Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about 5 sustainable fashion brands that should be on your radar.
Originally published in 2020 | Updated March 2026
This post has been updated to reflect a more current perspective on sustainable fashion and forms part of my wider Sustainable Style Hub, where I share ideas for building a more conscious and timeless wardrobe.
Today, I’m revisiting one of the most important conversations in fashion — sustainability — and sharing a curated edit of five brands that continue to shape a more conscious approach to style.
As awareness around environmental impact grows, sustainable fashion is no longer a niche concept. It’s becoming an essential part of how many of us choose to shop, dress, and build our wardrobes more thoughtfully.
If you’re building a wardrobe that feels timeless, wearable, and more intentional, this is less about perfection and more about making better, more considered choices over time.
If you’re new to sustainable style, this guide is a wonderful place to begin — explaining what sustainable fashion is while introducing five of the most loved brands in this space.
Browse some of my favourite pieces below:
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable fashion is often misunderstood as simply choosing “eco-friendly” fabrics or avoiding fast fashion — but in reality, it’s much broader than that.
It considers the entire lifecycle of a garment — from sourcing and production to distribution and longevity — as well as the impact on both people and the planet.
As designer Minan Wong explains:
“Sustainability needs to be a holistic process from the grower to fabric spinners to dyers to cutters, and then to the garment sewers. For my brand, sustainability is a design for longevity & purpose with fabrics that will hold up for over 13 wears and which are manufactured locally ”
In simple terms, sustainable fashion means making choices that are better for people, the planet, and long-term wearability.
When evaluating a piece of clothing, it helps to consider three key areas:
The Choice of Material: Organic and natural fibres are often a better option, as they reduce the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides. At the same time, some synthetic fabrics can have a lasting environmental impact due to their non-biodegradable nature.
The Production Process: How garments are made — and under what conditions — is central to sustainability. This includes the use of dyes and chemicals, water consumption, and fair working conditions across the supply chain.
The Distribution Process: From factory to wardrobe, transportation plays a role too. Shipping methods and supply chains contribute to a brand’s overall carbon footprint.
Why Does Sustainable Fashion Matter?
The fashion industry has long been associated with significant environmental impact. While it’s often cited as one of the most polluting industries globally, it’s also important to recognise that positive change is happening.
Many brands — both independent and high street — are taking steps towards more responsible practices, from improving material sourcing to increasing transparency.
Many well-known brands have also introduced more conscious lines and initiatives in recent years, reflecting a growing shift towards sustainability across the industry. While these efforts vary in impact, they mark an important step in making fashion more accessible and responsible.
As consumers, even small changes in how we shop and what we choose to wear can contribute to a more mindful, long-term approach to style.
5 Sustainable Fashion Brands to Know
Rather than aiming for a strict definition of “perfect sustainability,” I like to think of this as a spectrum of more conscious choices — from accessible everyday pieces to slow luxury investment dressing.
With that in mind, I’ve curated five brands that sit at different points on that spectrum — from accessible high-street favourites to French-inspired slow luxury — all of which feel relevant, wearable, and worth knowing about if you’re building a more timeless wardrobe.
Some of these are long-time favourites, while others reflect the evolving space of modern conscious fashion.
Reformation
Reformation is one of the brands that helped bring sustainable fashion into the mainstream, known for its feminine, modern silhouettes and strong focus on lower-impact production.
The brand continues to prioritise more responsible materials and works to reduce waste, water usage, and carbon emissions across its collections. Alongside its design ethos, Reformation has built a strong identity around transparency and environmental awareness.
It remains a go-to for effortless, contemporary pieces that feel both trend-aware and consciously made.
Discover my favourite pieces from Reformation:
Sézane
Sézane is a Parisian brand that blends effortless French style with an ongoing commitment to more responsible fashion practices.
The brand uses a range of lower-impact materials, including organic cotton, linen, and certified fibres, and continues to develop initiatives that support both sustainability and social impact.
Through its “Demain” programme, Sézane also funds projects that support equal opportunities for children worldwide, reinforcing its broader commitment to meaningful change.
