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The Best Vintage Stores in Portland, Oregon

published on April 26, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Jenn and I have had this post on our calendar for so long, but there really are so many good vintage stores in Portland that it’s hard to consider “the best”. We wanted to finally share it with you, so we’ll consider this a post-in-progress and continue to update as we know we’ve forgotten (and not yet discovered) many! The vintage shops below range from antique malls to speciality fashion stores to curated boutiques offering both new and vintage treasures. Hope you find your new favorite spot for vintage below!

the best vintage stores in portland, oregon

One of the trendiest vintage stores in Portland (with good reason), Artifact Creative Recycle is a consignment shop for all things vintage and very cool. They’ve evolved a lot over the years, and it seems like they’ve started to focus on fashion more than decor as of late but still offer both. I make a point to stop here every time I’m in the city, and it seems like I always walk away with one cool (and affordable) piece that I never regret! Once it was a big sparkly vintage overcoat and another time a black jumpsuit that actually fit my short legs.

House of Vintage PDX in Hawthorne is a collective of over 60 dealers selling their best vintage in a 13,000 sq ft space. They’re known for their vintage fashion and accessories ranging from antique 1920s to Y2K. On the Washington side of the bridge, you can also find a House of Vintage location in Vancouver! They specialize in mid-mod furniture, decor, and clothing.

Zig Zag Vintage is a curated vintage clothing store on NE Alberta, that also offers modern and locally made goods, as well as reworked vintage, some of which you can find for sale on their Instagram.

psychic sister vintage in portland, or — Photo by Whitney W. from Google

Psychic Sister (who also has a location in Olympia, WA) supports local vintage traders and local businesses with their consignment boutiques, which offer not just vintage but small batch and handcrafted lifestyle goods like books and zines, tarot, candles, and jewelry to empower your spiritual journey and creativity. Also, their logo features Orcas which is just so special!

I’m so happy to have a creative reuse on this list! Reclaim It! is a nonprofit storefront that salvages materials from the PDX metro transfer station so that the community can transform and reuse them for their own creative projects. In less than 10 years, their volunteers have extended the lives of over 700,000 pounds of reusable materials. They not only have a craft department, but used metal, wood, hardware, and tools, and even antiques.

If you don’t know, a creative reuse shop is a secondhand shop for DIY, craft and art supplies. Usually donation based and volunteer run, they help keep creative materials (whether unused or partially used etc) out of landfills. If you’re a crafter this is a goldmine for incredibly inexpensive creative supplies like yarn, paper, fabric, stickers, pencils, paints and so much more.

For Seattle friends: I go to Seattle Recreative, which even has gifting and some party supplies. For the home DIYer and builder, Ballard Reuse has building materials. Both shops accept donation of so many items you might otherwise consider trash!

Zero Wave is a vintage clothing store specializing in rare and “medium rare” vintage for all genders. It’s well curated and full of trendy fashion like Levi’s, graphic tees, and 90s tops, that you absolutely shouldn’t buy new — because you can get the real deal here. You can shop via Instagram here.

I shared my visit to Memory Den Vintage Mall in this Reel last year, and I’ll definitely be back (how cute are those kitty salt and pepper shakers?). One of the larger vintage stores in Portland, they feature booths from tons of different antique vendors selling clothing, homewares, decor, accessories, books and so much more. This is a two story antique mall that you could easily spend a couple hours perusing, so don’t rush! Also, they’re the local go-to for vintage radios.

Banshee specializes in trending vintage fashion and accessories as well as beauty and wellness from local and cult brands in the space. If you’re not local, shop a huge selection on their website!

The Portland Flea Market is the last weekend of the month April-October at two different locations in the city (one on Saturdays, the other on Sundays). They are more like a curated craft and vintage market than a traditional flea, offering not only vintage fashion and homewares but products from some of Portland’s best makers in ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. And of course, some good local snacks and drinks! It’s always a fun time. (Photo of Lowland)

Adorable vintage boutique OURstore features a mix of curated vintage wearables and handmade jewelry, much of which you can shop online. They also host Supermarket, a night market/block party featuring vintage vendors, with 5 dates from May through September (3rd Saturday of the month). Hope to be in town for one of those soon!

Midnight Sunlight has been featured twice in ArchDigest’s top vintage shops in America because of their high-end designer collection of post-war decorative arts, modernist furniture and lighting, folk art and contemporary fine art as well. They offer a selection of furniture and objects on their website as well.

