With fashion trends changing on an almost daily basis, it can be hard to work out how to keep up with everything new that hits the market. When you consider that iconic fashion houses create up to six full collections each year, it is clear to see how high street brands find themselves inundated with tens of thousands of different items to sell at any given time.
The biggest problem with fast fashion is that it is not just encouraging a throwaway culture but also having a devastating impact on the planet. From the thousands of liters it takes to produce a single clothing item to the level of greenhouse gases that get emitted each year, now is the time for fashion to slow down.
What Is Slow Fashion?
The notion of slow fashion is something that allows individuals to express their style, remain in the fashion game, and reduce the level of waste their fashion needs typically produced. It relies on individuals taking a different approach to clothing and not falling into the trap of binning items at the end of each year ready to purchase more for the new season.
The idea of slow fashion is not a new concept; in fact, it is rooted in the way that older generations shopped and looked after the clothes. From local sourcing to buying quality fabrics and sewing your own to repairing items and reusing them, our predecessors lovingly cared for their clothing, and it became a way to express themselves and the life they had created.
How Do I Become a Slow Fashion User?
If you are keen to reduce the impact of your fast fashion addiction, then slow fashion is a great place to start. The main approach is to consider sustainability in both production and resources. One area that is particularly important is to buy from ethical sources that promote strong staff welfare and a commitment to developing the individual’s skills. Knowing where your garments come from is a key element in ensuring that you have purchased sustainably.
However, if you like to regularly buy lots of clothes, you will need to challenge your mindset and spending power to help you seek out longer-lasting items that offer better quality and do not need to be replaced for years to come. The good news is that the fashion industry is becoming more aware of its environmental impact, resulting in more sustainable fashion choices than ever before.
Following the Slow Fashion Process
If you are keen to give slow fashion a go, then lookout for the following when you are next tempted to splurge:
- The Right Materials – look for cotton-based items that are high in quality and production so that you can be certain they will last for years to come.
- Buy Locally – there are many great UK clothing brands that would love to supply your fashion needs, and as they are often small business entities, you will be more likely to find items that will last forever.
- Check Out Independent Stores – filled with cutting-edge designs that cannot be found anywhere else, and these stores are slow in the best possible way.
- Take Care of Your Items – take the time to understand the care labels on your items and follow them properly to get the best lifespan from your kit. Plus, when there is a hole or dink, take the time to get it repaired rather than banishing it to the bin!
- Enjoy the Process – slow fashion is more than just buying long-lasting clothes; it is about understanding and respecting the process that your garments have gone through to arrive in your wardrobe.
Enjoy Shopping Ethically
When you start looking at brands like Wawwa, STORY mfg, Veja, and Raeburn, to name a few, you will begin to see how stylish slow fashion can be without causing irreparable damage to the environment.
Plus, many slow fashion suppliers offer a personal touch by connecting with their clients through their websites, providing information on where they source their materials, and providing advice on how to care for their clothes.
Once you have tried the slow fashion route, you will be surprised at how quickly ethical clothes purchasing becomes!
