The 25 Best Slow Fashion Brands for Small Batch & Ethical Style
It may be a fast-paced world, but sometimes we need to do the opposite if we hope to take even a minute to ourselves to smell the roses.
It’s also something the Earth is in dire need of, because continuing at our current relentless pace of production and consumption is driving the planet to destruction.
Slow living has become increasingly popular encouraging people to slow down. Particularly the slow food movement which originated out of a desire to do just that: counteract the rise of fast life.
This movement seeks to protect local food cultures and encourage interest and awareness in the food we eat, where it comes from, and how our food choices affect the world.
The slow fashion movement has followed suit with similar goals.
This guide is the ultimate place to learn about slow fashion! I’m explaining what the slow fashion movement is and a few brands to love.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
What is Slow Fashion?
Writer and design activist Kate Fletcher coined the term “slow fashion movement” in 2007 as a play on the slow food movement.
Just as the slow food movement is about creating awareness about where our food comes from and engaging with it in a more ethical, eco-friendly, and sustainable way, slow fashion aims to do the same with clothing.
Slow fashion originated as a counter to fast fashion, specifically as a means to slow down and reduce production and consumption in an effort to decrease the industry’s, as well as our own individual, environmental footprint and ethical malpractice.
Slow fashion encourages conscious consumption: knowing not only what your clothes are made from, but what resources it took to make them (and get them to you) and who made them.
Slowing down fashion is about more than just slowing down production and consumption, it’s also about implementing sustainable, eco-friendly, and ethical materials and practices.
Slow Fashion versus Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is a clothing movement that became a destructive habit in the fashion industry.
With fast fashion, clothes are mass produced at a relentless pace to meet the constant demand for new trends.
To lower the cost of production, cheaper fabrics (which are often of poorer quality) are used.
Exacerbating the problem are poorly made designs and short-lived trends, which sees clothing wear out quickly or go out of fashion before the week is out.
The result is a planet stripped of resources and polluted due to constant production processes that involve the heavy use of water, energy, and chemicals. It also results in tons of clothing piling up in landfills every year.
Slow fashion has retaliated with slower, small-scale production, producing limited pieces as opposed to the mass production of fast fashion’s cheap, disposable items.
Slow fashion prizes quality over quantity and timelessness over time.
While fast fashion pushes new trends every week, slow fashion focuses on making clothing with high quality fabrics and designs that can withstand wear and tear and outlive trends.
Due to fast fashion’s high demand, as well as the expectation of quick turnaround, the workload of industry employees increases.
This overtime, coupled with low wages and poor working conditions, unfair wages, and child labor, has become a notorious blight on the reputation of the industry.
Slow fashion seeks to remedy this damaging practice through fair and ethical treatment of workers and being transparent about where clothes are made and who made them.
Furthermore, slow fashion tries to design and produce clothing locally and in-house as much as possible.
Why is Slow Fashion More Sustainable?
Let’s break down a few reasons slow fashion is a more sustainable choice!
Better Materials
Fast fashion’s destructive linear model of take-make-waste is abandoned with slow fashion. Slow fashion seeks to use superior materials and to keep those materials circulating instead of thrown out.
Materials usually consist of sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics. These are often natural such as cotton, linen, hemp, organic materials, and wool – which are strong and durable but can also be recycled – as well as innovative synthetics like recycled polyester and ECONYL®, which help keep items such as plastic water bottles, old fishing nets, and discarded clothing out of landfills by reusing these items to make clothes.
Other sustainable clothing brands focus on deadstock fabrics or crafting new clothes from previously loved materials.
Small Batches & Less Waste
Along with using eco-friendly materials slow fashion brands typically produce in small batches. This creates lower carbon emissions when compared to mass production and less waste, creating a positive change.
Transparent Manufacturing
Since slow fashion brands are focused on creating quality over quantity, often times this means their manufacturing process is more transparent and meaningful.
