Slow Fashion in Prague: A Practical Guide for the Conscious Wardrobe

Deciding to embrace slow fashion is a journey of style and sustainability. Whether you’re firmly committed or just starting to explore, Prague offers a unique canvas for your fashion choices. Following up on our recent discussions about making the right fashion choices, including an enlightening chat with Etik Butik’s Olga, we’re diving deeper into what slow fashion really means for us as everyday consumers.

In this guide, I’m revisiting Sarah Lazarovic’s slow fashion pyramid to focus on actionable steps: ‘swap’, ‘thrift’, and ‘buy’. These are gateways to transforming how you view fashion. Ready to see how you can make a difference with your wardrobe in Prague’s thriving slow fashion scene? Let’s start this stylish, sustainable journey.

Swapping: A Smart, Sustainable Exchange

Swapping is a simple concept: you trade items you no longer need for something else that’s more useful to you. This practice, gaining popularity through swap parties and online communities, offers an economical and environmentally friendly way to refresh your wardrobe or home. Engage in these events with friends or at public gatherings, often for free or a small fee. I’ve picked out three Facebook groups where Prague’s swappers unite, sharing everything from clothing to skills and services, all in the spirit of a circular economy.

1. Swap or Give Away (Prague)

“You can exchange anything you want: skills, labour or things. Only the sky and your imagination is the limit!”

2. Prague / Praha / Brno Swap, Free Things and Helps with repairs

“Swap – Give Free – Help to repair, use your skills and free time for goodness and get creative together”

3. Swapper’s Den Prague

“Swapper’s Den is for all lovers of circular economy. Offer to SWAP and CHANGE your things, plants, services or even cars or flats.”

Discovering Treasure in Prague’s Thrift Scene

The second-hand shopping wave in Prague brings a blend of sustainability, affordability, and the thrill of the hunt. Each thrift store offers its own story, a trove of unique pieces ranging from vintage fashion to cherished brand names, minus the ethical dilemmas. Dive into the world of conscious shopping with my handpicked favorites and a map to guide your exploration through Prague’s rich landscape of thrift stores.

1. Sue Ryder 

Sue Ryder is a key non-profit organization in Prague, providing essential social services to senior citizens since 1998. Alongside these services, they operate a network of charity shops where donated items are sold, with the proceeds supporting their care for seniors.

2. ThriftStore

ThriftStore operates two charity second-hand stores in Prague, located in Vinohrady and Holešovice. These stores offer a wide range of second-hand items, including clothing, accessories, and various other goods. The staff at both locations are friendly and English-speaking, providing a welcoming shopping experience. Proceeds from sales contribute to charitable causes, aligning with the store’s mission of supporting the community through sustainable practices.

3. 1981

This store stands out for its elegant minimalism and high-quality materials. It specializes in hand-altered, second-hand clothing, offering a range of items from linen blouses and cashmere sweaters to Levis jeans. Particularly interesting is their MINI collection, created from old linen shirts, which caters to mothers looking for sustainable fashion options for their children.

4. Lenka Vacková

A unique concept in the Czech Republic focuses on selling second-hand fabrics and haberdashery materials. These come from unused stocks of companies, providing a sustainable alternative to buying new fabrics. The store was founded by fashion designer Lenka Vacková, who was inspired by her experience working in a textile recycling factory.

5. RedLips Cocktail Vintage

RedLips Cocktail Vintage in Prague is a unique vintage shop run by owner and stylist Simona. It offers a diverse range of carefully curated vintage clothing, accessories, and mixology items, including glassware and porcelain. Simona focuses on sustainable shopping, encouraging the reuse of fashion items and offering styling tips to maximize the wearability of each purchase.

6. Choose your own store

Selecting New Fashion with a Conscience

In the world of slow fashion, purchasing new is a deliberate choice, made only when necessary. Prague offers an array of shops that focus on local, ethical, and sustainable fashion. These establishments are more than just retailers; they offer unique experiences and a commitment to ethical values. From the vegan range at EtikButik.cz to COPE’s timeless pieces, each store presents its own approach to sustainable fashion. Explore my selected list to discover Prague’s best in conscious fashion choices.

