London-based, Chongqing-born Yue Jiang founded Má + Lin in 2021 to “make linen the new black”, as proclaimed on its website. Merging Chinese and French aesthetics, her collection adheres to the ethos of slow fashion—the antithesis of fast fashion, which copies looks from the runway and churns them out, mass produced, at low costs and an alarming rate—by currently offering only five types of blouses and one style of shorts.

But just because there isn’t a massive range to choose from (read: excess) doesn’t mean there’s a lack of choice. You can find classic summer styles in minimalistic cuts and pastel shades from Má + Lin that can be styled as both casual and professional wear. What’s more, Má + Lin uses 100 per cent European organic and traceable linen, ethically produces its items in Portugal ... and delivers to Hong Kong.

Australian shoe and accessory brand Essen the Label makes high-quality shoes—including flats, sandals and boots—from leather made using non-toxic dye. (The leather industry often relies on chromium, a toxic chemical, during the tanning process.) And thanks to these footwear’s timeless silhouette, they never look out of place, whatever the occasion.

The brand debuted a capsule collection of shoes at Australian Fashion Week in May 2023, in collaboration with New Zealand-based Maggie Marilyn, a like-minded clothing brand that uses deadstock fabrics and econyl (regenerated nylon) for its staple items. The collection includes Essen the Label’s signature Foundation flats in summer colours like hot pink, purple and sage green. The best part? It delivers to Hong Kong, but all shipping and returns are carbon neutral.

Read more: Is alternative leather the future of the fashion industry?

Brooklyn-based swimwear brand Deta Knits (which delivers to Hong Kong) uses 3D printing technology to make swimsuits using just two threads of yarn, as opposed to the traditional way of making swimwear that relies on a lot of cutting and sewing. And this minimises fabric use and makes sure no scraps end up in the landfills.

Their technology creates seamless and comfortable swimwear that’s resistant to sun and sea damage. For bikinis and swimsuits in red, orange, blue and other bright hues that will help you stand out in that obligatory junk boat party group shot, browse through their new summer collection.

Independent British label Chalsie Joan, founded by designer Chalsie Williamson in 2020, and another slow fashion brand. Williamson hand-makes all the pieces herself at her studio in West Midlands, and sells them exclusively through her website. Sometimes, to avoid unsustainable over-production, she even closes the e-shop for a time to manage production. 

Inspired by retro fashion, Williamson selects fabrics in eclectic colours for her vintage-meets-modern dresses and trousers, and her cropped tops feature ties and frills that would look beautiful dressed up or down. And in case you’re wondering: yes, the brand delivers to Hong Kong, too.

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