Etiko
Rated: Excellent
Price: $
Location: Australia
Quick verdict
Etiko is best for ethically minded sneaker buyers who want a Converse alternative with full Fairtrade, organic, and vegan credentials at a comparable price point. The brand holds Fairtrade, B Corp, GOTS, and vegan certifications across every product, an exceptionally rare achievement. The main limitation is a narrow product range focused on basics and canvas sneakers, with limited availability and style variety outside Australia.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Founded
- 2005
- Product categories
- Shoes, Vegan, Basics
- Price range
- $
- Key certifications
- Fairtrade International, B Corp (85.3), GOTS, FSC, OCS, 100% Vegan, Social Traders Certified
Etiko sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
All clothing uses GOTS-certified organic cotton; sneakers combine organic cotton canvas with FSC-certified natural rubber soles. Hemp line adds OCS-certified variety. No synthetic/plastic fibers. No regenerative materials yet.
The first fashion brand in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve Fairtrade International certification (2006). Living wages verified throughout entire supply chain with third-party audits by Control Union. Unique customer tipping program sends 100% of tips directly to factory workers.
Carbon footprint measured at just 66.48 tonnes (tiny for a fashion brand), offset via tree-planting in Timor-Leste. Closed-loop water system. FSC packaging, near-plastic-free. Footwear take-back program recycles soles into rubber matting.
Publishes Tier 1–4 supply chain information, unusual depth for any brand, let alone a small one. Voluntary Modern Slavery Statement filed despite being under the legal threshold. Factory conditions, wages, and audit details are disclosed.
Sneakers at ~$85 USD are priced comparably to conventional Converse but include full Fairtrade, organic, and vegan certifications. T-shirts at ~$24–32 USD and underwear at ~$10 USD are among the most affordable certified ethical options available.
What they do well
- Comprehensive certification stack across every product: Fairtrade, B Corp, GOTS, FSC, and 100% vegan, covering ethical labor, organic materials, and animal welfare simultaneously
- First Fairtrade certified fashion brand in the Southern Hemisphere (2006), with living wages verified by independent third-party audits across the entire supply chain
- Exceptional value: organic, Fairtrade sneakers at Converse-comparable pricing makes ethical fashion genuinely accessible
- Tier 1–4 supply chain disclosure: a level of transparency that rivals brands many times its size
- Anti-greenwashing stance: publicly stopped calling themselves "sustainable" in 2023, rebranding as a "responsible brand with regenerative goals," and boycotted the Australian Ethical Fashion Report over grading concerns
Room for improvement
- B Corp score declined from 95.3 to 85.3 between certifications, potentially reflecting methodology changes, but worth monitoring as it approaches the 80-point certification threshold.
About Etiko
Nick Savaidis founded Etiko in Melbourne in 2005 after his mother's experience sewing garments for meager pay in the 1960s–70s left him determined to prove ethical fashion could be commercially viable. The name comes from the Greek word for "ethical," and the brand's tagline, "Wear No Evil", captures its uncompromising stance.
Etiko became the first fashion brand in the Southern Hemisphere to achieve Fairtrade International certification in 2006, and every product in its entirely vegan range carries multiple certifications: GOTS organic cotton, FSC natural rubber, Fairtrade International, and B Corp. Manufacturing happens across India (Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills for cotton garments), Pakistan (Fairtrade-certified sneaker assembly), and Sri Lanka (natural rubber). Living wages are calculated every six months with a local NGO and verified by Control Union audits.
The brand's carbon footprint is measured at just 66.48 tonnes, negligible by industry standards, and offset through tree-planting in Timor-Leste. Pricing is remarkably competitive: high-top sneakers cost ~$85 USD, making them a true like-for-like alternative to conventional Converse. Etiko remains a self-funded social enterprise with no grants or outside investment. The brand has won an Australian Human Rights Award (2016), a Banksia Environmental Foundation Award (2008), and achieved A+ in every Australian Ethical Fashion Report from 2013 to 2021.
Product highlights
High Top Sneakers
Classic canvas high-top with GOTS organic cotton upper, FSC natural rubber sole, built-in arch support
~$85
4.9/5 stars from 87 reviews; the definitive ethical Converse alternative
Low Cut Sneakers
Same ethical construction in a low-cut silhouette; organic cotton, natural rubber, Fairtrade certified
~$85
Their most-reviewed product (188 reviews, 4.8/5); versatile everyday sneaker
Hemp Sneakers
100% OCS-certified hemp fiber upper, organic cotton liner, FSC natural rubber sole
~$85
Most sustainable sneaker material, hemp uses minimal water and zero pesticides
Organic Cotton Boxer Trunks
Fairtrade and GOTS certified organic cotton; available in multiple colorways
~$10
Featured on Ecothes "Best Ethical & Organic Boxers" list; exceptional value for certified organic underwear
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