Nomads
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: UK
Quick verdict
Nomads is a quietly excellent ethical fashion brand with 36 years of fair trade heritage (founded in 1989 after its creators met while backpacking in Rajasthan. It achieves top-tier environmental performance through 100% natural fibers, 50% GOTS organic cotton, azo-free dyes, and biodegradable packaging. With a Trusted Shops score of 4.69/5 across 192 verified reviews, supplier relationships spanning two decades, and an on-the-ground production manager in India, this is one of the most consistently credible brands in the ethical fashion space) even if it lacks the Instagram-era marketing polish of newer competitors.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Launceston, Cornwall, UK (9 Western Road, PL15 7AR)
- Founded
- 1989
- Product categories
- Womenswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- GOTS, SEDEX/SMETA, BAFTS (British Association of Fairtrade Shops), WFTO (1 supplier), LWG (leather accessories), Common Objective, Lenzing ECOVERO EU Ecolabel
Nomads sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
100% natural fibers with zero synthetics. 50% GOTS organic cotton, 30% traceable non-organic cotton (with transaction certificates), 15% sustainable viscose (Lenzing ECOVERO with EU Ecolabel), 5% TENCEL Lyocell. Azo-free environmentally approved dyes throughout. Minor deduction only because 30% of cotton is non-organic.
Seven Indian factories with annual SEDEX/SMETA audits (4 factories), GOTS audit (1), WFTO certification (1), and personal audit by Nomads (1 artisan workshop). On-the-ground production manager in India. 20+ year relationships with some suppliers. Twice-annual visits by UK team. All suppliers sign a Code of Conduct. Artisan techniques (hand tie-dye, embroidery, ikat) preserve heritage skills and sustain small communities.
Outstanding environmental credentials. No synthetics means no microplastic shedding. Offcuts reused to minimize waste. Biodegradable cornstarch garment bags, recycled cardboard, FSC-certified swing tags, vegetable-based inks. CO2-neutral delivery. Natural fibers require fewer washes (antibacterial properties). Lenzing ECOVERO uses 50% less water and CO2 than regular viscose.
Factory audit structure (SEDEX, GOTS, WFTO) is clearly disclosed. Materials breakdown by percentage is published. However, individual factory names are not published, no standalone impact report exists, and no carbon footprint data is available. The brand prioritizes product-level material transparency over corporate-level reporting.
Dresses at £48–£83 (~$60–$105) and tops at £28–£58 (~$35–$73) represent genuine value for GOTS-certified, ethically manufactured, artisan-detailed womenswear, Significantly more accessible than many comparable ethical fashion brands. Free UK shipping over £60, Found in 350+ shops worldwide, reducing DTC markup dependency.
What they do well
- 36 years of consistency: founded in 1989 and never acquired, never VC-funded, never compromised on fair trade principles; a rarity in sustainable fashion
- Outstanding environmental profile: 100% natural fibers, zero synthetics, biodegradable everything from garment bags to swing tags, and meaningful material sourcing standards
- Artisan heritage preservation: hand tie-dye, embroidery, and handloom ikat techniques keep traditional Indian craft skills alive while providing stable income to artisan communities
- Deep supply chain relationships: having an India-based production manager and 20+ year factory partnerships provides oversight that most brands achieve only through periodic audits
- Accessible pricing: organic cotton t-shirts at £32.50 (~$41) and artisan-embroidered dresses at £82 (~$103) deliver ethical fashion without extreme premiums
Room for improvement
- Publish factory names. The brand discloses its audit structure but not individual factory identities, a transparency gap given its otherwise strong ethical credentials.
- Add carbon footprint reporting. For a brand earning 5/5 on Planet, publishing carbon data would strengthen an already excellent environmental profile.
About Nomads
Nomads began in the most organic way possible: Vicky Jackson and Duncan Harvey met while backpacking in Pushkar, Rajasthan, in the late 1980s. They spent their last travel money on fair trade handicrafts from Nepal, brought them home to the UK, and started selling at Camden market stalls. The "Nomads" name stuck, and by 1989 they had formalized the business. They opened a store in Launceston, Cornwall, in 1998, launched their website around 2004, and steadily built a wholesale network now spanning 350+ shops worldwide.
What makes Nomads distinctive is its refusal to follow fashion industry norms. The entire collection uses 100% natural fibers, no polyester, no nylon, no elastane anywhere. Half the range is GOTS-certified organic cotton; the remainder uses traceable Indian cotton, Lenzing ECOVERO viscose (EU Ecolabel awarded for 50% less water and CO2), and TENCEL Lyocell from responsibly managed forests. Every print uses azo-free dyes. Individual garments ship in compostable cornstarch bags.
Manufacturing happens across seven Indian factories, four of which undergo annual SEDEX/SMETA audits. One holds GOTS certification, one is WFTO certified, and one small artisan workshop is personally audited by the Nomads team. The brand employs a full-time production manager in India who works directly with suppliers daily, a level of on-the-ground oversight that most ethical brands can only approximate through scheduled visits.
The designs reflect the founders' original inspiration: colorful, globally influenced prints with silhouettes designed to transcend seasonal trends. Capsule collections are released biannually rather than continuously, embodying the slow fashion model. After 36 years, Nomads remains independent, privately owned, and remarkably consistent in its values.
Product highlights
Embroidered Dress
Artisan-embroidered detail on organic or sustainable fabric; A-line silhouette
£82 (~$103)
Showcases the hand-embroidery heritage that connects the brand to its Rajasthan origins; each piece reflects genuine craft
GOTS Organic Cotton T-Shirt
100% GOTS-certified organic cotton; classic fit; multiple colorways
£32.50 (~$41)
Most accessible entry point to the brand; excellent value for certified organic cotton at this price
Recycled Quilted Coat
Recycled polyester outerwear with quilted construction; available in seasonal prints
£178 (~$224)
The collection's highest-priced piece; demonstrates the brand's ability to work with recycled materials for outerwear
Lenzing ECOVERO Tiered Tunic Dress
100% ECOVERO viscose (EU Ecolabel); tiered design; seasonal prints
£74 (~$93)
Highlights the Lenzing partnership and the brand's commitment to next-generation sustainable viscose
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