Where can you buy Czech clothing that’s not only made according to slow fashion principles but also looks fantastic? I’ve been exploring this question for several years now. There are plenty of Czech slow fashion brands and Czech designers out there, but they can be surprisingly hard to find. That’s why I’ve put together this extensive list of Czech designers and fashion labels worth knowing about.
In my list, you’ll find not only high-end clothing from top Czech designers but also Czech clothing brands that produce simple casual wear, lingerie, and even quality shoes and handbags.
What Is Slow Fashion?
Put simply, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It advocates buying higher-quality clothing that lasts longer, and it values fair treatment of people, animals, and the planet.
The Origins of the Slow Fashion Movement
Over the past decade or so, a wave of change has swept through the fashion industry. More and more brands are rejecting fast fashion in favour of a more sustainable approach to clothing production.
The term “slow fashion” emerged quite organically. Inspired by the slow food movement, it was coined by Kate Fletcher from the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. Just as with slow food, Fletcher saw a need for a slower pace in the fashion industry.
Slow fashion stands in stark contrast to the fast fashion model that appeared roughly 20 years ago, when clothing became cheaper and trend cycles accelerated dramatically. Considering that brands like H&M burn many tonnes of unsold clothing every year — despite constant efforts toward sustainability in fashion — it’s clear that this philosophy is a vital part of the movement.
What Is Sustainable Fashion?
Regardless of your background, we can probably all agree on a few basics — nobody should die for a t-shirt, and we shouldn’t be pumping toxic chemicals into our planet just because we want a cheap top. We’d also agree that we don’t want clothing made with child labour. Unfortunately, shopping centres are full of exactly this kind of clothing.
So What Does Sustainable Fashion Actually Mean?
Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in an environmentally friendly way.
Ethical fashion, a related term that’s also widespread in the world of conscious consumerism, refers to clothing made under fair conditions. This means the people who make the garments aren’t exploited and there’s no child labour behind the production.
Why Invest in Slow and Sustainable Fashion?
Despite the widely publicised environmental impacts of the fashion industry, it continues to grow — largely thanks to the rise of fast fashion, which is built on cheap production, frequent consumption, and short-term use of garments. The fashion industry’s impact includes over 92 million tonnes of waste produced annually and 79 trillion litres of water consumed.
The fashion industry is the world’s third-largest consumer of water. If it continues at its current pace, the water needed to fuel it will double by 2030. With clean drinking water becoming increasingly scarce, this is a massive burden not only on the planet but on humanity as a whole.
Cotton textiles: the fashion industry’s biggest problem
Cotton fabrics are a major issue because they’re the third most widely used fabric in the world. Currently, producing one kilogram of raw cotton requires 10,000 litres of water. On top of that, processing one kilogram of cotton takes another 100–150 litres of water.
Unfortunately, water consumption isn’t the only environmental concern when it comes to cotton farming — large quantities of pesticides and chemicals are also routinely used. Up to 16% of all insecticides used worldwide go towards cotton production.
Why Buy Local Fashion Made in the Czech Republic?
By buying Czech fashion, you’re not only supporting local people but also reducing the ecological footprint. Local brands typically have smaller production runs and greater control over their supply chains. Local clothing production generally means higher quality and more original designs. Plus, you’ll cut down on logistics costs and ensure the products weren’t sewn by underpaid child labourers in Asia.
Czech Fashion Isn’t Always Slow or Sustainable
Just because something is Czech doesn’t automatically mean it’s higher quality or produced sustainably. There are Czech clothing brands where the origin of production or materials is unknown, and there are Czech brands that we know are manufactured not in the Czech Republic but in China or other Asian countries.
Czech Designer Clothing
Let’s start with my favourite Czech designer clothing brands — higher-end pieces made in the Czech Republic that you really should know about.
1) Lada Vyvialová
Lada has been my number one for several years now, mainly because I cycled from the Czech Republic all the way to Greece on e-bikes wearing dresses she made for me. She designs and sews in the Czech Republic following slow fashion principles, and she works with nanotechnology that makes the fabrics self-cleaning, antibacterial, and UV-protective.
