The Best Sustainable Shopping Platforms in Hong Kong
With rising concern for the harmful effects of fast fashion alongside Gen Z’s revival of thrift culture, sustainable fashion has come to the forefront to become a way of life for many. While it’s easy to assume eco-conscious fashion brands are merely greenwashing, there is no question that ethical sourcing and shopping preloved are the best way to make a positive impact. Moving away from fast fashion will not only help your carbon footprint, but is also an investment in longer-lasting, statement pieces.
Being an eco-conscious but style-savvy chic does not have to be complicated. Thanks to the access and awareness that has sprung up over the years, it is no longer hard to find a nice store that matches your personality and does not harm the planet.
From preloved luxury stores to B2C sites that practice conscious sourcing, here are the best sustainable shopping platforms in Hong Kong to dress up your wardrobe!
Vestiaire Collective
With the goal of helping address the fashion industry’s overconsumption and overproduction, Vestiaire Collective is a luxury platform rooted in building a circular economy.
You can find a plethora of luxury preloved items—from bags and shoes to clothes and accessories—on their website as an antidote to fast fashion. They also aim to cut their carbon footprint by prioritizing local shipping, as opposed to air transport, and using eco-friendly packaging materials.
Green Ladies
Green Ladies has been championing sustainable fashion in Hong Kong for around 16 years, while also prioritizing employment for middle-aged women to bar gender and age biases in the workplace.
They have offline and online stores showcasing thousands of preloved items, ranging from scarves and bags to evening wear and corporate attire.
PAKT
Founded by tech entrepreneur Barbara Yu Larsson, PAKT is primarily a wardrobe management solutions provider that digitizes your clothes and other fashion items while storing them in a climate-controlled storage facility. Since it’s conception, the service has extended far beyond wardrobe management to enable users to sell items that they no longer use but are still in mint condition.
PAKT promotes sustainability by extending the lifespan of clothes that you do not wear often, ensuring that your items are free from common problems like mold and odor.
Style Carousel
Branded as the “Netflix of luxury style,” Style Carousel is a rental marketplace for premium but preloved fashion. They acknowledge that not everyone is willing to splurge on a premium dress just for one-time use, and instead offer a curated selection of items that you can rent for a certain period.
The best part? Your items will be delivered and collected at your doorstep as an added touch of convenience!
Zanteia
Let’s admit it. We can talk about sustainability all we want, but if the powers-that-be aren’t budging, the change we want to see far from being realized. Zanteia steps in by going beyond its preloved e-commerce platform by incorporating sustainability and ethical sourcing into their operations. This means holding their listed brands accountable and calling for them to take action.
Zanteia declares fashion brands do something to minimize their impact through reduced carbon emissions and committing to fair labor practices. Additionally, they require the brands on their site to use reusable packaging materials!
Everlane
Everlane believes that manufacturing clothes that are built to last will reduce consumers’ reliance on fast fashion. That is why its primary focus has always been the quality of materials and ensuring that they are aligned with sustainability standards.
In a recent impact report, they disclosed that 98% of their polyester and nylon content is certified recycled and that 100% of their protective bags used in their products are manufactured with either Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper or recycled LDPE plastic. That’s walking the talk!
Plant Faced
Streetwear brand Plant Faced utilizes vegan and cruelty-free fabrics and materials in manufacturing their items. They ensure that clothes are made using fair trade practices, which mean free of child and forced labor and that employees are paid a reasonable wage.
You can find a range of hoodies, shirts, socks, beanies, and other accessories through their online website.
Subscribe to The Beat's newsletter to receive compelling, curated content straight to your inbox! You can also create an account with us for free to start bookmarking articles for later reading.