Are you guilty of buying a new piece of clothing every week? Unfortunately, research tells us that people in the U.S. are big hoarders who buy new clothes every five days. But, unfortunately, that doesn’t mean they are always buying quality products.
Research reveals that people discard a large percentage of their clothing that they can still use. Low-quality and cheap clothing items make it easier for consumers to buy and dispose of garments yearly.
This fad led to numerous social and environmental side effects. For example, world-renowned brand Zara produces more than 800 million clothing items for sale in its thousands of global stores. Thousands of workers whose wages are far below the poverty line play a critical role in producing these clothes.
What is Slow Fashion?
Wastewater discharges from production factories affect the once-prosperous rivers of Bangladesh, India, and China. Some of these waterbodies are now nothing more than biological dead zones containing carcinogenic chemicals. In addition, during the laundry process, tiny plastic microfibers from synthetic clothes flood the water supply and affect the food chain.
However, some brands are taking responsibility for pushing back against these trends.
Global brands are now focusing on what is called ‘Slow Fashion.’
This revolutionary movement is all about manufacturing durable and premium but trendless designs.
Professor Kate Fletcher is a design activist and nature enthusiast who coined this term in 2007. According to her, slow fashion focuses more on quality. It is quality based and not time-based. Advocates of slow fashion and the trend’s pioneers observe that it promotes slower production. Slow fashion allows consumers to invest in long-lasting and well-made clothes. It will enable us to rethink our relationship or connection with clothes.
Slow fashion created an industry that benefits the planet and the people who want to create a better future for their children.
Characteristics of a Slow Fashion Brand
Clothes are timeless
All items come from sustainable and high-quality materials
Slow fashion products are available in local and smaller stores. You don’t have to shop from big brands.
Most items are produced and sourced from local materials
Brands also offer customization options for reducing unnecessary production
Benefits of Slow Fashion
Now you know the purpose behind this movement. Let’s delve into some other benefits of slow fashion.
Durability
Fashion brands spit new collections onto sales floors frequently. Unfortunately, less than 1% of all these clothes are recycled into new items. Since slow fashion involves a slower production schedule, consumers get small-batch collections.
Another essential advantage to consumers is that they can get durable clothing accessories. Fast fashion products are produced at a low price and as fast as possible. On the contrary, slow fashion involves creating high-quality clothes. In simple words, buying timeless and durable garments means you don’t have to update your wardrobe twice or thrice a year.
Slow fashion brands embrace enduring styles to create versatile and timeless clothes. The result is less wastage but high-quality clothes. So now is the perfect time to invest in garments that last for years and build minimalist wardrobes.
Less Waste
How many of us update our wardrobe every season? Keeping up with the latest trends is not easy. But we do everything in our power to buy the hottest clothing items. So what happens to the clothes that we no longer need?
Donating your clothes to charity is one thing. But most of your clothes may be in a landfill or an incinerator. So, buy fewer clothes and focus on durable garments to reduce unnecessary waste.
Less Water Wastage
Statistics reveal that a single cotton t-shirt can consume more than 2 thousand liters of water in its production. That’s the amount of water an individual drinks in over three years. Research also reveals that a single pair of jeans can take up to 757 liters of water. That’s equivalent to nearly 285 showers. So now you know why embracing slow fashion can help you save more water.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
The footwear and apparel industry is responsible for 8% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. What’s even more alarming is that it also accounts for nearly 4,000 million metric tons of CO2 emission every year. So, if we support slow fashion, we can play a small role in lowering our carbon footprint.
Exposure to Small Businesses
Purchasing products from local independent clothing brands promoting slow fashion can promote these businesses. That’s a great way to support smaller or family-run businesses and strengthen your local economy.
Cost-effective
Another advantage of slow fashion is that buying these items is cost-effective in the long run. Although some slow fashion brands may be pricier than other brands, the clothes last longer. That means you save a significant amount of money. That’s why investing in sustainable brands instead of fast fashion brands makes perfect sense.
How to Become a Part of This Growing Movement
The Slow Fashion movement promotes sustainability and ethics. The values that make up the slow fashion movement require an overhaul of the production and consumption procedures. The approach continues to inspire numerous changes. These changes are not just evident in the production cycles but also in consumer behavior.
Here are some ways to join this revolution.
Follow ethical fashion brands on social media. Connect with them and inquire about their products, sources, materials, and manufacturing practices.
Explore the ‘About Us page of these brands. The more details they display on social media, the more they are interested in promoting sustainable brands.
Check for certifications. You must check whether the natural fabrics you want to buy come with the GOTS certificate. Certification shows that these are monitored during every step of the supply chain.
Bottom Line
Several complications arise when consumers support the unsustainable model of fast fashion production. We all know overproduction is the root cause of our planet’s miseries. Unfair treatment of employees, poor working conditions, and increased carbon footprint are just a few of these issues. In addition, many renowned brands are guilty of child labor or forced labor to meet production deadlines.
The future belongs to ethical fashion or slow fashion. Join this movement today so you can create a safe and better environment for your future generations.