Fast fashion is here, and it looks like it's here to stay. With major brands like Zara and H&M churning out new designs, styles and collections quicker than ever before, it is becoming extremely difficult to become sustainable in your clothes shopping. I have listed for you in this blog some of Dublin’s best spots to help you add to your sustainable wardrobe collection.
Fresh Cuts Clothing
Located on 21 Drury Street, this is your ONLY retail store in Dublin where you are guaranteed to get 100% ethical and sustainable clothing. As well as that, all their clothes are produced under fair working standards and they're also highly dedicated to supporting Irish businesses!
Stocking a wide range of women's, men's and kids clothing ranges, this is your one stop shop for sustainable clothing. Personally, a lot of my recent clothes purchases have been at Fresh Cuts and I can vouch for them when they say their clothes are superior in fabric. As well as that, their Fresh Designs are only produced to a limit of 100 of each design, so when they’re gone, they’re gone!
Fresh Cuts have received a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification as well as a Soil Association and a Fair Wear Foundation certification, which is proof of their dedication towards a high standard of ethical and sustainable clothing. Check them out here.
Grown
Grown is a small but exquisite Irish start-up that designs their own shirts and t-shirts for both men and women, right from the heart of the capital, on Francis street in Dublin's Liberties. The tale of Grown is the story of three friends who were becoming increasingly concerned with the amount of rubbish in the ocean and decided to look at the impact that clothes production had on the environment.
The production of their clothes comes from Continental Clothing Company, who are a highly innovative and sustainable company and are extremely devoted to the production of sustainable fashion. They're also an extremely socially responsible company, participating in talks and demonstrations at festivals, provide water refills at festivals and organize beach clean ups. While most of their sales are online, you can also visit their retail shop every Saturday at 29 Francis St. The guys at grown are so inspirational in their efforts to promote sustainable fashion and are definitely worth checking out.
Lucy's Lounge
Possibly one of Dublin's more well-known gems, with its pink storefront and large array of various clothing, accessories and just plain random pieces, this is perhaps Dublin's most iconic vintage store, with a lot of their items at a very affordable price. Shopping for the vintage look is a fantastic way to become more sustainable with your fashion, and not to mention it will add a bit of authenticity and originality to your wardrobe collection.
Whether you're shopping or browsing, it's always worth a visit, if even just for the exterior and decor! As well as that, they also hold free sewing classes, for anyone looking to get extremely sustainable with their fashion. (Read a similar blog on ways to up-cycle your clothes here!) Lucy's Lounge is located in the heart of Temple Bar, at 11 Fownes Street Upper, so why not grab a drink and go take a look?
Siopaella
With 4 stores located around Dublin City, Siopaella, which was founded on the "belief in sustainable fashion and a circular economy" is a luxury re-sale store in the heart of Dublin. It’s a great store which allows you to buy second-hand but high-quality items, as they all pass inspection before they’re put on the shelf! As well as that, if you have any old designer items lying around, they’ll be happy to give you a fair price for it!
While one of these stores focuses predominantly on high-end designer pieces such as Chanel, Gucci, Hermes and Stella McCartney which tend to be very expensive, two of their other stores are more focused on high street items, with all their items either second hand or sourced directly by them. These stores contain clothing and items only for women, so sorry guys but you'll have to check out the other places I've mentioned if you plan on going for a sustainable clothes shop!
Charity shops and flea markets
The Dublin Flea market is a fantastic option for those looking to become more sustainable in their clothes shopping, with the market offering excellent second-hand, vintage and retro clothing pieces for everyone. Located on Newmarket Square, Dublin 8, the market takes place on the last Sunday of every month and is a great way to spend your Sunday.
Dublin also has many charity shops such as The Irish Cancer Society, Rathmines and Oxfam, Georges Street, to name but a few. Charity shops are a fantastic way of second-hand shopping. The saying 'One's man's trash is another man's treasure', is very apt for charity shops as you are guaranteed to find a few vintage gems. As well as that, you're supporting some fantastic noble charities who do great work, so it's a win-win!
Please share this blog to let your friends and family know about these awesome places in Dublin to improve your sustainable fashion collection, and of course, don’t be afraid to comment and let me know where your favorite sustainable fashion spots are in Dublin and in Ireland!
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