Part gift boutique, part vintage, Workshop Vintage offers womens fashion and quirky collectibles, along with handmade wares, accessories, and gifts from local designers. Get a feel for their boutique via Instagram.

Resale boutique Village Merchants has a little bit of everything, mostly in the home decor/wares and collectible categories. Fun if you’re looking for a quirky gift or a little flair for your own dining or decor collection.

Xtabay is Portland’s spot for beautiful vintage dresses from the 1950s, 1960s and more. Their brick and mortar is temporarily closed, so you can find the collection online. Give them a scroll if you have a special event on the books, or just love to look at all things vintage glam!

Wink Vintage is a boutique full of All-American vintage fashion like band tees, sweatshirts, ringer tees, and denim, some of which you can buy online through their shop.

Another hybrid handmade-and-vintage boutique, Hello Sunshine, offers up a whimsical collection of giftable goodies in fashion, home, lifestyle and more.

Portland really is one of my favorite cities that I’ve been to for shopping vintage, whether fashion or home. I bring home something beautiful every time I go. Let me know which vintage stores in Portland should make this list!

Painting a Pink Accent Wall with Clare Paint

published on April 18, 2023 by Angela Hamilton
updated on April 24, 2023

It’s ever so slowly starting to feel like spring, but for now I’m happy hanging inside (with all the blinds up, of course) because I finally finished the pink accent wall project I’ve been dreaming up for many moons! I’m an interior paint novice, but there are just too many white walls in this apartment of ours. I decided months ago that it needed a pop, preferably pink, but it took time to research sustainable paint companies before I found a brand I aligned with and that featured colors I loved. Enter: Clare paint. They agreed to send me two colors + paint supplies to try, and I’m excited to show you the result and a full review in this post!

I’ve always loved how white walls are like a bright blank canvas, but as a conscious maximalist I crave color. We have this west-facing wall opposite our sliding door in our living room which gets tons of light and was just begging to be upgraded. We actually moved in last August and I’ve done nothing with this corner of the room. I finally decided on a simple console table and that it would feature a gallery of framed art. Over the months I collected art and frames (it’s wild how this little collection actually took so much planning!) Once I had a handle on that, I knew that paint was the missing piece!

Sourcing Sustainable Interior Paint

So began my research into what VOCs actually are, paint sustainability, and why I’d go with one paint brand over another. Before I got to the accent wall, I actually touched up some of the trim in our apartment with a mainstream paint. The paint all over this unit is, to put it kindly, less than professional, and the trim had nicks and scratches everywhere. (The walls that I painted over during this project were super unevenly textured too.) That basic paint was what I’d call high odor (haha), I had to be on top of ventilating and tried to breathe in as little as possible. This was a helpful experience because once I got to the Clare paint, I immediately noticed the low odor, not to mention didn’t feel queasy when I got too close to it!

Is Clare paint sustainable? What I liked about Clare was that their paint is not only free of toxins (see below), but they are an eco-conscious company… Even down to their supplies. For example, the paint liners and trays (seen below) are made of recycled materials. Packaging supplies are made of 100% recycled material. And, their paint is LEED compliant. I’ve seen so many companies prioritize human health but disregard their effect on the environment, when the two should really be intertwined.

What are VOCs?

VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals (the most common is formaldehyde) present in home construction and maintenance products such as flooring, building materials, and paint. VOCs have been linked to anything from minor irritation while using to cancers caused by long term exposure. As far as I can tell, there isn’t universal guidance for the levels of VOCs that can safely be in a home (where air pollutants can be worse than outside!); the general consensus is simply that you should limit them as much as possible. Apparently, they’re what’s responsible for that “new home” or “new car” smell! No wonder that always gave me a headache…

When it comes to sustainability, some VOCs can act as indirect greenhouse gases in the form of air pollution. VOCs can accumulate in the air and ground water, so they are of concern for both the environment and personal health.

What is GREENGUARD Certification?

GREENGUARD is a certification by safety leader UL Solutions that analyzes products for chemical emissions. This certification process emerged as a way for low-emission companies to let their customers know health and safety is a priority. According to UL Solutions, “If a product has been UL GREENGUARD Certified, it has been tested and scientifically proven to have low chemical emissions.” They test for more than 10,000 chemicals in their labs.

