Take a deep breath. Slow down with us for a moment. It’s time we channel the slow fashion angel on our shoulder, not the fast fashion devil. You know, the one that convinced you to buy that metallic body con dress that ripped the first night you wore it.
Slow fashion brands save us from more than just cheap fashion mishaps. It’s the eco-friendly solution that might just bring the fashion industry back from the brink.
What is considered slow fashion?
When comparing fast fashion vs slow fashion brands, the latter consists of made-to-order or small batch clothing that won’t collect dust in a warehouse (or your closet). Slow fashion asks us to step back and take stock of our clothing consumption, focusing on high quality, longevity, and circularity.
We’re currently rolling out our Brand Rating System covering 22 criteria from animal welfare to sustainable materials, waste, and pollution. Head to our explainer here for all the details.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
The Best Non-Fast Fashion Brands For Everlasting Eco Style
We like a brand that ensures sustainable production down to the very last button, and MagicLinen is no exception with their all-linen lineup of small batch clothing.
We can trust LOVETRUST’s affordable slow fashion line made from GOTS-certified organic cotton.
ASKET helps to ethically elevate our wardrobe with its considered collection of essentials made by third-party audited factories and garment care products that extend the life of our clothing.
Index: Slow Fashion Clothing Brands
- MagicLinen Jump to brand
- ASKET Jump to brand
- HarperSage Jump to brand
- Eileen Fisher Jump to brand
- LOVETRUST Jump to brand
- Neu Nomads Jump to brand
- Mata Traders Jump to brand
MagicLinen
About MagicLinen
Price Range: $20–$149
One of our favorite linen clothing brands, Lithuanian-based MagicLinen, creates timeless pieces, without a long-lasting footprint.
We’re happy to snuggle up, wrap, wear, and lounge in their all-encompassing line of men’s and women’s clothing, pajamas, and bedding.
If you’re looking for easy, breezy, and effortless style, our favorite outfit combo is the Midway Loose-Fit Linen Top and Besalu Baggy Linen Pants. It fits beautifully and is so loose and comfortable that we can wear it even on hot days.
There’s no shortage of custom colorways to choose from, but we’re particularly fond of the Tuscan Red—perfect for sipping some Tuscan red wine outside on a warm summer evening!
MagicLinen’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
MagicLinen’s linen fabric is OEKO-TEX certified and sustainably stone-washed for softness. Rest assured, your linen clothing will continue to get softer as you wash and wear it, too.
Some items feature coconut buttons.
Supply chain & labor practices:
MagicLinen’s factory in Lithuania crafts each of its linens in-house and selects materials from sustainable sources.
The flax plant is an important staple in Lithuania, providing jobs and income to those who grow, sell, and stitch using this magical, resilient plant.
This small clothing company willingly participates in third-party audits to ensure workers at their family-owned factory are treated well.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Their cornstarch and PBAT mailers are just another piece of this sustainable puzzle.
MagicLinen’s made-to-order approach ensures products aren’t suffering from mass production and waste.
They further reduce waste by using scrap materials to make their linen garment tags and smaller seasonal items like tote bags, tea towels, and Christmas ornaments.
Inclusivity:
Sizes range from XS-XL in most items.
Community & charitable giving:
MagicLinen supports several local charities and is known to drive new social initiatives.
ASKET
About ASKET
Price Range: $20–$390
Wondering, “What are slow fashion brands in Europe?”
Ask ASKET and their “zero compromise garments – essentials made to last.”
Their Permanent Collection—to which they add just 3-4 wardrobe essentials per year—embodies anti-fast fashion philosophy. We really couldn’t ASKET for more than that!
One of the best affordable non-fast fashion brands for men (and women), ASKET offers tees, sweatshirts, knitwear, denim, trousers, outerwear, underwear, and accessories.
Cozy up to the idea of a Creme Mock Neck Sweater from one of this list’s top sustainable fashion brands.
ASKETs Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
You’ll find fabrics like extra-long staple Egyptian cotton, organic cotton, linen, traceable Merino wool and various recycled fabrics (ethical cashmere, wool, and polyester).
