The Best Sustainable and Ethical European Fashion Brands

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Europe, you’re making the U.S. look bad.

Besides the fact that your governing body, the European Union (EU) has stringent health and safety standards that govern every garment factory, tannery, and mill in Europe, making “made in Europe” the easy choice, your fashion scene just seems to get it.

Take Berlin Fashion Week. You had an entire fashion show on the main catwalk, bulbs flashing, devoted to ethical fashion. This was not a cute show put together by fashion students, or a well-meaning event by a non-profit scrabbled together with zero budget. It was serious business, with a locked-down guest list and risers so packed it was standing-room only. Wow, so sustainable fashion is taken seriously here.

Or your trade shows. Not one but two trade shows made it easy for conscious fashion buyers and journalists like me to find fashion brands that are doing it better. The Ethical Fashion Show included only green and ethical brands, and Seek handily marked brands that have a conscious element in the program in green. I breezed through the show in two hours, ignoring the conventional brands. Compare that to NYC trade shows, which I stopped attending because it took too much time and emotional energy to visit every booth and say, “Do you have any sustainability initiatives?” and watch the sales assistants struggle to find something to tell me.

But boy, was there a lot of good design to choose from in Berlin! Of course, not every green brand is in this roundup – there were ethical brands that weren’t up to my personal aesthetic standards. But I was so thrilled to discover 16 new-to-me ethical/sustainable fashion brands, and rediscover and get to know three others that pulled me in with their fresh designs.

Whether hailing from the minimalist design capitals of Scandinavia, or the sunny quality manufacturing hubs of Portugal and Spain, the following European brands made me sit up and pay attention. I think you might like them, too.

 

Gothenburg, Sweden

All Blek pieces and fabrics are sustainably produced in small towns around Bergamo in Italy out of 100% recycled polyamide. In order to offer customers transparency and affordable pricing, they never do seasonal sales or discounts. They take pride in offering sustainable products of the highest quality at a fair and reasonable price.

United Kingdom

I actually have a dress by COSSAC, but have never formally introduced this brand to you! Designed in London and made in Europe, COSSAC promotes the minimalistic concept of Capsule Wardrobes, and offers a curated selection of contemporary threads and redefined basics with a sass edge. Sustainably designed and ethically produced, each quality garment is intended to be tran-seasonal, with the aim of minimizing wastefulness and maximizing usefulness. COSSAC is sold in 27 stores globally.

Stockholm, Sweden

Dedicated makes cheeky sustainable streetwear using Fair Trade organic cotton, recycled PET bottles, and Tencel. They have long-term relationships with four facilities with various certifications (Fairtrade, GOTS) in India and China.

Madrid, Spain

Diarte likes natural fibers and only uses oil-based threads to ensure resistance or to get an effect that can not be obtained otherwise, never to compromise quality. They only use materials from European suppliers. All yarns for Diarte knits have an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification that ensures the responsible use of chemicals. All the factories they work with are located within few kilometers of their studio in Madrid, meaning all the production for knits and wovens are 100% made in Spain.

Madrid, Spain

Of course, I already was familiar with ECOALF, but I was very impressed with how much they’ve expanded and refined their offerings. It’s not just coats made from recycled water bottles anymore, but also fashion-forward shoes, bags, shirts, sweatshirts, and trousers made from fishing nets, tires, cotton, coffee grounds, and wool – all recycled. Many of the recycled plastics are pulled up from the seafloor off of Spain and now Thailand. ECOALF puts collection drums right on the fishing boats, so that fishermen collect and pass on the plastic waste instead of throwing it back in. ECOALF is also a certified B Corp.

Duisburg, Germany

“Esthétique” stands for diversity, respect and beauty. The “esthétique” favorite pieces are produced with fabrics like organic cotton and linen, exclusively in the tailor shop of the Duisburg workshop for people with disabilities. Esthétique also asks people with disabilities to model for them.

Bologna, Italy

Designed and produced in Italy where they also have a brick and mortar shop, Eticló uses natural and organic materials such as cotton, linen, and silk, along with non-toxic dyes. With an emphasis on slow fashion, their designs are meant to be versatile and durable to last through the seasons. They also use eco-conscious packaging like recycled and FSC-certified paper.