Zero VOC Paint

Clare is GREENGUARD Gold Certified. “Gold” indicates that a brand has even more strict standards as to which chemicals are allowed in their products. (You’ll find that many sustainable children’s brands go the extra mile to get this so that health conscious parents can have confidence in their products.) The Gold certification further limits formaldehyde in particular. (Confession: I’m not sure how much formaldehyde is or should be allowed in any product–certification or not.)

Clare says, Our paint is Zero VOC, which means no carbon-based solvents (VOCs) have been intentionally added to our products, although trace amounts of VOC may be present as residual components of other ingredients.

When researching sustainable paint companies, I found several that advertise low-VOC paint. Clare was one of the only companies I’ve ever heard of that offers Zero VOC paint. They also contain zero EPA chemicals of concern. Comparable paint brands I came across had a higher price point as well.

Trying Removable Swatches

Over the holidays I had my Christmas tree and bar cart in the living room space, but it’s been empty (and driving me bananas) ever since the new year! I tried their removable paint swatches on my blank slate as well as in my dining nook. You can purchase the peel-and-stick paint samples individually or in curated sets (they sent me minty Rain Check + the other swatches shown are from their Sunset Shades kit) which are available with free shipping.

Side note: Before I reached out to Clare I had already ordered a few swatches, Wing It for the pink wall and Headspace + Dirty Martini potentially for my dining nook, which I’ll share more about soon. But they weren’t *quite* right. Miraculously as I was mulling it over I got an ad for their new hue Rain Check, which is an almost neutral green-blue, so I went with that for the nook. More on that later!

Choosing Color

This is an awful photo but I wanted to show how accurate the swatch is! Keep in mind that the color will change throughout the day depending on the light. I had my swatches covering the wall for days before I landed on Meet Cute. Originally I felt Wing It was more my style (I’m a pastel girl at heart) but I was told it seemed too light and baby pink. The Meet Cute swatch looked a bit dark, but of course it was contrasted with near-white. It looked beautiful in the Instagram photos I saw it in. I couldn’t decide, but when Kevin said he liked it better I went with it (he lives here too, after all) and I’m super happy I did. I think anything lighter would look washed out in the sunlight. This makes a statement!

When it came to how much paint is needed for an accent wall, I used their paint calculator and advice on their website. I ordered a gallon because at the time I wasn’t sure if I’d paint other walls with Meet Cute too, but just a quart would have done the trick! I was shocked, as a quart seems like such a small amount, but for two coats it’s totally accurate. This is also great news as opting for sustainable, zero VOC and low odor designer interior paint can come with an increased price tag over some of the mainstream brands, but you can save a lot by only getting what you need.

The Painting Process

The paint arrived quickly and I decided to knock it out over a weekend (one day for this wall). I read the instructions and got started! You can see the process on our Instagram. I was excited to see how quickly their paint dries. It was ready for its next coat in maybe an hour. I also liked their painter’s tape more than the standard blue kind. I used some blue I already hand on hand so I could compare and the yellow sticks better and tears off easier. I must say I’m pretty impressed with my paint job considering I’ve only ever painted a wall once. At least compared to how it was!

It would likely have helped to hide some of the previous paint job’s imperfections by using their primer, but I’m still happy with the result.

My Gallery Wall

Once finished, I moved my table back and got to decorating! We finally put up the art and photos I’d been collecting. I’ll share sources for the decor pictured below, but on the wall is a mix of art and my personal photos (sunsets and flowers). The frames are a mix of gold, wood, and bamboo, and some cheaper ones I’ve had forever.

The following week was my birthday, so I shuffled to get this all decorated by time I had a few friends over to celebrate! Hence the bubbly, candy bowl, and too cute to handle butterfly birthday cake by Charity.

During golden hour the whole place lights up! As you can probably tell, I took these photos at different times throughout the day, which changes the pink hue slightly. I gave all the photos the same minimal edit so you could see the difference.

Once the sun set, everything took on a cooler tone. By the way, I kept a strip of the original paint color at the top which mimicked the bottom trim. Would be amazing if we had moulding but alas. I was too nervous to paint right up to the popcorn ceilings and hope it would detract a bit anyway.

This one was taken at night with the warm light from my living room lamps. See below for the art and decor sources; some of the pieces featured are available in Jenn and my boutique, wallflower!

