Last Updated on January 21, 2023 by The Filtery
I feel like there should be more organic maternity clothes out there… I mean, for a lot of people, it’s having a baby that motivates them to start living a low-tox lifestyle in the first place, for the sake of their child. And it’s often mothers who are on the frontlines of chemical safety advocacy, as they want to do their part to make our world a safer place for the next generation.
But sadly, there actually aren’t a ton of brands that offer maternity clothes made from natural and/or organic materials. There’s a lot of polyester out there, folks!
But it’s not all bad news. There are several really great brands on the market that offer organic maternity clothing that’s safe, high-quality, and comfortable—and we’ve rounded them all up for you here!
Related Guides:
- The best organic maternity underwear and nursing bras
- Where to find organic pregnancy and nursing pillows
This article contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. We only make recommendations that are genuine and meet our standards.
Featured Image Credit: Pact
Best Organic Maternity Clothing Brands (at a glance!)
Best Affordable Organic Maternity Clothes: Pact
Best for Organic Maternity Dresses: Christy Dawn
Best for Maternity Pants, Jeans, & Leggings: Isabella Oliver
Best for Postpartum & Nursing: Frugi
Best for Maternity & Nursing Bras & Underwear: Lé Buns
Best for Organic Maternity Activewear & Loungewear: Boob
Best for Organic Maternity Robes: Monica & Andy
+ more brands below!
Why Is Wearing Organic Maternity Clothes Important, Anyway?
It’s practically impossible to get synthetic fabrics out of your wardrobe completely, especially when stretch is needed (as is the case for maternity clothing!). However, many people choose to try and minimize synthetic fibers as much as possible and opt for more sustainable materials, and there are a couple main reasons for that…
Going Organic for Your Family’s Sake
First, it’s worth noting that developing fetuses and growing babies are more vulnerable to the negative effects of environmental toxins than pretty much every other population. This is mainly because:
a) As their brains and bodies are still in critical developmental stages, any small change in their hormonal systems can have big effects down the road. Study after study has shown that people exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in utero can have effects even decades later. (Organic clothing is less likely to contain EDCs such as PFAS.)
b) Pound for pound, babies and kids drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than adults do, which means their ratio of body size to toxin ingestion is higher.
Now, I don’t want to stress you out here. I don’t believe that wearing natural and organic clothing is the MOST important thing to worry about as you prepare for your baby to get here. I tend to believe that things like drinking filtered water and using non-toxic personal care products and cleaners is higher on the priority list than clothing. (And that’s not even to mention everything else you have to worry about as you prepare your nursery, get all of your baby necessities lined up, and try to stay caught up on your sleep!)
So, even though I do believe that avoiding harmful chemicals as much as possible (including those from your clothing) is important while you’re pregnant (and after), try to remember that you won’t be able to do it perfectly. Just do the best you can and have grace with yourself.
Choosing Sustainable Materials for Longterm Collective Health
The other big reason new parents want to switch to organic and sustainable maternity clothes is for the longterm wellbeing of our society.
Clothing made out of synthetic fabrics like polyester or PET are derived from petroleum. Their manufacturing process is often toxic to factory workers and surrounding communities, and they don’t biodegrade at the end of their life. Instead, they just break down into smaller and smaller microplastics, which are ending up in our water, our soil, our food supply, and our bodies (leading to negative health effects that we don’t even really know that much about yet). So even if wearing fossil fuel based clothing may not have immediate effects on you or your family, this system of dependence on fossil fuels and plastics as a whole is not healthy for us.
What to Look for in Maternity Clothing
Okay, so you want to try to wear as much synthetic-free maternity clothes as possible. Here are a few things to look for when you’re shopping:
Natural & Organic Materials
As mentioned above, natural and organic fabrics contain less petroleum products and are also less likely to contain toxic additives such as PFAS (“forever chemicals”). They’re also likely to have a lower footprint with regard to manufacturing processes as well. Not only that, but when grown in an organic or regenerative way, these plant-based fabrics are better for our soils and ecosystems as a whole.
Fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and TENCEL tend to be your best bet. Many times, these fabrics are still blended with a small percentage of nylon or spandex for stretch, and while that may not be ideal for the end of the garment’s life, it’s still much better than the alternative.
