frehsee
Sustainable Materials Used: Organic cotton, Cottonseed cupro, Ecovero, Washable silk, TENCEL™ Lyocell, etc.
Product Range: Silk dresses, Wrap dresses, Rib knit dresses, Maxi dresses, Midi dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $102-$228
Shipping: Currently shipping in the U.S. and nearby countries
Amour Vert stands for ‘green love’ in French. The sustainable fashion brand makes classic cocktail and formal dresses that is hard to ignore. Dedicated to helping you build a capsule wardrobe, Amour Vert’s dresses are timeless and oh-so-elegant and will undoubtedly last you forever. Created in small batches to eliminate waste its dresses come in many shapes, sizes and sophisticated shades of navy blue, black, heather grey, and more. The brand also has a pre-loved section where you can buy refurbished Amour Vert pieces and give them a second life.
2. Reformation
Place of origin: Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder: Yael Aflalo
Sustainable Materials Used: Organic silk, Organic cotton, TENCEL™ Lyocell, Deadstock fabrics, etc.
Product Range: Silk dresses, Floral dresses, Midi dresses, Slit dresses, Knit dresses, Maxi dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-XL. Up to Size 24
Price Range: $133-$262
Shipping: Worldwide
Super-stylish yet sustainable fashion? Reformation has got you. This Climate Neutral brand has some major ‘love at first sight’ dresses you just can’t miss out on. From breezy floral drapes to fits that accentuate your curves, its partywear and formal dresses are created with finesse and literally scream fashion. This brand is a perfect example of cutting-edge and ethically made sustainable designs without compromising on style. Moreover, Reformation has a Code of Conduct for its suppliers and manufacturers. These standards are made under the reference of FLA Workplace Code of Conduct and Compliance Benchmarks to follow ethical labor policies throughout its supply chain.
3. Whimsy + Row
Place of origin: Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder: Rachel Temko
Sustainable Materials Used: TENCEL™ Lyocell, Cupro, Organic silk, Deadstock or Recycled materials
Product Range: Wrap dresses, Backless silk dresses, Slip dresses, Floral dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-3XL
Price Range: $186-$278
Shipping: Worldwide
Whimsical in every sense, Whimsy+Row’s dresses hit differently. With colours and silhouettes that enhance your feminity, this brand’s dresses are designed to last. Like, dress in a Whimsy+Row piece, and you’re sure to make heads turn at every event. While most dress sizes range up to XL, some of our favourites are available at an extended 3XL. Whimsy+Row locally produces its limited-run stocks to make its dresses unique, ensuring you won’t see every babe in town wearing the same pieces. Plus, it also helps the brand to reduce its eco-footprint by going waste-free.
4. Mara Hoffman
Place of origin: Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder: Mara Hoffman
Sustainable Materials Used: Certified organic cotton, Organic hemp, Regenerative materials, TENCEL™ Lyocell, etc.
Product Range: Statement dresses
Size Range: XXS-3XL. Check Size Guide
Price Range: $325-$795
Shipping: Worldwide
Designer Mara Hoffman started her namesake brand in 2000. Their dresses are full of style and so over-the-top, made in vibrant colours and dramatic prints. We love the brand’s tone of going ‘all-out’ with diverse styles and statement fits. And if you’re a curvy bombshell, well, don’t forget to check out Mara Hoffman’s sustainable plus size cocktail dresses available up to size 3XL. While the brand wasn’t planet-friendly in its initial years, it soon realized the importance of sustainable sourcing and fair trade production practices to contribute towards a conscious fashion industry. And fifteen years after its launch, Mara Hoffman admirably shifted to a clean and environmentally positive brand.
5. Stella McCartney
Place of origin: London, United Kingdom
Founder: Stella McCartney
Sustainable Materials Used: Organic cotton, Responsible silk, MIRUM®, Recycled materials, etc.
Product Range: V-Neck maxi dresses, A-line dresses, Slip dresses, Puff sleeved mini dresses, Satin slit maxi dresses, etc.
Size Range: Up to 48
Price Range: $790-$5,500
Shipping: Worldwide
British designer Stella McCartney started her brand with the vision to create the most lavish and modern designs in a responsible foreground. The designer’s dresses range from flowy silhouettes gracing your womanhood to form-fitting pieces accentuating your curves. Committed to being honest and accountable to the planet, Stella McCartney works with innovative eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, responsible silk, fur-free fur, Mirum® and so on. Be it the brand’s designers or garment makers, every employee in their supply chain earns fair wages and works under secure conditions. In addition, the brand generously donates to several social causes like Oceana, Hello Beautiful Foundation, and many more every year.
6. Boden
Place of origin: London, United Kingdom
Founder: Johnnie Boden
Sustainable Materials Used: Ecovero, 100% Organic cotton, Recycled materials, etc.
Product Range: Knitted mini dresses, Smocked midi dresses, Maxi dresses, Floral dresses, etc.