Supply chain & labor practices:
“Know your garments. Buy less, keep them longer.”
That’s why each product comes with an Impact Receipt, showing its cost, traceability, CO2 emissions, and where it was processed, sewn, laundered, dyed, and milled.
Their WRAP, SA8000, OEKO-TEX, and/or GOTS certified suppliers stand out for environmental and social rigor.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
ASKET never runs sales or promotions that encourage unconsidered consumption.
Between designing garments with end-of-life in mind, offering repair and recycling programs, and selling garment care products to ensure they last for years to come, ASKET is one of the best sustainable brands in terms of product circularity.
For shipping, they avoid air transport, use reusable packaging, and have a proprietary tool to help customers with sizing, reducing returns.
They also provide employees with an additional five vacation days if they travel by train instead of plane.
Inclusivity:
You’ll find men’s organic clothing in XS-XL sizes and women’s in XS–XXL or W34 pant size.
HarperSage
About HarperSage
Price Range: $88–$198
HarperSage’s interesting origin story suffers the plight of many other women-owned businesses and brands.
With 75% of garment workers being women, but most of the industry controlled by men, Harper Sage wanted to combine “tom-boy” styles with girly flare, which wasn’t readily available in the current market.
The Harper styles include floral prints, flowy dresses, and embroidery, while the Sage half is a little more comfy pants and functional shirts. You’ll see both styles reflected across their range of jumpsuits, dresses, jackets, pants, tops, and accessories.
For the working gal who likes to keep it practical (but still like a bit of femininity) the Sage Essential Shirt Dress is a “wardrobe workhorse” that won’t stop you from doing anything and everything.
HarperSage’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
While their main fabrics of choice are deadstock cotton, linen and TENCEL™ lyocell fabric, there are a few exceptions that support sustainable materials differently.
Founder Meghan regularly visits their women-owned factory in India to hand-select fabrics from the local markets and support the community where the factory workers live and thrive. These materials are viscose crepe and voile on select dresses.
Supply chain & labor practices:
This ethical clothing brand uses a Sedex-certified factory to ensure all workers are paid fair wages, and their rights are protected.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
In 2022, 70% of Harper Sage’s fabric was from deadstock sources, and they are working to increase this amount.
Inclusivity:
Most items range in size from XS-XL, with more inclusive sizing up to XXL coming soon.
Community & charitable giving:
HarperSage gives back and supports many reputable causes, like selling decals to highlight the reality of human trafficking.
The Duo Crew connects women across 6 “cohort cities” that encourage friendship, connection, and trying new things.
Eileen Fisher
About Eileen Fisher
Price Range: $78–$468
Brands like Eileen Fisher have been pushing for a more sustainable fashion industry long before it was on-trend to do so.
This New York brand believes in “A simple wardrobe. A simple life.”
Though their vast selection of sustainable clothing is anything but: tops, sweaters, outerwear, pants, jumpsuits, denim, dresses, skirts, sleepwear, shoes, and accessories.
Dress up the Sheer Silk Georgette Classic Collar Long Shirt and slow down on fast fashion trends using weak, unsustainable materials.
Eileen Fisher’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
EF uses sustainable materials like certified organic cotton, linen, hemp, FSC-certified TENCEL™ lyocell and modal fabric, RDS-certified down, LWG-certified leather, chlorine-free wool, and recycled polyester, nylon, and cashmere.
A handful are not-so-eco-friendly, like silk and viscose.
Supply chain & labor practices:
A Certified B Corp that’s big among slow fashion companies, their suppliers and manufacturers are widely spread.
They aim for transparency by showing where they’re located, what standards each adheres to, and releasing regular impact reports.
Child and forced labor is prohibited by their ILO-based Code of Conduct and they’re working to reduce human trafficking in the fashion industry overall.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The Textile Exchange partner uses carbon emission reducing processes for all of their materials (e.g. linen grown using crop rotation and processed with dew retting).
They track progress using Science Based Targets Initiative to assess the impact.
Renewable energy-powered stores and green office buildings further their eco-friendly cause.
