It’s time to leave fast fashion in the dust — with one-of-a-kind designs, quality fabrics, and the assurance your dollars are supporting a more responsible fashion industry, these slow fashion brands are sure to win you over.
Before we go any further, though, I think we need to clarify what exactly slow fashion is…
What Do I Mean By “Slow Fashion?”
Slow fashion is about being more mindful and thoughtful about how clothing (and other fashion items) are being produced, how they’re being purchased, and how they’re being used/worn.
Instead of mass-producing trend-driven garments cheaply and quickly, slow fashion production is about creating a piece to last by using high-quality materials, transitional designs (i.e. they migth be contemporary but they’re not super “trendy”), and durable construction.
For individuals, slow fashion purchasing habits means buying less, but better. A slow fashion mindset is all about choosing well — it’s about picking well-made items that are built to last and also selecting pieces that fit your lifestyle and body well, to ensure they’ll not only be durable but will actually be useful for years to come.
Adopting slow fashion in your life, though, doesn’t necessarily have to mean spending money — this concept is also about slowing down to appreciate your clothes and closet. Slow fashion can mean wearing what you have as much as possible, mending and repairing worn clothing, or upcycling an even sewing your own clothes.
For more, read “What is Slow Fashion, Really?”
While slow fashion is a term that’s often used quite generally, it’s important to note that there are fast fashion brands that might have some organic or recycled clothing. Those did not make the list!
Slow fashion companies to me — and the criteria used to select brands for this guide — are brands that produce in smaller batches, make most of their pieces by hand, craft each piece with attention to detail and quality, and ideally, partner with skilled artisans, sewers, and craftspeople (who are of course fairly paid).
Now without further ado, here are our picks for…
My Top Picks for Slow Fashion Brands
To be clear: you do not need to purchase from slow fashion brands to participate in slow fashion. However, when the time comes that you want to add a new piece to your wardrobe, you probably want your dollars to go towards supporting responsible brands that are doing things better; that are producing with quality and intention.
You want to invest in pieces for the long-haul — and pieces that have a positive impact. And these slow fashion brands will help you do just that.
Note that this article features affiliate links which help us continue to run this independent site. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Feminine and vintage-inspired, Christy Dawn’s dresses are a romantic’s dream. As are their sweaters, jumpsuits, pants and every other garment they sell.
Each garment is ethically sewn in Los Angeles or India by makers earning living wages, and is made with regenerative cotton grown by their partners Oshadi Collective in India, organic cotton, or deadstock fabrics.
Conscious Qualities: Eco & Regenerative Fabrics, Ethical Production
Size Range: XS – 3XL + petite sizes
Price Range: $$$
2. Asket
Asket is upping the ante for slow clothing by offering a responsibly made timeless permanent collection that doesn’t change every season. Their clothing is made in Portugal and Italy entirely with natural fibers like organic cotton and recycled cashmere — most of which have also been sources within Europe.
Standing behind their commitment to longevity, Asket also offers free in-store repairs or complimentary replacement parts to mend yourself or take to a tailor.
Size Range: XXS – XXL
Price Range: $$
3. Kotn
Kotn creates timeless (and no, that doesn’t mean boring!), high-quality essentials with a focus on traceability and social impact. The brand works directly with family-run farms in Egypt to source its premium, long-staple cotton, ensuring fair wages and ethical production. Beyond apparel, Kotn reinvests in the communities it works with, funding education initiatives and infrastructure projects.
Conscious Qualities: Ethically-Sourced Cotton, Direct Trade Partnerships, Fair Wages, Community Investment, B-Corp certified
Size Range: XS–XL
Price Range: $$
4. Encircled
Encircled is here to help us rethink how versatile our wardrobe can really be, one ridiculously comfortable, wear-everywhere piece at a time. Based in Toronto, this woman-founded brand designs timeless staples that make getting dressed easier, whether you’re traveling, working at the office or running errands — but want to still look put together.
Each garment is thoughtfully crafted with lower-impact fabrics like TENCEL
, Modal, and organic cotton and sewn locally in Canada to ensure transparent, ethical production.
Conscious Qualities: Ethically Made, Sustainably Sourced, Transparent & Local Production
Price Range: $$
Size Range: XS – 2XL
5. AGAATI
AGAATI is redefining fashion by blending eco-conscious practices with exquisite craftsmanship. Founded by Saloni Shrestha, a Parsons graduate with experience at renowned fashion houses, AGAATI offers accessible luxury made by skilled artisans. The label is reviving traditional techniques to create vibrant, handcrafted designs that celebrate individuality and elegance. With a commitment to sustainability, AGAATI utilizes natural fibers such as organic cotton, silk, and wool, and embraces zero-waste design principles by upcycling fabric scraps.
