Where to buy Czech clothes that are not only made on slow-fashion principles, but also look great? That’s a question I’ve been dealing with for the last couple of years. There are not a few Czech brands and Czech designers, but they are hard to find. I have therefore prepared a very comprehensive list of Czech designers and Czech fashion brands.
In my list you will not only find clothes from leading Czech designers of the highest quality, but I have also prepared for you Czech clothing brands that sew simple leisurewear, underwear or produce quality shoes or handbags.
What is slow fashion?
Simply put, slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It advocates buying better quality clothing that lasts longer and values fair treatment of people, animals and the planet.
The beginnings of slow fashion
In the last ten years or so, a wave of change has swept through the fashion industry. More and more brands are rejecting fast fashion and opting for a more sustainable approach to clothing production.
The term “slow fashion” arose quite organically. Following the phenomenon of the slow food movement, it was invented by Kate Fletcher from the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. As with the slow food movement, Fletcher saw the need for a slower pace in the fashion industry.
Slow fashion is the antithesis of the fast fashion model that emerged about 20 years ago, when clothes became cheaper and trend cycles accelerated. Given that brands like H&M burn many tons of unsold clothing each year, despite ongoing sustainability efforts to close the loop in fashion, it’s clear that this philosophy is an essential part of the movement.
What is sustainable fashion?
No matter what background you come from, we can probably all agree on a few basic things – no one should die because of a t-shirt, and we shouldn’t release toxic substances into our planet just because we want a $200 t-shirt. I think we can also agree that we don’t want clothes that have child labour behind them. Unfortunately, the malls are full of such clothes.
So what does the term sustainable fashion really mean?
Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, produced, distributed and used in an environmentally friendly way.
Ethical fashion, a related term that is also prevalent in the world of conscious consumerism, refers to clothing that is produced under fair conditions. This means that those who produce are not exploited and child labour is not behind the clothes.
Why invest in slow and sustainable fashion?
Despite the widely publicised environmental impacts of the fashion industry, the fashion industry continues to grow, mainly due to the rise of fast fashion, which is based on cheap production, frequent consumption and short-term use of garments. The impacts of the fashion industry include more than 92 million tonnes of waste produced annually and 79 trillion litres of water consumed.
The fashion industry is the third largest consumer of water in the world. If the fashion industry continues at its current pace, the water consumption to power it will double by 2030. With fresh water running out, this is a huge burden not only on the planet but also on humanity.
Cotton textiles as the biggest problem of the fashion industry
Cotton fabrics are a major problem, as they are the third most used fabric in the world. To produce one kilogram of unprocessed cotton today requires 10 000 litres of water. In addition, 100-150 litres of water are needed to process a kilogram of cotton.
Unfortunately, it is not only the water consumption that puts a strain on the environment during cotton production; large amounts of pesticides and chemicals are also used as standard in cotton cultivation. Up to 16% of insecticides used in the world are applied to cotton.
Why buy local fashion made in the Czech Republic or Slovakia?
By buying Czech fashion, you are not only supporting the people of the Czech Republic, but you are also reducing the ecological impact. Local brands often have smaller production runs and more control over their supply chains. And local clothing production generally means higher quality and more original designs. Plus, you reduce logistics costs and ensure that products are not sewn by poorly paid child labour in Asia.
Czech fashion doesn’t always have to be slow or sustainable
TJust because something is Czech does not mean that it is of higher quality or sustainably produced. They are Czech clothing brands, where we do not know the origin of production or the origin of the material and there are Czech brands where we know that the goods are not produced in the Czech Republic but in China or in another Asian country.
Czech designer clothes from designers
Now let’s take a look at my favourite Czech designer clothing brands, i.e. more expensive designer clothes made in the Czech Republic that you should know.
