Ditching your fast fashion habits: The Slow Fashion Revolution

“Buy less, choose well, make it last.” - Vivienne Westwood

“Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothing designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to take advantage of trends. The collections are often based on styles presented at Fashion Week runway shows or worn by celebrities. Fast fashion allows mainstream consumers to purchase the hot new look or the next big thing at an affordable price.” - Investopedia

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There are so many ways that fast fashion is having a negative impact on the planet. ‘The world uses an estimated 80 billion pieces of clothing every year, a 400 percent increase from two decades ago’ according to the Netflix doco, The True Cost. The Plastic fibres from clothing donations are polluting the oceans, and the wastewater run-off from factories using harsh chemicals & toxic dyes is polluting the Earth, not to mention the long-term effects of working with such chemicals for the severely underpaid workers.

“Fast fashion isn’t free. Someone, somewhere is paying.” - Lucy Siegle, The True cost

As someone who has always had a fairly low ceiling on how much I would spend on one item, I’m often torn between wanting something new for an occasion vs purchasing something expensive, of a higher quality that will truly last for years to come (which I risk eventually get tired of wearing). But not everyone can afford to wear expensive outfits, every damn weekend…enter The Fast Fashion Thirst Trap.

While I’ve never really felt that I could make an inkling of difference to sustainability with my fashion choices, I’ve always loved the idea of it. However, over the years I’ve (more often than I’d like to admit) opted for a cost-effective outfit, rather than a high-quality one. Let alone a piece accredited with the highest of sustainability accolades.

At some point though, we as consumers need to realise that it is us driving the ‘fast fashion’ bus because as in human nature, we will always have a desire for pretty things. As I've gotten older (and slightly a little wiser) I have begun to value fewer things and appreciate true quality and craftsmanship, over quantity. But that’s not to say that my 20 year old self who required new ‘fits every weekend wouldn’t be addicted to Shein & H&M’s desirable edm hooks. 20 year old me is a marketing teams wet dream. So, if you too regularly find yourself staring at an online shopping cart full of shiny new pieces, see below for a few friendly suggestions on how to combat your inner fast-fashion shopaholic and embrace a more sustainable wardrobe.

 “As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy” - Emma Watson.

Image via @fash_revcan

1. Assessing My Current Wardrobe & Embracing slow fashion:

I’m entering my capsule wardrobe era meaning fewer pieces, of a higher quality (read more expensive), with a fairly seasonless agenda. Rather than catapulting into every purchase I now ask myself the following: Do I already own something similar? How would I style this up, or make more casual? Do I like it because it’s in fashion? Is the fabric something that will wear well, or will it pull, does it need regular dry cleaning, steaming or will it lose its structure after a few wears. It seems like a lot to ask from an item of clothing, but I assure you that it will convince to abandon your fast fashion cart in a flash when you realise it is simply impulse, over necessity. Embracing slow fashion means investing in quality pieces, that will go the distance ie longer wear = less wastage.

Image via unsplash @Marcus Winkler

2. Thrifting and Second-hand Shopping:

I’ve always loved a good op shop binge, moving from shop to shop around the coast, but I no longer have the patience to peruse the musty aisles of vintage goodness looking for gold.

1. Enter, DEPOP… This app has been my go-to for second-hand shopping, from the comfort of the couch and also allows my budget-friendly (tight-arse) style to welcome high-end brand pieces, at a fraction of their original cost.

2. The Turn is a designer brand circular fashion e-commerce site that offers a valet consignment service on approved second-hand styles. Run by popular Sydney second-hand clothing retailer UTURN which has been in operation for over 20 years, it is another great site contributing to extending the lifecycle of our clothing.

3. The Archive Place is another wonderful world of designer pieces available to those who are slightly more conscious of cost. The concept of The Archive Place is ‘to extend the life-cycle of fashion. enabling brands to re-circulate their archive pieces; and by carefully finding a home for them, making sure the clothing doesn’t end up in the landfill once it leaves the brand’s door’ and with every order placed, the Archive Place plants a tree through the Trees 4 Trees initiative. That’s not all though, they also offer a clothing recycling project that will collect 10kg of your preloved clothing and give it back to you in store credit.

4. The Harmonic: Last but certainly not least, The Harmonic. Offering current, or just out-of-season pieces but practically brand new, The Harmonic is the place to shop if you have a champagne taste, on a soft drink budget. Perhaps you have a suave event on the horizon and simply cannot drop an entire week’s wage on a one-time-wear outfit (because let’s be honest here, once your outfit has earned its spot on the gram it probably won’t get a second run). They drip feed weekly EDM’s leading up to each launch about what to expect and at 7 pm on launch night, the most coveted pieces get swooped up into checkouts in mere minutes.  

3. Supporting Sustainable and Ethical Brands:

There’s so much repetitive chatter online and ingrained in the mission statements of almost every current fashion label regarding sustainable practices. Here are the dominant things to look out for when shopping for a brand that is truly sustainable in its live-and-breath ethos.

• Ethical and fair-trade practices: Look for brands that prioritise fair wages, safe working conditions, and fair treatment of workers throughout their supply chain, with certifications like Fair Trade or B Corp.

• Sustainable materials: Check if the brand uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, or responsibly sourced fabrics while avoiding those that heavily rely on non-renewable resources or contribute to deforestation.

• Transparency: Choose brands that are transparent about their production processes and supply chains, providing information on where their products are made, who makes them, and any certifications they hold.

