Welcome to find out what are the Best European fashion brands, that conveniently also represent the best sustainable brands. And as I covered in an earlier article, sustainable brands are the new luxury brands.
Since 2019 I have intended to live more sustainably. And the part of my lifestyle that has the biggest environmental impact is my style and the sustainable fashion brands that I intend to shop from now on.
Because when it comes to fashion shows alone, their environmental impact is insane!
- The fashion industry is one of the worst threats to our environment and climate.
- One fashion show by a major brand creates an insane amount of waste
- There are tens of thousands of outfits that never make it to the runway
- The amount of plastic used on creating the more and more elaborate runways will never disappear from this planet.
That is why it’s more important than ever that we ALL start being more aware of what sort of fashion we consume. The Stockholm Fashion Week closed their doors in 2023 until they are able to come up with a more sustainable way to showcase new trends.
Little did they know that this issue is already being solved by multiple countries in Europe.
Europe is the forerunner in fashion sustainability
There was a time when the clothing industry thrived in Europe! Fast fashion was “invented” in the 1990’s by Zara, and since then the European clothing industry has been withering away.
But now there is light at the end of the tunnel again! Europe is quickly becoming a leading continent when it comes to creating eco-friendly fabrics and solving the clothing waste issues.
With the EU banning destruction of unsold clothing, there are also multiple new fashion brands and innovations we should be aware of. For example, there is a country way up North in Europe where sustainable fashion innovations are created left, right and centre. And that country is Finland:
- It’s not just a pioneer in plastic recycling
- but Sulapac also created a fully biodegradable alternative to plastic.
- Ioncell in collaboration with Aalto University is creating clothing fabric from wood!
These innovations are exactly what the world needs and they EXIST! All that needs to happen now is for everyone to embrace these innovations in their everyday lives. And we can’t do that if we don’t know about them. That’s why I’m here: to inform and inspire you!
So, let’s get to business and see what are the best European fashion brands you need to be aware of.
TOP 7 Best European Fashion Brands to Shop in 2026
Most people still prefer to shop clothes in actual stores but the popularity of online shopping is rising exponentially. While this might not be the best development in terms of the environment, it benefits sustainable fashion brands, which are often small and don’t have stores.
When shopping from sustainable fashion brands, it’s important to know your measurements. These pieces are often made to measure, so you should ensure a good fit, which also ensures the piece’s longevity. A well fitting piece of clothing stands the tooth of time better.
So, here are my TOP 7 best European fashion brands:
1. Son de Flor – The dreamiest versatile dresses for every occasion
The reason why I am quite loyal to certain brands are the inspiring stories behind them. While fast fashion brands are far from inspiring, independent small brands, like Son de Flor, have a bigger and better reason for existing than just making money.
The founders, sisters Vaida and Indre, grew up in Lithuania admiring their mother’s style sense. When they were able to replicate the beautiful designs, they opted to do so using linen.
Did you know that linen is a natural fabric that is
- one of the most biodegradable fabrics we have,
- strong material that dries quickly,
- naturally moth-resistant,
- and super skin-friendly? Well, now you do!
On top of this, Son de Fleur aspires to create dreamy linen dresses that endure the tooth of time. Top-notch craftsmanship is the foundation of this brand, and as their customer I can vouch for that.
In practice this means that they use traditional techniques to ensure the high quality of their garments. This best European fashion brands candidate emphasizes meticulous attention to detail which includes every aspect of design from material selection to stitching and finishing.
Son de Flor ensures that their timeless dresses are designed to withstand the passage of years, which allows them to become cherished items in any wardrobe.
2. RainSisters – Look your very best even on those gray rainy days
As the fashion industry evolves from a period of over-indulging, the best European fashion brands have an opportunity to step back into the limelight. And with them, a beautiful brand from Latvia: RainSisters.
As you may decipher from the name, yes, this brand specialises in rain-ware. And not just any rain-ware but in beautiful, meticulously crafted raincoats that rival the most chic dressers in Paris.
The brand was founded by three sisters who embarked on a journey to solve a problem that they themselves encountered: lack of coverage against rain and wind in harsh climates. While flimsy umbrellas can’t match the power of the wind, a well made waterproof design coat can keep us dry.
Their perky but stylish designs will make the harshest passers-by smile and their design ethos is one that many women can relate to:
“We understand that a woman’s life is a tapestry of roles and responsibilities, each requiring adaptability and resilience.”
3. Linen Handmade Studio – Premium Natural Material Clothing
Lithuania is one of Europe’s treasure troves when it comes to natural material clothing, especially linen clothing. Linen isn’t just a fabric there, it’s part of their history and culture. This combined with Lithuanian women’s style aesthetics, that celebrate the female shape, what more could you want?
Linen Handmade Studio is one of these dreamy brands! They create the most flattering pieces for every season in the most delicious pastel colours. I myself am a proud owner of their Cassidy maxi dress, and the quality and comfort of that piece is unmatched.