Hamburg, Germany

All of Jan n’ June’s garments are produced in Wroclaw, Poland, in one factory, so they can regularly visit and ensure quality and ethics. They use organic and recycled cotton, recycled PET and polyamide, and Tencel. They are certified by GOTS, Oekotex, and Global Recycling Standard.

Zurich, Switzerland

Jungle Folk was born during designer Pauline Treis’s trip through Colombia. Inspired by beautiful landscapes and the people’s know how of ancient techniques, he started to develop the brand with a community of urban and rural artisans in 2013. Jungle Folk only uses sustainable and certified materials such as organic cotton, linen, silk and wool for the clothing and recycled and natural materials for accessories. They employ artisans and sewers – mostly women heads of family – in Medellin, Colombia who work in small workshops in the barrios of the city, with some pieces from Portugal as well. They eschew multiple seasons and trends for timeless classics.

Thisted, Denmark

Klitmøller uses sustainable materials whenever possible, such as high quality
organic cotton, linen merino and lambswool. Everything is produced in Portugal and Germany at smaller, mostly family-owned factories with a high standard in workmanship, ethics and fair pay, that they visit on a regular basis. They are also on a mission to deliver all the products in recycled paper bags and cartons and have started the process of switching over.

Cologne, Germany

Lanius is a GOTS-certified fashion label that uses cotton, hemp, linen, modal, silk, Tencel and wool, and also a vegan-certified section in its shop. They work with manufacturers in Europe, Peru, China, and India, and are a big supporter of Fashion Revolution, happily showing who “made your clothes.”

Gothenburg, Sweden

Launched in 2009, the first MASKA collection consisted of a range of cardigans (MASKA means “knitted stitch” in Swedish). Maska prefers natural fibers, and only uses oil-based fibers or threads to enhance the performance of a garment, never to reduce costs. For buttons and knitting yarns, they only use natural materials. They work with long-term trends, and focus on quality in sewing, to give the garments a longer lifecycle. They favor materials, such as wool, that seldom need laundering and require lower washing temperatures. All knitwear is produced in the EU following the labor laws of the European Union, apart from one style which is produced in Nepal at a Swedish-owned factory which is managed according to fair labour guidelines created by the international non-profit organization Fair Wear Foundation. MASKA designs are now available at about 55 stockists in 13 countries (including some EcoCult favorites!) – Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, USA and Taiwan.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
All MUD Jeans contain post-consumer recycled denim and organic cotton. Current recycling techniques cause fibers to lose strength, and therefore limit jeans to containing 40% recycled content. However, MUD Jeans aims to design jeans made of 100% recycled denim. They use as little chemicals as possible (in 75% of their jeans, no chemicals are used at all). The modern techniques of laser and ozone provide a great alternative to the old (dirty) techniques of scraping, sandblasting, and potassium permanganate. they use Cradle to Cradle certified dye.

They also have the Lease A Jeans program, a guilt-free solution for conscious people that have a desire for newness. You pay €7,50 a month, and after a year, or, when the jeans are worn out, you can send them back to Mud Jeans, and try out a new pair. The old ones will be recycled to make new wonderful items.

Cologne, Germany

Pinqponq’s super useful and lightweight backpacks are created in a Vietnamese factory that has been both visited by the team and outside audited, using 100% recycled PET bottles. They are members of bluesign® system and Fair Wear Foundation (FWF).