Size Range: 2P–22T
Price Range: $80-$240
Shipping: Worldwide
Boden believes in making memories with informed choices for the clothes you buy. A well-established member of the Ethical Trading Initiative, this brand is committed to using eco-friendly fabrics like LENZING™ Ecovero, organic cotton, etc., in its collection of cocktail and formal dresses. Sequins and glitters are a ‘big no’ in Boden’s clothes because of their plastic nature, which ultimately pollutes the oceans. However, don’t be disappointed, as the brand ensures you would still ‘wow’ the crowd with their dresses made using creative bold appliqués and 3D technique embroideries. By 2025, the brand pledges to use 100% sustainable materials in its entire range. So feel as beautiful as you look dressed in Boden’s exclusive pieces while dancing the night away.
7. LOUD Bodies
Place of origin: Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Founder: Patricia Luiza Blaj
Sustainable Materials Used: TENCEL™ Lyocell, Organic cotton, Cupro, Linen, etc.
Product Range: Romantic dresses, Statement dresses, Rib-knit short dresses, Maxi dresses, Floral dresses, etc.
Size Range: XXS-10XL. Check Size Guide
Price Range: $80-$184
Shipping: Worldwide
The story of LOUD BODIES started with the need to prove that style has no size. With the mission to help women embrace their bodies and feel confident in their skin, this size-inclusive brand offers stylish sustainable plus size cocktail dresses ranging up to size 10XL. And if you fail to find your size, they will gladly customise your fits free of charge. To reduce LOUD BODIES’ carbon footprint, every dress is handmade and packed by the founder and her two employees in the brand’s in-house studio with sustainably sourced low-impact fibers.
8. Symbology
Place of origin: Dallas, Texas, United States
Founder: Marissa Heyl
Sustainable Materials Used: Tencel modal, Organic cotton, Hemp, etc.
Product Range: Maxi dresses, Twisted midi dresses, Wrap dresses, Shift dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-3XL. Check Size Guide
Price Range: $140-$355
Shipping: Worldwide
Symbology is a sustainable fashion place with a bevy of beautiful designs. Think boho chic, quirky prints, and fine cuts; this clothing label has them all for you. With sizes ranging up to 3XL, it is a great option for curvy women on the hunt for sustainable plus size cocktail dresses to rock that formal event or cocktail party. The ethical clothing label works towards women’s empowerment by employing marginalised female artisans from India and abroad. Symbology is out to make sustainability and fair trade sexy and uses all-natural, vegan fabrics in its entire range. Every piece you purchase is handmade using traditional art forms like block printing, Palestinian weaving and so on and represents a one-of-a-kind design.
9. Eileen Fisher
Place of origin: Irvington, New York, United States
Founder: Eileen Fisher
Sustainable Materials Used: 100% Organic silk, Linen, Organic cotton, Cupro, etc.
Product Range: Tiered silk dresses, Crew neck dresses, Wrap dresses, Slip dresses, Knit tank dresses, etc.
Size Range: XXS-3XL
Price Range: $188-$398
Shipping: Worldwide
Another excellent sustainable brand to check out for plus size dresses is Eileen Fisher. The brand’s namesake designer is a fierce advocate of human rights and sustainability. A believer in classic and minimalist designs, NY designer Eileen Fisher is for every conscious modern woman opting for a simple and functional wardrobe designed for timelessness. All you go to do is jazz up the look with some accessories, and you’re all set for that engagement party or any formal event. With ethical practices and the planet’s well-being diffused in the brand’s foundation, all their employees work under fair trade policies using responsibly sourced fabrics.
10. Baacal
Place of origin: Los Angeles, California, United States
Founder: Cynthia Vincent
Sustainable Materials Used: TENCEL™ Lyocell, Organic cotton, Upcycled and vintage materials
Product Range: Slip dresses, Midi dresses, Wrap dresses, Smocked dresses, Floral maxi dresses, etc.
Size Range: 10-22. Check Size Guide
Price Range: $178-$396
Shipping: Worldwide
Baacal is a boon for curvy chicks. The sustainable luxury brand makes stunning dresses for women between sizes 10-22. With gorgeous cuts, dreamy shades and flattering silhouettes, Baacal’s dresses are made to hug your curves and make you stand out in every event. This size-inclusive brand was created when the founder realized that most brands stop sizing at 12, whereas an average American woman wears a size 16-18 and is actually “The True Majority.” Staying true to sustainability, the brand’s dresses are made with eco-friendly materials in small batches and designed to last beyond the fashion seasons.
11. Quince
Place of origin: San Francisco, California, United States
Founder: Sid Gupta
Sustainable Materials Used: TENCEL™ Lyocell, Washable silk, GOTS certified organic cotton, etc.
