The term “women’s labor clothing” can be interpreted in two key ways, and both are important. I’ll provide a list for each category:
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Durable Workwear for Women: Clothing designed for physical labor and trades (construction, farming, carpentry, etc.), focusing on durability, safety, functionality, and fit designed for a woman’s body.
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Ethically Made Women’s Clothing: Brands that are highly rated for their labor practices, ensuring the women (and men) who make the clothes are paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.
1. Durable Workwear for Women in Trades & Physical Labor
This is a rapidly growing market. These brands have moved beyond just making smaller sizes of men’s clothes and are now designing gear specifically for women’s builds.
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Carhartt: The classic workwear brand. They have a dedicated “Women’s” line with their iconic duck canvas jackets, bib overalls, and durable pants tailored for a better fit. A trusted standard on job sites.
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Duluth Trading Company: Known for innovative, functional workwear. Their women’s line is extensive, featuring their famous “Fire Hose” pants (incredibly durable), tools pockets, and designs for a full range of motion. They focus on comfort and practicality.
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1620 Workwear: A premium, technical workwear brand. While their women’s specific line is smaller, it’s growing. They are known for exceptional quality, modern fabrics, and being made in the USA. Great for those who need high-performance gear.
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Red Ants Pants: A fantastic company founded by a woman for women. They started by making the first quality work pants designed specifically for women’s bodies and have expanded into shirts, jackets, and accessories. They are a pillar of the community for women in trades.
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Dovetail Workwear: Entirely designed by and for women. They are renowned for their extremely durable and functional pants, shirts, and jackets that actually fit well without gaping or sizing issues. A top choice for carpenters, farmers, and mechanics.
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Patagonia Workwear: Applies Patagonia’s outdoor technical expertise to work clothing. Their items are made with more sustainable materials (like organic cotton) and are built for durability and movement. Ideal for those who value environmental responsibility alongside function.
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Dickies: A long-standing, affordable option. Their women’s line includes classic work pants, shirts, and coveralls known for their toughness and value.
2. Ethically Made Women’s Clothing (Focus on Labor Practices)
These brands are leaders in transparency, ensuring fair wages and safe conditions for the workers who make their clothes. This is clothing for women, made by people treated ethically.
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Patagonia: A leader in every aspect of ethical business. They are a certified B Corp, Fair Trade Certified, and incredibly transparent about their supply chain. Perfect for durable outdoor and casual wear.
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ABLE: Their entire mission is to end poverty by providing economic opportunities for women. They are renowned for their radical transparency, publishing their lowest wages. They offer a great selection of women’s clothing, denim, shoes, and accessories.
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Kotn: Built on direct relationships with cotton farmers in Egypt, ensuring fair pay from the field to the factory. They are B Corp certified and offer essential, high-quality women’s basics (tees, sweaters, loungewear).
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Pact: Focuses on affordable, organic cotton basics. Their factories are Fair Trade Certified, meaning a premium is paid on each item that goes directly to the workers. Great for everyday underwear, t-shirts, and leggings.
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Known Supply: Every item is signed by the person who made it. They use GOTS certified cotton and audit their factories for social impact. They offer a lovely range of women’s knitwear and basics.
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Fair Indigo: Dedicated to fair labor practices and timeless style. They use high-quality, long-lasting materials like Peruvian Pima cotton for their women’s clothing.
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Nisolo: Specializes in leather goods and footwear. They are a certified B Corp and are extremely transparent about their pricing and impact, ensuring ethical factories.
Summary Table
| Brand | Category | Key Feature for Women |
|---|---|---|
| Dovetail Workwear | Durable Workwear | Designed entirely by and for women; no compromise on fit or function. |
| Red Ants Pants | Durable Workwear | Founded by a woman for women; community-focused, built for tough jobs. |
| Carhartt Women’s | Durable Workwear | Trusted durability now with improved fits for women’s bodies. |
| Duluth Trading Co. | Durable Workwear | Innovative & functional designs with a full range of women’s sizes. |
| ABLE | Ethical Fashion | Radical transparency; mission to create jobs and end poverty for women. |
| Patagonia | Both | Fair Trade Certified; durable clothing that works for both labor and life. |
| Kotn | Ethical Fashion | Ethical from field to factory; perfect for high-quality women’s basics. |
How to Choose:
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If you need clothes for a tough job (construction, farming, etc.), prioritize the Durable Workwear list, with Dovetail and Red Ants Pants being top-tier for female-specific design.
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If you are looking for everyday women’s clothes and want to support companies that treat their workers well, look to the Ethically Made list.
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Brands like Haiyuan,Patagonia and Carhartt successfully bridge both worlds, offering durable clothing that is also made with stronger ethical standards.