Renew allows you to resell your old Eileen Fisher duds and Waste No More turns unsellable garments into pillows and decor.
Inclusivity:
Most (but not all) garments from this sustainable plus-size clothing brand range from XXS-3X.
Community & charitable giving:
The Eileen Fisher Foundation supports women working for environmental justice on top of their many other NGO beneficiaries.
LOVETRUST
About LOVETRUST
Price Range: $48–$98
Brooklyn-based LOVETRUST combines simple styles with long-lasting fabrics.
Appealing to conscious consumers who are in search of an ethical brand with accessible price points – (love)trust us, this is the one.
With everything coming in under $100, they’re one of the most affordable slow fashion brands, ensuring ethical basics are accessible to everyone.
Dresses, tops, bottoms, and cozy pajamas complete their organic cotton options.
Shrug on their organic cotton French Terry tee in slouchy, sustainable fashion.
LOVETRUST’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
GOTS-certified organic cotton makes up their slow fashion line.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Though a cheap slow fashion brand, they’re not cheap with their labor.
They work with a full service manufacturer who is SMETA-certified, ensuring workers are paid a fair living wage and work in safe conditions.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a small clothing brand, LOVETRUST is constantly striving to better their eco-friendly initiatives when it comes to sourcing, and packaging.
While keeping your garment safe, they use packaging suppliers like EcoEnclose and Noissue made of recycled paper.
LT’s Vault is a curated collection of vintage styles that have been pre-worn.
Inclusivity:
Sizes in tops are XS-XXL and S – XXL in bottoms.
Neu Nomads
About Neu Nomads
Price Range: $65–$439
After years in the industry, fast fashion turned slow fashion duo Karen and Angela decided it was time to be the change they wanted to see in the (fashion) world.
Their anti-fast fashion brand business model includes wardrobe staples at a reasonable price point with a clean supply chain.
Neu Nomad’s dresses are as smooth as its operating procedures in factories around the world. Slip on the Belize dress in grass as one of your organic basics in the closet.
Neu Nomads’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Neu Nomads’ plant-based fabrics are ethically-sourced from renewable and sustainable spots around the globe, including TENCEL™, GOTS-organic cotton, eco-cashmere, OEKO-TEX certified linen, and SeaCell (seaweed fabric, made of sustainably harvested seaweed).
Eco friendly dyes color the garments, lessening the environmental impact.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Neu Nomads’ supply chain may be vast, but it doesn’t vary in ethical practices.
Every factory ensures workers are paid fair wages and have access to medical care.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Neu Nomads’ sustainable practices extend to their packaging, with 100% biodegradable bags, with recycling options for cotton materials.
Their Eco-Jersey’s factory is a member of the Greenpeace DETOX campaign.
Pairing with TREET, Neu Nomads’ is closing the loop and coming full circle with a fashion chain that keeps re-loving garments long after you’ve had your fill.
Inclusivity:
Sizing stretches from XS to XXL.
Mata Traders
About Mata Traders
Price Range: $78–$128
Mata Traders is a rare combination among slow fashion brands: affordable and with plus sizing.
Their range of ethical plus size clothing includes women’s tops, skirts, and dresses in cuts and patterns that are flirty and flattering for everyone.
In true Mata Traders’ fashion, the Brea Wrap Dress is made of 100% satin cotton and is 100% mother friendly.
Mata Traders’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Mata uses fabrics like certified organic or conventional cotton, linen, rayon fabric, and some spandex.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Every purchase supports and empowers women in Nepal and India by fighting gender inequality through economic independence.
Unlike conventional factories, their fair trade certified factory cooperatives work with all skill levels and don’t dock pay for less productivity. You can’t get more slow fashion than that.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Reducing energy consumption, this Green America Gold Certified business uses traditional handcrafting techniques and solar power in their main facility.
Inclusivity:
They tick the inclusivity box, both for size (US sizes 0-24 are covered) and budget.
Community & charitable giving:
Beyond good wages, they support mostly female workers with opportunities to learn literacy, parenting, and computer skills, and more.
These training courses provided the catalyst for one embroiderer to organize a 200-women protest demanding access to water.