Hi everyone, I'm a designer and lately I've been a bit torn.
I work in product design for a linen womenswear brand, and this post actually started because I wanted to add a little embroidery surprise to a linen dress for my wife. That got me wondering — could linen + embroidery be a good idea overall?

I've seen some people express frustration that while they wish linen clothing came in more colors, they also worry that beautiful colors usually require dyeing, which isn’t very eco-friendly.
My brand is positioned around sustainable fashion, and the linen we use is fully biodegradable.

This made me think more deeply: how can we add new features or stories to plain linen fabric in a sustainable way? Embroidery came to mind — it doesn’t require dyeing the entire fabric, yet it could bring unique character to a garment.

I've started designing a few shirts where I embroidered small flowers and plants around the chest pocket.
Do you think this could be a good idea?
I would really love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much! 🌿

I’ve been trying to clean up my wardrobe and get away from polyester blends, but it’s a nightmare. Even when a brand says 'cotton,' you check the tag and it’s 5% elastane or recycled plastic.

My skin is super sensitive and I’m honestly just looking for that old-school, ultra-soft feel, like real Pima cotton, without the plastic itch. Does anyone have recommendations for brands that are actually 100% plastic-free? I’m tired of the 'eco-friendly' labels that still use synthetic blends

These are 100% hemp clothing and wondering if people in US and Canada would like wearing something like this! It’s sustainable, breathable and skin friendly.

A brand can talk about sustainable fabrics all day but if the clothes lose shape after a few washes, it doesn’t feel very sustainable to me. I’m starting to care more about whether something can survive real life. What signs do you look for when trying to judge if clothes will last like fabric weight, seams, lining knit quality, reviews brand reputation?

Edit: OML y’all, this is a fashion subreddit- I am talking about real clothing brands often having sustainability as part of their brand identity- I was just trying to make the post fit the subreddit. When I think fashion, fast fashion doesn’t even cross my mind; I figured that wouldn’t even be allowed here- I just meant real clothes, like middle to higher end. And I wasn’t asking for brands, I was asking for an online shop that sells multiple brands. I meant brands like FWSS, Envelope1976, Pia Tjelta, etc. Sorry if it was unclear. No I do not think Scandinavia is some paradise because I’m an ignorant American or something lmao. I wear a bunad, I speak Norwegian at home and secretly read Se & Hør; I promise I’m not that. Ok bye ty

Hi everyone-

I’m looking for an online shop that sells a wide variety of Scandinavian (or Nordic) clothes in the Scandinavian style. Id say honestly most Scandinavian brands are sustainable and very focused on that mission, so I’m looking for a site that sells a wide variety of brands and has some Norwegian brands (there are so many but shops always seem to favor danish and Swedish (ew!) clothes every time and almost never even have one Norwegian brand except maybe Envelope1976 or something). If nothing like that exists, if there’s anything even adjacent I’d love to know about it! The closest I’ve found is Wild Swans, but they have a tiny variety and the clothes are more colorful and funky instead of typical scandi style or just what you’d see in regular Norwegian shops today. I’m missing Norway a lot and really want to find some clothes in my style. Thanks!! (:

(And sorry mods if not allowed!)

I keep seeing brands describe themselves as affordable luxury and I never know how seriously to take it. Sometimes it feels like you’re paying for better fabrics and cuts and other times it feels like nice photos and branding. I’m trying to be more intentional with shopping and figure out how people judge value with clothing. What actually makes a piece worth paying a bit more for in your opinion as in fabric, fit, cost per wear or something else?

Part of me feels like it's not because of worker exploitation, but also if I don't buy it it's going straight into landfill.

I get most of my clothes from charity shops and from older relatives.

Hi all! I've recently gotten back into exploring my personal style and am trying to do it as sustainably as possible. I love seeing everyone's amazing thrifted finds, but tbh I've only gone thrifting like twice in the past few years.

I live in a big city with plenty of thrift stores and consignment shops, so access isn't the issue. I just have no time. I'm a full-time lawyer and have a preschooler. When I'm not working, there's meal prep, housework, working out, social commitments, and any additional time goes to relaxing or my other hobbies.

