Slow Fashion – a definition of sustainable fashion

Slow fashion is about designing, producing, and consuming clothing in a more conscious and sustainable way. The fashion industry can no longer evade its social responsibility, but this also includes consumers: we all need to be aware of how we buy, use, and dispose of clothing. Our habits of shopping impulsively, stuffing our wardrobes with colorful, inexpensive items, and discarding garments at will need to be questioned. After all, today we know how and under what conditions these clothes are produced and what impact the industry has on the environment.

Slow fashion is the answer to the fast-fashion approach that the fashion industry has been following for years. While fast-fashion labels are responsible for the global exploitation of cheap labor and use environmentally harmful production methods, the slow-fashion movement advocates a more thoughtful and sustainable approach that protects the environment and considers future generations. Kate Fletcher, an expert in organic textiles and author, already wrote in 2007: “Fast fashion is less about speed and more about greed: selling more to make more money.” Fast-fashion items, such as the ever-popular fast-fashion jeans, show significant flaws after just a few washes, forcing us to buy new pieces. Slow fashion, on the other hand, is of higher quality and lasts longer with proper care.

The fashion industry is responding to the growing awareness of consumers. New fair-fashion labels keep emerging, producing their designs in a sustainable way. But even the established fashion giants are gradually taking steps toward sustainability. Many of them are adapting to the demand – and need – for slow fashion by relying on local raw materials, resources, and labor, in contrast to the fast-fashion approach. They also strive to reduce waste and overproduction. Today, the focus is on quality and sustainability. Luring consumers with attractive low prices is a thing of the past.

The motto “Take it slow” is more relevant than ever today when it comes to the fashion industry. So, what are you waiting for? Here’s how you can make a positive contribution to slow fashion:

• Examine all your clothing items. Remember: they should either be useful, beautiful, or have sentimental value.

• Sort your clothes into three piles: 1. your favorite pieces, 2. items you wear occasionally, 3. items you never wear. Keep your favorites and donate the pieces you never wear. The occasionally worn items are a bit trickier. Go through them again and assign them to either the first or last pile. Do you really need new clothes if you’re honest? If yes: shop for high-quality items made from natural, sustainable fabrics that don’t lose shape when washed and last longer (here you can learn more about slow-fashion brands).

• Check the label. Where was the garment made? Did it travel thousands of kilometers before ending up in your wardrobe? Always keep the slow-fashion approach and its importance in mind when shopping.

• Resist buying items that look too similar. Let’s be honest: how many gray t-shirts do you really need?

• Treat stains and mend holes (nobody else will do it for you). Wash your clothes with high-quality detergent so they last longer.

• Most importantly, appreciate your clothes and wear them with joy. When the time comes that you no longer like them, donate them and give them a second life.

Image credits:
Header image: Stocksy
Image of woman sewing in studio: Getty Image
Image of clothing material tag: Gettty Images
 
Quellen:
1. The True Cost of Fast Fashion
2. An Analysis of the Fast Fashion Industry

Change isn't always easy. At Perwoll, we are also working towards sustainable change. Find out more here.