Scotland has always been a destination for creativity and innovation. In the modern fashion scene, Scotland may be a small segment of the industry but it is a mighty one. Sustainable clothing brands in Scotland are starting to gain a well-deserved prominence in the global fashion market.
We’re exploring some of the best fashion houses and independent designers Scotland has on offer. From commitments to use natural materials, to labels offering repair services, to those expertly blending Italian craftsmanship with elements of Scottish folklore.
Sustainable Clothing Brands in Scotland
Whether you are looking for vintage inspired style or contemporary designs, these are some of the sustainable brands making epic styles.
1. Zenzero
Based: Glasgow, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Glasgow
Range: Women’s clothing and accessories
Price: £10 – £175
Sustainability creds: Use of Fair Trade fabrics, use of sustainable and biodegradable raw materials, made-to-order production
Zenzero’s clothing is sweet and charming, embracing vintage elements that blend perfectly with the modern age. This sustainable clothing brand embraces a natural, slow fashion approach.
Zenzero has a strong commitment to using sustainable and natural materials. Its range includes fabrics certified by the Global Organic Textile Standards and OEKO-TEX. Its made-to-order policy and its policy not to use synthetic fabrics, including in fabric blends, shows a deep understanding of the impact of waste and plastic use in the fashion sector.
2. Isolated Heroes
Based: Dundee, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Dundee
Range: Women’s and children’s clothing and partywear
Price: £18 – £380
Sustainability creds: Made-to-order model, promotes quality over quantity, local and ethical manufacturing
A brand for those unafraid to stand out from the crowd, styles from Isolated Heroes are quirky, bright and fun. The Scottish fashion label has an impressive customer list, including the likes of Miley Cyrus and Paloma Faith. Promoting body positivity and empowerment, Isolated Heroes’ colourful, sequined, and sassy styles are designed to make you feel good.
The label’s made-to-order approach rejects the overconsumption model of conventional fashion. The brand also makes quality pieces to avoid the need for rapid repurchasing of products. However, it would be great to see more sustainable materials in its ranges.
3. ReJean
Based: Glasgow, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: UK
Range: Men’s and women’s denim clothing and accessories
Price: £45 – £325
Sustainability creds: Use of reclaimed fabrics, repair service, transparent production, eco-friendly packaging
Hidden in the winding streets of Glasgow is a fashion house that’s love of denim clothing is being combined with a sustainable approach. ReJean makes sustainable clothes from reclaimed denim that are unassumingly cool. The brand has everything from patchwork denim jackets to reversible bucket hats crafted from discarded denim.
ReJean is impressively transparent in its approach. With all products made and materials sourced in the UK, the company explains its process at every step of manufacturing. The brand’s very concept of reusing materials adopts a sustainable outlook, as does its repair shop facility.
See our guide for more ethical jeans brands.
4. Laura Ironside
Based: Glasgow, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Glasgow & London
Range: Women’s clothing and bridal wear
Price: Contact the brand for pricing
Sustainability creds: Slow fashion approach, use of natural fibres, sustainable packaging, use of a pre-order model, local production, GOTS certified materials
Taking inspiration from the feminine silhouettes of the 1930s, Laura Ironside has created timelessly elegant clothing. The label primarily uses high quality silks, as well as a few other natural fibres such as organic cotton, to craft garments of exquisite quality. Laura Ironside takes care with every detail to create garments that are effortlessly graceful.
Laura Ironside takes a slow fashion approach when creating a sustainable wardrobe. It champions natural fibres and adopts a pre-order model to reduce waste generated in production and its overall environmental impact. It is unclear on its website whether or not it uses Peace Silk.
5. Claed
Based: Glasgow, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Glasgow
Range: Women’s clothing, homewares and accessories
Price: £55 – £199
Sustainability creds: Made-to-order products, use of repurposed and reclaimed materials, natural materials
Claed creates fashion that is bright and creative. The brand’s unique styles often reflect political and societal issues in their inspiration. They incorporate a high proportion of natural materials. Claed makes one of a kind pieces that are contemporary works of art.
Claed incorporates a slow fashion approach with made-to-order production. The brand manufactures locally and uses a good range of natural materials, including repurposing leather offcuts in its designs.
