1 April 2025
An outfit that is always in fashion? Go for timeless basics!
- COSH! Member Publicity
- Lifestyle
Urban streetwear has long been associated with dynamic and expressive style, allowing individuals to showcase their personalities through bold designs and unique combinations. As the fashion industry evolves, a growing number of brands have embraced the principles of slow fashion, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability.
Gone are the days when more eco-friendly clothing meant compromising on design or aesthetics. Today’s slow-fashion streetwear brands offer an exciting array of urban and casual clothing that seamlessly blends style with better production practices. These brands are redefining what it means to be fashionable and more responsible, using innovative materials and techniques to create garments that are both trendy and timeless.
In this blog post, we explore a selection of forward-thinking labels that embody this new wave of slow-fashion streetwear. From Amsterdam to Barcelona, these brands demonstrate that style and a passion for sustainability can coexist, offering consumers the chance to express themselves while making more conscious choices.
Exploring slow-fashion streetwear brands
Shop more sustainable essentials and unique upcycled streetwear at the slow-fashion brand Achilles and the Tortoise. This Amsterdam-based label designs circular and ethical fashion, made in Europe with responsible materials. For timeless and unisex designs, Achilles and the Tortoise offers versatile collections made with recycled and organic materials, such as their ‘essentials’ collection produced in Portugal. Their ‘ALTER’ collection is an upcycled range crafted from materials like old parachutes and vintage clothing, reflecting a distinctly urban style and versatility.
BEARTH offers stylish, relaxed, and easy-to-combine essentials for men and women, designed in Düsseldorf and more fairly made in Portugal. The collection includes basic sweaters, tees, and cool zip-styles that make a great addition to any wardrobe. With options for subtle embroidery or bold prints on unisex tees, BEARTH provides versatile pieces that work across seasons, offering both comfort and style.
HEDONE is a socially comitted streetwear label based in Rotterdam, offering young talent an alternative to the drug environment by providing guidance and career opportunities. The brand focuses on urban clothing with a strong social mission, produced in good & safe working conditions, including T‑shirts, jumpers, and tracksuits with colourful designs. HEDONE aims to raise awareness about the impact of recreational drug use while providing career prospects for at-risk youth.
OWL combines urban fashion with more responsible underwear, using more sustainable materials and upcycling practices. Based in Barcelona, OWL collaborates with local, social workshops to create clothing that is both innovative and socially conscious. Their efforts contribute to a balanced society by supporting social initiatives and integrating people without resources into the social and labour market.
Lovetrigger, an Amsterdam-based brand, creates graphic tees, sweaters, hoodies, and accessories from organic cotton. The brand works with a focus on diversity, sustainability, positivity, and social impact, collaborating with young talents from vulnerable environments. Lovetrigger’s urban streetwear is timeless and unisex, offering pieces designed to last in both quality and style.
Rambler Studios is a platform for edgy, upcycled street fashion, empowering young talents to design, make, and sell unique clothing. With locations in Amsterdam, Berlin, and New York, Rambler Studios offers a space for creativity and self-expression, focusing on street style and social impact. Founded by Carmen van der Vecht, the studio draws inspiration from the unique outfits of young people living on the streets of major cities.
New Optimist is a clothing brand with a local, social, and circular production model based in Amsterdam-West. Their garments are designed and manufactured with minimal pollution and waste, using recycled organic cotton. The brand’s in-store studio allows customers to witness the production process, highlighting the importance of ethical and sustainable fashion. New Optimist supports people with a distance to the labour market, promoting inclusivity and creativity.
Conclusion
These brands exemplify the principles of slow fashion, offering stylish and more sustainable alternatives to fast fashion. By investing in high-quality, locally produced garments, consumers can build a wardrobe that is both fashionable and enduring. For those interested in understanding the world of slow fashion vs fast fashion more in depth, or exploring more sustainable basics, be sure to check out our other blogs on the website.