Browse my favourites from Sézane:
Aspiga
Aspiga is a UK-based lifestyle brand known for its relaxed, effortless pieces that are designed with both style and responsibility in mind.
The brand works closely with artisan communities and emphasises fair trade production, alongside the use of more considered materials such as organic cotton and responsibly sourced fibres. Its collections often focus on timeless resortwear, easy separates, and versatile pieces that work well for travel and warm-weather dressing.
Aspiga sits in that space where conscious design meets everyday wearability — making it a natural fit for a more thoughtful, slow approach to building a wardrobe.
Discover pieces from Aspiga:
Gaâla
Gaâla is a small independent brand often associated with slow, feminine, Parisian-inspired style and limited production runs.
The brand focuses on creating small-batch collections, frequently using deadstock or carefully sourced fabrics, with production based in Europe. Its approach is centred around longevity and reduced waste, favouring considered releases rather than fast, trend-driven cycles.
While not always positioned as a fully certified sustainable brand, Gaâla represents a more mindful approach to fashion rooted in longevity and considered design.
Browse Gaâla picks:
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is widely recognised as one of the original pioneers of modern sustainable luxury fashion.
The brand is known for its commitment to avoiding leather and fur, while continuously exploring innovative, lower-impact materials and circular design principles. Sustainability is embedded into the brand’s identity, from material innovation to supply chain transparency.
Rather than treating sustainability as a trend, Stella McCartney positions it as an ongoing responsibility — proving that luxury fashion and environmental awareness can evolve together.
As one of the most established voices in conscious luxury, Stella McCartney represents the higher end of the sustainability spectrum — showing how ethical considerations can exist within a high-fashion, modern wardrobe.
Explore Stella McCartney pieces:
Final Thoughts on Sustainable Fashion Brands
Building a more conscious wardrobe is not about doing everything perfectly — it’s about making more intentional choices where we can.
Whether that means investing in fewer, better pieces, supporting brands with transparent practices, or simply wearing what we already own for longer, every small shift contributes to a more conscious wardrobe.
I hope you enjoyed this feature about 5 sustainable fashion brands and if you’re interested in exploring this topic further, you might enjoy my Sustainable Style Hub, where I share practical guides to building a more mindful and timeless wardrobe.
Love these sustainable fashion brands? Save your favourites to Pinterest and build your own sustainable style board — a little daily inspiration at your fingertips!
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With love,
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Oohh I didnt even know that Reformation and Sezane were sustainable brands! Great post, thanks for sharing!
Life is a Shoe
Glad you enjoyed the post xo
Julia
This is such a lovely post on sustainable fashion and with the current lockdown vibes, I think we must take the message that earth is healing and confinement is good.
I try my best to wear cotton fabrics and although it has less shelf life, i know it’s not damaging the environment and can be recycled with no much harm on the planet.
Good post.
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you liked the post!
Thanks for letting us know about these brands for sustainable fashion. It’s very important. I will definitely check out their pieces 🙂
Stella
Thank you Stella! I agree it’s very important to be aware of our choices xo
I knew of Reformation and Sezane, but thank you for introducing some new ones to me! The Maggie Marilyn designs look lovely!
Yes, they do, don’t they? I love all these brands 🙂
I love the dress by Sezane on you. The cardigan is also lovely. You look pretty in both.
I loved learning more about sustainable fashion through your article. I remember watching a Youtube interview hosted by Zoe Hong, she is a fashion illustrator and has a fashion degree, she is very knowledgeable. It surprised me to learn, for example, that organic cotton needs tons of water and isn’t that ecological since it wastes so much water.
Thank you for telling us about Zoe Hong – I will check out her Youtube. Sustainable fashion is surprisingly complex as you have to take the whole production and distribution process into account !
I did not know about these brands, thank you for writing this post x
Andrea.
http://www.andreaferencz.wixsite.com/home
Glad you found it helpful, Andrea
This was so interesting! Will have to check out your full interview with Minan 🙂 Also I love Reformation!
Lily
Yes, and Reformation currently have a 25% off sale! xo
Vero,ottimo post =)!