Thanks to Clare paint for collabing with me on this accent wall project! Meet Cute is the perfect hue for Spring.

How To Celebrate Earth Day Like Communities Around The World

published on April 17, 2023 by Mindy Chung

If you didn’t know, Earth Day is on April 22nd! And if you grew up in the US, you probably have this very picturesque image of planting trees, or picking up trash on the beach together, when you think about how to celebrate. It’s a cute idea (that requires a certain degree of extroversion), but one that may not represent more current sentiments around sustainability, eco-friendly action, and attainable goals… So if you’ve been trying to come up with a new way to celebrate Earth Day, why not pull inspiration from communities around the globe? Here’s a few ways other countries celebrate Earth Day around the world!

Japan

A family-friendly celebration takes place over the span of 2 days in Yoyogi Park every year. More than 100,000 people attend annually and enjoy a variety of activities and opportunities to learn about sustainability and sustainable companies.

Taking inspiration from Japan may mean hosting or attending a small get-together with friends to learn and share ways to be more eco-friendly in 2023 (who doesn’t love a reason for a hot girl picnic??).

Denmark

If you happen to find yourself in Copenhagen when they’re celebrating Earth Day, you get to experience a unique performance with drummers facing each corner of the earth. Afterwards, participants continue on to the March for Science which aims to hold elected officials accountable for greener initiatives.

Inspiration from Denmark may mean finding a local march to join or supporting a local charity event that is raising funds for eco-friendly movements in your community!

India

Earth Day in India encompasses a larger movement to raise awareness about ways environmental damage is affecting the country. And while conservation is a spectrum, they put on a host of events specifically centered around the protection of the endangered Asian elephant which is native to the country.

Some people wear green to celebrate Earth Day in India which is an easy way for you to show solidarity. But if you want to do more without having to leave the comfort of your home, consider donating to animal conservation groups or local shelters!

South Africa

The South African government considers climate change to be one of the greatest threats to the future of humanity. They host an Earth Expo each year that presents an educational forum for discussions centered around technology, entrepreneurship, sustainable nutrition, and more.

Want to celebrate Earth Day like South Africa? Consider watching a TED Talk on our current and changing ecosystems, or on new discoveries in the green tech space!

Spain

The Global Unity and Regeneration Gathering is a 24-hour event held in Lanjarón, Granada, Spain each year. Participants can attend workshops and presentations on environmentalism, and the spirituality of their connection to the earth.

Past workshops have included ways to cultivate spirulina pools, or how to build a self-regeneration water system which you can emulate by putting out a rain catcher barrel to water your plants, or finding easy ways to repurpose kitchen scraps.

It’s easy to get caught up in this idea of “doing enough” as an eco-conscious person, and that can lead to executive dysfunction when it’s time to actually try and do something good for the environment. These ideas inspired by other countries aren’t meant to intimidate you; they’re meant to show that meaningful action can happen at any scale. Don’t let the fear of judgment from others keep you from celebrating this Earth Day! Enjoy yourself, and do something good for you and the planet at whatever magnitude you’re comfortable and capable of.

photo by Karolina Grabowska

Sustainably Made Two Piece Sets for Spring

published on April 14, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Who doesn’t love a good co-ord for spring? It’s does the work of a jumpsuit in providing head-to-toe cohesion without the bladder anxiety that comes with a one-piece. If you’ve curated a capsule wardrobe, you might have several two piece sets in your closet that also double as mix and match or layering basics. Either way, I love the versatility! And for spring, it’s all about dopamine dressing, because we could sure use an extra hit after that never-ending winter we all just endured. Below, my favorite spring sets making their rounds on the internet!

I am such a fan of Variety Hour’s artful prints. Their new Terra Flora design, which comes in a wide leg pant and tee you can purchase for a two piece set features a vibrant all-over floral. Pieces are 100% cotton and made in Melbourne.

This gorgeous green two piece linen set by OffOn is perfect for lounging or on the go. Love that the top can go from sleepwear to office wear (as if any of us are going in).

Speaking of dopamine dressing, the Ivy pant and button shirt from HERA equals a mood boosting look, both ethically made in Ecuador.

From by KVP, the Jen pant and Ingrid top in poppy make the most cheerful two piece pant set! I’ve also long loved the linen sunset robe also by KVP, which can be paired with the sunset pants.

