Local Sustainable Fashion Brands We Love

As consumers and brands grow more aware of textile waste and its impact on climate change, we’ve seen a welcome rise in ethical brands. Support these local sustainable fashion brands in Hong Kong for eco-conscious and responsible buys.

Why do local sustainable fashion brands matter? Well, Hong Kong generates an average of 392 tonnes of textile waste per day into landfills, resulting in a rise of 32.4 percent over the past ten years. It’s clear that the fast-fashion crisis is still alive and kicking. So, what can we do about it?

While shopping and sustainability can seem slightly counterintuitive (we’d still recommend buying secondhand and vintage where possible!), you’ll be pleased to learn that it’s possible to build yourself a new wardrobe and still be environmentally conscious. Many local sustainable fashion brands in Hong Kong are working to bridge that disconnect, be it through their commitment to using deadstock fabrics (leftover and unwanted materials that would otherwise go to waste) or the adoption of a slow production model that elongates the durability of the fabric. Ahead, we’re spotlighting some of our favourites…

Sassy Tip: To further minimise textile waste, focus on your needs and wants. We only use about 20 percent of the clothes in our closet (that’s less than a quarter!). And when discarding old clothes, donate instead of simply throwing them away.

Read more: 7 Ways To Live A More Sustainable Lifestyle

Local Sustainable Fashion Brands In Hong Kong

Aanya

Ethically sourced and sustainably created, Aanya is a boho traveller’s dream. Designed with creative nomads in mind, just browsing through the flowy tops, rompers and jumpsuits will give you wanderlust. Its Hong Kong-raised founder, Ishita Desai, is committed to creating consciously-sourced, sustainable products. She bases her decisions not only on the quality of craftsmanship but also on ethical standards. The products are made in India, where Aanya is working to empower artisans and local organisations.

Aanya, G/F, 67 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, www.aanya.com.hk

Basics for Basics

Ethical fashion enhanced with a volunteer rewards programme? Sounds pretty good to us. Supported by Hands On Hong Kong, Basics for Basics is all about making sure each product is made with care. Striving to build style in conjunction with nature and reduce our carbon footprint, it carries a range of modern apparel brands and ships throughout Hong Kong. Read our full interview with its founder, and LGBTQ activist, Kayla Wong.

Head here to shop its signature Icon Tee.

Basics for Basics, Shop B, G/F, 6-10 Shin Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.basicsforbasics.co

Cosmos Studio

Besides being ethical and cruelty-free, Cosmos Studio releases zero waste water in the production of its garments. That’s what we like to hear! This sustainable fashion pick began on KickStarter with a project called “The most sustainable shirt in the world”. Fast forward to now, Cosmos Studio stocks a range of minimalist, classic shirt and tee styles which showcase what it looks like when “disruptive reformation meets understated pieces.”

Cosmos Studio, www.cosmosstudio-store.com

Read more: 50+ Local Hong Kong Brands You Need To Know

EARTH.er

This sustainable fashion brand was founded in 2012 in Hong Kong’s very own Tai O fishing village. Founder and designer, Benny Yuen, creates designs that are inspired by the outdoors using traditional Southeast Asian craft techniques and materials that are eco-friendly. The company merges sustainable production processes with all natural, renewable materials. Think hemp backpacks and a line of ‘Down to EARTH.er’ shoes, made by upcycling rubber tires. To top it all off, the brand donates a part of its revenue to World Vision to help with the raising of 12 children from less developed places across the globe.

EARTH.er, G/F, 83 Kat Hing Street, Tai O, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, www.earthertaio.com

Ekam

Inspired by the aesthetic romance of bohemian living, Ekam’s sustainable resort wear exudes effortless everyday elegance with its floaty heritage-printed dresses and breezy linen trouser and matching co-ords. In addition to being eco-friendly, this homegrown sustainable fashion brand is ethical too, with Ekam committed to donating five LUÜNA naturals menstrual pads per purchase to a woman in need.