Versatility
In order to make your organic maternity wear go as far as possible (both for your wallet and for the earth!), look for pieces that you’ll be able to wear throughout your entire pregnancy and beyond. Many of the brands below design pieces that are great not only for your pregnancy phase but also for postpartum, nursing, and even after that!
Third Party Certifications
Although third party labels all come with their pros and cons, it’s a good way to provide a certain amount of accountability for brands and their supply chains.
- Certifications such as Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) verify that no toxic pesticides were used in the growing of the cotton.
- OEKO-TEX certifies that a finished product was verified to be free from a list of harmful chemicals. (This is also a good one to look for on non-organic fabrics such as rayon. Although rayon is not the best, one that comes with a certification is at least better.)
- Other certifications such as Fairtrade International also help ensure the clothing was made in an ethical way, that workers were paid fair wages, and there was no child labor involved in the making of your maternity clothes.
- There are also labels which indicate that animal-derived products like wool were sourced in an ethical way as well—such as Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
Avoid “Stain-Resistant” and “Water-Resistant” Labels
Lastly, whether or not you shop from the brands below or are looking for maternity clothes elsewhere online or in stores, try to avoid clothing that is labeled as being “stain-resistant,” “water-resistant,” or “waterproof.” This is often (though not always) an indication that PFAS have been added to the product. If possible, you want to try to avoid PFAS during your pregnancy and while nursing, as it’s related to a host of negative health effects.
The Best Brands for Organic Maternity Clothes
Now let’s get to it! Here are the best brands offering comfortable, high-quality, and versatile maternity clothing that’s made out of natural, organic, and non-toxic materials:
Pact (Best Affordable Organic Maternity Clothes)
Carries: Dresses, tops (short and long sleeve), leggings and bike shorts, lounge pants, nursing camisoles & bras, pajamas, underwear
Sizes: S-XL
Price Range: $30 – $80
Pact is one of the best brands for comfortable and affordable organic clothes for the whole family. They have a maternity collection which includes everyday staples like dresses, basic tops, leggings, and more (with lots of colors to choose from). Plus, Pact’s collection is made out in a Fair Trade factory in India out of GOTS certified organic cotton.
In addition to their nursing camisole and bra, they also carry two styles of organic maternity underwear which have “foldover” waistbands that can either be pulled up over your stomach or folded beneath your bump. They can even be worn after pregnancy, too!
Their maternity collection is designed to fit your true size before pregnancy, so they recommend choosing your usual, pre-pregnancy size when placing your order.
Christy Dawn (Best for Organic Maternity Dresses)
Carries: Dresses, tops, and jumpsuits
Sizes: Petite – 3XL
Price Range: $148-$498
Christy Dawn is a womenswear brand known for their beautiful “farm to closet” dresses. Their “Maternity Friendly” collection includes loose-fitting and flowy dresses and tops that can be worn throughout your entire pregnancy, postpartum, and after. Many of them have extra features like wrap tops that make nursing easier, or adjustable waists for a more comfortable and versatile fit.
A lot of the fabric they use is made with regeneratively grown cotton, in partnership with farmers and artisans of the Oshadi Collective in India. (Regenerative cotton goes a step beyond organic; in addition to just being grown without synthetic pesticides, it’s actually grown and harvested using methods that sequester carbon and restore vital nutrients to the soil.)
Other fabrics Christy Dawn uses include regular organic cotton and deadstock fabrics of various kinds. (Deadstock is fabric that’s landfill-bound. It can be either natural or synthetic.) They make it super easy to sort according to fabric type while shopping, so you can make sure you get what you want.
They have a wide variety of styles, colors, and patterns for all seasons. Christy Dawn also has some of the most inclusive sizing as well, with options from XS petite to 3XL. You can also sort according to “breastfeeding-friendly” and “pregnancy-friendly” using their filter feature.
All of Christy Dawn’s pieces are sewn ethically and transparently in Los Angeles and India.
Isabella Oliver (Best for Maternity Pants, Jeans, & Leggings)
Carries: Pants, jeans, tops, dresses, workwear
Sizes: US Size 2-14 (UK Sizes 1-5)
Price Range: $45-$299
When it comes to organic maternity pants and jeans, it’s slim pickings. Most maternity jeans and pants are made out of synthetics and/or conventional cotton.