Zurich, Switzerland

Close to 100% of the fibers used in Qwstion’s convertible bags (all have handles that can be turned into backpack straps) are natural and renewable – rayon, cotton, or nylon for belts and straps, vegetable tanned leather handles, and aluminum or steel. Using organically-grown fibers and PFC-free water-repellent coatings avoids harmful substances and ensures healthy products. Although natural canvas cannot quite match the resistance of petroleum based materials like Cordura, Kevlar or Trucktarps, the materials and level of workmanship they offer is meant to hold up to years of daily use. By the end of 2018 they plan to meet our goal of using 100% organically grown fibers for their fabrics. Since 2010 they’ve worked with the small factory in China that is audited by BSCI (Business and Social Compliance Initiative), an EU initiative with the goal to implement European standards in Non-EU countries.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Rhumaa aims to produce fashion that means something. They collaborate with talented artists from Africa for each collection, providing them with a platform to share their art, by printing the art on fashion pieces with timeless silhouettes. The garments are produced in Turkey, Portugal, and Peru, Every time a purchase is made, a percentage of their turnover goes to the Rhumaa Foundation, which partners with ‘Learn to Earn’, a skill development and job creation organization with skills development and training centers based in an informal settlement area of Cape Town called ‘Khayelitsha,’ South Africa, which seeks to develop unemployed people socially, economically, emotionally and spiritually. Since 1989, Rhumaa has trained more than 10,500 unemployed people with market-related skills.

Stockholm, Sweden

Sandqvist’s ambition is to make long-lasting, sustainable bags and accessories. They source 100% organic cotton directly from farmers in India, and synthetic fibers made with post-consumer recycled fibers. They offer repair services at their flagship store in Stockholm, selling secondhand products and redesigned old bags. Or you can bring in your bag to any Sandqvist store, to have it repaired for a new life, or hand it in for second hand sales in exchange for a voucher granting you 20% off your next purchase. Sandqvist is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, and manufactures at factories in Vietnam and India.

Dresden-Neustadt, Germany

This vegan brand is the first brand I’ve seen to incorporate cork ad felt into their products in a truly tempting and fashionable way. Longevity and sustainability are their priorities – plant-based, durable materials are made under fair conditions in Germany into timeless bags.

Berlin, Germany

ZAMT’s mission is to offer timeless, yet modern and fresh designs that fit effortlessly diverse wardrobes. The designs are minimalist, enhanced by the use of premium vegetable tanned leather that develops a unique patina and personality through use. Zamt has responsibly selected manufacturers from Europe, predominantly Italy and Portugal, with the sole exception of the knitwear, which is manufactured in Berlin using Italian yarns. They exclusively work with Italian and Portuguese tanneries who operate within the strict framework of European Environmental Law. The French cow hides are vegetable-tanned with wood extracts then greased with tallow and sunflower seed oil and rounded off with a natural finishing. This means no dye is used to conceal natural irregularities in the leather, which are the hallmark of this process.They also work with GoGreen from DHL for delivery, an environmental friendly program with the target to reduce all logistics-related emissions to zero by the year 2050.

United Kingdom

This capsule wardrobe collection of timelessly stylish staples has been carefully created for the everyday modern woman and designed to be worn in various combinations throughout the whole year. Everything they produce is environmentally friendly,
made out of certified organic, natural materials that are bio-degradable and ethically handmade in the UK.

United Kingdom

Riley Studio is using innovative, recycled materials to create a brand that’s dedicated to circularity. Such materials include Q-NOVA, which is made from materials that are otherwise unusable and would be discarded, ECONYL, which is infinitely recyclable, rPET (recycled polyester), as well as recycled cotton. They also use biodegradable, natural materials such as organic cotton and Lyocell.

London, England

Raeburn stands on 4Rs: Ræmade, Ræduced, Ræcycled, and Ræburn. They work with surplus and recycled materials in order to reduce waste in their studio in London, England.

London, England

Mayamiko carries everyday basics that are perfect for the office or your capsule wardrobe as well as fun, playful prints and designs to party in. Everything is ethically made in Malawi by their team of tailors, pattern cutters, and seamstresses in a solar-powered facility. They use locally sourced materials like certified organic cotton and strive for zero waste production.

Germany, Italy, and Switzerland

Imke Disselhoff uses only organic leather from farm animals which have been kept in accordance with ‘Biokreis‘ guidelines for agricultural production in Germany and Switzerland. The leather is vegetable-tanned using processes completely free of harmful chemicals like chromium. The pieces are designed and crafted with incredible attention to detail in transparent factories.

Vienna, Austria

Natural Nuance’s gorgeous handbags are made from luxury deer leather and show us that it’s possible for us to get back to our natural roots while also looking fashionable. They use eco-friendly dyeing practices that leave you with a unique and durable bag that’s focused on circularity.