1. EtikButik.cz

EtikButik.cz in Prague offers a unique mix of ethical fashion and vegan products. Their e-shop and Náplavka store are all about sustainable choices, from clothing to accessories. For a closer look at their approach to slow fashion, check out my earlier interview with the owner, Olga Garajová.

2. NILA 

NILA is a hub for eco-conscious living. Their range, featuring over 40 independent brands, includes ethical clothing, organic cosmetics, and unique home decor items. With both an e-shop and several stores in Prague, NILA stands out for its commitment to sustainable and nature-friendly products.

3. Férová Móda 

Férová Móda offers a diverse range of ethical and fair trade clothing in Prague, catering to men, women, and children. Their online store features products made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo, emphasizing their commitment to eco-friendly practices. Besides clothing, they also provide an assortment of natural cosmetics, eco-friendly household items, and toys.

4. Bobu

Bobu, a distinctive fashion store in Prague, offers original pieces crafted by Czech and Slovak small manufacturers. Their focus is on creating unique, limited-run fashion items, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship of local designers. Each product at Bobu is handpicked for its originality, ensuring customers get exclusive and unique fashion pieces.

5. LOCAL LABELS

LOCAL LABELS offer a unique online platform, showcasing the best of local Czech fashion. They feature a variety of brands and designers, specializing in original clothing and design pieces for the home.

6. Kuráž.cz 

Kuráž.cz in Prague is a unique store and community space that showcases a variety of products from local Czech and Slovak designers. It offers a diverse mix of clothing, accessories, home decor, and books, with a focus on supporting both emerging and established creators.

7. GreenButik.cz

GreenButik.cz stands as a prominent destination for sustainable fashion in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, offering a wide range of ethical clothing for both women and men. Their collection includes renowned brands like Seasalt Cornwall, Thought, and Nomads, all chosen for their dedication to fair trade and natural materials. With both an online store and a physical presence in Prague, GreenButik.cz caters to those seeking quality, eco-friendly fashion, and a meaningful shopping experience.

8. Biošatník.cz

Biošatník.cz is a standout Czech brand, specializing in clothing made from organically grown, uncolored cotton. They emphasize eco-friendly and ethical production, with most of their clothing crafted in their own sewing workshop in Trutnov. The brand is known for its use of naturally colored cotton, offering beautiful natural tones without the need for dyes, making their clothing particularly suitable for those with allergies or sensitive skin.

9. TukTuki

TukTuki.cz focuses on fair trade and sustainable fashion sourced from around the world. Their collection includes a diverse range of products from various global artisans and small workshops, each with a unique story and handmade quality.

10. Summer & Myles

Summer & Myles emphasizes sustainable and ethical practices. They offer a range of GOTS certified organic cotton products, with a focus on eco-friendly and fair production. The brand encapsulates a spirit of adventure and connection with nature, resonating with customers who seek both style and sustainability.

11. COPE 

COPE is a distinctive online store in Prague, dedicated to offering fashion that’s both stylish and environmentally conscious. Their collection includes timeless designs from selected brands that prioritize materials and processes kind to our planet.

12. Freshlabels

Initially a standard fashion retailer, Freshlabels expanded into sustainable fashion in 2008. Their sustainable collection includes items like Re-Kånken backpacks made from discarded PET bottles, Freitag bags from truck tarps, and clothing from certified organic cotton by Knowledge Cotton. They have a physical store in Prague as well as a new store in Berlin.

13. ONE VILLAGE

A Czech brand from Pošumaví, ONE VILLAGE produces timeless clothing, focusing on sustainability and slow fashion. They use eco-friendly materials such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, Tencel, and bamboo viscose. The brand designs and manufactures its products locally and ethically in the Czech Republic, aligning with the principles of slow fashion.

Happy Slow Fashion-ing

Hope these couple of tips can get you started with slow fashion in Prague. Let me know if you’re missing something on the list, or about your experience with slow fashion in Prague – you can leave a comment or message me on my Facebook page.

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Teny Tales

As a communication strategist and copywriter ✍️, I help go-getters—whether you’re running a company or working solo—craft messages that resonate, not just fill space.

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