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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
