Slow Fashion Explained
It is estimated that there are currently over 40 million people trapped in slavery today, over 20 million of whom are subject to unpaid forced labor – mining, fishing, agriculture, and making our clothes.
My name is Kat, welcome to episode 6 of the Slow Living Guide, where I give you the A to Z of slow living, and hopefully provide a pocket of calm in your day.
In episode five we chatted about slow beauty, so if that’s of interest to you, do make sure to go check out the link at the end of the video. Also, if you are on a journey to slow down and want to learn how to make the most of your time and live a more sustainable lifestyle then I’d welcome you to subscribe and hit the notification bell and you’ll get updated on future content.
Before we get into slow fashion, I just want to do a quick 101 on fast fashion. Fast fashion is essentially the unethical overproduction of cheap clothing, usually sold in high street stores. A summary of why it’s so unethical is that if it’s incredibly cheap, then chances are that something has been missed out in the production process to cut costs – this might be the use of low-quality materials, unsafe factory conditions, or laborers not being paid fair wages. Let me tell you a wee story to show you what I mean.
Back when I lived in Central Asia, there was something really odd that happened every Autumn. Everyone seemed to disappear. As a kid I didn’t really understand it, but I now know that my teachers and classmates were going to the cotton fields to work gruelling hours, unpaid, to meet the high demand for cotton production. If these teachers, civil servants, fire fighters, and even doctors didn’t comply with the governments’ demands they would face heavy fines, or their institutions would be closed, causing them to lose their jobs. On top of this, the excessive use of irrigation to water the cotton crops has resulted in the shrinking of the Aral Sea, which in turn has destroyed the fishing industry that sustained the livelihoods of many in the region. This is just one story amongst thousands of the suffering that excessive overconsumption and fast fashion has caused.
Before I go any further, I just want to make clear that I’m not sharing these things from a place of judgement - I personally still have so much to learn about sustainable fashion and am very much on a journey myself. Slow fashion is also a very complex issue that this video will probably not do full justice to, so if you feel like I’ve missed or misconstrued anything, do let me know in the comments below and we can all get a bit more educated about this. The bottom line, though, is that these stories do need to be shared, even if they make us feel uncomfortable, because it’s only in being aware of them that we can make a change for the better.
In slow fashion circles the advice often given for shopping more sustainably is to “buy quality over quantity” and to “invest in more sustainable fashion” that will last you longer. While I agree with this in theory and think that if you can afford to, this is a really great way to go, I know that it doesn’t work for many people. What if you’re a student, a single parent, on a minimum wage job, or unemployed for reasons outwith your control?
While I hope we can all agree that slow, sustainable, ethical fashion, is the way to go, I think it’s super important to come at it with a balanced and realistic approach. One big reason people struggle with switching away from high street brands, myself included, is the fact that slow fashion brands can be really expensive – and rightly so. It can be hard to come to terms with the reality of how much things actually cost to make, when we’re so used to being able to get brand new clothes at really low prices. But there is a way forward. Here are some of my lower cost slow fashion ideas:
1. Buy high street items less regularly
The first idea to move towards a slow fashion lifestyle is simply to cut down on the amount that you’re shopping at high street stores and try to make what you buy last for longer. One way of doing this is to wash your clothes less regularly so that they don’t wear out so fast, or to try and mend damaged clothes rather than replacing them immediately.
2. Buy second hand
Buying second hand items from charity shops is one of my favourite ways to shop more ethically and sustainably. It takes a little more time and creativity to be sure but is generally less expensive and results in a much more unique, curated wardrobe, than if you just bought everything that was in fashion. A little tip is to go to charity shops or thrift stores in wealthier neighbourhoods, as they tend to have more high quality, less worn items.
3. Upcycled/Handmade Clothes
There’s nothing like custom made clothing that fits just right. Having items custom made or taking old or second-hand clothes and upcycling them is a wonderful way to add a burst of life to your wardrobe. It may also be a fun chance to embrace your creative side.
4. Have a swap party
A super easy way to sustainably spice up your wardrobe at no cost is to have a swap party. This consists of doing a closet clear out at the same time as other family members or friends, then picking some new items from each other’s donate piles. I think probably about a third of my wardrobe has been curated this way, and what I love about it is that these items all have stories and are associated with particular people and places in my life.
5. Save up for ethical, high quality items
There are, of course some items that you might not fancy getting second hand, such as underwear and sports clothes, so in this case, if possible, I would recommend saving up to buy more high quality, ethical items, especially as they’ll last you longer and probably be more comfortable. However, if you really cannot afford to do this, don’t sweat it. Just do what you can with the resources you’ve got.
6. Rent once off items
If you’re the kind of person who likes to wear something different to every event, then this is the one for you. Renting clothes is a really great way to reduce the amount of unnecessary consumption of clothing for onetime events such as weddings or proms. I’ve not personally used this method, but it’s definitely something I would consider for the future.
In a nutshell, slow fashion is about consuming in a more mindful and sustainable way. You can do this through cutting back on high street store expenditure, buying second hand, having swap parties, upcycling, saving up for high quality, ethical items or choosing to rent your clothes. If you learned something new, do be sure to like the video and share it with a friend to spread the message. If you want to find out more about slow fashion or want to support the mission to end modern day slavery, I’d recommend looking into International Justice Mission, which I’ll leave a link to in the description box below. International Justice Mission is a charity that works with local authorities, investigators, and lawyers to carry out rescue missions, provide rehabilitation support to victims, and bring criminals to justice. I personally know people who work with International Justice Mission so can vouch for the legitimacy of the work the charity does, and definitely recommend you go check them out.
Before you head off, I’d love to know what your thoughts on slow fashion are. Was there anything in particular that stood out to you from the video? Do you think I missed anything? Let me know in the comments below!
Next week we’ll be talking about how to cultivate a slow home so make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell, so you don’t miss that. Until next time, it was lovely to have you here.