To find out more about this notice-worthy brand, read my Linen Handmade Studio review.
4. Gaâla Paris – Parish chic but make it planet-friendly
Gaâla Paris is one of my favourites among the best European fashion brands! I’ve been a fan of them since I discovered the brand on Instagram while looking for sustainable brands.
As the name might suggest, this Paris-based brand is all about chic and feminine aesthetic but with an environmental twist: they only use surplus fabrics obtained from luxury fashion houses. In other words they rely on deadstock fabrics to avoid adding to the massive clothing waste crisis.
And because their fabrics come specifically from luxury brands, you can be sure of high quality when ordering clothing from this brand. In addition, I am here to vouch for their quality:
The dress you see me wearing in these photos is the Bardot dress from Gaâla Paris.
- It is hands down the best quality piece of clothing I have ever owned!
- The construction of the bodice alone is testament of that. The structure, the bones, the fit, everything.
- And the fabric is delicious both in colour and quality.
What also makes them stand out in the industry, is the fact that when you order from them, you may get yourself an almost unique piece of clothing. This is due to them using deadstock fabrics: once a fabric runs out, the design can’t be reproduced again.
I don’t know about you, but for me standing out from the crowd is the only way to exist!
5. PIHKA collection – Scandinavian design, style and durability
As a Brand Ambassador I, of course, can’t leave out this amazing accessory brand. PIHKA collection is extremely particular about where and how they get the leather for their bags.
Thus they have earned the Key Flag certificate, which is rewarded to products and services created in Finland by Finns. This is a strong indicator of their products’ level of sustainability. And here are couple good reasons to remember this brand:
- PIHKA collection uses surplus leather from cattle farms in Germany and Sweden, and all their leather is either chrome-tanned or veggie tanned.
- All bags are produced by hand in Finland, and their design is timeless and effortlessly chic.
- They’ve also added a sustainable element to their bags by designing them in a way that allows the bags to be taken apart, fixed, and treated so that you can keep on wearing them forever.
I have multiple PIHKA bags, and they are my most worn accessories. Why? Because leather is the strongest and the most beautiful material! Also, PIHKA’s colour selections are delicious and the bags are so practical and classic in design that they go perfectly together with any outfit.
6. Mother of Pearl – Eco-friendly luxury for the extraordinary
When talking about sustainable European fashion brands being the genuine luxury brands, Mother of Pearl is a pioneer in it. This inspiring British luxury fashion brand creates extraordinary pieces with the environment and a transparent supply chain at the forefront of their agenda.
With the rest of the fashion industry spending millions of dollars to hide their toxic and abusive supply chains, it’s so refreshing to see brands like this go the other way.
As the brand has stated in their website, this is a truly European fashion brand. Their supply chain consists of countries like Italy, Portugal, Spain, Austria and Turkey, with only knitwear made in China.
The style aesthetic of this brand is in one word striking. You can truly recognize a Mother of Pearl piece on the street when you see one. They can often be distinguished by the low-hanging shoulder ruffles and – you guessed it – pearls.
This is another brand I’ve been following for some years now. I check their collections regularly to see if something might catch my eye. Then I can be a part of their Pearly Queens community!
But their styles are pretty out-there (even for me) and I will not order anything unless I’m absolutely in love with it. I hope you won’t either.
7. Halla x Halla – Fun swimwear that goes against the microplastics problem
This is another super-brand from the promised land of the best European fashion brands: Finland.
What makes Halla x Halla a particularly important contender in the industry is the fact that bikinis are made out of polyester. And polyester is not a fabric that exists, it must me manufactured. And manufacturing polyester takes 70 BILLION barrels of oil per year.
You can probably imagine how long it takes for such material to break down in nature. 200 years!! And despite breaking down, it’ll never disappear from this planet.
The way Halla x Halla is tackling this massive problem is by producing bikinis from discarded polyester waste: fishing nets, carpet flooring and plastic gathered from our oceans. How appropriate for a bikini brand, eh?
I was gifted a colourful pair of bikinis by Halla x Halla last Spring. I fell in love with the brand initially because their prints are so bold and colourful. Not something you’d expect from a Finnish brand.
And having learned about the story and mission behind the brand I want to shout out about them to as many people as I can.
Final Thoughts on the Best European Fashion Brands
And there you have them: my TOP 7 best European fashion brands. Did you know some of them already? I’d love to hear what you think of these brands, did any of them peak your interest?
Stay tuned for more sustainable fashion content! You know you can count on the Outlandish Blog to cover all the up-to-date topics that have anything to do with the fashion industry. You can already find out how to recognize a sustainable fashion brands from fraudsters and the likes of H&M and Zara who settle for greenwashing. Until then ♥
Follow me on Instagram and use #styleoutlandish to showcase your style! I’m always on the lookout for outfit inspiration. Get to know me better by listening to my podcast, Random Rambles. If you wish to work with me, check out my services here!
