All The Best Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Shopping in Lisbon, Portugal

If there is any place where you should make fashion shopping a key part of your visit, it’s Portugal. This country has the same level of craftsmanship as Italy, but somehow didn’t get quite the same respect, until recently.

“Luxury brands manufacture here,” says Tania Valle, a Portuguese image consultant and personal shopper based in Lisbon.  “If you know where to look, you can find luxury quality fashion for half the price, made in the same factories as Zadig and Voltaire, Stella McCartney, and Sonya Rikyel, but designed by Portuguese designers. Nowadays, the young people are very proud to have the ‘Made in Portugal’ label.”

A thing to note is that while things made in Portugal are made ethically, and made to last, they’re not necessarily sustainable — there is a lot of viscose and polyester on display, and the shoes are made with conventional leather. So check labels for materials, and only buy something conventional if you love it and know you will wear it at least 30 times. Honestly? That’s not hard to do with Portuguese fashion!

Tania very generously took me on a shopping tour of her hometown and shared with me the best places to get fashion that is made in Portugal. What follows is a list that draws heavily on her recommendations, plus a few additions of my own finds. If you want help looking like a boss lady and you have money to spend, you should absolutely hit up this FIT grad who’s been doing this for eight years. If you’re not on a Stella McCartney budget, however, then just pay a visit to these places on your own:

Fair Bazaar

Embaixada on Principe Real

Located inside Embaixada, a charming shopping center carved out of a renovated mansion full of Portoguese fashion and artists, this store carries sustainable and Fair Trade brands, some Portuguese. Find palm print shoes, shirt dresses and silk trousers, handcrafted soaps and jewelry, plus men’s shirts and shoes. When you’re done shopping, have a drink at the outdoor bar that overlooks Lisbon’s botanical garden, or make an appointment at the organic spa inside the clean beauty store Organii.

ISTO

Embaixada on Principe Real
The Portuguese version of Everlane, ISTO produces a limited number of basics entirely in Portugal, are transparent about their suppliers and pricing, and use responsible materials.

Flávia Aranha

Inside Pau Brazil shop, Principe Real

Find gorgeous, silky, natural dyed dresses tops, and pants, all sewn in Flávia’s own atelier. Her brand is also a certified B Corp.

Organii

Embaixada on Principe Real, Baixa & LXFactory

This clean beauty store features organic, sustainable, and ethical European beauty brands. There are multiple locations throughout Lisbon, including Embaixada, the outdoor market LXFactory (which I really suggest you swing by to experience — it’s awesome), and downtown in the Baixa neighborhood.

Amazing Store

Principe Real & LXFactory 

This cute store, with two locations in Lisbon, carries accessories made with all-natural materials like wood and cork, cotton canvas, leather, and stone. Find sunglasses, watches, and iPhone cases. (The beautiful wood palm leaf iPhone case I got there is on my phone this very second!)

Näz Concept

LXFactory

In addition to their brand, made in Portugal of overstock and sustainable fabrics, the Näz Concept store sells other sustainable Portuguese and European brands.

The Feeting Room

Baixa 

Get it? The Feeting Room? This store features all Portuguese-made shoes of luxury quality, plus accessories and jewelry. They really have every style of shoe here –– if you want it, you can find it here.

Freakloset

Avenida da Liberdade 

Freakcloset makes ultra comfortable shoes in classic designs that will become your go-to sneaker, loafer, or Chelsea boot; in colors ranging from white and brown leather to marble and blocked pastels. If you have time, you can go online and customize your shoe. When I visited their Lisbon store also carried Antonio vegetable-tanned structured bucket bags and oversized clutches with nickel-free finishings, plus some fashion, though not all of the clothing is made in Portugal.

21PR Concept.Store

Principe Real

This store carries high-end fashion and accessories, the majority of which is made in Portugal. The vibe is 30-something successful woman who vacations in Morocco.

A Outra Face da Lua

Baixa

This vintage store is filled with a wide selection of kitschy, colorful vintage. I found some great 80s chandelier earrings for a few bucks, and I only had 15 minutes to spare for a pop in. Definitely block out longer than I did!

Bird on a Wire

Alfama

Retrosaria Rosa Pomar

Bairro Alto 

This one is for my knitting fans! This cozy store, located on the second level of an old building above a record shop, carries a delicious selection of hand-dyed, handspun yarns from Portugal, Peru, France, and more.

Vida Portugeusa

Cais do Sodre & Baixa 

This store may be touristy, but it sells the best kind of souvenirs: traditional Portuguese items in beautiful packaging, like soaps, toothpaste, paper goods, vintage toys, candies, liquors, tinned fish, and other super cute gifts that those airport gifts can only aspire to be.

Nossa

Bairro Alto 

This shop carries fashion with the quality of luxury clothing, but for a reasonable price, including flouncy tops, slip dresses, delicate jewelry, and modern leather flats. Just check the label to ensure it’s made in Portugal.

Maria Granel

Teresinhas 

This package-free store carries eco-friendly home and beauty accessories, personal care products, zero-waste kits, and bulk dry goods. It’s located pretty far outside of the main areas of Lisbon, so I didn’t make it there. But if you really find yourself in need of something zero waste, pay it a visit.