The EU played an invaluable role in shaping Agenda 30, a collection of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and an additional 169 targets for the improvement of sustainable practices in Europe ¹. These 17 Sustainable Development Goals might be familiar as they are indeed the ones implemented by the United Nations. With that being said, through supporting and implementing these goals, Europe has made influential strides in bringing sustainable initiatives to various industries across the continent. This includes the fashion industry as many pioneering, conscious European clothing brands are looking to the Sustainable Development Goals that are most relevant to the fashion industry and unconditionally incorporating them into their business models. 

ConsiderBeyond is all about helping conscious consumers discover such brands that value environmental and social responsibility at their core. Here are 10 European brands from countries like Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and Spain for conscious consumers in Europe in the search for a new discovery.

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1. Essentiel Antwerp

Instagram | @essentielantwerp
Based in | Belgium
Shipping | EU, United Kingdom‍

Essentiel Antwerp stands for fresh, offbeat & luxury fashion, renowned for its graphic and floral prints and creative approaches to color. They commit to investing in transparency, a responsible supply chain, and ethical labor. The brand’s commitment to more sustainable business practices are modeled after the UN Sustainable Development goals. Translating the goals to match their own, Essential Antwerp has created four priority areas: contribute to a more responsible supply chain; use products with less impact, believe in diversity, inclusivity, and equality; reduce ecological footprint ².

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2. Skall Studio

Instagram | @skallstudio
Based in | Denmark
Shipping | Worldwide

Skall Studio is a sustainable Danish fashion brand that ensures quality using only organic materials and leftover fabrics. They source from local suppliers and partner with factories certified with international standards such as GOTS and BSCI, all part of their conscious efforts to reduce carbon footprint throughout their value chain. While their wool is processed in England, this process follows REACH. All garments are designed to be timeless and last season after season.

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3. AIAYU

Instagram | @aiayu
Based in | Denmark
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustainability Certification | GOTS Certified

AIAYU's effort to reduce ecological impact starts from the design, with the intent for products to last. They source the materials sustainably and pursue responsible and craft-focused production that creates the least amount of waste possible. The materials used include undyed Llama Wool produced in factories that reuse water and renewable energy, undyed Saartul and Yak, Organic Cotton from a non-profit that helps farmers earn more and achieve sustainable agriculture, cashmere mixed with linen for durability, and Eri Silk, which requires no additional resources ³. AIAYU’s garments are designed to be timeless and come with a complimentary repair service to extend the lifespan of each garment.

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4. Pure Waste

Instagram | @purewaste 
Based in | Finland
Shipping | Worldwide

Pure Waste is a Helsinki-based pioneer of textile recycling, manufacturing 98-100% recycled fabric. Their raw material, collected cuttings from the textile industry, are recycled mechanically and manufactured into high-quality yarn, fabrics and clothes. Reducing water usage is at the core of the brand's sustainable efforts. The recycled textiles offer the same quality and comfort as corresponding products made from virgin materials. To reduce emissions created by single-use plastics, Pure Waste came up with an innovative solution for their brand, RePack, reusable packaging that consumers send back to the company to be used again, which is used for all purchases ⁴. 

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5. Attire the Studio

Instagram |  @attire
Based in | France
Shipping | Worldwide

Attire the Studio was born with the mission to make you look good inside and out. They use all-natural and biodegradable materials, no polyester or polyester blend fabrics, and no plastic. Fabrics are toxin-free and are sourced from certified companies with fair labor and regulated working conditions ⁵. To make sure their production from beginning to end is transparent and sustainable, Attire is transparent with all factories used for the production of its garments and costs.  

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6. Closed

‍Instagram| @closedofficial
Based in | Germany
Shipping | Worldwide

Closed draws heavily on its own European heritage and works ambitiously on becoming sustainable while upholding high-quality standards. Their goal is to produce collections with less of an environmental impact, such as introducing their eco-friendly denim line A BETTER BLUE, which is 100% produced in Italy using sustainable materials, gentle dyeing methods, and low-impact washing methods, as well as, producing over 80% of the products locally in Europe. All of these practices save water, energy, and chemicals. Some of the materials used are Thermore® Ecodown® filling, made of 100 percent recycled PET bottles, recycled polyester, recycled nylon, and recycled cashmere. Offsetting carbon emissions is another important part of this brand's sustainable efforts. Their Hamburg headquarters and warehouse have been carbon neutral since 2018 ⁶.

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7. Rifò

Instagram | @rifolab
Based in | Italy
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustianability Certification | B Corp

Rifò promotes circular fashion by using recycled fiber including wool, cotton, silk, and cashmere, opting for zero waste production and minimizing the leftovers using them for new collections and limited editions. This accrues to on average using 92% of fibers from recycled materials yearly. The brand also prohibits the use of harmful chemicals, according to European REC, in their products. To bring new life to your old garment, You can also recycle your old jeans or sweaters which they will collect and upcycle into new garments. 

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8. BITE Studios

Instagram | @bitestudios
Based in | Sweden and UK
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustainability Certifications | GRS, GOTS

BITE Studios is a contemporary fashion brand challenging the conventional norm with a strong focus on environmental progress. They research their materials meticulously to find the finest quality natural organic fibre, recycled and low-impact fabrics made complete with durability and exceptionality. Each garment is designed to be timeless and seasonless to minimize environmental impact by extending their garments’ lives ⁹.

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9. Scotch & Soda

Instagram | @scotch_soda
Based in | Netherlands
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustainability Certifications | GOTS, GRS, OCS 100

Scotch & Soda creates classy and stylish clothing and accessories for men, women, and children using organic, recycled, renewable, and/or regenerated fibers. In recent years, they have achieved full transparency and traceability across all of their Tier 1 factories and established a dedicated Sustainability Department to implement sustainability across all departments and operations. To maintain transparency, the brand also conducts an annual Impact Report to present its social and environmental impact and any further sustainable developments for the future. One major progress they made in the 2021/22 year was the launching of their fully compostable and biodegradable alternative packaging, TIPA^®, which is made of 20% bio-based plastic, made sugar cane and corn starch, and 80% fossil-based plastic. This packaging is designed to decompose in three to six months ¹⁰. Currently, 21% of their collection is packaged with TIPA^®, aiming for 100% by 2025.

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10. ASKET

Instagram | @asket
Based in | Sweden
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustainability Certifications | GRS, RWS

ASKET products for men and women are made in the Pursuit of Less- each garment is designed to transcend seasons and stand the test of time. Offering meaningful essentials to wardrobes to reduce fast fashion that causes overconsumption, fills landfills, and fuels incinerators. Their permanent collection is zero-compromise garments made from sustainable materials, such as recycled wool, traceable Merino, recycled cashmere, TENCEL^™ lyocell, organic cotton, and recycled synthetics. The brand also focuses on full transparency and lifecycle responsibility. For ASKET, lifestyle responsibility means Care, Repair, and Revive. They offer useful guides on how to properly care for your garments to extend their lives, and how to repair common problems. But, for any garment defects, repair services are available. At the end of a garment's life, customers can send their garments back to ASKET, and they will be ‘repaired, renewed, resold, or recycled’ to reduce the environmental impact of waste from the fashion industry ¹¹.

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11. Laagam

Instagram | @laagam______
Born in |  Spain
Shipping | Worldwide
Sustainability Certifications | PETA-Approved Vegan

The Barcelona-based business Laagam is well-known for using environmentally friendly denim production techniques and for its dedication to eco-friendly fashion. Their handcrafted denim items, made in Barcelona, are a blend of artisanal craftsmanship and environmental responsibility, championing sustainability and ethical methods with an exacting attention to detail.

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