1) Lada Vyvialová
Lada has been a top priority for me for several years now, and it’sespecially because I rode from the Czech Republic to Greece on e-bikes in the dress she made me. She sews and designs in the Czech Republic on the slow-fashion principle and works with nanotechnologies that make the materials self-cleaning, antibacterial and UV filtered.
That’s why I approached her myself to design a collection of clothes for nanoSPACE, where I am sure that the materials, dyeing and sewing will be of high quality. I’ve had her clothes in my closet for years and they still look great. It is a comfortable and elegant outfit that can be worn to almost any type of event.
2) Sophistic by Veronika
I am glad that Sophistic was one of the first Czech brands I invested in. The brand has been around since 2010 and the designs are by Czech designer Veronika Štěrbová. It focuses mainly on sustainable fashion and high quality and comfortable clothes.
In addition, the e-shop offers a range of pieces that are timeless and easy to mix and match. If you’re a fan of capsule wardrobes, Sophistic is where you’ll love to shop.
3) Leeda
The Czech brand Leeda is the brainchild of designer Lucie Kutálková, who founded it in 2012 together with Lucie Trnková. The brand’s main philosophy is quality materials and handcrafting, we can rely on quality. You will find dresses made of real silk and very variable dresses.
You might have seen me in a Leedy dress at my brother’s wedding. Lately, her collection has featured very colourful and extravagant prints. For me, Leedy clothes are not clothes for everyday wear, but rather for occasions.
4) Josefina Bakošová
Josefina Bakošová has been known in the Czech environment since 2007, when she founded the Chi-chi brand. She now designs under her own name and focuses more on minimalist yet sophisticated cuts.
Josefína Bakošová loves men’s cuts on women and designs mainly what she herself misses in the shops. Most of her pieces are strongly timeless, high quality and will last a long time in your closet.
5) Tradition – Zuzana Osaka
Zuzana Osako became famous at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she designed the outfit for the opening ceremony for the Czech Olympic and Paralympic team. Tradition has been on the market since 2015 and is dedicated to clothing inspired by the folklore regions of Podluží and Hanácké Slovácko. Production is domestic and ethical.
6) Pop by Zuzana Kubíčková
She only introduced her first collection in 2018. Zuzana Kubíčková focuses on a timeless and easy to mix and match collection of clothing that fulfils everything you need to create a capsule wardrobe.
Czech fashion brands
Let’s now take a look at more affordable Czech clothing.
7) SUTU
Zlín-based slow fashion clothing brand that creates in the principles of sustainability with respect for the environment and work ethics. The main purpose is to produce clothes from local materials and also to create limited upcycled collections.
8) Simply Self
- We do not know the origin of the substances, it is not clear to what extent it is sustainable
Brand of the Czech model and finalist of the beauty contest Czech Miss 2012. Her clothes have simple cuts that fit perfectly into a capsule wardrobe. Clothes are manufactured in the Czech Republic. I really liked her clothes because the cuts are really flattering, unfortunately they don’t last long, the quality is average. It’s not clear whether it is slow fashion or to what extent it is ethical.
9) My My
The Czech brand Moja Moja offers very elegant and sexy pieces, some of them at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, the origin of the material is unknown, nor is it known whether it is an ethical or sustainable fashion.
The quality of the clothes I got from the e-shop was rather average or below average, but it could have been a specific piece, anyway, since the origin is not obvious, it is not a shop I regularly shop at.
10) Young Primitive
A brand that will excite especially the sportier types. Their clothes are minimalistic, simple and timeless. The brand was founded in 1999 and the first T-shirts were created in 2004. However, they have only gained popularity in recent years. It also offers clothing for children.
11) Poner
The fashion brand of siblings Jakub and Nikol, which is very popular with actors and models. Unfortunately, the origin of the material is unknown, nor is it known whether it is an ethical or sustainable fashion.
12) Kinoko
Czech leggings specialist. Offering leggings for sports and non-sports activities, their leggings are designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic.