Istanbul, Turkey

Created by Megan Mummery, an American designer who lives in Istanbul, OhSevenDays sources fabric from high-end, quality offcuts which are leftover from designer brands that manufacture in Turkey, and turns them into supremely well-designed apparel. From design and manufacturing, to sales and distribution, Megan and her team are committed to transparency (you can see their pricing breakdownon their website), slow fashion, and the power of circularity.

London, England

Sevda handbags and scarves are designed in London and made in Italy using high-quality materials and traditional hand-crafted techniques. They carefully source all of their leather using strict standards and certified by ICEC (ISO 9001 – ISO 14001), which stands for the high standards of quality and environmental management, meaning no toxic chemicals are used.

London, England

Miss Pom Pom’s super cute knitted accessories combine bold and bright colors with modern, geometric patterns and clean lines. All of their knitwear is made from Italian yarns in a small factory in Istanbul, Turkey with sustainability and traceability in mind.

Sweden

When I first found Wyilda, I fell in love with their absolutely beautiful scarves! Wyilda is committed to minimizing their environmental impact whenever possible, so their scarves are made out of high-quality natural fibers and dyed without any hazardous chemicals. They partner with AWAJ, which is a trade union in Bangladesh that represents hundreds of thousands of women working in fashion factories. On each product page, you can find out who made your scarf.

Denmark

Made with 100% recycled leather or suede, an ethical YKK heavyweight silver zipper, and a 100% certified organic cotton interior, this bag is handcrafted to order. You can have the strap customized to fit you!

Dublin, Ireland

Theo + George uses a lot of eco-conscious fabrics like natural cotton, wool, cashmere that comes directly from herdsman from Tibet and Inner Mongolia, and modal that’s sourced from an OEKO-TEX certified supplier.

Stockholm, Sweden

TRIWA was started with the vision of changing the watch industry. Their high-quality watches are made in small batches and their straps are handmade from organically-tanned leather. Their latest line of watches are made out of recycled destructed illegal firearms! For this line, the brand partnered with a nonprofit that retrieves weapons from conflict zones and then the metal from those firearms is melted down and made into watch cases. A portion of the proceeds from this line goes back to supporting the victims of the same war-torn regions from where the weapons originally came.

London, England

Carole Bamford, the owner and founder of Daylesford Farm (one of the most sustainable organic farms in the UK) started bamford out of her belief that what we put on our body is as important as what we put into it through our food. Everything is sourced and made mindfully, from the natural materials used to the way their employees are paid.

United Kingdom

Klow is an online boutique that carries brands that are committed to transparency, ethical production, and a care for the earth. They carry women’s and men’s apparel, accessories, and beauty products and you can shop by the causes you care most about: ecological, ethical, social, vegan, organic, recycled, or upcycled.

Stockholm, Sweden

The Founders of ASKET, a sustainable men’s fashion brand, proudly refuse to call themselves fashion insiders. In fact, their outside perspective allows them to see fashion with fresh eyes and focus on the essentials. Their pieces are timeless, classic, and perfect for any man looking to build a capsule wardrobe. Possibly the best part, however, is their sizing. They have 15 different sizes so that your clothing actually fits your body. They are committed to transparency in their supply chain and you can view their factories and production processes on their website. And now, they are taking that transparency all the way by providing details about where each ingredient of the piece comes from — right on the tag!

 

Denmark

The name REC comes from the concept: Recover, Recycle, Reclaim. These men’s watches are made from reclaimed parts from old, iconic cars — like Porsche 911s, Ford Mustangs, and Mini Coopers. Each watch is different and each one tells a story. Their next project will be making recycled watches out of a Supermarine Spitfire aircraft from World War II!

London, England

Lara Intimates has a triple bottom line, prioritizing people, profit, and planet. They use reclaimed fabrics, develop close relationships with their suppliers, and have a zero-fabric-waste studio factory in London. Lara Intimate’s goal is to make intimate apparel that fits and flatters women – and they are most certainly doing just that! I was gifted a bra and panty set and I honestly was not expecting them to be quite as flattering, since this particular style usually gives me prominent panty lines. But they skin my curves and make me feel sexy. They truly are well designed!

