We all know that launching a business is incredibly challenging. Standing out from the competition, constantly networking with suppliers and buyers, finding the best marketing strategies… The work involved in taking care of small companies is endless.
But the stress, anxiety, and unpredictability are exponentially higher when launching a sustainable and environmentally-friendly brand. On top of the many challenges young business owners have to face, those opting for a sustainable brand also have to deal with higher material and manufacturing costs, which results in way less funding for the much-needed marketing campaigns.
This is why we think it is so important to buy sustainable fashion from small brands whenever possible. Whether you need to get a new pair of shoes, buy a soft scarf for a friend, or decorate your house with colorful, scented candles for autumn, take a look at these five sustainable brands before heading to the closest Primark.
Our Top 5 Sustainable Fashion Brands from Small Businesses in Europe
Avani
Fully produced in France and Portugal, Avani is a small fashion brand producing women's casual clothes for all occasions. This company, based in Switzerland, is 100% European as all the materials used in its manufacturing processes are sourced in this continent. This also means that all Avani’s employees work under the strict European Labour Law, providing some of the best working conditions in the world.
In terms of materials, this brand prioritizes eco-friendly fabrics, such as Tencel, linen, hemp, and wool.
Products: Tops, blouses, dresses.
Price from: €99,00
Why do we love them: Entirely European-based, eco-friendly materials, casual feminine designs.
Agazi
Agazi is a shoe brand trying to drastically limit the impact that the fashion industry has been having on our planet for the last decades. This brand does so by using cruelty-free, sustainable materials, such as apple skin leather.
On top of this, Agazi is a huge promoter of the circular economy and invites its clients to send back old pairs of shoes so that the company can clean them, replace the damaged parts, and donate them to people in need.
Agazi constantly verifies its local and international suppliers to make sure all workers are provided with fair compensation and a safe environment to work.
Products: Sneakers and loafers.
Price from: €260,00
Why do we love them: Cruelty-free, circular economy, timeless and elegant designs.
Gust
This small sustainable fashion brand from Slovakia was launched in 2020 in Bratislava. Each one of its items is made to order. In this way, the company avoids overproduction, a serious problem in the fast fashion industry.
Gust’s clothes are made from 100% linen and linen/cotton blends that are sourced within the EU territories. This company decided to opt for this material as this is not only one of the most eco-friendly fabrics on the market, but because it is timeless and durable.
Gust collaborates with a number of local seamstresses working independently from their own workshops. On top of this, shipping processes are entirely plastic-free. Gust’s clothes, with fits available for both men and women, are simple and elegant and come in a variety of neutral soft colors.
Products: Shirts, skirts, shorts, dresses.
Price from: €119,00
Why do we love them: Timeless designs, clothes made from linen, in collaboration with independent steamlesses.
Qumpi
Qumpi is one of the many sustainable clothing brands we support. Inspired by Peruvian fashion, this company was founded by Hugo Nuñez with the idea of sharing the ancient fashion heritage of the Inca with the rest of the world.
This small brand uses the best quality and eco-friendly materials, such as baby alpaca wool. Their products feature bright colors and tribal patterns dyed by artisans according to recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Products: Socks, pullovers, pashimans, ponchos, and scarves.
Price from: €30 for a pair of socks and from €140 for scarf.
Why do we love them: Sustainable materials, colorful designs.
Nanai
If your bestie just had a baby and you’re now looking for the perfect gift, look no further. We have the perfect brand for you. Nanai is a small business that produces vegan shoes for babies. Their motto is ‘slow, fair, and sustainable’.
All Nanai’s products are created in Berlin using sustainable materials such as the innovative Piñatex®, a fabric made from pineapple leaf fibers. The leaves used for these products are a by-product of the agricultural industry, meaning that no extra pesticides, land, or water were needed to produce Nanai’s adorable pair of shoes. Everything is manufactured on demand to avoid overproduction and unnecessary waste.
Products: Baby shoes.
Price from: €46,00.
Why do we love them: Adorable designs and innovative materials such as Piñatex®.
