'I quit buying fast fashion 5 years ago. These are the best alternatives you've probably never heard of.'

Five years ago, after spending a chunk of my teenage years collaborating with fast fashion brands, I decided to embrace a slower, more considered form of fashion. 

You see, fast fashion was increasingly becoming ickier and ickier to me. Polyester pieces choked in plastic would arrive at my doorstep — and after the millisecond of excitement wore off, I was left feeling wasteful and disappointed. 

Watch: Here's how much we waste in Australia. Post continues below.

So I leaned into my discomfort, leading to where I am today: someone who embraces slow fashion from brands who try to minimise their impact on the environment while taking care of their garment workers. 

While we all need to wear clothes, we don’t need to participate in our current cycle of overconsumption. Australia is the world’s largest fashion consumer, with each of us buying approximately 56 new items per year. 

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Sustainable fashion is often criticised for being expensive (which I don’t disagree with), but when we’re buying new pieces at the extreme rate we are, we can instead invest in fewer higher quality, longer-lasting, sustainably-minded pieces. 

With that in mind, here are some of my favourite Australian brands whose sustainability credentials stack up. 

Katharina Lou.

Who said anything about sustainable fashion being boring? Sydney-based Katharina Lou is a brand that proudly “celebrat[es] the OTT aesthetic”. You might’ve seen the label’s signature Ollyrose dress (a flattering, checked maxi dress) floating around on TikTok. 

The three-year-old brand began as a made-to-order model, and now creates small batches of its pieces in Australia and Bali out of dead stock material — that’s unused or leftover textiles from other manufacturers. 

Ollyrose Dress, $349.

Image: Katharina Lou.

E Nolan.

The brainchild of Emily Nolan, E Nolan is a womenswear label specialising in made-to-measure suiting. On top of its repertoire of clean-cut button-ups and laid back resort wear, E Nolan is known for its meticulously and stylishly custom crafted jackets, shirts and trousers.

In an age where textile manufacturing is so alien to the average person, E Nolan brings the magic and expertise back into it. All fittings, pattern making, alterations and a third of the hand work are completed in Emily’s Melbourne studio.

Oversized Shirt, $320.

Image: E Nolan.

Outland Denim.

At the heart of Outland Denim is a dedication to social responsibility. As Australia’s first B Corp-certified denim brand, Outland is leading the way in showing what an ethical and sustainable fashion future can look like. 

The brand began in 2011 with a mission to help women impacted by modern slavery and human trafficking and has only continued to fulfill their promises. Outland Denim pays garment workers a living wage, uses lower-impact material and considers every stage of their production cycle with care.

Avril Low Slouchy Wide Leg Jean, $299.

Image: Outland Denim.

Jillian Boustred.

Chic, classic and timeless. Jillian Boustred is a Sydney-based label that prioritises sleek cuts and silhouettes, its pieces seamlessly integrating into your work, casual and dressy wardrobes. Founded in 2016, most of its collections have been manufactured in Australia.

Oversized Tee, $110.

Image: Jillian Boustred.

Sanct.

Sanct is proving that slower is better. As a one-woman brand, currently every piece is made by hand in the Yarra Valley by founder, Danielle Abery-Miller. Sanct offers considered wardrobe staples in sizes eight to 30, while also providing custom sizing.

Materials used have gone through a strict vetting process, and lifetime repairs are available. As Danielle pledges, “We will always be lovingly made in Australia and we will always be led by our values.”

Strings Shirt in Green Stripe, $220.

Image: Sanct.

Permanent Vacation.

As the ultimate cool girl label, Permanent Vacation is showing us that looking good doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Founder Claire Louise Smith creates style-forward pieces that play with silhouettes in interesting fabrics. All pieces are made in Melbourne, and all makers are located within a 15km radius of its Abbotsford studio.

Liv Merino Dress, $300.

Image: Permanent Vacation.

The Social Studio.

Distilling everything The Social Studio does in a few lines is near impossible. The 15-year-old not-for-profit social enterprise is part educator, part retailer and part production house. It supports and empowers Melbourne’s refugee and new migrant communities by providing education and employment. 

Every piece is made in its Collingwood studio, and with every product sold, funds are directly injected back into its education and training programs.

Rib Long Sleeve Top, $95. 

Image: The Social Studio.

Madre Natura.

At this year’s Australian Fashion Week, Sydney-based label Madre Natura caused quite a stir. It vowed to not create any new collections until all of its existing stock had sold, and instead, showcased last season’s pieces on the runway. It’s this mentality — one that acknowledges that we’re overrun with clothes and that we need to collectively slow down — that makes this Australian-made label one to watch. 

Eucalyptus Tie Front Top, $280.

Image: Madre Natura.

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Feature Image: Instagram @yemagz.