6. Kestin
Based: Edinburgh, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide (bricks and mortar store in Stockbridge)
Made in: UK, Portugal, Italy, Japan & China
Range: Men’s clothing styles
Price: £20 – £250
Sustainability creds: Factories audited by QIMA Ethical Audit Report, attitude of quality over quantity, use of some organic materials, use of some recycled materials
Kestin is a menswear brand firmly focused on quality. The label combines colours, styles and trends to create unique and modern styles. Garments are versatile enough to become everyday favourites. However, they still encompass an unconventional flair that makes them stand out in the men’s fashion industry.
Kestin supports ethical manufacturing practices, using factories that are audited to ensure fair and safe practices. The ethical brand also focuses on garment durability to avoid the need for rapid repurchasing. Kestin operates with the understanding that there is always more that can be done and is on a journey of sustainable improvement.
7. Hayley Scanlan
Based: Dundee, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Range: Women’s clothing styles
Price: £30 – £280
Sustainability creds: Biodegradable packaging, reuses fabric scraps, slow fashion approach
Having become a favourite of members of the pop sensation Little Mix, Dundee brand Hayley Scanlan produces clothing that is bold, fearless and edgy.
The range of this sustainable clothing brand in Scotland incorporates striking cuts and an expert use of fabric textures to create pieces that stand out from the crowd. Hayley Scanlan herself has even appeared on the hit show Next in Fashion.
Hayley Scanlan has started to take some steps to adopt a more sustainable approach. The brand uses sustainable packaging and reuses some of its fabric scraps. It would also be great to see more concrete and widespread sustainable policies outlined on the label’s webpage.
8. Meander
Based: Edinburgh, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide (stores in London & Edinburgh)
Made in: Europe
Range: Men’s and women’s clothing
Price: £35 – £320
Sustainability creds: Use of natural and recycled materials, supports charitable initiatives, offsets carbon emissions, member of 1% for the Planet
Inspired by a love for the outdoors, Meander creates clothing that is classic and simple in its style. Meander’s timeless designs are versatile, being stylish enough for everyday wear while still being great for wearing when exploring the great outdoors.
Meander works to protect the same environment that inspires it. The majority of the brand’s range is made from recycled and natural materials. The UK brand plants trees to offset its emissions and supports social as well as environmental causes.
9. Treen
Based: Edinburgh, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Range: Women’s and men’s clothing styles, footwear and homewares
Price: £12 – £450
Sustainability creds: Carbon neutral shipping, vegan, supports charitable initiatives, use of organic and recycled materials
Advocating for ‘a killer wardrobe without killing the planet’, Treen champions all things vegan and sustainable. The label’s carefully selected range of sustainable brands uphold ethical principles while still creating epic fashion styles.
Treen promotes a kinder, more sustainable alternative to the conventional fashion sector. It ensures that the products it hosts are vegan and cruelty-free. It claims that products are made in ethical supply chains and it supports a mindset of supporting social and charitable initiatives.
10. Boho Silver
Based: Scotland Ships to: UK, USA & Canada
Made in: Scotland
Range: Jewellery
Price: £18 – £460
Sustainability creds: Slow fashion approach, use of sustainable materials, use of sustainable packaging
While not strictly a clothing brand, Boho Silver is a great sustainable Scottish brand. The label creates eye-catching jewellery from ethically sourced gemstones and hand collected glass naturally weathered by the sea. Shaped by the ocean, the company’s range of sea glass jewellery is one of a kind with every piece having its own story to tell.
The ethical label creates beautiful jewellery styles from a material that would otherwise be littering beaches. Adopting a truly eco-friendly outlook, it is living the concept of reusing and recycling. Even the packaging the brand uses is recycled.
11. Beira
Based: Edinburgh, Scotland Ships to: Worldwide
Made in: Europe
Range: Women’s clothing styles
Price: £34 – £460
Sustainability creds: Use of end-of-roll and deadstock fabrics, transparent pricing policy, sustainable swing tickets
Combining elements of Scottish folklore and Italian craftsmanship, Beira offers designs that are timeless in their appeal. This sustainable brand uses leftover fabric from the luxury sector to create pieces of superior quality. Made from end of roll fabrics, many pieces are transeasonal and offer a contemporary take on classic design.
A worthy addition to our roundup of sustainable clothing brands in Scotland, Beira’s circular sourcing principles help to reduce its CO2 emissions by over 80%.
This post first appeared on Good Maker Tales: Sustainable & Ethical Fashion, please read the originial post: here