Barcelon, Spain

Cortana produces all of their collections locally in small ateliers using natural fibers like silk, cotton, and wool. When possible, they use certified organic cotton. With a belief in quality, all of their designs are meant be timeless pieces. They also have a bridal collection!

United Kingdom

Ethical entrepreneurs Tansy Baigent & Dolly James personally source each of the unique and unconventional diamond and precious gemstone pieces in Lupe’s store. Their goal is to encourage closed-loop luxury shopping. A percentage of all profits from the British store is donated to their 2016 charity partnership: War Child, which supports children affected by war.

London, England

The salmon skin the new luxury brand AITCH AITCH uses for its accessories is sourced from organic salmon farms in Ireland, and are tanned and dyed using non-toxic, natural techniques. The made-to-order purses are made in traditional leather working studios in Europe.

Stockholm, Sweden

Filippa K aims to turn its entire collection sustainable by 2030, by road testing different sustainable materials such as recycled wool, recycled polyester lining, and even recycled paper tags. If you live in Europe you can lease a Filippa K garment for four days for 20% of the price, or return your old Filippa K garment to a store for recycling.

England

The initial collection
of this new haute brand is the result of a collaboration with a family owned gem and silver craft shop in Jaipur, India, which is an advocate of fair working conditions for its small team of employees. Hand-selected and cut healing gemstones and precious metals are set into an intricate geometric base that is inspired by mandalas in ancient forms of meditative art. Each piece is handcrafted in 100% recycled 925 silver and 18 carat gold vermeil. No two pieces are exactly alike.

Denmark

KnowledgeCotton Apparel has been around since 1969 and only works with supply partners that are GOTS, GRS and CSR-certified. They use eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, linen, Tencel, wool, and fabric made from recycled plastic and are also on track to be completely carbon neutral by 2025. All of their suppliers are also certified to ensure that workers are being paid and treated fairly.

London, England

Brothers We Stand makes clothing and accessories that are ethically made, designed to please, and created to last. They are committed to transparency and require that the designers and brands featured in their collections provide a full breakdown of their supply chains, which you can then view in each product’s “footprint” tab. They recognize that true sustainability and ethical production is a process and are committed to genuine commitment and innovation in these areas. They carry dress clothes, casual, everyday wear, outerwear, swimwear, accessories, and unisex apparel.

France

Luz swim and activewear is made with fair trade practices out GOTS organic cotton and without any toxic dyes or chemicals.

London, England

Dear Frances shoes are made to last out of high-quality Italian leather and consciously-sourced European textiles. Each pair is handmade in Italy using age-old techniques by highly skilled shoemakers. Their boots, heels, loafers, and sandals are must-haves for any capsule wardrobe.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Kings of Indigo mainly uses Tencel, a man-made fiber from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees, to make their jeans. Their are transparent with their supply chain: Denim is supplied from Italy, Turkey, or Japan, put together in Tunisia, and washed and finished in both Italy and Tunisia. Their Red Light Denim collection contains 21% recycled cotton made from old jeans worn and recollected in Amsterdam. The remainder is 7% hemp and 72% GOTS-certified organic cotton. When you make a purchase from their online store, your shipment will arrive in recycled or biodegradable packaging. And at their headquarters in the Netherlands, 40% of the energy generated is through solar panels.

France

Veja works directly with small Brazilian producers and cooperatives to source their organic cotton and rubber. They are committed to transparent sourcing, fair trade practices, and eco-friendly processes.

London, England

Sonya Kashmiri bags are handmade in Portugal out of high-quality materials that are either natural, organic, and/or recycled. Their vegetable-tanned leather is from a traditional Italian tannery and free from harmful chemicals like chromium and heavy metals. Their interior linings are made from organic cotton sourced from South America and thy use recycled leather as an internal structural layer.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

O My Bag uses ethical, eco-friendly practices throughout the entire production process, from the way they source and tan their leather and organic cotton, to the way they treat and pay their workers fairly, to the way they pack and ship their products to you. You can read more about my conversation with O My Bag’s founderhere.

