BACK TO BASICS
The Green Room · Fashion
October 2026
Back to Basics
LuxeTerre’s picks for the timeless closet staples worth owning for years — the right fibres, the right makers, and a wardrobe that travels as well as it lasts.
Read on ↓
Living out of a suitcase for a season changes the way you dress. On contract at sea, with a new European port nearly every day, I've learned that the pieces I reach for again and again aren't the statement buys. They're the quiet ones: a white tee that holds its shape, a pair of jeans that softens with every wear, a shirt that goes from a morning walk in Mykonos to dinner on deck.
I'll be honest: like most of us, I've ducked into high-street stores in port cities when I needed something fast. What I took away is that the label matters more than the logo. I've been choosing 100% natural fibres and walking away from polyester. But "100% cotton" is only the first question. The better ones are how it was grown, and who sewed it.
So here is the edit I'd hand a friend: eight staples, each paired with a maker that holds up to independent scrutiny. None of these brands are perfect. All of them are doing the work, and we tell you exactly where each one stands.
Before you buy
How to read a clothing label
- 100% cotton
- A good start, and kinder than polyester, which is made from fossil fuels and sheds microplastics in the wash. But conventional cotton is thirsty and pesticide-heavy.
- GOTS organic
- The Global Organic Textile Standard certifies the fibre is organic and audits the processing and chemicals used along the way. This is the upgrade to look for.
- Fair Wear · Fairtrade
- Signs that someone is checking the factory floor, not just the fabric: working conditions, freedom of association and, at best, living wages.
- B Corp
- Certifies the whole company on its social and environmental performance, from governance to suppliers.
The most sustainable piece in your closet is the one you already love and keep wearing.
The eight staples
Neutral, seasonless and made to be worn hard. Ratings are from Good On You, the independent fashion rating service, which scores brands on their impact on people, the planet and animals.
The White Tee
Colorful Standard
Denmark · made in Portugal
The foundation of every capsule. Colorful Standard works in organic cotton with low-waste cutting, and all of its final production happens in Portugal. Stock up on white and ecru, and let one tee in a softer shade be your quiet accent.
The Everyday Knit & Sweatshirt
ARMEDANGELS
Cologne, Germany
Our closest swap for high-street basics, with nothing to hide. ARMEDANGELS holds the Fair Wear Foundation's top "Leader" status, uses a high share of organic and recycled fibres, and is among the few brands paying some of its workers a living wage.
The Effortless Dress & Blouse
People Tree
A fair trade pioneer
The gold standard for the people who make your clothes. People Tree ensures living wages across its supply chain, which is rare in fashion, and works in organic cotton with low-waste cutting. Soft, easy womenswear that dresses up or down.
The Straight-Leg Jean
Nudie Jeans
Gothenburg, Sweden
Jeans you break in, not throw out. Nudie works in organic cotton, uses renewable energy in its supply chain, and most of its production is certified by both Fair Wear and GOTS. It also runs a clothing recycling programme for the pairs you finally retire.
The Circular Denim
MUD Jeans
The Netherlands
For denim with a second life built in. MUD designs for circularity from the first cut to the last wear, uses organic cotton and renewable energy, and skips plastic packaging. Every piece is vegan.
The Tailored Trouser & Oxford Shirt
ASKET
Stockholm, Sweden
ASKET makes one permanent, seasonless collection instead of chasing trends, which is exactly the point of a staple. High in organic cotton and recycled wool, and it traces most of its supply chain and visits suppliers regularly.
The Mediterranean Layer
Thinking MU
Barcelona, Spain
For the pieces that belong on a terrace in the sun. Thinking MU uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, reuses its fabric offcuts, and keeps early production close to home to cut its footprint. Relaxed shapes with a southern European ease.
The Weekend Basics
Kotn
Toronto, Canada
Kotn scores top marks for how it treats workers, with a code of conduct aligned to the International Labour Organization's principles, and it skips plastic packaging. Easy sweats and tees for slow mornings.
The Staple That Already Exists
Pre-loved
Our favourite way to shop on tour
The lowest-impact closet staple is one that's already been made. Resale platforms like Vinted and Vestiaire Collective are full of the brands above, and of beautifully made basics from every era. Search by fibre ("100% cotton," "linen," "merino") rather than by trend, and check the measurements twice.
Make it last
A staple only earns its place if you keep it. Four habits that double the life of anything you own.
Wash less, wash cool
Most cotton only needs a wash after a few wears. Cold water protects the fibre and the colour.
Skip the dryer
Line-drying keeps cotton from shrinking and thinning. Sea air does the rest.
Mend early
A loose button or a small tear takes minutes to fix today, and ends a garment's life if ignored.
Buy for the gap
Before buying, name three things you already own that it goes with. If you can't, wait.
Going back to basics isn't about owning less for its own sake. It's about owning better: pieces made by people who were treated fairly, from fibres that didn't cost the earth, chosen to be worn until they're soft with memory. That's the wardrobe I want to travel the world in.
— Nicolette Stephanie
How we chose
these brands.
Every maker here is rated "Good" or "Great" by Good On You, which scores brands on their impact on people, the planet and animals. Where a brand falls short — such as no proof yet of living wages across its whole supply chain — we've weighed it honestly.
Brands change owners and standards, so we revisit this edit regularly. No paid placements.
Good On You ratings checked · October 2026