Product Range: Slip dresses, Fit & flare dresses, Shirt dresses, Silk tank midi dresses, Mini slip dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-XL
Price Range: $39-$179
Shipping: Worldwide
Quince is a popular sustainable brand known for its chic and versatile dresses, ideal for timeless capsules. The brand was built with a commitment to make exceptionally high-quality wardrobe essentials at an affordable price because everyone deserves sustainably made finer things. With a ton of thoughtfully designed classic dresses to choose from, we bet you would look nothing but luxe in a Quince piece, that too on a budget. Ethically made clothes in fair trade factories using low-impact sustainable materials, what more can we ask for? And if you were wondering about such reasonable pricing, Well, the brand operates as a factory-direct model and cuts out costly mediators from its supply chain.
12. Carolina K
Place of origin: Miami, Florida, United States
Founder: Carolina Kleinman
Sustainable Materials Used: GOTS certified organic cotton, Cupro, Linen, Recycled materials, Low-impact dyes, etc.
Product Range: Dress coats, Maxi dresses, Kaftan dresses, Wrap dresses, etc.
Size Range:XS-XL
Price Range: $90-$390
Shipping: Worldwide
Thinking about sustainably made bold, eye-catching, statement dresses? Designer Carolina Kleinman has got you covered. The Argentinian designer established her namesake brand in 2005 with a passion for preserving the traditional crafts of Latin America. All her dresses are designed with versatility and functionality in mind, while showcasing intricate hand-embroidered details and timeless silhouettes. Artisan communities in remote regions of Mexico, Peru and Columbia entirely handcraft its product line. Striving to reduce its environmental impact, Carolina K follows a zero-waste approach and uses the most sustainably sourced materials, like linen, organic cotton, fabric scraps, etc., in its collections.
13. Made Trade
Place of origin: Portland, Oregon, United States
Founders: Cayley Pater and Andy Ives
Sustainable Materials Used: GOTS certified organic cotton, Cupro, Modal, Eco twill, etc.
Product Range: Maxi dresses, Mini dresses, Wrap dresses, Sweater dresses, Shirt dresses, etc.
Size Range: XS-2XL
Price Range: $58-$178
Shipping: Worldwide
Made Trade is a women-owned family-run Fair Trade retailer with a range of planet-friendly garments and homewares. The brand houses 150+ businesses and artisan collectives, so you get a large collection of ethically made stylish and elegant dresses to stand out in that special cocktail event. With an effort to bring the best of sustainable dresses to you, Made Trade verifies each product by collecting information about the businesses’ fair trade practices, working conditions, etc. The brand calls itself “ethically elevated” for putting artistry above efficiency, fair wages above profits and small batches over mass production.
14. Dôen
Place of origin: North Hollywood, California, United States
Founders: Margaret and Katherine Kleveland
Sustainable Materials Used: GOTS-certified organic cotton, Vintage fabrics, etc.
Product Range: Short & Long Heirloom dresses, Lightweight maxi dresses, etc.
Size Range: 2XS–2XL
Price Range: $228-$598
Shipping: Worldwide
DÔEN is a women-owned sustainable fashion brand brought to life by Santa-Barbara-born sisters (Margaret and Katherine Kleveland) and a collective of six exceptionally talented women. With the idea of creating elevated designs for women by women, this brand brings to you beautiful vintage-inspired dresses that you can wear at formal events or even use as a part of your work life. Imagine Bohemian-style ruffles, florals, slits and easy-breezy dresses, and that’s DÔEN for you. The brand works with female-owned or co-owned fair trade certified factories in India, Portugal and Peru, to ensure all women live a life of dignity.
15. Rent The Runway
Place of origin: New York, United States
Founders: Jenn Hyman and Jenny Fleiss
Product Range: Designer dresses fit for cocktails, weddings, formal events, galas, etc.
Size Range: 0–22
Price Range: $79-$275 per month
Shipping: Shipping across the United States
Last but definitely not the least, is Rent The Runway, a huge rental marketplace for over-the-top and fair trade cocktail/formal dresses. Set every event you go to on fire by renting out drooling dresses from this brand, but minus the heavy price tag. All you got to do, is select from a pool of designs, check for your size and rent it out for a set amount of time. And if you’re a social butterfly who loves visiting various events throughout the year; Well, become a member by paying for your monthly subscription. Rent The Runway makes sustainability easy by allowing you the freedom to rent out the latest styles instead of buying them, pilling up your closet and eventually dumping your clothes.
A Final Word…
Whoo! That is something, isn’t it? Curvy babes, we hope your special event dress hunting just got easier with this extensive list of amazing sustainable brands. We get it; sophisticated and stylish, plus size cocktail dresses felt like a distant dream even a few years back, but today, the voices are being heard. “Style is for everyone; Sustainability is for everyone”. And with this, we urge you beauties to check out these brands because we’re sure you’d fall in love with their collection, just like we did. What are you waiting for? Go & dazzle that event!
