Where to shop for sustainable fashion in Sydney
IMAGE VIA @RTTS.LAND/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAGENTA PORTER
The Sydney-based stores that put the planet first.
The demand for more considered and sustainable wardrobe options has never been higher – slow, ethical and local fashion production is now are the forefront of our minds.
But with the increase of greenwashing, and more and more companies putting forth a ‘sustainable’ facade, it can be tricky to find out exactly where to go to get some environmentally friendly threads that don’t compromise on style or design.
Discover more local designers in our Fashion section.
Sydney’s fashion landscape has dramatically evolved in the past few years and it’s slowly but surely catching up with its (slightly more progressive) sister down south, Melbourne. If vintage isn’t your thing, this comprehensive list of sustainable, ethical local stores and designers will scratch that retail therapy itch without harming the planet.
Worn Store
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Launched in 2015, Worn Store is a mixture of sustainable clothing and furniture. It’s also partnered with Green Fleet, a carbon emissions monitoring company that neutralises emissions by replanting natives trees in Australia. Committed to only using sustainably grown, sourced and certified ethical fabrications, Worn Store is completely transparent when it comes to where and how its beautiful garments are made.
Head here to find out where you can find Worn Store in Sydney.
Rtts.land
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The brainchild of Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp designer Niamh Galea, Rtts.land is a design studio, an appointment-only retail space and a “little oasis in the middle of the city”. The space stocks Niamh’s own brand, as well as Australian-born talent like All is a Gentle Spring, Cute Virus and Ella Borg. Rtts.land features a carefully-curated collection of sustainably made, locally designed and upcycled pieces.
Suite 13/647 – 649 George Street, Level 1 Haymarket
Venroy
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Bondi-born label Venroy is all about elevated leisurewear, crafted primarily from pure linen. Focusing on seasonal, weather-specific styles, the brand releases limited runs of its minimalistic separates. Whether you’re heading off on a holiday or just want to dress like you are, the store’s two Sydney locations offer vacation-ready pieces, year-round.
Head here to find out where you can find Venroy in Sydney.
So Familia
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Kara Otter’s colourful Newtown retail space, So Familia, is dedicated to making all of your Y2K dreams come true. Stocking a mix of vintage, secondhand and locally-made gems, the store provides shoppers with everything from floor-length faux fur to bejewelled two-piece sets. You can also browse pieces from designers like Karlaidlaw, Dyspnea and Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp.
428 King Street, Newtown
Poepke
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Paddington’s best-kept secret, Poepke, stocks an eclectic range of considered, creative designers. Despite not being completely sustainable-only, the Poepke store values slow, quality fashion production, carrying cult designers like Issey Miyake and Dries Van Noten. Its biannual Archives pop-up is an edited collection of past season pieces from its most popular labels and pre-owned pieces alike, offering customers an opportunity to get their hands on the most sought-after designs from years past.
47 William Street, Paddington
The Social Outfit
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One of Sydney’s most well-loved and well-known sustainable shopping destinations lies in the heart of Newtown. A fashion label with a difference, The Social Outfit has a social mission – to support refugee women through employment and training across the business in retail, production, design and marketing. So much more than just a sustainable and ethical shopping destination, the label is also a registered charity, with any income from sales redirected back into the organisation to help deliver its social mission. To top it off, the social enterprise has saved over eight tonnes of fabric and textile waste from landfill.
188 King Street, Newtown
Bassike
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Founded in 2006 by Deborah Sams and Mary Lou Ryan, Bassike has led the way in sustainable fashion design in Australia. Working with sustainable cotton and Australian makers from the beginning, Bassike is now a household name, producing luxurious, timeless pieces without compromising on sustainability. Over 95 per cent of Bassike garments are made locally in Australia, and the brand is on track to reduce excess raw materials by 50 per cent in 2025. Now with eight stores across Australia (five in Sydney alone), the Northern Beaches based brand can be shopped from wherever you are.
Head here to see a list of Sydney boutique locations.
Jillian Boustred
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This Sydney-based womenswear label has been producing the majority of its quality, comfortable and classic pieces in Australia since 2015. With a focus on longevity, Jillian Boustred designs small, considered, runs out of her Chippendale studio, using mainly natural fibres to produce timeless, minimal pieces, perfect for work and play. Clean lines and rich earthy tones saturate the latest collection that can be shopped by appointment in the studio, online or from one of the many Sydney stockists.