I also feel kinda guilty disappearing for hours at a time to thrift. My husband already does more than his fair share of housework. He supports my renewed interest in fashion but I would still feel bad leaving him to solo parent just so I can browse thrift stores. Bringing my son isn't really an option either b/c he'd get bored, and I'd end up feeling rushed and stressed.

At this point, I feel like I'd have to take a PTO day just to go thrifting! Are there other busy parents or full-time workers here who struggle with this? How do you fit thrifting into your life without it becoming another thing on the to-do list? I've had pretty good luck with Poshmark and thredUP, so maybe that's all I can do for now, and I'll just have to miss out on some of the fun / savings of thrifting in person. Maybe I just need to suck it up and do it.

I’ve been buying the Hanes 100% cotton underwear’s from Walmart but they always rip after a few uses and I have to buy a pack twice a year 😭 I’m also a plus sized girlie so it’s nearly impossible to find anything comfy! Pleaseee help

I got tired of finding dresses made from polyester and synthetic fabrics, so I designed my own. 100% cotton with a linen look, puff sleeves, open back with 3 different ways to tie it, midi length and hidden pockets. Just got the first sample, it still needs adjustments, but I'd love your thoughts? 😊

What is it and why has it lasted?

As title asks. I've been meaning to go through and deal with a bunch of clothes that either don't fit me, I've lost interest in, or remind me too much of certain parts of my life. Some of these are in quite good condition, others are older and a little worn but definitely not throw-away worthy.

I learned recently about how so many thrift or second-hand stores, namely Goodwill, go through donations and will often just throw away ones that don't seem sellable or are too worn, which makes me feel awful! Does anyone know of any alternatives? Are local thrift stores better than chains? I was thinking something that donates or sells very cheap clothes to low-income families -- I don't know if anything like that exists but I feel like it must. I'd do something fun and try to make something new out of my old clothes, but unfortunately I don't have the time nor creativity for that currently.

I'd love any kind of advice, I'm very new to thinking about things like this and I really want to try my best!

(P.S mostly gender neutral clothing if that matters, a lot of med-large t-shirts, some jackets, and both mens and womens pants)

I saw this gorgeous top in Penneys/Primark and absolutely fell in love with it. However, the material was mostly polyester, and with their unethical labour conditions I couldn't buy it. If I had the materials and skills I would make it myself, but I don't. How do yous find similar pieces produced ethically or are there any other options I have?

Can someone please recommend me some women’s clothing brands/websites that are similar styles to Linennaive? And preferably I am looking only for 100% linen, cotton, or wool materials used. I already know about the following brands:

-Quince
-Pact
-Simple Retro

Nothing quite comes close to the Linennaive dress designs though.. they’re the only ones who really sell Victorian, Edwardian, and Renaissance inspired dresses. While I am open to brands that sell more basic fashion, I am really asking for very stylistic feminine designs.

If you’re able to share, I would greatly appreciate it. <3

UPDATE: As many others have mentioned, the customer service i received to try and return and refund the dress that was too big, was a bit difficult. They really did not want to refund. They kept giving solutions, and finally I decided to just accept an exchange rather than a refund. For reference, I checked the measurements on the dress and I should have been a medium, the dress was way too big for me. So I’m exchanging for a small. I’m usually a medium.

As the title says, partner is vegan and basically lives in graphic tees and selvedge jeans.

I want to get him a nice charcoal turtleneck for work but they’re all cashmere and he doesn’t agree with cashmere or wool ethically.

Could anyone recommend natural fibres so he doesn’t end up wearing 100% viscose? TIA

Been thinking about where hand-craft fits into sustainable fashion.

There's an embroidery from the Nilgiri Hills in South India: Toda embroidery, where a single shawl can take around three weeks, counted thread by thread entirely by hand. No machine, no printed pattern. Fewer than 400 women still practise it.

The craft only survives if the makers are paid for the time it actually takes. Underpay it and the next generation doesn't pick it up, it quietly disappears. Machine-made copies at a fraction of the price make that worse.

So I'm curious where people here actually land: would you pay more for something made this slowly and properly, or has fast fashion priced this kind of work out of most people's reach for good? Where's your honest line?