Ekam, weareekam.com

Read more: Where To Buy Period Products In Hong Kong

Flow With Me

From its motto of inspiring the people of Hong Kong to be happier and healthier through fitness, there’s a lot to love about local activewear brand Flow With Me. And sustainability is the cherry on top. To be featured on the site, brands must have a focus on eco-friendly practices, be that through the careful use of resources or ethical production. Head here for a curated selection of athleisure clothing and accessories, including leggings, sports bras, tote bags, yoga mats and more, fashioned from recycled fabrics.

Flow With Me, www.flowwithmehk.com

Good Days

There’s no question that working out makes you feel good — now you can look good and do good whilst working up a sweat, courtesy of Good Days. This local brand is making waves by transforming plastic bottles into chic, high-performance activewear. Think versatile and modern leggings, sports bras, crop tops and more, all consciously-created using recycled polyester and nylon. By doing so, Good Days hopes to contribute to a circular economy, diverting plastic waste away from oceans and landfills, and repurposing it into activewear you’ll use for years to come. We love that pieces in the collection can be worn as co-ord sets or mix-and-match combinations for effortless styling.

Good Days, gooddaysactivewear.com

Lane Eight

With its first opening at St. Francis Street and its recent expansion to New Town Plaza, Lane Eight is a hard one to miss with its bright coral walls and shoes of the prettiest colours! It specialises in workout shoes that fit comfortably, look stylish and do good to the planet. The unisex trainers are made of light-weight vegan microfiber and recycled plastic yarn (that’s about 11 single-use plastic water bottles). The midsole is actually made of harvested toxic algae blooms from lakes which is then dried and processed — how cool is that? Plus, its shoe boxes are made of recycled material and it’s partnered with Invisible Company to include biodegradable, water-soluble mailer bags.

Sassy Tip: Keep an eye out on Lane Eight’s socials as it regularly release new colours!

Lane Eight, LG/F, 14 St. Francis Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Lane Eight, Shop 537, Level 5, New Town Plaza Phase 1, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, 2811 2068, laneeight.hk

Love From Blue

It’s all about the statement knitwear at local label Love From Blue — and its commitment to sustainable production is the cherry on top! Crafted with purpose, care and consciousness, the designs here take inspiration from Hong Kong’s urban landscapes, incorporating cosy textures and rich hues for a selection of jumpers and sweater vests you’ll love for years to come. Each piece is made using deadstock cashmere and wool yarns, and is available in small production (read: limited edition!) runs.

Love From Blue, lovefromblue.com (website is temporarily under works)

MiliMilu

Meaning “LoveLove” in Latvian (to show our appreciation to Mother Nature), MiliMilu makes various sustainable fashion brands from around the world accessible to Hong Kong shoppers. Though its focus may be more on shopping for families and young children, you can still browse through its stunning collection for women and men. From light and flowy dresses and floral swimwear for the beach to more put-together and sophisticated looks (perhaps for brunch), we love how effortlessly stylish the pieces are whilst remaining eco-friendly and durable.

MiliMilu, milimilu.com

Read more: What You Need To Know About Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Paper Shades

Founded by brother and sister duo, Madi and James Chu, this sustainable fashion brand brings us eco-friendly, customisable sunglasses made from recycled paper. The team believe that “to make sustainable choices, you first need to have sustainable options”, and began a business to do exactly that. The sustainable product is built to be functional and durable, with personalisation that makes it perfect for everything from Clockenflap to corporate giveaways. These durable shades leave a minimal amount of carbon footprint, whilst still providing UV400 protection.

Paper Shades, www.papershades.net

Phvlo

The brainchild of local designer Johanna Ho, this sustainable fashion brand is filled with sporty-chic pieces that aren’t confined to specific seasons, which means you’ll get your wear all year round. The core garments are high performance, and the outerwear options are made with water-repellent, light and breathable fabrics. All materials are sourced ethically and are created through sustainable textile production. Phvlo’s projects are based on giving back, including training and up-skilling Hong Kong’s youth, empowering women and supporting the underprivileged.

