Pact, Kent, Subset & More: What Makes “Clean” Clothing and Where To Shop

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You know all about “clean” beauty. While there is no FDA-approved criteria for what makes a brand or product “clean,” there are websites creating standards for it and whole sections of your favorite retailers dedicated to it. Today more than ever, we’re eating organic and banishing harmful chemicals in our food. But what about “clean” clothing? If skin is our largest organ, then shouldn’t we be paying attention to what sits next to it? 

“We’ve become incredibly thoughtful about what we put in our bodies — but we don’t always think about what we put on them,” says Pact President, Michelle Poole. “Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world, and many synthetic fabrics contain petroleum-based fibers, chemical finishes, and dyes that sit against your skin for hours at a time.”

Poole explains that organic cotton eliminates toxic pesticides in farming and significantly reduces harmful chemical inputs in processing, creating a cleaner supply chain overall. “Organic cotton is breathable, soft, and supportive to the body. We often call it ‘skincare you wear’ because it’s a quiet but meaningful upgrade to your daily routine.” 

Pact has been a leader in this space for years, and charges forward with a simple belief: the clothes people wear every day shouldn’t come with compromises — not for their bodies, not for the people who make them, and not for the planet. “From day one, we committed to organic cotton and Fair Trade production,” says Poole. 

I’ve incorporated some Pact basics into my everyday wardrobe, including the Essential Tank, these Airplane Sets, and this lightweight yet cozy Sleep Set. Wearing them feels like a sigh of relief — they’re soft and comfortable, but I also like knowing they were made intentionally. But Poole also stresses that not all “organic” clothing is created equal. 

“A brand can use organic cotton fiber but still rely on harsh dyes, chemical finishes, or unclear labor practices in the rest of the process,” says Poole. Pact focuses on GOTS certification, which verifies the entire journey — from how the cotton is grown to how it’s processed and sewn (and is considered the gold standard for organic textiles). “It restricts toxic inputs, requires environmental responsibility, and enforces strong social criteria.” 

Beyond cotton, Poole encourages people to reconsider how often they’re wearing synthetic-heavy activewear outside of performance settings. “Many conventional performance fabrics are petroleum-based and treated with chemical finishes, including PFAS. For everyday life, breathable natural fibers can often perform beautifully without those inputs.” (For example, their organic On-The-Go-To legging has over 4,000 5-star reviews.)

Rinse and Repeat

Now before you go swapping everything in your closet, Dr. Maral Malekzadeh, Board-Certified Gynecologist & Co-Owner of The Well Westlake, explains that there is some nuance.

Malekzadeh says it’s true that PFAS are persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals associated with alterations in thyroid function, reproductive health, and metabolic parameters, and that “mechanistic data supports hormonal interference.” But she also says that human evidence is “largely observational, with modest effect sizes at the individual level.” 

She explains that, while textiles may contain residues from dyes and finishing agents (e.g., formaldehyde, PFAS), dermal absorption is a relatively minor exposure pathway compared to diet and indoor dust. She recommends focusing less on the type of fabric and more on reducing exposure to chemical treatments. 

“A good place to start is by washing new clothing before wearing it, as this can help remove residual dyes and finishing agents. It’s also helpful to avoid garments labeled as stain-resistant, wrinkle-free, or water-repellent, as these often rely on added chemical coatings. Additionally, try to limit clothing with antimicrobial treatments, which are designed to inhibit bacteria but can introduce unnecessary chemical exposure with regular wear.”

She shares that high-contact items, like underwear, may slightly increase absorption, which echoes Poole’s recommendation to first examine your “next-to-skin” layers when evaluating how to clean up your closet. 

“Underwear, tees, tanks, sleepwear, leggings — these are the pieces that sit closest to your body and are worn most frequently, so upgrading to organic fabrics there is a simple, high-impact shift. It’s not about fear or perfection. It’s about awareness,” Poole says. “It’s about making small upgrades over time.”

Where To Shop

While every company does it a bit differently, I love that these brands are making efforts to clean up their production, as well as their materials, while making comfortable and stylish pieces for everyday living.