Better Transparency
Transparency is essential to making informed decisions. At The Slow Label, we believe customers should be able to understand what they are buying — from the materials used to where a garment was made and how its price is determined.
Fashion supply chains are complex and often opaque. Rather than relying on broad claims, we aim to provide clear information wherever possible so customers can better understand the value and impact of the garments they bring into their wardrobe.
Our transparency efforts focus on four main areas: materials, supply chains, pricing and continuous improvement.
Material Transparency
Every product page on our website includes a detailed breakdown of the materials used in the garment. This includes the full fibre composition as well as additional components such as lining fabrics, interlinings, sewing threads, buttons, elastics, and labels.
Whenever possible, we also disclose information about the origin of the fibres, the fabric mill and the country where the components were produced. This allows customers to understand not only what a product is made of, but also how it came to be.
Our Materials page provides more information about the materials we commonly use across our collections.
Supply Chain Transparency
Most of our garments are produced in Europe, primarily in Portugal and Italy, in collaboration with a small network of specialised manufacturers and textile mills.
On our product pages, we not only share the country where each garment is made, but also the origin of the fabric and additional components.
While we strive to be as transparent as possible, we do not publicly disclose the exact names of all suppliers in order to protect the relationships and development work behind our products.
You can learn more about our production partners on our Suppliers page, where we highlight some of the manufacturers we work with.
Price Transparency
We also believe customers should understand what they are paying for. That is why our product pages include a breakdown of the retail price.
The cost of a garment typically consists of:
- materials and labour
- company costs (covering salaries, payment fees, design and development, operations and marketing)
- logistics
- tax
This breakdown helps illustrate the true cost of responsible production. Sustainable manufacturing and fair wages result in significantly higher production costs than those seen in fast fashion, which is why the true cost of our garments is often comparable to the final retail price of fast fashion items.
Continuous Improvement
Transparency also means acknowledging that sustainability is an ongoing process rather than a finished state. Creating garments with intention requires continuous evaluation and improvement.
Below we address some of the topics we are asked about most frequently. If you have additional questions or would like more information about our materials, suppliers or production practices, you are always welcome to reach out to us!
Is The Slow Label certified?
While we source materials from mills that use certified fibres or certified processes (such as GOTS or RWS at the material level), The Slow Label itself is not certified and can therefore not disclose those material-level certifications on the product pages. We made this choice for two reasons:
- Brand-level certifications require significant administrative resources that would increase costs without necessarily improving the quality or traceability of our garments, and
- Most certifications are designed for raw materials or single, large factories — not for small brands producing across multiple specialised facilities. Several of the family-run factories we work with are not certified and do not have the financial or administrative capacity to obtain certification, despite their high standards and craftsmanship.
That said, we are exploring one to two targeted certifications that would allow us to certify selected best-selling products in the future. This would let us reference material-level certifications directly on our product pages and offer even clearer traceability where it provides real value.
For now, our focus remains on material documentation, responsible suppliers and transparent product-level information, rather than relying on a single label to represent our entire supply chain.
If you aren’t certified, how do you make sure your materials are responsible?
We work with mills and suppliers who can provide documentation on fibre origin, dyeing processes and certifications at the material level. This ensures traceability without overstating what a brand-level certification would imply. We select materials based on quality, longevity and impact.
Why do some products include elastane or synthetics?
Most of our collection is made from mono-materials to keep garments recyclable and reduce unnecessary blends.
When stretch is needed for comfort or function, we use Roica V550, a more responsible elastane alternative that is designed to break down faster under specific industrial conditions and has a lower environmental impact than conventional elastane.
We also switched to recycled polyester sewing thread after experiencing quality issues with natural threads. The recycled thread significantly improved durability, preventing seam breakage and extending garment life.
Over the years, we shifted from aiming for “100% natural at all costs” to prioritising responsible materials that also ensure long-term wear. In some cases, this means choosing a small amount of stretch or a synthetic component — because a garment that keeps its shape and is worn for many years has a lower footprint than a 100% natural piece that loses its structure quickly.
Where are your clothes made?
Our pieces are produced in small, specialist factories in Portugal, Italy and formerly also India. We maintain long-term relationships, visit regularly and choose partners for their expertise, working conditions and shared values. Each product page lists factory details.
How do you decide what to design?
We only create pieces with a clear, long-term purpose in a wardrobe. That means timeless silhouettes, versatile use and no one-off or special-occasion styles. A small, intentional range helps us avoid overproduction and focus on real needs.
Do you overproduce or make large seasonal collections?
No. We produce in small batches and keep our collection intentionally tight. This minimises leftovers and allows us to prioritise quality and responsible production.
Why are your prices higher than fast-fashion brands?
We use higher-quality materials, produce in European factories, work in small batches and invest in responsible manufacturing. Our pricing reflects real production costs rather than high-volume manufacturing or aggressive discounting.
How transparent are you about your supply chain?
We share detailed information about each product, including the country of origin, material composition, type of factory (knitwear, weaving, sewing), and the roles of our suppliers, so you can clearly understand where and how your clothes were made.
We don’t publish full factory names or exact addresses because our supplier network is a core part of our business and has taken years to build. Many factories work with very small capacities, and publicly listing them could compromise those relationships or overwhelm them with requests.
That said, we maintain long-term partnerships with all our manufacturers. Our priority is to give you traceable, factual information — without exposing our partners to pressure they cannot manage.
