Jakarta. In today’s fashion industry, garments move from the design stage to the retail floor in only a few weeks, sometimes in mere days.

Playing catch-up with demands, many fashion brands end up destroying the environment with piled-up waste.

For that reason, more and more of them have been gradually adopting more ethical production practices dubbed as "slow fashion."

The mantras of this new movement are supporting environmental sustainability and ensuring the welfare of workers.

These five local fashion brands are at the forefront of the slow fashion movement in Indonesia. Learn more about them:

1. Seratus Kapas

Seratus Kapas (100 Cottons) was founded in 2015. The label's simple designs complement the delicate fabrics they use very well.

Offering simple clothing for urban women, Seratus Kapas' products are made from raw cotton or linen and come either pre-washed or dyed.

The brand uses only natural dyes, which are safer for the environment and their workers.

Seratus Kapas prides itself on its sustainable manufacturing process, paying attention to the individual characters of each fabric to make sure it's not ruined when turned into clothes.

Seratus Kapas works both with expert industrial craftsmen experienced in traditional processes and local artisans across Indonesia.

2. Imaji Studio

Using natural dyes and hand-woven fabrics made from plants and trees native to Indonesia, Imaji Studio incorporates both traditions and natural element in their products.

The label works with local artisans and likes to experiment with techniques and tools to create fresh looks using traditional dyeing processes.

Inspired by Japanese philosophy and aesthetics rooted in Zen Buddhism, Imaji Studio embraces "wabi-sabi," or the beauty of imperfections in handmade products.

The brand offers casual clothes and fashion accessories made from sustainable materials, using 100 percent hand-woven cotton weaved by local artisans.

Imaji Studio also has a special project called Zero Waste to make accessories from leftover fabrics.

3. Sukkha Citta

Dennica Flesch created Sukkha Citta to empower local artisans in Indonesia. Trained as an economist, Dennica has no fashion background but her advocacy work to improve the artisans’ welfare gave her the impetus to use Sukka Chitta as a model for change.

The brand created #MadeRight, a program to provide a living wage for artisans, promote environmentally sustainable practices and protect traditions by creating modern reinterpretations.

Starting out with four women artisans in one village in 2016, Sukka Chitta now works with more than 50 artisans in four partner villages in Java.

Since it started out, the brand has managed to increase its artisans' income by 40 percent.

4. Fbudi

Founded in 2010, Fbudi consistently experiments with textiles and fabrics for its womenswear collections.

The label is all about natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk.

Everything produced by the brand is 100 percent made in Indonesia, from the yarn, the weaving of the fabrics to the sewing.

The brand also works closely with artisans all over Indonesia to improve their livelihood.

5. Cinta Bumi 

Founded in 2015, Cinta Bumi makes ethical handmade goods and employs local artisans.

A lot of the brand's products are made of barkcloth, a material created from paper mulberry and ficus tree barks, ethically sourced and handmade by indigenous artisans from Bada Valley in Central Sulawesi.

Cinta Bumi also carefully assembles their materials, using efficient cutting techniques and patterns to avoid excessive waste.

Based in Bali, the brand produces bags, homeware, bath and beauty products, craft supplies and toys.