Phvlo, www.phvlo.com (website is currently under maintenance) 

Róu So

Effortless everyday fashion abounds at Róu So — a contemporary womenswear brand best-known for its classic, sustainable chic style. “Róu” in Chinese means softly, characterising the company’s mindset of making each garment with care and love. The team here take a view towards mindful production, minimising its carbon footprint by using only natural, recycled or plant-based fabrics which have been salvaged from over-produced inventory and trim waste from vendors, manufacturers and fabric mills. The best part? Róu So makes a point of celebrating women of all shapes, sizes and ethnicity for a clothing collection that truly suits us all.

Róu So, rousoshop.com

SAU LEE

Sustainable fashion gets fancy with Insta-famous local dress brand SAU LEE. Head here for stunning occasion and day dresses, designed with a unique East meets West aesthetic in mind. In terms of sustainability, the brand is dedicated to using fabrics comprised of natural raw materials, man-made but biodegradable Rayon and Viscose, and overstock base fabrics that would otherwise go to waste. Plus, it operates a lean production practice in an effort to minimise waste.

SAU LEE, Shop H314, Block B, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.sau-lee.com

Read more: Where To Buy Evening Dresses In Hong Kong

Skin of Nature

This active-lifestyle brand is here to celebrate and spotlight nature. Launched in August 2020, Skin of Nature brings dynamic, durable and sustainable apparel to the forefront in Hong Kong. The founder, Elena Beraldo, specialised in sustainable fashion before moving to Hong Kong. She saw the reality behind the apparel industry, but also the positive direction it was beginning to take and decided to be a part of it. You’ll see her love for nature reflected in the colours, patterns and textures of the garments, and also in the ethos of the company. Make sure to check out the inaugural Aquatilis collection, inspired by the underwater photography of marine biologist Alexander Semenov. One percent of all sales goes towards Alexander’s NGO, raising awareness about the underwater world.

Skin of Nature, www.skinofnature.co

Read more: Where To Buy Activewear In Hong Kong

The R Collective

Sister charity of Redress (25 percent of proceeds go towards Redress), The R Collective has an aim to reduce textile disposals by rescuing, reusing and recycling fashion waste. This circular fashion brand upcycles deadstock fabric from luxury fashion companies and gives them a new life with versatile dresses, jumpsuits, jackets, pants and bags. What’s more, fabrics unsuitable for reuse find a second life through the team’s fibre recovery system where they get shredded to fibres to create a new piece.

The R Collective, thercollective.com

Read more: Where To Donate Or Sell Clothes, Furniture & Homeware In Hong Kong

Tove & Libra

Effortless daily chic is yours for the taking, thanks to Tove & Libra. Inspired by the minimalist Scandi aesthetic, the brand brings together style and sustainability for clothing that is better for your closet and the planet. Cue a commitment to upcycling deadstock fabrics, as well as the introduction of carbon offsetting for all online orders. Style-wise, we love how versatile everything is, with many pieces having been designed for multi-way dressing, allowing us to do more with less.

Tove & Libra, various locations across Hong Kong 9662 9923, www.toveandlibra.com

WOMB

While not its own sustainable fashion brand per se, the WOMB site stands as a collective, spotlighting a plethora of conscious labels that care about what items are made from, how they’re made, and the people who make them. Head here to find ecological, ethical and vegan products across home, apparel, jewellery, yoga and cosmetics. The co-founders, Kasia and Maria, were previously involved in the field of contemporary art, so they take extra care in curating a stunning sustainable collection. As vegans themselves, they only support makers whose work is completely cruelty free. 

WOMB, www.itswomb.com

Read more: Vegan & Cruelty-Free: Local Ethical Beauty Brands We Love

Editor’s Note: “Local Sustainable Fashion Brands” was originally published in July, 2018 by Tania Shroff and was most recently updated in April, 2022 by Fashila Kanakka.