This year, fashion’s biggest trend will be sustainability — and quite honestly, it’s about time. In 2026, recycled fabrics, upcycled treasures, and slow-fashion principles won’t be “a nice idea” — they’ll be everywhere. It’s less about giving things up and more about thinking about what you’re buying, why, and how long it might actually last.
I hold onto my clothes forever. I mean forever. That jumper I bought ten Christmases ago? Still going strong.
When something finally hits the “I’m never wearing this again” stage, it doesn’t just vanish into a black hole of shame — I take it to my local charity shop or list it on Vinted so someone else might love.
CHARITY RETAIL, REIMAGINED
At Concern Boutique on Lisburn Road, charity shopping is suddenly glamorous. Nothing cluttered, nothing sad. Every piece is chosen for its craftsmanship, texture, or just the way it makes you feel. Rails are thoughtfully edited — unique finds alongside bespoke garments, styled with a fashion editor’s eye.
Pre-loved fashion here feels covetable. Conscientious shopping in Belfast? It’s proof that doing good can also look really good.
HIGH-STREET NAMES DOING IT RIGHT
Even the high street is getting the memo. Brands like H&M Conscious, Nudie Jeans, Arket, COS, and Ninety Percent are taking sustainability seriously — think recycled fabrics, ethical sourcing, and transparency. For 2026, H&M’s focus on sustainability continues with initiatives like a major collaboration with Stella McCartney, launching in spring 2026. This range uses certified, responsibly sourced materials (many recycled) and aims to push the idea of sustainable fashion more clearly into H&M’s mainstream offering.
Independent Design Labels: A Quieter Kind of Luxury
If you really want to feel fancy about being responsible, check out independent labels. Aoife® and Palome aren’t just waving the sustainability flag — they’re sewing it into every seam.
Irish design label Aoife® is circular fashion personified. Deadstock, reclaimed fabrics, regeneration — it’s all there. Production is deliberately limited, with longevity and end-of-life built into every garment. You’re buying a piece that will probably outlive your relationship with your phone.
Palome, based between Paris and London, keeps it quiet and classy. Timeless shapes, small batches, high-quality organic and recycled fabrics, and factories that actually care about humans. “Buy less, buy better” isn’t a slogan — it’s a lifestyle.
These labels prove that sustainability isn’t some add-on accessory. It’s the whole outfit. Done right, it’s smart, stylish, and just slightly smug in the best possible way.
Nuala Meenehan
Join the Conversation
Share your favourite sustainable, second-hand or upcycled finds from Belfast and beyond using #BelfastTimesSustainableStyle2026. Let’s see what treasures are hiding online, in charity shops, boutiques, vintage stores, and wardrobes!