Finland

Lovia creates their luxury bags out of materials like excess leather from Finnish furniture factories and elk hides left over from Nordic population control hunting and salmon skins, by-products of food production. Each bag is individually numbered and carries a DNA code inside, allowing you to learn more about exactly how it was made and by who. It comes with a dust bag made of cotton waste.

Barcelona, Spain

These sleek bathing suits are made with Econyl®, 78% recycled polyamide from post-consumer materials and 22% elastane. The Italian fabric is OEKO-TEX® certified, guaranteeing that it is tested for harmful substances and are made in environmentally friendly facilities and socially responsible workplaces.

London, England

Asquith’s active and athleisure clothing is made fairly in Turkey out of bamboo and organic cotton fabric.

Germany

GOTS-certified since 2011, Armed Angels incorporates organic cotton, organic linen, organic wool, recycled polyester, and Lenzing Tencel and Modal into their jeans. They are a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and are certified Fair Trade.

Sweden

The lifecycle of your jeans will be explained starting with an interactive map on Nudie Jeans’ website. You can click where products are manufactured, all the way down to their subcontractors. Nudie Jeans are made with 100% organic cotton primarily in Tunisia and Italy. Each supplier is written about in detail, with certifications, a downloadable PDF of their last audit, how often they are audited, when their next one will be, the number of employees, and its website. They offer free repair service for their jeans and if you part ways with a pair and send them to their repair shop not only will they give you 20% off of a new pair of Nudie Jeans, they will also repair your old jeans and put them back in their shop as second-hand articles. This earns them the “Good Environmental Choice” Swedish eco label.

Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish Stockings produce beautiful pantyhose from recycled yarn. Their factories engage in sustainable practices, including the use of environmentally-friendly dyes, post-dyeing water treatment, and the use of solar power for much of the energy needed in the manufacturing process.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Woron is a Scandinavian basics and lingerie brand founded by sisters Anya and Arina Woron. Each bra, panty, tank, and bodysuit is made to be worn season after season and mixed and matched. Everything is made with the eco-friendly and soft textile modal and non-toxic dye that is Ökotex certified according to EU legislation.

Valencia, Spain

The Nude Label underwear is made in a family run factory in Valencia. It’s close to their studio which allows the team to have more control and total transparency over the process in order to ensure ethical working practices. Their pieces are made from certified organic cotton without any toxic chemicals.

Castelginest, France

Baserange creates timeless organics that are basic, classic, always in-style, and easy to wear, mix, and match. The company utilizes sustainable fabrics, becoming an affordable, natural and logical choice for modern basics.

Berlin, Germany

Citizen Mark’s 400+ year old wool mill in Biella, Italy is a leader in water conservation and purification, ensuring only clean water re-enters the streams. The lining is made of 100% cotton-seed cupro, a breathable, biodegradable, luxurious textile. Their factory partner in Portugal sources 50% of its power from its photovoltaic solar panels, and is a respected leader in social responsibility, providing training, living wages, and health care coverage to its employees.

London, England

A pioneer in sustainable and ethical fashion, this fair-trade and eco-friendly fashion company offers fashion forward dresses for under $100, tops for under $50, and hand-made jewelry in the $15-50 range.

Manchester, England

Beaumont’s pieces are made ethically in Portugal and England out of eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, linen, wool, and leather. The symbols on each of the pieces make it easy for you to know the ethics behind what you’re buying.

Lithuan
ia

Ode to Sunday is an independent clothing line manufacturing effortless style through socially conscious methods. Lithuanian linen is used for its low-impact production and characterful imperfections. Garments defined by modern strokes and organic silhouettes are constructed entirely by hand by tailors paid fairly. This appreciation for local resources and historic processes, combined with a focus on quality, ethics and wearability builds an investment wardrobe, and helps to sustain a world in which pleasure is found in letting mind and body wander.

Vienna, Austria

enVie takes “oldtimer fur” (aka vintage) and turns it into something that is not only modern and luxurious, but is also eco-friendly and less toxic than faux furs, which are mostly made from petroleum. They also work carefully with hunters and trappers, but never source their fur from breeding animal farms. You can also send enVie your own old vintage fur to be recycled into something new!