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Slow Fashion Brand Recommendations

Slow Fashion Brand Recommendations

Posted on: Sunday 17 October 2021

There's such a thrill to discovering slow fashion brands that not only completely align with my values, but also produce good quality unique clothing that I'll love for a long time. Despite being on my slow fashion journey for a good couple of years now I've not really built up a bank of sustainable brand recommendations until now because, well, I haven't been buying as much. 


When I do buy it's following much consideration and research into the brand I'm buying from (unless I'm buying second hand, which I often am) and the following are all slow fashion brands that I love and have bought from myself.


There seems to be a bit of a theme; it would seem I like to buy from female-run small businesses with a focus on pretty prints. So if you're after basics then I'm afraid this post won't help (although maybe I'll have one in the future so watch this space).


Back By Sundown




Sells: Oversized dresses and blouses galore, plus accessories.


Price point: From £9 for a scrunchie to £215/£250 for a dress.


Sustainability: Back By Sundown is a one woman band and each item is sewn by the creator, Jeanie. She makes small batches using sustainable fabrics (either organic, vintage or deadstock) and uses the scraps to make accessories such as scrunchies and headscarves. All packaging is environmentally friendly too.


Verdict: After following Back By Sundown from the very beginning (Jeanie launched in 2020) and lusting after pretty much every dress she made, I finally treated myself to one from her end of summer collection as a new job present to myself. I bought the Edith dress, which is made from a deadstock designer fabric and I am in love. It is beautifully made, the print is beautiful and I feel amazing when I wear it. The dresses are definitely more than I'd usually spend, but I know I'll treasure Edith for a very long time (and she'll be worn a lot).


Polly & Flo


Amy is stood in a wheat field on a sunny day, hand on one hip looking to camera. She is wearing a white shorty sleeved shirt, green gingham shorts and sunglasses.


Sells: Tops, dresses, skirts and accessories in gingham or floral prints.


Price point: From £10 for a scrunchie to £70 for a midi dress.


Sustainability: Polly & Flo is another one woman band and each item is made to order to reduce waste. Any waste created is repurposed into other items such as scrunchies. Only natural fabrics are used to avoid microplastics entering the ocean and packaging is all recyclable.


Verdict: I have the Penny shorts in green gingham and the only downside is that I didn't order them early enough to enjoy more of summer in them. Emma, the owner, also sent me a patchwork scrunchie with my order made out of leftover scraps of fabric; it's the small gestures like that, plus the handwritten thank you notes that make shopping small really rewarding - plus knowing that your order has probably made someone's day! 


Lauren Chivers Studio




Sells: Tops, dresses, skirts and accessories in gingham or floral prints.


Price point: From £2 for a scrunchie to £50 for a dress.


Sustainability: You guessed it, Lauren Chivers Studio is another one woman band (told you there was a theme) and each item is also made to order to reduce waste. Any waste created is repurposed into other items such as scrunchies and bags. 


Verdict: I have the Rosemary midi dress in green gingham. It's one of those easy to throw on dresses that immediately makes me feel amazing and I'm hoping I can find some ways to style it to take it through autumn and winter too!



ELB Handmade




Sells: Underwear, primarily pretty and lacy.


Price point: £12-£32


Sustainability: All items are handmade by Emma and she sources her fabrics locally from reputable sources. She recycles or repurposes all her fabric scraps, uses recyclable packaging and uses zero single use plastics. She even cycles to the post office to send her parcels! 


Verdict: I have three sets and am well and truly a returning customer! The quality is amazing, everything is super comfortable and for sustainable underwear the prices are pretty reasonable too. It helps that everything is so pretty!


Do you shop sustainably? Leave me any recommendations if you have them!


Amy x



Comments

  1. Thank you for the recommendations! Always look at new clothing brands, especially those with timeless pieces x

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  2. These look like great brands and I'm always looking to discover new brands, thanks for the recommendations! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

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    1. Awh glad you like the look of them, hope you discover some new ones :) x

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  3. That first dress is absolutely gorgeous! I love finding new brands! I want to get a capsule wardrobe of good brands that clothes actually last! Xx

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    1. Thank you, I think it'll be a favourite for a long time! And that's such a great idea :) x

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  4. Thank you so much for this post! I really do want to shop more sustainably but it's just the price point that really kills me. I don't buy clothes often at all and wear them loads, but often do opt for the 'fast fashion' brands. You always inspire me to do better.

    Corinne x
    https://skinnedcartree.com

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    1. If you're wearing things over and over that's definitely at least partly sustainable! I'll try and do a post of affordable options! x

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  5. Oooh there are some new brands here! Definitely going to check them out!

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    1. Hope you find some that you like lovely :) x

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  6. I love both the dresses you've featured here, especially the green one! :) I find my budget doesn't stretch to the sustainable brands I'd like, but I've had great success just this month adding two pieces from a locally made denim brand that's ethical and sustainable - one I got super sale, the other was a second hand buy. I've had a lot of luck second hand shopping this year so I think that will continue to be my focus for being more sustainable next year!

    Hope you are having a lovely start to your week :)

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Thank you! Ooh they sound like good finds! Second hand shopping is even more sustainable than buying new and I love doing that too! x

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  7. The penny shorts in green gingham are absolutely beautiful and super summery!! I've recently really gotten into sustainable living, so I love seeing posts like this!

    Amy x wandering-everywhere.com

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    1. Awh I'm glad you liked it, the shorts are gorge aren't they! x

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  8. omg i love your style !! that dress is gawjus!!



    homeatnine.co.uk

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  9. Sustainability can make a difference. Thanks for sharing these brands.
    Hope you are having a great week. My birthday was yesterday and it was so much fun. It puts you in the spirit to enjoy this gorgeous festive season.
    http://www.instagram.com/heathernoire89
    https://www.bauchlefashion.com

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  10. Such lovely brands, I love that green gingham dress it's beautiful! x

    Gemma Louise

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    1. Thank you, it's one of my fave things to wear! xx

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  11. This is a great post! I don't buy clothes very often which means I don't think about this topic too much and that needs to change. Lovely photos btw :)

    Amy x
    The July Rose

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    1. Awh thank you, I'd say if you don't buy clothes very often then you're already pretty sustainable! x

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