The origin of the material is not clear. These are some of the most comfortable leggings I have ever tried. At first I was absolutely thrilled with them and bought several types, unfortunately I was disappointed with the quality. They didn’t even last a year.
13) My piece
Shop with Czech clothing that is designed, cut, sewn and printed in the Czech Republic. They mainly use ecological, certified natural or recycled materials in their production. The cuts are simple, rather casual.
14) Pura Vida
The most colourful Czech clothing brand is definitely Pura Vida. It uses mainly sporty materials and cuts, but thanks to its distinctive and cheerful design, you will look great in them even in the city.. What I like about the brand is that they try to make clothes for all body shapes.
Czech lingerie brands
Would you like to invest in lingerie brands that are made in the Czech Republic? There’s less choice here, but there are still some worth mentioning. You may be surprised to know that it is made in the Czech Republic.
15) Triola
All Czech women with big breasts know Triolo. Triola is a Czech bra specialist that has been on the market since 1919. The designs are created in the Czech Republic and production takes place in the Horní Jiřetín plant. They use materials mainly from southern Europe.
16) Lorii
Very feminine and sexy lingerie hand sewn from Czech and Italian fabrics. If you like lace and elegant cuts. The founder of the brand is photomodel Petra Lorencová.
17) Corpus
Corpus Lingerie is a very young brand founded by two sisters from Brno, which produces lingerie made of bamboo viscose with 5% elasten. It offers very simple bland cuts and neutral colours.
However, you will find a very small selection on their e-shop. It is known mainly for the fact that the campaign was made in collaboration with the Czech influencer Kristýna Dolejšová.
18) TerezaVu
Tereza Vu is a luxury lingerie brand that has been on the market for over eight years. Fashion designer Tereza Vu Hanč uses silk, French lace and bold cuts for her models.
Czech shoe brands
In the Czech Republic you can also find interesting brands of shoes, some are less, others more quality. That is why I have presented a list of the best ones that are produced in our beautiful basin.
19) Vasky
Zlín footwear brand, which focuses mainly on leather leisure shoes. Their founder is Václav Staně, who through them fulfils his wish to restore the honest shoemaking tradition in the Czech Republic.
20) Monica Sofia
For lovers of tall shoes, there is the Monica Sofia brand , by the Czech model of the same name. On the shop you will find luxury handmade leather shoes, sneakers, pumps, sandals and handbags that are sewn in Spain and Portugal. A portion of the profits from each pair sold goes to the Cabo Verde Hope Foundation to support poor Cape Verdean families.
21) Bohempia
Bohempie has been on the market since 2015 and focuses on footwear and clothing made from technical hemp. The shoes they offer are eco-friendly, sustainable and have a minimalist design. It is produced partly in the Czech Republic and in the surrounding countries of Central Europe.
22) Belenky
Czech brand Be Lenka is a manufacturer of barefoot shoes that are sustainably produced on the principle of slow-fashion in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
23) Novesta
Novesta has been producing rubber-textile shoes since 1939, when the famous shoemaker Jan Antonín Bat’a opened a shoe factory in a small town in the middle of Slovakia, in Partizánské. Today they have a production plant in Zlín. Traditional manufacturing practices are enriched by slow fashion trends or PETA certification, which designates collections that contain no animal ingredients and have not been tested on animals.
Czech manufacturers of handbags and backpacks
If you are thinking about investing in a Czech handbag or backpack brand, I have two nice tips that you should definitely know.
24) Bagind
Bagind is a Czech brand of leather backpacks and handbags, but its production is in India. It was founded in 2015 by Lukáš Matějček. All products are made in several family houses in the middle of the Indian city of Jaisalmer, where backpacks have been made for 65 years and were once made for the Indian royal family.
25) Leathery
Small Czech company from Strakonice, which focuses on the production of designer handbags made of leather. Their handbags are original and well made. You won’t find similar designs anywhere else.
Read also 10 tips for 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!
