The past decade or so has seen a wave of change sweep through the fashion industry. An increasing number of brands are rejecting the principles of fast fashion and opting for a more sustainable approach to making clothes.

Slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. It encompasses an awareness and approach that considers the processes and resources required to make clothing. It advocates for buying better quality garments that will last longer, and values fair treatment of people, animals and the planet along the way. Slow fashion and sustainable/ethical fashion have many similarities as sister movements and follow the same general guidelines; however, slow fashion hones in more specifically on reducing production and consumption.

Founded in 2019, The Margo Market offers a curated collection of sustainable and ethically made home goods, women’s clothing and accessories designed by indie artists, designers and small brands. Every item in the store is ethically sourced from independent artisans from all over the world. Owner (and slow fashion sage) Maggie Emma shares, “Our mission is to add value in each purchase through providing insight to the stories told by those creating the product,” whilst pushing the retail industry in a more sustainable direction. “We advocate a direction that not only values exceptional design and unique offerings, but also the artisans and their stories as much as the end consumer.”

Some characteristics of a slow fashion brand include high quality, sustainable materials like linen; garments more timeless than trendy; found in smaller (local) stores rather than huge chain enterprises; locally-sourced, produced and sold garments; more unique and/or exclusive styles per collection.

To shop “The Beach Edit” for summer, including sustainable swimwear, organic cotton cover-ups, non-toxic sunscreen and more, visit TheMargoMarket.com/collections/the-beach-edit.

Location: 1102 Washington St., Hoboken. For more information, call 201-683-6567 or email [email protected]. Shop online 24/7, TheMargoMarket.com.