That’s also why I personally approached her to design a clothing collection for nanoSPACE — I was confident the materials, dyeing, and stitching would be top-quality. I’ve had her pieces in my wardrobe for years and they still look fantastic. It’s comfortable yet elegant clothing that you can wear to almost any occasion.
2) Sophistic by Veronika
I’m glad that Sophistic was one of the first Czech brands I invested in. The brand has been around since 2010, and the designs come from Czech designer Veronika Štěrbová. She focuses primarily on sustainable fashion and high-quality, comfortable clothing.
The e-shop also offers a wide range of timeless pieces that are easy to mix and match. If you’re a fan of capsule wardrobes, Sophistic is a place where you’ll love to shop.
3) Leeda
The Czech brand Leeda was created by designer Lucie Kutálková, who founded it in 2012 together with Lucie Trnková. The brand’s core philosophy centres on quality materials and handmade production, so you can count on the craftsmanship. You’ll find real silk dresses as well as highly versatile designs.
You might have seen me wearing a Leeda dress at my brother’s wedding. Recently, her collections have featured very vibrant and extravagant prints. For me, Leeda clothing isn’t everyday wear — it’s more for special occasions.
4) Josefina Bakošová
Josefina Bakošová has been a well-known name in Czech fashion since 2007, when she founded the Chi-chi brand. Now she designs under her own name, focusing on minimalist yet sophisticated cuts.
Josefína Bakošová loves masculine tailoring on women and mainly designs what she herself can’t find in the shops. Most of her pieces are remarkably timeless, high-quality, and built to stay in your wardrobe for years.
5) Tradice — Zuzana Osako
Zuzana Osako gained fame at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she designed the outfits for the opening ceremony of the Czech Olympic and Paralympic team. Tradice has been on the market since 2015 and specialises in clothing inspired by the folklore regions of Podluží and Hanácké Slovácko in southern Moravia. Production is domestic and ethical.
6) Pop by Zuzana Kubíčková
She only presented her first collection in 2018. Zuzana Kubíčková focuses on timeless, easy-to-combine clothing collections that tick all the boxes for building a capsule wardrobe.
Czech Fashion Brands
Now let’s look at some more affordable Czech clothing options.
7) SUTU
A slow fashion clothing brand from Zlín that creates according to sustainability principles with respect for the environment and labour ethics. Their main goal is to produce clothing from local materials and to create limited upcycled collections.
8) Simply Self
- The origin of fabrics is unknown; it’s unclear how sustainable the brand actually is.
A brand by a Czech model and finalist of the Czech Miss 2012 beauty pageant. Her clothing features simple cuts that are perfect for a capsule wardrobe, and it’s made in the Czech Republic. Her pieces initially appealed to me because the cuts are really flattering, but unfortunately they don’t last long — the quality is average at best. It’s unclear whether this qualifies as slow fashion or how ethical the production truly is.
9) Moja Moja
The Czech brand Moja Moja offers very elegant and sexy pieces, some at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the origin of materials is unknown, and it’s unclear whether the brand qualifies as ethical or sustainable fashion.
The quality of the clothing I ordered from their e-shop was rather average or below average, though it could have been a particular item. In any case, since the origin isn’t transparent, it’s not a shop I’d buy from regularly.
10) Young Primitive
A brand that will especially appeal to sportier types. Their clothing is minimalist, simple, and timeless. The brand was founded in 1999, and the first t-shirts were produced in 2004. However, they’ve only gained real popularity in recent years. They also offer children’s clothing.
11) Poner
A fashion brand by siblings Jakub and Nikol, which is hugely popular among actors and models. Unfortunately, the origin of materials is unknown, and it’s unclear whether the brand qualifies as ethical or sustainable fashion.
12) Kinoko
A Czech specialist in leggings. Their leggings, available for both athletic and casual wear, are designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic.