The incredible Rujuta Sheth offers so many beautiful spring prints, most of which are available in different styles such as tops, skirts, and pants for you to mix and match to your delight. My personal favorite is Jupiter Chex; this is it in the Elizabeth top.

You can also get fancy with sustainable sets, and opt for a blazer co-ord like the Narwhal set by Little Things Studio.

Nettle Studios just launched their new spring collection, Tutti Frutti, which is possibly the most joyful line of linen dresses, pants, tops, and sets you’ll ever find. See the whole collection here.

French designer Lacerflabel upcycles fabrics from her travels. This lavender and green two piece pant set is made of linen sourced from Mexico.

This vibrant set by Indian fashion designer Varnika Sangoi, available at Plain Tiger is a sunset striped co-ord in red and orange with a crop top and wrap skirt.

Another linen clothing and home shop selling on Etsy, Linenlara lists this adorable, off-shoulder smocked crop top to pair with a linen palazzo pant. The best part? You can have it made in over 20 colors of Oeko-tex certified linen. Custom sizing is available when you send the seller your measurements too.

5 Recent Stories with Good News For The Environment

published on March 7, 2023 by Mindy Chung

I get it. When every news channel is talking about the bad news du jour it’s hard to really believe in a better tomorrow. The hard truth is that there will always be bad news one channel flip or scroll away. But that doesn’t mean that should be all you focus on in your life. As we collectively make bad environmental decisions over and over again (hello single use plastic!), scientists, environmental advocates, and everyday people just like us are out there making the change they want to see in the world.

Still skeptical about any real changes being made? Here’s a round up of positive environmental news to prove that not everything that’s happening in the world has to be doom and gloom… as of this writing, anyway!

Positive environmental news stories 2023

We May have a Microplastics Solution

After writing a few blogs on why microplastics are so bad for us and the environment, it looks like scientists are making way on finding a solution to combat this type of pollution. Craig Arnold, vice dean of innovation at Princeton, has found a way to utilize egg whites(!) to create an aerogel that is roughly 99% effective in capturing and removing microplastics from seawater. (via Science Daily)

EPA rallies to protect Alaska aquatic ecosystem

In an unusually bold move the EPA blocked the creations of a proposed copper and gold mine in Alaska. Their reasoning was the necessary preservation of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. The final verdict for this situation is still up in the air, but the EPA has made it clear they will continue to advocate for the protection of Bristol Bay’s ecosystem; where about half of the world’s sockeye salmon originate from. Positive environmental news from the EPA in this day and age? We’ll take it! (via PBS News Hour)

Finland makes Breakthrough in Vegan Solution to Meat

The Finnish government’s state-owned research institute center, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has found a way to turn overlooked crops like fava beans and sorghum into a sustainable and scalable alternative to meat! Focused on addressing the issue of creating an appealing meat alternative, they’ve invented a technique that uses a combination of cellular agriculture and food design to take plant-based ingredients and create alternatives that mimic the texture and juiciness of real meat. (via VegNews)

St. Louis Stadium Pledges to Host a Zero-Waste Season

The CITYPARK stadium in St. Louis, MO will be eliminating single-use plastic products and replacing them with compostable utensils and reusable aluminum cups this sports season! Dedicated to creating a zero-waste stadium, they’ve partnered with multiple diverse organizations and initiatives. CITYPARK aims to donate and reduce food waste, implement renewable energy sources for power, and encourage fans to choose environmentally friendly transportation options like bikes and e-cars. (via SLC SC)

Boldy to Launch Vegan Seafood

In the wake of the success of companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burgers, Boldy is the new kid on the block with a lofty mission: to launch a 100% vegan seafood line. Slated to start distribution this summer, their products will include plant-based salmon and tuna sashimi, calamari, shrimp, crab sticks, and white fish filets featuring konjac root. (via Vegconomist)

(And if you’re in Los Angeles and too impatient to wait for Boldy’s launch, check out Fysh Foods in WeHo!)

Looking for more positive environmental news? Check out our guide to where to find good news!

25 Incredible Slow Fashion Brands You’ve Never Heard Of

published on March 4, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

Tired of clicking on those “best sustainable fashion” brand lists only to see Reformation and Everlane over and over again and not learn anything new? You’ve come to the right place!

