10 March 2025
Are you after a city that gets slow fashion and more circular living? Kortrijk is calling. The city’s new car-free shopping zone isn’t just easy on the eyes: with leafy trees and benches perfect for a pause, it’s also paving the way for a more conscious way to shop.
This slow shopping area is home to a mix of mesmerizing stores that go beyond the expected. From tailor-made suits and take-back kidswear programmes to second-hand bikes and repair services, these businesses are rethinking fashion and lifestyle from the ground up.
Curious which spots are worth your visit? We’ve rounded up the most inspiring places in Kortrijk where a more sustainable approach meets style.
Pioneering in transparency and digital product passports
State of Art
Soon, digital product passports (DPPs) will become the norm in Europe, with new upcoming legislation pushing brands to share exactly how and where their products are made. It’s all about traceability, transparency, and empowering shoppers to make informed choices. While many brands are still catching up, those already embracing this shift are true pioneers.
State of Art is one of them. Through selected pieces featuring the tex.tracer system, the brand allows customers to scan a QR code and uncover the full story behind a garment from raw material sourcing to manufacturing and transport. It’s a bold step towards accountability and a smarter, more circular fashion industry.
By offering this level of transparency, State of Art is proving that classic menswear can also be forward-thinking, helping customers shop more consciously without compromising on style.
Filou Forever Corner with preloved items
Filou & Friends
If you are a parent, you will know that kids grow fast. That means they often outgrow clothes before they wear them out. That’s why second-hand kidswear is one of the most impactful ways to make fashion more circular. Giving garments a second (or third!) life reduces waste, saves resources, and keeps quality clothing in use for longer, especially when little ones don’t stay little for long.
Filou & Friends is embracing this reality with their Take-Back programme. Parents can return pre-loved Filou items in Kortrijk and other locations, where each piece is checked and resold in the Filou Forever Corner. It’s a simple but powerful way to keep clothing in circulation and out of landfills.
With their ASAP (As Sustainable As Possible) mindset, Filou & Friends shows that playful, durable fashion and circular thinking can go hand in hand, creating a brighter, more carefree future for every child.
Personalised bespoke and made-to-measure clothing
Atelier Vic
When clothes are made especially for you, they’re not just a better fit, they’re built to last. Bespoke and made-to-measure garments avoid the waste of mass production and overstock, while encouraging people to buy less and cherish more. Because you’re part of the design process, each piece reflects your personal style, which makes it less likely to end up unworn or discarded.
Better still, these garments often come with higher quality materials and craftsmanship, meaning they hold up longer and are easier to repair. It’s slow fashion at its best: thoughtful, tailored, and far more circular than fast fashion ever could be.
Atelier Vic champions this approach with its combination of made-to-measure and true bespoke tailoring. Whether it’s a sharp suit or custom workwear, every piece is crafted with care, helping to build a wardrobe that’s as sustainable as it is stylish.
Supporting underemployed people with qualitative clothing
Café Costume
Finding a job can be tough, especially without the right support or outfit to feel confident walking into an interview. That’s where Dress for Success steps in. This global non-profit helps unemployed and underemployed people build economic independence by offering free career development tools and professional attire, empowering them to thrive in work and in life.
Supporting that mission is Café Costume, the Belgian tailoring brand known for its modern take on bespoke suits. By donating clothing to Dress for Success, they’re helping people step into the next chapter of their lives, dressed with confidence and dignity.
Beyond their elegant designs and personal styling experience, Café Costume shows how fashion can uplift more than just your wardrobe. In their Kortrijk boutique, customers find high-quality tailoring with heart. The proof that style and social impact can go hand in hand.
A community enforcing more circular practices
Perron 2
The circular economy isn’t just about reducing waste, it’s about rebuilding community. Places that offer bike repairs, rentals, and cosy spaces to connect create a culture where reusing, fixing and sharing becomes second nature. Especially for young people and students, having access to affordable mobility and pre-loved fashion empowers more conscious choices, without sacrificing style or freedom.
That’s exactly what Perron 2 is all about. A collaboration between a local bike centre and a second-hand shop, this vibrant hotspot mixes vintage fashion, retro homeware, and LPs with bike services and a social atmosphere: all under one roof near the station. Whether you’re popping in for a quick bike fix, grabbing a rental of a bicycle, or browsing colourful throwbacks from the ‘60s to the 2000s, Perron 2 makes more circular living easy and accessible. With a warm coffee corner and feel-good vibes, it’s a place where reuse feels fresh and fun.
Are you convinced that Kortrijk is worthy of your next shopping trip? Make sure to also check out these local stores in Kortrijk.