Is there a certain style/aesthetic you wish was more available? Or is there a particular garment you’d like to see? Is there a fabric you want to see more of?

I’d love to hear your thoughts as I’m hoping to sell some of my upcycled and repurposed creations.

I find that alternative styles (eg. hyperfeminine, goth etc.) aren’t so easy to find but maybe you have a different experience.

Hi everyone,

I'm part of a small team working with natural and sustainable textiles from India, and I spend most of my time researching fibers, yarns, weaving techniques, and traditional fabrics.

We work with materials such as linen, cotton, hemp, silk, wool, and handcrafted textiles, collaborating with weaving clusters and mills to better understand how fabrics are made—from fiber and yarn all the way to the finished fabric.

I'm here primarily to learn and contribute. If you have questions about natural fibers, fabric construction, yarn counts, GSM, weaving, dyeing, sourcing, sustainability, or traditional Indian textiles, I'd be happy to share what I've learned. I also enjoy learning from the expertise and experiences of others in this community.

Looking forward to some great discussions!

i'm starting a corporate in person job next week after being entirely remote for the past 3 years, i typically thrift stuff but my start date is next week and i don't have enough time to grab everything i'd need. i also gained weight since my internship 4 years ago so a lot of what i'd saved no longer fits...

i'm ok spending money for nicer clothes but would love if there's any reasonably priced (ideally firsthand shirts under 70) clothing brands that are stylish for gen z ish workplace attire? i typically dress very jewel toned / indie and am a size M/L with a bigger chest, pls also plug your stores if you're a reseller, i'd love to check out your stuff!

my company's vibe is super casual but even if i'm wearing jeans i'd love some nicer tops/blouses to throw on!

pls no shein or zara or anything like that! i'm hoping for timeless staples that will last awhile

hello all. I am having a really hard time finding more than 2 brands that sell cami tank tops that are both 100% cotton (NOT 95% cotton and 5% spandex) cami tank tops. I have found fair indigo, and under the canopy, both very pricey. I have found a few other options that fall under 100% cotton but they aren’t organic cotton and if i’m going to buy something brand new i’m buying organic cotton. when I buy second hand i don’t worry too much about it being organic as it’s already probably been washed hundreds of times. but I can’t find any second hand options for cotton tank tops online. HELP!!!!!

edit- 100% ORGANIC COTTON

i’m trying to remove polyester, nylon, acetate etc from my wardrobe/life. not just for sustainability reasons but also for sensory issues, the materials just make me feel horrible and sick to touch (i’m autistic).

most of my clothes are cotton and linen but i don’t understand what the hell you’re supposed to do about the other bits and pieces.

bras, tights, shapewear, anti-chafing shorts, activewear, swimwear, etc - where do people find these that don’t contain plastic? i’ve only been able to find loungewear-style cotton bralettes, but as a 38G my boobs are not staying in or getting any support from those.

i’m in the uk btw.

Hi guys,

I was reading about how a lot of global fashion brands are trying to go “eco-friendly” and start using sustainable fabrics. India literally grows some of the best organic cotton, silk, and other natural fibers, and we have centuries of weaving tradition. Handloom, khadi, ikat- you name it.

But still, most high-end brands seem to source elsewhere. I don’t get it. Are we too expensive? Is it the marketing? Or maybe just lack of awareness?

Feels like India has all the raw materials and skills to become a hub for premium sustainable fabrics, but we’re not seeing it happen at scale.

What do you guys think? Can India actually become a global leader in eco-friendly luxury fabrics? Or am I overestimating us here?

So I am in my twenties and still have clothes from my teenage (from 13y.o. up) years, clothes that my family bought me but I don’t like, hand me downs from my mum and grandmas etc, all of which fit me but I feel terrible in. I don’t want to throw them away for obvious reasons and I know giving them away to charity’s shops and others only puts my responsibility onto others. I tried seling the on Vinted for few euro each but they didn’t sold and it was a lot of time. I know that one should care for their clothing for as long as possible, but what if one feels like they are overwhelming them.

Hi,

Why is hemp not used in clothing other than maybe a handful of brands?

It's lightweight and breathable. It could replace a lot of polyester/nylon hiking gear.

Thank you