Isabella Oliver is a pretty good collection though! While not all of their pants are organic, they do have some options that are made out of organic cotton. (They also make it really easy to sort by fabric type on their website, so it’s easy to find just what you’re looking for.)
Plus, their pieces that are not organic are still made from fabrics that are better than others. After organic cotton, the fabric they use the most is ECOVERO, which is a semi-synthetic fabric made by LENZING. It’s made out of sustainably-sourced wood and pulp and is certified with the EU Ecolabel for environmental standards throughout the life cycle of the fabric. Even though LENZING’s fabrics are considered semi-synthetics (meaning they’re made using natural raw materials but are processed so much that the end result cannot still be considered “natural”), LENZING tends to make their fabrics in some of the least toxic and most sustainable ways. (You can read more about this here.)
Isabella Oliver also has a lot of other sustainability initiatives as well: it’s a certified B Corp brand, member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, was a 2021 UN Global Climate Action Award Winner, only works with ethical and transparent factories where workers are paid a living wage, and they give back 10% of their profits to non-profit organizations each year.
Plus, they also have a Pre-Loved Collection, which not only helps keep clothes out of landfills, but also makes them available at a more accessible price point. Plus, 50% of net proceeds from their Pre-Loved Collection go toward maternity-focused non-profits.
Frugi (Best for Postpartum & Nursing)
Carries: Tops, dresses, overalls, jumpsuits, pajamas, leggings
Sizes: 8-22 / S-XL
Price Range: $17-$92
Although Frugi is primarily a kid-focused brand, they have a great maternity and postpartum collection for grown-ups! Most of their pieces are designed to be worn throughout all three trimesters, through nursing, and even after postpartum.
They have a nursing “vest” which is basically like a tank top with an extra half layer over top, which you can pull up when you’re ready to feed. A great staple for nursing mamas, you could wear this indigo vest on its own, underneath one of Frugi’s tops or dresses, or with any of the other tops in your wardrobe.
Although a lot of Frugi’s pieces are made using 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, they do use other fabrics as well, such as LENZING’s TENCEL (a semi-synthetic) and recycled polyester… So just make sure to check the product details before purchasing to make sure you get what you want!
They also have other ethical and sustainable initiatives as well, including a give back program, which donates some of their profits to non-profit organizations.
Lé Buns (Best for Maternity Underwear & Nursing Bras)
Carries: Nursing bralettes, underwear, and under-shorts
Sizes: 0-12 (US) / 6-16 (UK/AU)
Price Range: $25 – $115 (for a set)
Lé Buns is an Australian underwear brand that has a collection of underwear (including briefs, thongs, and shorts) and nursing bralettes that come in several shapes. It’s made out of 90% GOTS certified organic cotton combined with 10% elastane stretch.
In addition to using organic fabrics, Lé Buns also has several other sustainability initiatives in place, including using natural dyes and chemical-free manufacturing processes, decreasing waste whenever possible, and visiting their factories to make sure workers are treated and paid well.
Shop Lé Buns and use the code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off your order
P.S. Click here for more brands that offer organic maternity and nursing underwear.
Boob (Best for Organic Maternity Activewear & Loungewear)
Carries: Activewear, loungewear, tops, dresses, jumpsuits, underwear, pants, skirts
Sizes: XS – 2XL
Price Range: $45 – $169
It’s kind of hard for the active mama-to-be to find natural/organic activewear that will fit over her bump! But Boob actually has several options, from their organic wool leggings to their (mostly) organic cotton sweatpants and hoodies. Many of their activewear and loungewear tops have a fold-up half layer to give you easy access for breastfeeding.
Boob has a lot of other options for organic maternity and postpartum clothing as well, with a lot of solid-colored basics for everyday wear.
They also use other types of fabrics such as recycled polyester and TENCEL, so again, just make sure to check the product page to make sure you’re getting what you want. Most of their fabrics come with various third-party certifications, whether it’s GOTS organic, OEKO-TEX, or REACH. They are committed to ethical and transparent manufacturing as well, and you can find out more about exactly where each piece was made in each product page.
