The term slow fashion is being used more frequently as designers and consumers become more aware of the excessive waste building up from fast fashion habits. Just as the post about fast fashion delved into the most commonly asked questions of the topic, this post about slow fashion will be doing the same. What is slow fashion and who is a contributor to the new ways of shopping?
Slow fashion is a new shopping experience, encouraging consumers to buy greener. This does not mean you need to change your wardrobe to be the colour green to join the movement. Buying more conscious purchases will contribute to slow fashion, but what is a conscious purchase?
When someone becomes a conscious buyer, they are purchasing from a company who has high ethical values. The brand will contribute to one or more ethical values. Such values could be:
· Production control – to not over produce garments, leading to incineration or landfill waste.
· Fair labour – controlled working environments, sociable hours, and a living wage
· Attention to detail – quality garments which have longevity
· Greener agriculture – where fabrics are grown and sourced ethically
· Traceability – brands being open and honest about the above
Slow fashion needs to be talked about to encourage widespread industry change. This could also work vice versa as if more people, such as yourself, start talking about slow fashion, more companies may take on board new consumer changes. By shopping with slow fashion brands and shopping with slow fashion habits, your negative footprint on the environment will be greatly reduced. This is because the production control will improve, allowing workers to have better working conditions while focusing on the quality rather than quantity of garments. Greener agriculture will also markedly improve land conditions and cut down on water consumption and pollution to both plants and water. Improved agriculture will also improve the quality of plants - wouldn’t you want your clothes to be as soft and durable as possible?
One benefit of slow fashion is the mental health of shoppers. This is due to the overflowing fast fashion social media content and the demand to keep up with ever changing trends and the upkeep between friendships. This constant feed can take a toll on your health, by stepping away from fast fashion, you would be greatly impacting your digital freedom. For one, slow fashion only contributes to two to four seasons each year instead of having mid seasons also.
To recognise which brands are contributing to slow fashion, there are a few signs for you to look out for. Check out their social media and website to find out how traceable their process is and how easy it is for you to find that information first-hand. How do such brands promote themselves, with which influencers, and how many collections or trends? Ask the questions that are important to you whilst also associating to slow fashion ways. The brands listed below are
known to contribute to slow fashion ideals, just click the images to find out more.
Even though I have provided suggested brands, it is always best to do your own research to find the brands that best suit what you're looking for. Share your ideas of what a slow fashion brand is via the comments below, direct message or social media.
The information given within the blog post was correct to the date of the written post and the research taken.
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