25 Meagher St Chippendale, NSW
KitX
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Founded by designer Kit Willow, KitX is a future-facing fashion label that’s leading the way in Sydney. Sustainable, transparent and ethical, KitX designs are not only creative and innovative but put the planet first. Built for longevity, this brand is against fast, disposable and short-lived fashion, producing designer investment pieces for every occasion. Head to Paddington for the in-store experience, or visit KitX online.
108 Oxford Street, Paddington
Ginger & Smart
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Ginger & Smart need little introduction – founded in 2002 by Sydney sisters Alexandra and Genevieve Smart, the label uses the finest, sustainable materials to create beautiful, considered and timeless pieces, designed to be worn over and over again. Clashing colours and prints to create looks for every occasion, Ginger & Smart collections are crafted from 100 per cent sustainably sourced fabrics that stand out from the rest.
Head here to see a list of local boutique locations.
Hansen & Gretel
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This iconic label has upped its sustainability practices, using environmentally accredited fabrications and natural fibres wherever possible. Minimising fabric wastage, avoiding harmful dying methods and using the same print across a number of different garments are just some of the ways that Hansen & Gretel has moved towards more sustainable practices. Hansen & Gretel’s colourful, innovative designs are intended to be forever pieces that you can wear for years to come.
212 Oxford St, Paddington & 5/19 Bungan St, Mona Vale
Commas
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Designed and handcrafted locally in Sydney, this swim and resort wear label is inspired by summer holiday moments. Commas swimwear is comprised of recycled polyamide from Europe, and its organic cotton is grown in Australia, minimising its carbon mileage. The brand is actively working towards net-zero emissions and has a recycling program in place, accepting any Commas swimwear that is five years old or more and offering you credit back to spend on your next swimwear purchase.
To find out where to shop Commas in-store, head here.
Citizen Wolf
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On the hunt for a sustainable, ethical, plain white tee? Citizen Wolf designs are carbon negative and made to custom fit every body using Magic Fit technology. Citizen Wolf set the bar for environmentally friendly local production, with the label’s Zero Waste collection using every milligram of offcut fabric to create stylish accessories and homewares, so you can feel completely guilt-free with every purchase. Every T-shirt is cut and sewn at the Inner West factory, which doubles as a shop, so pop in to say hello or check it out online.
501/75 Mary Street, St. Peters
Nagnata
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This Sydney based lifestyle and movement brand blend renewable fibres with cotton to create technologically advanced pieces. Nagnata’s mantra, ‘Movements not seasons’ echoes its commitment to sustainability and inclusivity and the small design team aims to challenge fast fashion and the rampant consumerism it encourages. From morning yoga sessions to relaxing on the couch or running errands to the beach, Nagnata pieces are the ideal fit for any occasion.
Head here to find a list of Sydney stockists.
Camp Cove Swim
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A summer essential for any Sydneysider, Camp Cove Swims’ colourful bikinis have been the go-to for a more sustainable beachside look since 2013. Produced down the coast in Jervis Bay, this brand is not only made locally but is designed to minimise its impact on the planet. Created with longevity front of mind, the lining of Camp Cove togs is made from regenerated nylon from rescued fishing nets that were heading for landfill. To add to the sustainability of its pieces, all of the label’s fabric is printed locally in Sydney, using a method called sublimation which eliminates water usage.
Camp Cove Swim has regular pop-up stores, so follow it on Instagram to keep up-to-date, or check out the online store here.
Bondi Born
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Majority female-owned and run, Bondi Born took this year’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week by storm. This sophisticated, sustainable swimwear and apparel label consciously sources sustainable-certified fabrics to produce expertly crafted garments in Sydney. Bondi Born has committed to planting one tree for every online purchase made and also contributes 1 per cent of all revenue to not-for-profits that address the climate crisis.
To find out where you can view the latest collection in Sydney, head here.
Zulu and Zephyr
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Born in Bondi, Zulu and Zephyr is one of the most well-known swimwear and lifestyle brands to come out of Sydney. Since 2012, the label has been producing beautiful pastel and earthy-toned togs with accessories to match, as well as casual denim, resort wear and knits. The brand relaunched the entire swimwear line in 2020 in a more sustainable textile, Econyl, a premium regenerated nylon, created in partnership with Healthy Seas.
Check out its online store or head here for a list of Sydney stockists.
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To shop more sustainable fashion labels, head here.
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