Thank you 🙂
Congratulations, Julia! I must admit, I feel exactly the same way about Mother Nature – it definitely feels like a worldwide warning! I am loving the brands you’ve listed here. I have a few Boden pieces already, they are great! I’ll check out the other brands too. Thanks again – I hope you’re well.
Thanks so much Katerina! I hope you like the other brands too xo
I definitely want to give sustainable fashion a try in the future.
Will check out these brands!
http://www.fashionradi.com
Thanks Radi! Let me know how you get on xo
I’ve heard so many good things about Reformation! Congratulations on becoming a Life Coach! That’s such an exciting, wonderful achievement! So happy for you. 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
Thanks so much Ashley!
Even taking small steps to being a more sustainable consumer makes a huge difference! Thanks for sharing your brand recommendations, I’ll definitely check these out! I hope you’re doing well! 🙂
melissakacar.blogspot.com
I totally agree Melissa! Even small baby steps make a difference ! xo
I am really crushing on Boden, their clothes seem to be so easy to wear and I love the colors. Thanks for sharing,
Stay safe !
Sonia
http://www.soniaaicha.com
Yes, Boden have some really great picks and I love their sustainable swimwear range x
Congrats on becoming a life coach! Love learning about these sustainable fashion brands. I used to buy Boden for my daughter when she was younger. I didn’t realize they were still around!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you Jill! Yes, Boden is still around – I think you can find it at Nordstrom in the US xo
Congrats on qualifying, babe! That’s awesome news! And I’m definitely here for sustainable brands- great list!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Thank you Ashley! xo
thanks for sharing these gorgeous pieces
The Glossychic
Glad you like them Wendee x
Nice clothes ♥
https://loveonthebrainbykinga.wordpress.com/
Thank you x
These are some amazing picks dear… thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.beautyandfashionfreaks.com
Glad you like them Rashmi x
Loving all these sustainable brands hun, that pink dress is beautiful!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
I agree Lovely! It’s one of my favourites too xo
oh i love sezane
thank you for sharing these brands!
xoxo
style frontier
Glad you liked the post! I love Sezane too xo
I love all of these! Will definitely be checking out some of these brands!
Tay
Thanks Tay! Glad you liked the post x
This is a great time to take sustainability into account Julia. I need to do better research before I buy.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie! I’m definitely trying to buy more sustainable, although I know I will occasionally be tempted by things that are fast fashion too!
I love Reformation and Sézane! Beautiful post, I’m in sustainable fashion too! 😉
Sezane and Reformation are two of my favourite brands and I think sustainable fashion is the way of the future! 🙂
Thanks for sharing those brands. I am trying to be more aware. And congrats on your new qualification. xx
Thank you so much Hilda! I’m definitely at least trying to be more aware 🙂
nice post <3
Thank you x
How cool! I love this post about some sustainable fashion brands to look out for. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad you liked the post x
Oh wow congrats on this! Very cool. And yes this outbreak should be a wake up call to be sure. But sadly I feel like when this is all said and done it will be business as usual. Not to mention another major disruptor: AI wiping out %40 of all jobs across the globe in a decade. And people think that %20-%25 unemployment is high. Between the environment and wide spread permanent job losses this time period is going to pale in comparison.
And thank you for the heads up on the brands some of them I knew about and others not. I can not afford to shop them at this time but when I was working I would but second and do rentals.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Thank you! I think there will be a new ‘normal’ and there are definitely tough times ahead. And, yes, rental is also a great idea! Thanks for the tip! xoxo
Love love love Reformation and Sezane!
I am a big fan too Rach x
Congratulations! It is wonderful that you are now a Life Coach!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
Thank you so much Rena x
Oh There are some brands I didn’t know about.
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
xx
Margot
You’re welcome ! I hope you try some of the brands 🙂
Congrats on you becoming a life coach! I am starting to embrace eco fashion so much more now. Been wanting to try Sezane for a while now. Thanks for sharing all of these brands! I have been struggling a lot too but trying to focus on all the good that is happening through it all. Stay safe Julia!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you Kathrine! I definitely think sustainable fashion is the way for the future 🙂