Brisbane’s sustainable fashion scene is picking up and it’s a trend we can absolutely all get behind. The city’s combination of local, small-scale fashion designers, and classic high street retailers, offer a great collection of ethically made men’s and women’s clothing. From the bespoke boutiques of Paddington and Bulimba to the eclectic vintage hubs in West End and Fortitude Valley – here’s where you can shop for sustainable fashion in Brisbane.
Read next: The Brisbane fashion designers that should be on your radar
West End
- 1. Nook
- 2. Open House Collective
- 3. The Happy Cabin
- 4. Swop
- 5. Aster & Lilou
1. Nook
Address: 19 Browning Street, South Brisbane
A West End favourite and full of hand-crafted goods is Nook. This gorgeous little shop started with homewares, stationery and accessories and has recently added sustainable clothing to the mix. My favourite brands there are Tasmania’s Seagrass Designs, Brisbane’s Claire Ritchie, and Melbourne’s Miranda Murphy, Kuwaii, Kumo Clothing, Elk and Nancybird.
2. Open House Collective
3. The Happy Cabin
Address: 58 Vulture Street, West End
The locally owned and run Happy Cabin in West End is full of hidden gems and great local sustainable fashion brands. Some of my favourites are Japanese-inspired Ukiyo, ungendered ethical streetwear label Genkstasy, intimates maker Bimby and Roy and the very cool Vege Threads. They also have a sweet vintage rack!
4. SWOP Clothing Exchange
Address: 161 Boundary Street, West End
Technically all secondhand stores fit the bill when it comes to sustainable fashion, as extending the lifetime of a piece of clothing helps to reduce its environmental impact dramatically. But for quality used clothing at a competitive price, it’s got to be SWOP. SWOP Clothing Exchange’s store in West End is a haven for secondhand and vintage clothing. Shoppers can trade in their own clothes for store credit or cash, and shop the secondhand goods on offer.
Check out my guide to Brisbane’s best op shops and vintage stores here.
5. Aster + Lilou
Address: 2/153 Boundary Street, West End
Aster + Lilou stocks new and vintage clothing, jewellery and accessories, with a strong focus on timeless style. The designer behind the boutique, Zara, opened her flagship store in West End in May 2019, with her in-house label Aster + Lilou the label which is made in the workshop behind the West End store. Each vintage piece and designer stocked is personally selected by the designer, who says they love to support and stock likeminded local artists, designers and makers who are creating consciously.
Brisbane City
- 6. Brisbane Arcade
- 7. Myer/David Jones
- 8. Pigeonhole
- 9. Double Double
6. Brisbane Arcade
Address: Between Adelaide Street and Queen Street Mall in Brisbane City
The lovely peeps that run Brisbane Arcade have purposely kept the lease costs down to ensure that local makers can afford to run their stores in the CBD. Enter to find locally designed and made fashion by designers such as Tengdahl and Maiocchi (both made in Brisbane) and many more.
7. Myer/David Jones
Address: Errrrywhere
While these big retailers don’t get a good wrap for their own brands, they stock some really great ethically made Australian labels. The brands to look for here are Nobody Denim, Bassike, Cue, Veronika Maine, Carla Zampatti, Bianca Spender, Bec and Bridge, Perri Cutten and Manning Cartell.
If you’re at Queens Plaza in Brisbane City, check out Brisbane’s own Sacha Drake on Adelaide Street or head upstairs to the fancy womenswear level to find Australian made Viktoria and Woods.
8. Pigeonhole
Address: Wintergarden, Brisbane City
This adorable shop started out as a small curation of fun gift-like objects but has grown into a full-size store with great gifts, garments and games alike. Pigeonhole in Brisbane’s Wintergarden stocks Brisbane label Ivy Nui, Perth label (and Australian made) ILKA, and has a sweet selection of second hand clothes to sort though. Pigeonhole also has a heap of other cool sustainable gifts like reusable coffee cups and other great gadgets.
9. Double Double
Address: Level 1 115 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Previously Violent Green, this inner-city gem houses a heap of great independent Australian and international labels. One of my favourites is Kowtow – a certified organic and fair trade label that is ethically and sustainably made.
Fortitude Valley
- 10. James Street
- 11. Uncommon Store
- 12. Alice Nightingale
- 13. Practice Studio
10. James Street
Address: James St, Fortitude Valley
James Street boutique Carmague is home to some really great sustainable labels that you cannot find anywhere else in Queensland let alone Brisbane. Go here to find clothes from Finnish design house Marimekko and the ethically produced New Zealand label Kowtow.
While you’re in the area, check out the new line up of shops around the Calile Hotel including Australian made Bassike, Bec and Bridge, Dion Lee and Carla Zampatti. Nudie Denim is also on James Street.
11. Uncommon Store
Address: 707 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
The people behind The New Garde – a fashion accelerator business – opened Uncommon Store as an extension of their services for local designers. Now fashion designers who work with The New Garde have a shop front where they can display and sell their locally made wears.
12. Alice Nightingale
Address: Shop 4, California Lane, 356-376 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Brisbane-based designer Alice Veivers makes quirky womenswear with second hand, vintage and deadstock fabrics. Veiver’s store in California Lane is a burst of colour in Fortitude Valley, where she stocks her unique, locally made pieces.
13. Practice Studio
Address: 5D Winn Street (in Winn Lane), Fortitude Valley
Practice Studio is a combined workroom and shop located in Will Lane in Fortitude Valley. The brand’s featured at Practice Studio are regularly designing and making in-store and offer alterations and repairs on both new and well-loved clothes. The shop itself features work by emerging designers who are producing seasonless collections, limited edition art-fashion pieces and short runs of garments and accessories.
Paddington
- 14. Green Tangerine
- 15. Browns General Store
- 16. The Gorgeous Collective
- 17. Sacha Drake
- 18. Dogstar
- 19. Maiocchi
14. Green Tangerine
Address: 157 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
Green Tangerine offers a carefully curated selection of unique gifts and homewares from Australia and the world – plus quality clothing for men and women.
15. Browns General Store
Address: Shop 3/19 Latrobe Terrace, Paddington
This Paddington boutique and gift store has collated a lovely mix of ethical designers across clothing and accessories. Here you’ll find ethically made brands such as Kowtow, Tasi Travels, Ukiyo, Seaside Tones, Carlie Ballard, and one of my personal favourites Lois Hazel. There’s also Will & Bear hats and lots of great locally made earrings.
16. The Gorgeous Collective
Next door to Browns General Store is The Gorgeous Collective – stocking an epic selection of pre-loved garments, carefully curated for quality and style.
17-19. Maiocchi, Sacha Drake and Dogstar
Head around the corner to Given Terrace to find locally-made brands Maiocchi, Sacha Drake and Dogstar.
Bulimba
- 20. The Common Thread
20. The Common Thread
Address: 24 Oxford St, Bulimba
Bulimba boutique The Common Thread stocks good companies, doing good things. Some of the labels to look out for include ethically made swimwear labels Baiia and Salt Gypsy, sustainable Brazilian shoemaker Veja, and their own slow fashion label The MNML.