The origin of materials isn’t clear. These are some of the most comfortable leggings I’ve ever tried. I was absolutely thrilled at first and bought several pairs, but unfortunately I was eventually disappointed by the quality — they didn’t even last a year.
13) Můj Kousek
A shop selling Czech clothing that is designed, cut, sewn, and printed in the Czech Republic. They primarily use eco-friendly, certified natural or recycled materials. The cuts are simple and casual.
14) Pura Vida
The most colourful Czech clothing brand is without a doubt Pura Vida. They mainly use sporty materials and cuts, but thanks to their bold and cheerful designs, you’ll look great wearing them around town too. What I love about this brand is that they strive to create clothing for all body types.
Czech Lingerie Brands
Would you also like to invest in lingerie brands manufactured in the Czech Republic? The selection is smaller here, but there are still a few worth mentioning. You might be surprised to learn they’re made in the Czech Republic.
15) Triola
Triola is a name every Czech woman with a fuller bust knows well. Triola is a Czech bra specialist that has been on the market since 1919. Designs are created in the Czech Republic, and production takes place at their factory in Horní Jiřetín. They use materials predominantly sourced from southern Europe.
16) Lorii
Beautifully feminine and sexy lingerie handmade from Czech and Italian fabrics. Perfect if you love lace and elegant cuts. The brand was founded by model Petra Lorencová.
17) Corpus
Corpus Lingerie is a very young brand founded by two sisters from Brno that produces lingerie from bamboo viscose with 5% elastane. They offer very simple, understated cuts in neutral colours.
Their e-shop has a fairly limited selection, though. The brand gained recognition primarily through a campaign collaboration with Czech influencer Kristýna Dolejšová.
18) TerezaVu
Tereza Vu is a luxury lingerie brand that has been on the market for more than eight years. Designer Tereza Vu Hanč uses silk, French lace, and daring cuts for her creations.
Czech Shoe Brands
The Czech Republic is also home to some interesting shoe brands, varying in quality. Here’s my curated list of the best ones produced in the heart of Central Europe.
19) Vasky
A shoe brand from Zlín that focuses primarily on casual leather footwear. It was founded by Václav Staněk, who is driven by his desire to revive the Czech Republic’s proud tradition of quality shoemaking.
20) Monica Sofia
For lovers of high-end footwear, there’s Monica Sofia, named after its founder — a Czech model. In their shop you’ll find luxury handmade leather boots, trainers, heels, sandals, and handbags, all produced in Spain and Portugal. A portion of the profits from every pair sold goes to the Nádeje Cabo Verde fund, supporting underprivileged families in Cape Verde.
21) Bohempia
Bohempia has been on the market since 2015, specialising in footwear and clothing made from technical hemp. The shoes they offer are eco-friendly, sustainable, and feature a minimalist design. Production is partly based in the Czech Republic and partly in surrounding Central European countries.
22) Be Lenka
The Czech brand Be Lenka is a manufacturer of barefoot shoes produced sustainably following slow fashion principles in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
23) Novesta
Novesta has been producing rubber-soled canvas shoes since 1939, when the famous shoemaker Jan Antonín Baťa opened a shoe factory in the small Slovak town of Partizánske. Today, they also have a production facility in Zlín. Their traditional manufacturing methods are complemented by slow fashion principles and PETA certification, which guarantees their collections contain no animal-derived components and haven’t been tested on animals.
Czech Bag and Backpack Makers
If you’re thinking about investing in a Czech handbag or backpack brand, I have two beautiful recommendations you should definitely know about.
24) Bagind
Bagind is a Czech brand of leather backpacks and handbags, though production takes place in India. It was founded in 2015 by Lukáš Matějček. All products are crafted in several family workshops in the heart of the Indian city of Jaisalmer, where backpacks have been made for 65 years — once for Indian royalty.
25) Leathery
A small Czech company from Strakonice that specialises in producing designer leather handbags. Their bags are original and beautifully crafted — you won’t find similar designs anywhere else.
You might also enjoy our guide to 10 of the most interesting Czech cosmetics brands.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
