If you’re pregnant, you could just buy larger clothes, but maternity wear is designed to be more comfortable, and often nursing wear has discreet panels for discreet breastfeeding. Choosing organic cotton, linen or hemp maternity clothing is better for the planet, to create a brighter future for the world your little one is about to be born into.
For any items that use a little elastane, launder in a microplastic catcher.
Frugi grownups is the adult range from Cornish company that makes organic cotton clothing for children. Everything is made ethically in India (where the company supports an orphanage), and sent in biodegradable packaging.
This range has won awards for unique features like hidden breastfeeding panels, and shows that maternity clothes can be functional and pretty. The range includes dresses, tops, tunics and roomy shirts.
Most maternity online shops also sell preloved or rental baby clothing. Due to allergies and sensitivity, it’s best to launder with unscented biodegradable laundry liquid (also for yourself!)
Comfortable Linen Maternity Wear
Linen (from the flax plant) is comfortable, and wears better with age. This linen pinafore dress is made with love and care in Latvia. Made with stone-washed linen fabric, the skirt-dress has cross-back dungarees that close in front with buttons in four heights, plus two side pockets (available in various colours, order a size up if pregnant). Also available is this pretty linen breastfeeding dress.
The Simple Folk
The Simple Folk offers breastfeeding-friendly & bump-friendly clothing in muted designs, with regular seasonal sales From casual hemp/cotton tops to lovely summer dresses to a stunning organic knit jumper, everything is ethically made in Portugal.
Turtle Dove London
Turtle Dove London offers 95% organic cotton garments for children, but also for mothers like nice maternity dungarees. This company does not over-buy stock to prevent fashion waste. All dyes are azo-free and this is kinder to the skin and the planet.
This company provides an alternative to cheap fast fashion, believing that good sustainable clothing should not cost the earth.
Where to Rent Maternity Clothing
My Nice Pair offers maternity dungarees made from mostly cotton, with a little elastane. In various styles and colours, these can adjust to your waist size. The difference is that you can then send them back in the rezip bags, to replace with other designs.
You can rent dungarees for as long as you like (send them back for professional laundering) and there is also the option to buy preloved dungarees.
Belles and Babes lets you build a capsule maternity wardrobe for a monthly hire fee, with no charges for wear and tear, and nothing sent to landfill. The bespoke service lets you order items to try on and just send back items you don’t want to hire, then rental costs start after 7 days (most items are around £5 a month).
You can also buy nursing clothing and pre-loved maternity clothes.
Sew your Own (sustainable) Maternity Clothing
This Hinterland dress sewing pattern is easily modified for maternity and nursing wear. It features three sleeve options, partial or full button-down plackets and inseam pockets, with a loose fit and side bust tarts, with option to remove buttons. Just sew up with your favourite organic cotton fabric.
These cotton maternity dungarees feature adjustable straps to grow with your bump, and are in many colours (rust orange, blue, black, red and olive green).
The Cozette Maternity Dress sewing pattern features an empire waist bodice to wear during and after pregnancy, in 21 total sizes. This romantic dress features a charming square neckline with two bust darts and a gathered full skirt, with super long straps to gracefully tie into bows around your shoulders.