Slow Fashion Brand Recommendations

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

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