Urbankissed
Rated: Fair
Price: $$
Location: Germany
Quick verdict
Urbankissed is best for European-based conscious shoppers looking for a curated one-stop-shop for diverse sustainable products. From vegan shoes made of cactus leather to ethically made lingerie from South Africa. Its standout feature is a 15-criterion "Slow & Ethical Index" that vets every product, plus carbon-neutral shipping with tree planting via Tree-Nation. Key caveat: As a drop-shipping marketplace, Urbankissed doesn’t manufacture anything itself, so quality and ethics vary by vendor. Brands need to meet only one of 15 criteria to be listed—a low bar that warrants scrutiny.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Unterägeri, Zug, Switzerland
- Founded
- 2017
- Product categories
- Womenswear, Menswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- Proprietary "Slow & Ethical Index" (15 criteria), Tree-Nation partnership (2,200+ trees planted), carbon-neutral shipping. Individual brands may carry GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Fair Trade, etc.
Urbankissed sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Curates brands using sustainable materials (recycled nylon, organic cotton, Econyl, plant-based leathers), but as a marketplace, quality varies by vendor. The Slow & Ethical Index includes "Sustainable and Natural Materials" as a key criterion, though the single-criterion minimum threshold is lenient.
The Index includes "Ethical Standards" and "Empowering Artisans," and many featured brands highlight fair wages and artisan production. However, Urbankissed relies on self-reporting by brands and does not appear to conduct independent factory audits.
Strong environmental commitment. Carbon-neutral shipping, tree planting in Madagascar, drop-shipping model that reduces overstock waste, and discouragement of returns. International shipping from multiple countries does carry an inherent carbon footprint.
The Slow & Ethical Index provides good product-level transparency. Founder Sophie Brunner is publicly visible. However, the Index criteria are self-defined without third-party auditing or external verification.
Competitive for the sustainable marketplace segment, spanning affordable basics (~€15) to mid-range clothing (~€200). Shipping costs vary significantly per vendor and may include import duties for non-EU buyers.
What they do well
- Proprietary Slow & Ethical Index. Applies 15 supply chain criteria at the product level (not just brand level): a more granular approach than most competitors, covering ethical sourcing, natural materials, zero waste, carbon offsetting, artisan empowerment, and more
- Carbon-neutral operations & tree planting. Every delivery triggers a tree planted in Madagascar via Tree-Nation (2,200+ trees planted). All shipping carbon is offset
- Warehouse-free drop-shipping model. Eliminates overstock waste and reduces warehousing footprint
- Wide range of innovative sustainable materials, Curated in one place: Piñatex (pineapple leather), cactus leather, cork, grape leather, recycled PET sneakers, Econyl swimwear, hemp products
- Female-led, small-brand-centric mission. Supports 100+ independent vendors, many artisan-led, female-founded, and from underrepresented communities worldwide
Room for improvement
- No independent third-party verification. Of its own vetting process. No B Corp, Fair Trade, or other independent certification of marketplace operations. Brands need to meet only 1 of 15 criteria to be listed, which is a low bar.
About Urbankissed
Urbankissed was founded in 2017 by Sophie Brunner, a Swiss millennial who left the financial sector during Fashion Business studies in London and Milan, Inspired by independent artisan brands she discovered at markets in the south of France, she created an online platform to make conscious brands accessible globally, Based in Zug, Switzerland, the small female-led team now curates 100+ brands primarily from Europe and Asia.
The platform is a drop-shipping marketplace. It holds no inventory. Products ship directly from vendors, ranging from GOTS-certified basics (Honest Basics, Germany) to recycled silver jewelry (Solitude the Label, Amsterdam) to vegan shoes made from fruit-based leathers (NAE, Portugal). The key differentiator is the Slow & Ethical Index, which evaluates every product across 15 criteria covering ethical sourcing, sustainability, zero waste, diversity, and charity support.
Shipping is worldwide with carbon offsetting on every order, though delivery times and costs vary by vendor. Returns are accepted within 30 days but generally not free—an intentional choice to discourage wasteful returns. Prices span a wide range given the diverse vendor base, from €15 accessories to €200+ clothing. The platform lacks third-party certification like B Corp, relying instead on its self-developed index. Both a strength (granular, product-level) and a limitation (unaudited).
Product highlights
NAE Lipe Vegan Sandals
Flat sandals made from Piñatex (pineapple leather) with cork insoles
~€85–€110
Innovative plant-based material, cruelty-free, shipped from Portugal
Nette Rose Lingerie Sets
Ethically made lingerie from South Africa
~€30–€80
Artisan brand from an underrepresented region; featured in Glamour Germany
Solitude the Label Recycled Silver Jewelry
Timeless pieces from 99% recycled 925 silver, handmade in Amsterdam
~€30–€80
Bypasses environmentally damaging mining through recycled precious metals
Handcrafted Hemp Backpacks (Nepal)
Backpacks made from sustainable hemp by Nepalese artisans
~€50–€90
Empowers artisan communities using one of the most sustainable natural fibers