Conscious Qualities: Artisan-Crafted, Ethically-Made, Made-to-Order Options
Size Range: XS – L (+ custom options)
Price Range: $$$
6. Brook There
Founded with ethics and sustainability at the heart of their business, Brook There creates comfy organic cotton undergarments with care.
They keep their production close to home — their undergarments are cut and sewn in a small mill town in Massachusetts and their GOTS-certified organic cotton yarn is even milled and dyed in California.
Size Range: XS – XXL
Price Range: $
Conscious Qualities: GOTS-Certified Organic Fabrics, Domestic Production
7. GRAMMAR NYC
Your classic white shirt just got a major upgrade. GRAMMAR NYC crafts garments inspired by the classic wardrobe staple that are anything but basic. Think white shirt dresses, tunics, blouses, and button-up styles you won’t find anywhere else.
Conscious Qualities: Uses Organic Cotton, Ethical and Small-Batch Production
Size Range: 0 – 12
Price Range: $$$
8. Eileen Fisher
Sustainable designer Eileen Fisher has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to earth-minded practices.
Their team produces minimalist slow clothing crafted with care from better fabrics like organic linen, hemp, and regenerative wool. And the designer had circularity programs — including take-back and resale — long before they were trending.
Conscious Qualities: Lower Impact Fabrics, Circular Models
Size Range: XS – 3XL + petite sizes
Price Range: $$$
9. OhSevenDays
This sustainable slow fashion brand creates gorgeous pieces out of would-be waste.
While the label used to source from middlemen deadstock fabrics, the brand now sources certified organic and recycled fabrics directly from mills, which enables better transparency.
Their zero waste misfits collection features imperfect pieces for lower price points.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Fabric Sourcing, Intentional Production
Size Range: XS – XL
Price Range: $$
10. Harvest & Mill
Harvest & Mill has done what very few brands have managed to do: build a completely domestic supply chain from fiber to finish. The brand sources organic cotton grown in the U.S. before the cotton is milled in the country and spun and knit into fabric. Then their organic loungewear and basics are sewn in California within a 20 minute radius of their Berkeley studio.
Their clothing is left unbleached or dyed with natural colorants (the black is made with fiber reactive dyes) and the fabric plus packaging are entirely compostable.
Conscious Qualities: Fully Traceable US Supply Chain, 100% Organic Fibers, Natural Dyes & Unbleached Fabrics
Size Range: S-XL
Price Range: $ – $$
For More Slow Fashion Content:
Questions You Might Be Asking
What is a slow fashion brand?
In short, a slow fashion brand makes fewer, better pieces, designed to last and not to chase every fleeting trend. They may have contemporary styles, but they’re not trying to convince you to buy something new every week. The brands in this guide produce in smaller batches, put care into construction, and are transparent about who makes their clothes and how. For the full definition, see What Is Slow Fashion, Really?
What’s the difference between slow fashion and sustainable fashion?
Slow fashion is about pace and quality: how much a brand makes, how long the clothes last, and how they’re made. Sustainable fashion is about environmental impact, like fibers and processes. They often overlap, but not 100% of the time. For example, a large corporate fashion brand can use organic cotton at huge volume and have some “more sustainable” practices while a small-batch brand may still use conventional but fully traceable cotton purchased direct from farmers.
Are there luxury slow fashion brands?
Yes. Christy Dawn, AGAATI, GRAMMAR NYC, and Eileen Fisher are the more luxury picks in this guide. Price alone doesn’t prove a brand is ethical, though, so always check how and where it’s made, not just what it costs!
Can slow fashion be affordable?
It can be. While you won’t see fast fashion prices from values-driven brands (you can’t charge that little and still pay fair wages), Kotn has more affordable clothing and OhSevenDays’ zero-waste “misfits” collection sells imperfect pieces at lower prices. Some brands like Eileen Fisher have their own resale program too. Or, of course, you can find any brand secondhand. I also think about slow fashion in terms of the cost per wear — a $50 dress that I’ll wear once has a cost per wear of $50, while a $250 sweater I’ll wear 250 times over the course of the next 20 years has a cost per wear of $1. So it’s also about a reframe around how often we buy clothing and how long we keep it. Of course there’s privilege in that, so if you can’t afford it start with loving up what you have, repairing, and choosing secondhand first.
Which slow fashion brands make their clothes in the US?
Brook There cuts and sews its undergarments in Massachusetts, with organic cotton yarn milled and dyed in California. Christy Dawn sews in Los Angeles or India. Encircled sews in Toronto, if our neighbor Canada counts for you!
Are there size-inclusive slow fashion brands?
Christy Dawn and Eileen Fisher both go up to 3XL and include petite sizes. For sustainably-minded brands that sell up to 4XL or beyond, check out our Plus Size Slow Fashion Guide.
