Back Beat Co.
Rated: Good
Price: $$
Location: USA
Quick verdict
Back Beat Co. is best for eco-minded shoppers who want California-cool, laid-back basics (tees, jumpsuits, lounge pieces) made from genuinely low-impact fabrics like hemp and organic cotton. What stands out is the brand's authentic commitment to materials: the entire product line uses eco-friendly fabrics, not just a capsule collection, plus the refreshingly honest brand voice. The major caveat is insufficient publicly available information about labour policies, and possible wind-down activity with many products marked "FINAL SALE."
Key info
- Headquarters
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Founded
- ~2015
- Product categories
- Womenswear, Basics
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- GOTS-certified organic cotton (materials only)
Back Beat Co. sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Entire line uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, hemp, recycled cotton, Tencel, linen, and deadstock fabric. Locally knitted fabric in LA with some sourcing from India. No mention of regenerative agriculture or raw material traceability.
Manufactured primarily in small family-owned LA factories, with some production in India. Claims fair/living wages but has no published labour policies, no Code of Conduct, and zero third-party labour certifications.
Eco-friendly packaging (100% post-consumer recycled mailers, compostable bags) and low-impact fabrics are genuine positives. However, there's no carbon footprint measurement, no water usage tracking, no circularity programme, and no environmental targets or reporting.
Shares general information about fabric types and manufacturing locations (LA and India) but publishes no supply chain map, factory list, impact reports, audit results, or worker wage data.
Mid-range sustainable pricing: tees $40-$72, bottoms $47-$100, jumpsuits $128-$198. More affordable than Reformation but above Pact. Significant sale items available ($20-$80). LA-made with genuine eco fabrics at accessible prices is a strong value proposition.
What they do well
- Full-line material commitment. Every product uses low-impact fabrics including hemp, GOTS organic cotton, recycled cotton, Tencel, linen, or deadstock, making this a genuinely eco-first operation rather than a green capsule within a conventional brand
- LA-made, small-batch production. Primarily manufactured in Los Angeles with small family-owned factories, supporting local makers and reducing shipping footprint
- Woman-owned and minority-owned. Founded by Isadora Alvarez, a Filipino immigrant who built the brand from flea market vintage sales, adding authentic diversity to the sustainable fashion space
- Eco-conscious packaging and partnerships. Ships in 100% post-consumer recycled or compostable packaging and partners with Intersectional Environmentalist for grassroots climate activism
Room for improvement
- Critical labour transparency gap. Despite verbal commitments to fair wages, the brand publishes no Code of Conduct, no factory details, and holds no third-party labour certifications.
- No environmental metrics. For a brand centred on environmental responsibility, there's a notable absence of measurable data: no carbon footprint, no water usage reporting, no reduction targets, no impact reports.
- No circularity programme. No take-back, repair, or recycling initiatives. Adding even a simple resale or recycling programme would strengthen their credentials.
About Back Beat Co.
Back Beat Co. was born from founder Isadora Alvarez's disillusionment with fast fashion. After immigrating from the Philippines at 23 and completing a fashion degree in San Francisco, she worked as a corporate buyer at Ross Stores before quitting to sell vintage clothing at LA flea markets (Rose Bowl, Melrose Trading Post). Her vintage shop, originally "Back Beat Rags" and named for the musical off-beat that gives a song something special, evolved into a full line around 2015 when she noticed her niche was basics.
The brand uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, hemp (often in 55/45 or 20/80 blends with organic cotton), recycled cotton, Tencel, linen, and deadstock fabric. Fabrics are locally knitted in LA, with some sourcing from India. GOTS certification is the only third-party material verification; the brand holds no B Corp, Fair Trade, or OEKO-TEX certifications.
Manufacturing happens primarily in small, family-owned sewing factories in Los Angeles, with secondary production in India. Shipping is free in the US over $125 and worldwide over $300, with free US returns. Everything ships in recycled paper mailers or compostable bags. Pricing sits in the mid-range of sustainable fashion, below Reformation and MATE the Label but above Pact, making it one of the more accessible LA-made sustainable basics brands.
Product highlights
Organic Cotton Everyday Jumpsuit
Heavy-duty hemp/organic cotton jersey jumpsuit (20% hemp, 80% organic cotton) with front pockets and keyhole back
~$128–$168
Signature bestseller that defines the brand; available on Nuuly rental platform
Hemp Canvas Painter Pant
Durable 55% hemp / 45% organic cotton workwear-inspired pants made in LA
~$75–$120
Showcases hemp as a fashion-forward fabric with skate/surf cultural appeal
Recycled Cotton Puff Sleeve Sweatshirt
Cosy sweatshirt in recycled cotton, available in 4 colourways, sizes XS/S to XL/XXL
~$80
Demonstrates recycled materials commitment with fashion-forward puff sleeve detail
Twill Frayed Coveralls
Workwear-inspired coveralls with frayed detailing
~$198
One of the brand's most-reviewed items on Nuuly with 442+ reviews
