Clothing
Everlane: San Francisco-based brand with ethically produced, budget-friendly pieces ranging from simple basics to quality accessories. Good range of sizes, including different fits and lengths for pants. Reviews here.
Amour Vert: Also San Francisco-based, beautiful silk pieces especially when it comes to prints (florals, geometrics, etc). Love that they work with local suppliers and sewing facilities. Reviewed here.
Alternative Apparel: Great for basics like t-shirts and fleece / loungewear. Many of their pieces are made from organic materials, and they are actively working to switch to more recycled materials as well. I have multiple pieces from them, a few tees reviewed here.
Summersalt: Bright, size-inclusive swimwear brand that uses recycled materials for their swimsuits. Love their one-piece suits that are both fun and classic. They’ve started to branch into travelwear and cashmere as well. I reviewed their popular Sidestroke and Swan Dive styles here.
Cuyana: “Fewer, better things.” Their line of clothing and accessories reflect their motto, with classic silhouettes that can be worn casually or to a business-formal workplace. I’ve reviewed their alpaca wool and silk.
Only Child Clothing: Based and made in Oakland, CA – focused on simple silhouettes made from natural materials. Made-to-order with raw silk, linen, tencel and more. Reviewed here.
Elizabeth Suzann: Slow fashion brand based and made in Nashville, TN. High-end and known for their flowy silhouettes that can work casually or in business casual environments. Their silk crepe, linen and wool are all sourced from domestic, sustainable suppliers. Reviewed here.
Update: Unfortunately, Liz had to pare down operations significantly as a result of COVID-19’s impact on her business. I now mostly buy secondhand via Instagram.
The Curated: Not quite slow fashion but almost – they’re not made to order, but often they will utilize pre-orders in order to avoid overproduction. Beautiful wool coats a la MaxMara, made from Mongolian wool and cashmere. I’ve reviewed their Classic Camel Coat and their Modern Teddy Jacket.
Shoes
Rothy’s: San Francisco HQed brand that makes flats, loafers and sneakers for women and children from recycled water bottles. They’ve also started to utilize ethically sourced wool for limited styles, and have expanded into handbags and sandals. You can read all my reviews here.
Birdies: While Rothy’s takes a more functional approach to loafers, Birdies has a more glamorous approach in addition to their basics. You can read my review of this SF-based brand here.
Allbirds: Another SF-based brand that makes sneakers and flats out of New Zealand wool. Very very comfortable, you can read my reviews here.
Nisolo: Shifting gears, Nisolo is a Nashville based brand that makes good lookin’ boots. I have their Dari boots, which are the perfect walkable-heel-height booties -reviewed here.
Bryr Clogs: Back to SF – Bryr Clogs handmakes beautiful clogs that don’t look anything like your traditional clogs. They are made to order, like most slow fashion items. You can read my try-on review here.
Sevilla Smith: Another slow fashion brand – based in Barcelona, Faye and her team hand-last simple, comfortable shoes on order. You can read my review here.
Accessories
Lo & Sons: A family-owned business founded by a mother and her two sons. I still use my O.G. bag that I purchased in 2011, and The Pearl still remains one of my favorite functional crossbody bags.
Everlane: In addition to basic clothing staples, Everlane has a solid set of leather goods and accessories. My first Everlane tote from 2012 is in great condition, and I have been using their Form bag as my everyday work bag.
Parker Clay: On days where I’m carrying less stuff to work, I enjoy using my low profile Miramar backpack, which is made of a thick, durable leather.
DeMellier of London: A mid-priced luxury brand, their bags are reminiscent of classic profiles from Hermes and Celine. I have their Vancouver bag, reviewed here.
Polène Paris: Like DeMellier, another mid-priced luxury brand based out of Paris with clean silhouettes and shapes similar to the Phoebe Philo era of Celine. Currently in my collection: Numero Un, Numero Un Mini and Numero Sept Mini.
Fashionphile: Not technically a brand, no, but worth including here. I try to purchase handbags secondhand when I can, and have had good experiences with buying & selling on Fashionphile. You can read more in my guide to consignment platforms.
