Swedish Style: 11 Apparel Brands Leading Ethical Fashion

ASKET focuses on creating a permanent collection of essentials, aiming to reduce overconsumption and extend the lifecycle of garments. They emphasize full transparency, revealing the cost, impact, and origin of each item, and promote informed choices through their Impact Receipt which details the environmental costs of production. Committed to sustainability, ASKET offers care guides, repair services, and a buy-back program for their garments to ensure longer use and minimize waste.

Bite Studios emphasizes sustainability through the use of organic materials and meticulous craftsmanship, with collections that consistently exceed 96% adherence to their strict fiber standards, aiming for 100% approved materials.

Boob Design is committed to sustainable production, emphasizing the importance of human rights and environmental care, evident through their long-term supplier relationships and strict adherence to certifications. The brand's philosophy is to produce purposeful, high-quality maternity and nursing clothes that are environmentally optimized at every stage, from design to materials selection. Furthermore, Boob supports the women's rights organization Kvinna till Kvinna, donating 10% of proceeds from certain products, and encourages customers to extend the life cycle of their garments through practices like re-wearing, re-using, and recycling.

Deadwood leverages waste materials as the main source for its products, utilizing production leftovers, deadstock materials, and factory offcuts to craft its collection, aiming to make the fashion industry more waste-efficient. The brand's sourcing strategy includes using discarded leather, which accounts for 30-40% of waste post-tanning and cutting, and they strive for 80% of all materials to be recycled or up-cycled. Additionally, Deadwood has expanded its sustainable practices beyond leather, introducing plant-based alternatives like cactus leather and Fine Mycelium™, with a commitment to creating durable, timeless designs that challenge traditional fashion industry norms.

Dedicated is committed to ethical and sustainable fashion, holding certifications such as Fairtrade and GOTS, ensuring fair wages and safe conditions for farmers and factory workers, and banning harmful chemicals and GMO cotton seeds. The brand utilizes eco-friendly materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, GRS-certified recycled polyester, and natural fibers such as TENCEL™ Lyocell, focusing on responsible production and unique, artist-driven designs. With a transparent approach to its supply chain and a dedication to social and environmental standards, Dedicated supports a more sustainable fashion industry while contributing to social improvements through Fairtrade premiums.

Ida Sjöstedt commits to sustainability by producing collections on-demand to eliminate excess stock and waste, using 20% stock materials, and donating leftover materials to educational institutions. The brand's operations are centered in Europe with 98% of production local, ensuring high-quality products with reduced transportation emissions and adherence to ethical guidelines, including the Swedish Fashion Ethical Charter. Additionally, Ida Sjöstedt avoids real fur and down, opting for natural fiber faux fur and mulesing-free wool, with a focus on minimizing fabric waste during design and production.

Maxomorra has embedded sustainability into its core since its inception in 2008, becoming a GOTS-certified brand in 2012, which ensures adherence to rigorous ecological and social criteria across the entire textile supply chain. The brand's commitment to sustainability is evident in its exclusive use of organic cotton, non-toxic colors, and dyes, as well as the provision of fair working conditions and living wages. Maxomorra's range, including a cozy organic denim line, features vibrant, durable, and skin-friendly fabrics, reflecting their dedication to both the environment and the quality of children's clothing.

The brand's commitment to the environment extends to its stringent chemical policy, adhering to European REACH standards with additional restrictions, and its focus on water conservation, working with suppliers who employ effective wastewater systems and innovative water-saving technologies in cotton farming and denim production. Nudie Jeans' approach to climate responsibility involves transparency in emissions calculations, product-level impact visibility, and active participation in the Swedish Textile Initiative for Climate Action (STICA). Nudie Jeans addresses social sustainability by ensuring living wages for workers in its supply chain, with verified payments reaching workers, and maintaining high labor standards through its membership in the Fair Wear Foundation. The brand extends its ethical practices to materials, using organic cotton, recycled elastane and polyester, TENCEL™ Lyocell, and prioritizing animal welfare in sourcing wool and leather.

RESIDUS emphasizes ethical production and material sourcing within Europe, ensuring reduced transportation emissions and adherence to strong labor rights and chemical process regulations, including REACH and OEKO-TEX certifications. The brand actively reduces environmental impact and industry waste by utilizing surplus fabrics, certified sustainable fibers like LENZING™ ECOVERO™, organic cotton, and FSC certified wood pulp, and embraces materials that are recyclable and biodegradable such as linen, TENCEL™ fibers, and Gotland sheep wool. Transparency is central to RESIDUS's approach, offering customers traceability through QR codes on garment labels, revealing the entire production process and affirming the brand's commitment to sustainability and responsible practices.

Swedish Stockings is dedicated to transforming the hosiery industry by integrating sustainable materials and innovative production methods. The brand utilizes eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable Amni Soul Eco® polyamide, recycled ECONYL® yarn, and organic cotton, all certified by reputable standards like OEKO-TEX® and GOTS. Committed to reducing environmental impact, Swedish Stockings collaborates with partners to drive industry change, offering products designed for longevity and reduced waste, as evidenced by their partnerships and sustainable product launches like the Malva Ladder Resistant Tights.