A lot ethical brands using slower practices respect local communities and work with other small businesses to ensure sustainable production, ethical working conditions, and social responsibility.
Circularity, Limited Quantities, & Low Environmental Impact
Circularity is also achieved through closed loop production processes, because it not only keeps materials in use but also prevents waste from entering the environment.
This extends to the packaging used by brands, as they aim for less or zero waste through the use of recycled, recyclable, or compostable packaging.
Waste is also reduced through design. By working on a made-to-order basis, brands prevent mass production and do not end up with more than they need or can sell.
Style Instead of Trends
Slow fashion speaks to timelessness rather than trends. It encourages investing in timeless but also versatile pieces that can be worn in many ways.
Minimalist or capsule wardrobes have inspired the idea of owning fewer clothes but ones that can be worn for a long time and in a variety of combinations.
Just be wary of constantly creating new capsules as this will merely fuel overconsumption.
Know your style (and your climate) and invest in smart items that will help you dress according to the occasion and the season.
Shopping More Sustainably
Slow fashion also encourages buying less, upcycling, and wearing second-hand. Before you shop (especially between seasons), clean your closet to remind yourself of what you already have.
If there is something you need new, shop slow fashion brands that prioritize people and the planet.
25 of the Best Slow Fashion Brands
If you're read to leave fast fashion behind, but aren't sure where to start this list of slow fashion brands is a great place to start. These sustainable fashion brands use slow practices, value fair wages, and have a transparent supply chain.
Malaika New York’s Zero Waste Fashion
Malaika New York is an ethical fashion brand that focuses on zero waste design and seasonless style. Their eco-friendly clothing is ethically made in partnership with a Turkish factory focused on sustainable production, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Malaika New York uses sustainable materials such as GOTS or OEKO certificated cottons, deadstock fabric, ECONYL, and RWS certified wool.
LA Relaxed's Clothing Made in America
LA Relaxed is a Los-Angeles-based brand using sustainable natural fibers to craft high quality clothing.
All of their clothing is made in their own factory where they pay garment workers a livable wage and have healthy work conditions.
This ethical brand aims to minimize waste in the production process by making in small batches, reducing fabric consumption, and using leftover fabric for other goods.
The Checkroom's Timeless Coats
The Checkroom creates timeless & functional coats for women. This socially responsible brand partners with American Woolen, of the few remaining wool mills in the United States to bring consumers USA-Made, wool/cashmere blend coats crafted to last.
The Checkroom uses slow fashion practices with their made to order and small batch runs. The coats are ethically made in Chicago & feature size inclusive options.
I have a coat from The Checkroom and it is incredible quality. The nicest coat I have ever owned and very clearly made to last for years to come.
Whimsy + Row's Small Batch & Locally Made Clothing
Whimsy + Row is a slow fashion brand focusing on limited runs and locally made garments. This ethical fashion brand visits their factories weekly to ensure fair wages are given and the workers are being treated fairly.
Whimsy + Row uses low impact fabrics like Certified Organic Cotton, Linen, TENCEL™, Cupro, Silk and Deadstock/Upcycled Fabric. They use scraps from their clothing to make bandanas, bucket hats and scrunchies as part of their zero waste initiatives.
They also have a waitlist feature on their website so that they know exactly how much to make of each product. Whimsy + Row is also Carbon Neutral which is great!
Tradlands Timeless Style & Small Batches
Tradlands focuses on creating pieces customers can wear with everything and live in for years to come. Tradlands creates their clothing in limited runs to avoid overproduction.
Their timeless pieces are ethically made with natural materials like cotton, silk, and TENCEL. Tradlands carries both a variety of neutral style and bold colorful pieces perfect for fun fashion.
AmourLinen's Low Waste Linen Clothing
Dedicated to promoting slow living and sustainable sourcing, AmourLinen handcrafts linen clothing and home textiles. Their natural linen products are OEKO-TEX certified and 100% European flax linen.