  • Checkout Joslin’s brand page on transparency offering all certifications, supplier information and fabric details

• Minimal environmental impact: Consider brands that aim to minimise their environmental footprint through factors like energy consumption, waste management practices, and use of chemicals. Look for certifications such as GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

• Longevity and durability: Opt for sustainable brands that focus on creating high-quality products built to last, rather than disposable or fast-fashion items.

• Packaging: Look for brands that use minimal or eco-friendly packaging, utilising recycled or recyclable materials, and avoiding excessive use of single-use plastics.

• Social and environmental initiatives: Support brands that go beyond their products and actively contribute to social or environmental causes, whether through donations to charitable organisations or initiatives aimed at making a positive impact. 

4. Renting and Circular Fashion:

Whoever came up with the idea of lending paupers like me their couture wardrobe pieces for a fraction of their RRP is an absolute genius. Over the years I have had a few back-to-back occasions sneak up on me and of course, I couldn’t find anything I wanted (or could afford) in time for one, let alone several events. Renting designer dresses has allowed me to afford to look and feel good on all these occasions, without compromising on style. These days there are so many hire sites offering designer brands in current season styles.

• Designerex

• All The Dresses

• The Volte

• Glam Corner

 Another nifty innovation is Air Robe, and sites alike, which team up with brands to have customers opt-in at the checkout to save their details along with product information for possible resell later on if the customer wishes to do so.

To sum it all up, we all have these small decisions in our hands and by curbing our addiction to fast fashion and instead embracing the slow fashion revolution, we can make a positive impact on both the planet and our personal habits. Taking the time to assess our current wardrobe necessities, prioritising quality over quantity, and reducing our closets to a more capsule wardrobe size allows us to make more thoughtful and sustainable fashion choices. Thrifting, second-hand shopping, and supporting sustainable and ethical brands are impactful ways to find unique and eco-friendly pieces. Renting and participating in circular fashion offers affordable options for all those special occasions when you want to look your best, without selling your firstborn child. By making these small changes, we can actively contribute to reducing the negative impacts of fast fashion on the planet and work towards a more sustainable future and a more conscious personal style.

Fashion Terminology: A Beginners Guide

Fabric Sourcing:

The process of finding and selecting suitable fabrics required for garment production.

So you want to start a fashion brand and have started contacting possible suppliers to make your product, but they’ve thrown a bunch of technical jargon at you and to be honest, it’s a little overwhelming. We get it!

We have created this short list with all the common terminology that you may need to understand when working with garment factories. We have a more comprehensive guide on our resources page, Click HERE to Go to the Full Glossary of terms.

Tech specs: Also known as technical specifications, these are detailed documents that outline the construction and design requirements for a specific garment.

CADS: Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software is used by fashion designers to create digital representations of garments and patterns. This term can also be used with pattern-makers in relation to the digitising of the pattern’s (putting them into a digital file form).

Prototyping: The creation of a sample garment to test the design, fit, and construction before proceeding with bulk production.

Sample production: The creation of a small batch of garments for evaluation, usually done before full-scale production.

Fit samples: These are samples used to test the fit and make necessary adjustments to the garment before moving into production.

SMS or Salesman Sample: This is the set of samples that you request after you have made comments to your suppliers for your fit or proto samples. You may want to order these in all of your correct fabrics, colours or prints and you may use these for your photoshoot to create lookbooks, website product listings and any other materials you may require to advertise or promote your product prior to launch. 

Sourcing: The process of finding and selecting suppliers for fabrics, trims, and other materials required for garment production.

Seam allowance: The extra fabric left between the cut edge and the stitching line, allowing room for sewing and finishing the seams.

Fabric composition: The breakdown of the fabric's content, including the percentages of different fibers used in its construction.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): A company that produces clothing or other products on behalf of another brand or company.

ODM (Original Design Manufacturer): A company that designs and manufactures clothing based on the specifications and requirements provided by another brand or company.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The minimum quantity of clothing or products that a manufacturer requires for an order to be processed.

Lead Time: The time required for the production and delivery of an order, including fabric sourcing, sample development, manufacturing, and shipping.

FOB (Free on Board): A pricing term indicating that the cost of manufacturing and delivering goods to the designated port or location is included, but shipping costs beyond that point are the responsibility of the buyer.

CMT (Cut, Make, Trim): A manufacturing service where the manufacturer cuts the fabric, sews the garment, and applies trims based on the specifications provided by the brand or company.

Grading: The process of adjusting the size and proportions of a garment pattern to create different sizes.

Supply Chain: The sequence of processes and activities involved in the production, distribution, and delivery of clothing, including sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics.

Ethical Sourcing: The practice of ensuring that the materials used in the manufacturing of clothing are obtained from suppliers who follow ethical and sustainable practices.

Sustainable Manufacturing: The process of producing clothing in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient manner, minimizing waste, and reducing the carbon footprint.

Generative AI: The Future of Fashion is here (and I’m not even mad about it)

Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

The Business of Fashion has just released an interesting case study featuring a complete playbook guide to Generative AI and how quickly it is evolving. Microsoft and Google are rushing to incorporate this technology into their new products to not get left behind. I think so many industry professionals are fearful of the impact this will have on employment, but like any new technologies over the years we have adapted and will again.

Think about how the digitising of patterns and fashion sketches have aided in speeding up the production of our fashion ranges, while also still requiring professionals to understand the most important aspects of design and functionality.

The opportunities of this new technology are still being discovered and while change is not everyone’s cup of tea, AI is here to stay and I’m here for it. Even though I’m pretty sure it might possibly to steal my job, if I don’t learn to adapt.

Thanks Business of Fashion for the interesting read.