How can I tell if a brand is greenwashing or “slow-washing”?
I watch for vague words like “conscious” or “sustainable” with no specifics, no information about who makes the clothes or where, constant new drops, and a single claim, such as organic cotton, standing in for everything else. Instead, we’d like to see the holistic picture of slow fashion, from intentional design to durability to thoughtful material use and end-of-life responsibility like the repair program from Asket or the take-back and resale program from Eileen Fisher.
Is a bigger brand like Eileen Fisher really slow fashion?
Fair question! Eileen Fisher operates at a larger scale than the small-batch makers here (they’re a private company so we don’t know the size for certain) but I still include this brand for its timeless designs, better fabrics like organic linen, hemp, and regenerative wool, and a take-back program that keeps clothes in use. Not to mention, Eileen Fisher is considered one of the pioneers for slow and sustainable fashion, inspiring many other designers and fashion professionals to think about fashion in a more responsible and circular way. Also, whenever I attend webinars hosted by Eileen Fisher or Eileen Fisher Foundation about regenerative or circular fashion, Eileen Fisher herself is almost always there. So while a larger company, the founder is still intimately involved and incredibly values-driven.
The post Our 10 Favorite Slow Fashion Brands: Sustainable, Ethical & Timeless appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
Our 10 Favorite Slow Fashion Brands: Sustainable, Ethical & Timeless
There’s something undeniably special about wearing uniquely handcrafted, fair trade jewelry that you can know was made slowly and thoughtfully with care. Equally special is wearing an elevated set of jewelry crafted with recycled materials and sustainable processes.
Whether you’re looking for an investment piece or more affordable pieces, there are options for any budget on this list. The aesthetics of these fair trade and sustainable jewelry brands also vary, so you’ll also be able to discover an ethical brand that matches your unique style.
What is Fair Trade Jewelry?
Fair trade can both be a general term used to describe a brand’s sourcing practices — like direct relationships with artisan cooperatives, wages above local standard rates, and safe working conditions — or a third-party “Fair Trade” verification through an organization like Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade USA, or World Fair Trade Organization. When a brand doesn’t have a certification, we verify a brand’s practices by their own published information.
In the cases where brands do go the extra mile and get a third-party verification for their fair trade practices, we’ve noted it directly in their entries.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links and partners. As always, we only feature brands that meet high standards for responsibility we love, and that we think you’ll love too!
2. Ana Luisa
Best for: affordable everyday jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Gold, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Small-Batch Production, Direct-to-Consumer
Ana Luisa creates stunning, elegant jewelry from responsibly-sourced materials including 100% recycled gold and lab-grown diamonds. The sustainable jewelry brand also produces in small batches to minimize waste.
By using a direct-to-consumer model, Ana Luisa is able to provide luxury, high-quality jewelry at accessible prices.
3. Monica Vinader
Best for: recycled demi-fine jewelry
Conscious Qualities: Woman-Founded, Recycled Silver & Gold Vermeil, Traceable Gemstones, Lab-Grown & Conflict-Free Diamonds, Supply Chain Transparency
Price Range: $85 (studs) – $2,495 (diamond ring)
British jewelry brand Monica Vinader was one of the first brands to meet the gap between fashion jewelry and fine jewelry with their “demi fine” jewelry. The women-founded brand has necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings crafted from 100% recycled sterling silver and gold vermeil, fully traceable gemstones, and lab-grown or conflict-free diamonds. Monica Vinader also launched Product Passports, taking an active effort towards full supply chain transparency.
4. WorldFinds
Best for: unique statement jewelry with a story
Conscious Qualities: Fair Trade Verified, Upcycled Materials, Artisan-Made
WorldFinds provides sustainable employment and just wages for hundreds of women artisans in India and Bali. These artisans handcraft both sleek metal fair trade jewelry and unique recycled Kantha pieces. WorldFinds is Verified by the Fair Trade Federation, which assesses members against fair trade principles including fair wages, safe conditions, and transparent supply chains.
Plus WorldFinds’ signature Kantha jewelry is made from upcycling materials: wood scraps from a furniture factory and locally sourced Kantha fabric remnants.
5. Astor + Orion
Best for: drop earrings and charm necklaces with symbolism
Conscious Qualities: Certified Ethical Factory, Recycled Materials, Designed for Recyclability, Repair Program
Ethical jewelry brand Astor + Orion sources their jewelry from a factory with multiple certifications ensuring worker safety, fair production practices, and responsible environmental management. Astor + Orion’s stunning jewelry is made from recycled materials and designed in a way to make it easily recyclable! Their pieces also come with a quality assurance — the brand will repair any piece within 6 months of purchase.