While I love to focus on specific products for our ethical fashion guides, such as sustainable fanny packs, jumpsuits, or swimsuits, I know that a lot of you are looking for a simple list of brands you can feel good about shopping in general. I’m thrilled that there are so, SO many slow fashion labels out there to create such a list. Yet, the big blogs are all still talking about the same companies rather than helping you discover new solutions for your commitment to supporting small, slow, and sustainable. Whhhyy?!

25 slow fashion labels you haven’t heard of

In this list, we feature 25 brands that we bet most of you haven’t heard of, and a little about why you should check them out. I’ve made a couple quick notes such as where they’re based (all ship to US), their styles, and sizing, but be sure to visit individual websites for more details. I hope this supports your sustainable style journey! Not sure exactly what slow fashion is? See the end of this post for our take, then scroll back up for our reccs.

1. Los Angeles slow fashion label Lovefool is a small WOC owned business producing flirty 90s inspired tops, bottoms, and dresses in sizes XS-4X. Look to them for cute crop tops, wrap tops, and vintage dress silhouettes.

2. Tuesday offers a gorgeous selection of completely handmade and hand-dyed kimonos, dresses, scarves, and tops. They’re based in here in the Pacific Northwest and since items are one-of-a-kind, sizes vary by product.

3. Oge Ajibe is a Vancouver, BC based size-inclusive slow fashion designer (XS-6X) who makes wardrobe staples by hand using natural and deadstock fabrics in beautiful vibrant colors (and neutrals too). She recently released a one of a kind collection made from special one-off fabrics you won’t find anywhere else.

4. IMPRM Studio in Poland is for the summer wardrobe with its beautiful linen dresses, sustainable swimwear, and floral tops in sizes XS-L. I hope they offer a better size range in the near future.

5. Jus Gudi is a slow fashion brand that offers colorful printed unisex clothing made in Australia. They use only natural and deadstock materials and everything is small batch. They also have fun bucket hats and scrunchies! (Sizes AU 6-20)

6. Vanhu Vamwe combines traditional craft + modern innovation to create their luxury macrame bags, sustainably woven in Africa by their artisan partners. 10% of total sales go directly to women for women initiatives. Materials like recycled para-cord (made from plastic bottles) create long lasting, luxury products. ⁠

7. Isabella Eve Apparel makes custom, colorful fashion for all bodies, in Grand Rapids, MI. Everything is handcrafted to order by owner Isabella using your custom measurements.

8. Based here in Seattle, The Waight offers stylish, cozy hand-dyed organic cotton loungewear produced in small batches for pre-order. Recently, founder Courtney has added a decor element with ceramics and hand-dyed napkins too.

9. Half Asleep Co is the sustainable sleepwear brand behind these silky soft PJ and loungewear sets and sleep masks using 100% Tencel™ Modal Micro. They say, “From our plastic-free packaging to our synthetic-free products, we take our global footprint into account in every decision we make.”

10. Camas Lilly Co specializes in upcycled bridal and bridal party robes made with beautiful deadstock fabrics, helping you have a more sustainable weddings. Customize them to your wedding palette!

11. Rosa, the designer behind Cada Todo creates limited drops of the most darling wrap dresses made exclusively from (gorgeous) reclaimed textiles. Cada Todo sticks to a couple of signature style dresses to make finding your fit easier (with cute size names like ‘Foxy Lady’ which represent measurements rather than a traditional S/M/L label. Another fabulous perk of ordering from this small business is that they aren’t hemmed until you order, so you can secure the right length (short people rejoice!). Custom sizing and styles are available too!

12. Lovanie is a made-to-order slow fashion brand for petite women. Based in Seattle!

13. By KVP produces gorgeous loungewear and relaxed clothing like oversized robes and pant sets, wrap pants, and shorts from linen.

14. Gina Cusachs is a Barcelona-based sustainable fashion brand offering laidback, colorful womens clothing. They’re known for their bold, vibrant prints that adorn everything from easy dresses to bucket hats to silk scarves. I love that they offer reversible pieces, making two outfits in one!

15. Cea makes sustainable athleisure brand using organic fabrics, natural dyes, and ethical production.

16. Based in Portland, OR, slow fashion brand Ersa Fibers is a one-woman studio that custom makes every piece to order, upcycling scrap fabric into one-off products. (Sizes XS-5x)

17. Another ethical fashion brand out of Australia (that ships worldwide), RŪPAHAUS handcrafts womenswear, menswear, accessories, and even decor out of beautiful natural materials. They are meant to be investment pieces that become mainstays in your wardrobe. I love the soft colorways of their handwoven cotton pieces. Most pieces are currently available up to size XL.