Each item is also made to order in an effort to reduce waste and be conscious of their carbon foorpting. AmourLinen's products are ethically made in their Vilnius, Lithuania studio.
Encircled’s Conscious Versatile Style Crafted in Canada
Encircled’s modern basics are consciously crafted in Canada using sustainable materials.
This ethical clothing brand focuses on versatile multi-way clothing encouraging consumers to invest in high quality pieces that can be worn for years to come.
The focus on sustainability is transparent throughout Encircled’s supply chain including the fabric used to craft the clothes, powering their office space with renewable green energy, purchasing recycled paper products, and more.
To encourage transparency and reduce their carbon footprint, Encircled works with local studios in Toronto who cut, sew, knit and dye fabric. Encircled furthers their environmental impact by being waste conscious and giving back.
This certified B Corporation makes the most of their materials through their recently launched ReNew Collection.
Carry Courage’s sustainable bags & accessories
Carry Courage vegan bags are ethically made in Portland, Oregon using sustainable materials. Carry Courage provides conscious consumers with organization solutions through eco-friendly cork pouches, bags, and accessories.
Carry Courage bags are ethically made to order in Marisa’s Portland studio. Each product is carefully crafted with high quality stitching and durable cork fabric.
notPERFECTLINEN's Clothing from Natural Fabrics
notPERFECTLINEN offers clothing made from Earth-friendly fabric, linen. Along with linen clothing they offer aprons, curtains, and bed and bathroom items.
Committed to sustainable practices, their made-to-order model helps reduce waste. They try to work by hand as much as possible so they can employ more seamstresses and promote slow buying to reduce overconsumption.
Using OEKO-TEX certified linen, they avoid the addition of intricate cuts, zips, and other extraneous details to further reduce waste and to make for a comfortable fit and timeless design.
TAMGA
Sustain by Kat's Plant Dyed Slow made Clothing
Each plant-dyed piece of clothing from Sustain by Kat is meticulously dyed with brilliant plant dyes from across the world, known for their ability to make beautiful, long-lasting colors.
No harmful substances in this clothing. Discover brightly colored blues and purples all colored by Mother Earth. Conscious consumers can shop eco-friendly options for women's clothing, baby, and underwear.
Passion Lilie's Slow Fashion Made with Fair Trade Practices
Passion Lilie is dedicated to style, slow fashion, and sustainability. Community is part of their mission as they work closely with skilled artisans in India.
To create their beautiful prints and patterns, Passion Lilie makes use of block printing, as well as utilizing the traditional artisan skills of ikat weaving, helping keep the practice alive.
Passion Lilie’s artisan partners use 30% recycled cotton and 70% organic cotton. Passion Lilie only uses sustainable, non-toxic dyes; utilizes natural fabrics and organic cotton that is GOTS certified and they are part of the Fair Trade Federation ensuring fair trade practices.
Ash & Rose’s slow fashion clothes for women
Ash & Rose is an ethical, sustainable fashion retailer that sources local and global brands that are sweatshop and child-labor free.
On top of carrying other brands, Ash & Rose has their own collection of locally handmade pieces is an excellent example of what it means to sell sustainable clothing made in the U.S. in a creative and repurposed way.
Ash & Rose's co-founder designs and crafts every piece of the collection, which is composed entirely from antique, vintage, recycled, and remnant materials.
Lovanie's Slow Fashion for Petite Women
Lovanie is a sustainable fashion brand based in Seattle, WA. Lovanie creates clothing for petite women.
Garments are ethically made in small batches in Seattle using 100% linen and deadstock cotton. Use THEHONESTCONSUMER for 10% off your first purchase.
Fair Indigo's Organic Cotton Clothing
Fair Indigo in fair trade clothing. Fair Indigo uses organic cotton to craft high quality garments crafted to last.
Fair Indigo also gives back to The Fair Indigo Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to improve educational opportunities for children in the Peruvian communities where their cotton is grown, alpacas are herded, and products are made.