Monica + Andy (Best for Organic Maternity Robes)
Carries: Personalizable solid-colored and printed robes + a few organic maternity loungewear pieces
Sizes: XS – XL
Price Range: $65-$80
Monica + Andy is primarily a baby/kid brand that sells (adorable) organic clothing for little ones, but they also have a great selection of organic maternity robes as well! These are great for wearing around the house or in the hospital.
They have several different options for prints and patterns, as well as solid colors. You can personalize your robe with your initials (which is a great gift idea for a soon-to-be mom!). They’re all made out of GOTS certified organic cotton and non-toxic dyes. Oh, and they’ve got pockets, too!
+ 6 More Brands That Carry Organic & Non-Toxic Maternity Clothes
These brands didn’t make our “best of” list, but they still have some pretty good options for more organic and/or eco-friendly maternity clothing:
Hatch: They have a pretty large maternity/nursing clothing collection, but only some of it is organic.
Kindred Bravely: This maternity/nursing clothing brand carries several options made out of organic cotton, including nursing bras, tops, and wraps.
Mamarella: This brand also has a huge collection of maternity clothing and some of it is organic.
Mien: Even though it’s not technically maternity clothing, Mien’s flowy dresses and jumpsuits are “pregnancy-friendly” and can be worn throughout most of pregnancy and nursing. They’re made ethically in Los Angeles out of GOTS certified organic cotton.
Sézane: Sézane’s maternity collection is not huge, but they do have some pretty tops, made mostly from GOTS certified organic cotton!
Storq: Although they do not use organic or natural materials, most of their pieces are OEKO-TEX certified, which means the end product has been verified to be free from a list of potentially toxic substances. They have a pretty big collection.
Wo-Mum: This is a European-made brand that uses majority sustainable fabrics like organic cotton. They also use low-waste processes and try to keep their supply chain as localized as possible.
FAQs About Choosing Maternity Clothing
Here are some more commonly asked questions that might be crossing your mind as you shop for organic maternity clothes.
What week do you start wearing maternity clothes?
Most people start to really notice their belly growing around week 14-16, but they can still fit into a lot of their pre-pregnancy clothing and hide their bump. Usually around week 19-20 is when people have to transition to maternity clothing. Of course, this will vary from person to person, so do what feels comfortable to you!
Should you really buy maternity clothes, or just normal clothes in bigger sizes?
It depends! There are a few factors to consider. First if you have to show up to an office to work, then you’re probably going to want to buy maternity workwear so that the clothes fit properly and you can feel classy and confident. However, if you work from home and just want to stay in bigger sizes of normal sweats all day, then that works!
It also depends on the type of clothing we’re talking about. A big sweatshirt is really easy to wear throughout your entire pregnancy. Jeans, however, don’t work as well. If you just buy a bigger pair of jeans instead of maternity ones, they’re probably going to fit in the wrong places and might even fall off.
What should you wear to your maternity photoshoot?
Most soon-to-be parents schedule a photoshoot at some point in the third trimester to commemorate that season of their life and be able to show their child as they grow up. There are a lot of ideas on Pinterest, but here are a few pointers to keep in mind while you plan what to wear to your pregnancy photoshoot:
- Wear a top that is flattering and shows off your your belly, meaning it is fit against your body at the top of your stomach and then tight around your belly. You’ll want your silhouette to be obvious that you’re pregnant.
- Usually solid colors are best because patterns can clash with backgrounds and be too busy. Don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for their opinion if you have a specific outfit in mind!
- Usually lighter colors are better than black or navy because darker colors tend to hide or downplay your bump.
- Dress for the season. You want to be comfortable according to the temperature, especially if there’s a chance you’ll be shooting outside. Bring layers and alternate outfits if necessary.
- If your partner or other kids are involved, coordinate your outfits, but don’t be TOO “matchy.”
Can tight pants hurt your baby?
There isn’t any evidence that tight pants can hurt your growing baby. However, wearing tight clothing too much can not only be uncomfortable for you, but it can also put you at higher risk for poor blood circulation and yeast infections. Most people wear tighter clothes at work or while exercising/running errands, and then switch to looser fitting, more comfortable clothing at home.
Of course, you should always check with your doctor if you have any questions about your pregnancy and postpartum, especially if you have allergies, other sensitivities, or any specific health concerns.
Happy shopping, mama! And congratulations! 🤰🏽