18. Dynasty George‘s sustainable cottagecore dresses are created from natural deadstock fabrics and ethically made in India. Sizes XS-XXL and mommy and me children’s dresses offered.

19. In a world of sustainable basics, AGAATI features special occasion womenswear as well as bespoke custom tailoring.

20. Jacaranda is a Calgary-based slow fashion brand specializing in sustainable active and lounge wear using organic pima cotton.

21. Handmade both in Chicago and a GOTS certified facility in India, Valani‘s clothing is fun and flirty with the smallest footprint possible.

22. Women’s clothing store Soluna Collective offers a range of ethically made and handcrafted styles from cargo pants and utility jackets to bodysuits and lounge pants. Some sizes only go to XL while others are offered up to 3X.

23. Neems Jeans is an amazing slow fashion brand featuring custom denim made in LA for women and men. Build your own jeans by choosing the style, rise, wash, and stretch, and even where you want them to hit (ankle, below, or above ankle). Then, you’ll upload your measurements and they’ll start on your custom order! They’re $199 which is right in the range of most quality denim brands, except that these are ethically made and totally custom! (PS I haven’t tried them myself yet, I’m just really jazzed up about this concept and hope to soon!)

24. JOYTOAST is a playful, size inclusive brand (S-7X and beyond) made in Chicago by plus size creator Amy Lynn. They’re currently stocking mostly accessories, including adjustable bag straps that you can attach to any bag with removable straps, and wear in different ways.

25. Lauren Chapman, slow fashion produced in Los Angeles in sizes XS-3X is offered in the online boutique Juniper, uses deadstock material for their limited dress collections.

what’s the difference between slow fashion, ethical fashion, and sustainable fashion?

Hope you like nuance. Slow fashion (or slow clothing), ethical fashion, and sustainable fashion can all be seen as alternatives to fast fashion, but they’re not all the same. It’s good to know their differences in order to avoid greenwashing while shopping. These terms aren’t regulated in any way, so it’s up to the brands themselves whether they want to label themselves any of these:

Slow fashion refers to clothing that is made in small batches. There’s no universal definition of how small these batches are made, but it’s understood that they are not mass produced. Usually these brands feature handmade clothing produced by either a small team or a single designer. It often includes custom and made-to-order fashion, which you’ll see a lot of below! Because of this, slow fashion is not always ready-to-ship and can take days or weeks for it to make it from the maker to the consumer.

Whether or not a slow fashion brand should also be considered sustainable is often up to the consumer. For example, most of the brands on this list upcycle vintage or deadstock textiles, use natural fibers, or opt for organic over conventional cotton. But does that mean if a designer uses virgin fabric or a synthetic material that they’re not sustainable? That’s up to you. Generally speaking it’s still more sustainable than a fast fashion brand, but it may not be totally up to your standards if you prefer to avoid certain materials.

Similarly ethical and sustainable fashion often includes slow made clothing, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. A sustainable and ethical fashion brand, such as Eileen Fisher, for example, may operate on a much larger scale and therefore not fall into the “slow” category.

Sustainable fashion is usually used to describe the materials or process, or environment. Questions to ask: What is this made of? Are the inks and dyes used harmful to people or the environment? Does the factory the clothing is made in adhere to environmental standards? What waste do they produce?

Ethical fashion defines the social aspect, most often referring to the people who made the clothing. Questions like who made this? What are their working conditions like? Are they paid fairly? are asked.

This is where I’ve seen some greenwashing come in. It’s easy to assume that because a company brands themselves as sustainable that their clothing is also ethically produced, and vice versa. Early on in my blogging journey I was often approached by ethical clothing companies that put pretty much zero consideration toward the environment in their practices. While no one is requiring that an ethical brand be transparent about their sustainability practices, I can see why consumers might assume if a company checks one box, it automatically checks both. So be sure to ask all the questions, if all of these factors are important to you!

On eco club we use sustainable and ethical fashion pretty much interchangeably — we rarely report on any brand that doesn’t check both boxes. That said, we also consider that small businesses often have to work up to certain sustainability standards (ie organic and fair trade certifications can be costly) so, it totally depends.

I hope this guide helped you! Please add any slow clothing brands you’d love to see added, in the comments!