Fair Indigo's organic cotton clothing features basics for men and women.
The Good Tee's Fair Trade Organic Cotton Clothes
The Good Tee prioritizes ethical and fair treatment of the cotton farmers they work with. Using certified Fairtrade organic cotton to give consumers “the greenest tee ever made”, this brand furthers their sustainability practices by using AZO-free and low-impact dyes, biodegradable bags and recycled boxes, and buttons made from coconut and seashells instead of plastic.
The Good Tee is a certified b corporation, uses Fairtrade cotton AND partners with Fairtrade factories.
DARZAH: FAIR TRADE SHOES
Darzah empowers refugee and low-income women in West Bank, Palestine through the creation of high quality leather goods.
Ethically styled in Eileen Fisher pants + Darzah Flats
This non-profit social enterprise is creating job opportunities for women to rise out of poverty, support their families, and keep the traditional artform of Tatreez embroidery alive.
Darzah’s beautiful leather shoes, bags, and accessories celebrate fair fashion and modern style.
Eileen Fisher's High End Slow Fashion
Circularity and sustainability are key to Eileen Fisher’s designs and practices. Using fibers that are regenerative, reusable, and recyclable places garments into a self-replenishing cycle, abandoning the linear model of fast fashion.
Eileen Fisher aims to be sustainable and eco-friendly by implementing practices such as using less water and energy, as well as fewer chemicals. In addition to making use of natural fibers such as linen, cotton, merino wool, cashmere, and silk, they also make use of material scraps.
The latter is not only used for clothing, but also to make artwork and accessories through their project Waste No More.
Eileen Fisher also extends clothing’s lifespan with Renew, a platform through which you can return or shop for gently used Eileen Fisher pieces.
Flood Clothing: Zero Waste Clothing
Flood Clothing creates unique, one of a kind apparel made out of 100% recycled clothing. The crafting of each garment prevents textiles from ending up in the landfills.
Flood Clothing is designed and hand sewn in Portland Oregon.
Fun fact, I have a hoodie named after me! The Light Speed Honest Em’ hoodie was designed based on my style!
Sotela's Made to Order Clothes
A made-to-order brand that prioritizes inclusivity and low impact, Sotela is a sustainable and ethical slow fashion brand offering a variety of timeless pieces, from tops and bottoms to dresses and skirts.
Produced in-house in Los Angeles, Sotela only works with natural fibers and with a local dye house using non-toxic dyes. Further eco-friendly practices are implemented with packaging that is 100% recycled and recyclable.
Seyyah’s Slow Fashion Jewelry
Seyyah creates detailed statement necklaces that empower women in Turkey.
The limited edition necklaces are crafted with love and serve as a great conversation starter.
Ethically styled in Brooke Collective’s Velvet Tunic with Seyyah necklace
Through Seyyah’s beaded crochet necklaces, this brand is encouraging consumers to invest in high quality, slow fashion accessories that can be worn for many years. Due to the lack of opportunity in Turkey older women can struggle to find work.
Thankfully Seyyah is making it possible for these women to earn their own money.
The flexibility and fair wages allow some women who have traditionally not been able to make their own money an empowering feeling of accomplishment providing for themselves.
With each necklace taking nine to ten hours to craft, these ladies are dedicated to their art.
Empire of Bees: Multi-Season Leather Products
Empire of Bees is a slow fashion accessory brand working with tailors in Indonesia to craft beautiful leather bags and provide employment opportunities.
Founded by cousins Claire and Bridget, the entrepreneurs wanted to create a slow fashion product that could be used during all seasons.
At the time Claire was living in Indonesia and was able to work directly with tailors to craft bags.
Empire of Bees bags are crafted from cow and sheep hide, suede, and upcycled fabrics to ensure high quality, fashionable product.
Hopefully this guide helped you learn more about slow fashion and introduced you to some amazing slow fashion brands!
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