“Seventy-five percent of fashion supply chain material ends up in landfills. This amounts to ‘the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles per second.’”
— Pulse of the Fashion Industry 2018 Report
What is Slow Fashion?
“The movement works towards creating an industry that benefits the planet and all people. ”
The term was first coined by author, design activist, and professor Kate Fletcher. She defines slow fashion as being based on quality rather than how long it takes to produce. Other slow fashion pioneers say that the movement encourages slower production, combines sustainability with ethics, and ultimately encourages consumers to buy well-made and long-lasting clothes.
Slow, ethical, and sustainable fashion all aim to achieve the same goal: changing our relationship with clothes. Slow fashion, however, also takes into account a brand’s practices and a customer’s shopping habits. The movement is working to create an industry that benefits the planet and everyone in it. In a perfect world, slow fashion would be the norm.
QUALITY CLOTHING MADE TO LAST
Fast fashion companies pump out new collections every week, and less than one percent of clothing materials are recycled into new clothes. Slow fashion flips that model on its head with slower production schedules, smaller collections, and zero-waste designs.
Instead of chasing trends (and filling up our landfills), these brands focus on making classic and versatile pieces that can be layered mixed and matched. This encourages customers to build minimalist wardrobes and invest in pieces that they’ll keep for a lifetime.
JOINING THE SLOW FASHION MOVEMENT
Slow fashion’s barrier to entry is fairly low—anyone can join the movement. You don’t even need to buy new clothes! Here are a few ways to get involved:
- Create a love story. Take a look through your closet and think about the history of your favorite pieces. Maybe you remember the time you spilled spaghetti on your favorite white t-shirt (and then saved it!). Or maybe you have a special piece of clothing that was passed down to you by a loved one. Whatever the story, put some life back into your closet by thinking about the memories that your clothes hold.
- Build a capsule wardrobe. This wardrobe method will have you thinking about what clothing makes sense for your lifestyle. It only allows you to have a limited number of items, so you have to make sure that your clothes are both stylish and practical.
- Make thoughtful purchases. Start by breaking the habit of impulse buying. Call a friend before you splurge on a new pair of shoes, or check your current wardrobe to make sure you’ll wear the item before you buy it. Consider checking out secondhand apps or thrift stores first when you’re ready to buy something new.
- Here are some to get you started: Ethical and sustainable clothing brands, ethical shoes, affordable (ethical) clothing brands, and organic clothing brands.
- Do some research: If you find a new slow fashion brand, take some time to make sure it’s legit before you start spending money on it. Check out their website for details about their design process. Is it slow, sustainable, and ethical for everyone involved? Do they disclose how and where their clothes are made? How many collections do they produce each year? Answering these questions will help you figure out if a company is practicing what it preaches. If you’re still not sure, you can always reach out to the brand via email or social media.
HOW TO PUSH BACK AGAINST FAST FASHION
Speaking out against fast fashion is a part of advocating for the slow fashion movement. If brands don’t hear from their customers, they won’t have a reason to change their supply chains. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t afford every fancy minimalist garment. You can still do your part to promote fair fashion by speaking up.
Here’s how:
Frequent the mall?
Swing by a fast-fashion store and ask about the brand’s sustainable practices and ethical supply chain efforts. The employees probably won’t know much, but you’ll start an important conversation that might make it up the management chain. The more people ask questions, the more likely the company will listen.
Love social media?
Take to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to ask fast fashion brands about production practices. Fashion Revolution has a great template for this.
A fan of email?
You can write to brands, too! Try this template for getting started:
Dear [Insert Brand],
I’m interested in purchasing [insert garment] and would love to learn more about your brand and production methods. On your website, you state that you [insert brand claim, e.g., sustainable practices, fair trade certifications, ethical manufacturing, etc.], and I’m wondering what exactly this means. Could you tell me specifically how your garments are made and how your brand protects people and the planet?
I look forward to hearing more about [insert brand]!
Thank you for your time,
[Insert Your Name]
________________________________
Other questions you can ask:
1. How do you package and ship your garments?
2. Does your brand give back or support any social initiatives?
3. Where do you source your textile materials?
4. Could you provide a transparent breakdown of your supply chain?
5. Do you have a third party to conduct regular audits of your factories?
Be the Change
We believe that social change is a journey that we all take together, learning and inspiring each other along the way. When we work together, we are stronger.
Peace ♥ Harmony, 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓵
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