5 Things to do BEFORE you buy Slow Fashion
As vast numbers of people are emerging out of "no-buy January" and slowly moving back into their shopping habits, how can you embrace Slow Fashion?
We hear the perils of Fast Fashion this and Fast Fashion that, but what about Slow Fashion?
In case you missed it, the allure of fast fashion lies in its affordability, accessibility, and the promise of constant novelty. However, this convenience comes at a steep cost to the environment and garment workers worldwide. Fast fashion thrives on rapid production cycles, cheap labor, and the exploitation of natural resources, contributing to pollution, waste, and social injustice.
As awareness grows about the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, more people are looking for meaningful alternatives that will "stand the test of time," as Youtuber Lydia Tomlinson likes to say, moments before sharing her top Sezane picks for the new year.
So what actually is slow fashion? How can I engage in slow fashion when fast fashion is often the only available option due to budget or proximity?
"Slow fashion" shines as this quasi-philosophical beacon of conscientious consumption.
"Slow fashion" shines as this quasi-philosophical beacon of conscientious consumption, that isn't merely about embracing a new trend; it's about redefining our relationship with clothing, honoring craftsmanship, and advocating for a more ethical and sustainable fashion industry.
There is a lot of common advice around slow fashion: invest in timeless pieces, shop secondhand, prioritize ethical brands, but if your only foundation is fast fashion, how do you know what to look for or even where the starting point is? One hint --it's not on the high street. Another issue I have with this advice, is that it often starts with buying.
How do you know what to look for or even where the starting point of Slow Fashion is? One hint --it's not on the high street.
Before you head out with your credit card and motivation ready to buy things in search of ultimate slow fashion, take a moment to engage in these activities so you can get the most out of the journey, and not add waste in the process.
1. DRESS YOUR CHARACTER
In law school I was headed to class one day wearing these fabulous plaid Ralph Lauren pants that would now only fit my left leg, a crisp white button-up with a ruffled standing collar, and some brown loafers. A friend saw me in the hall and said "If you were a cartoon character of yourself this is exactly what I would imagine you wearing." That moment forever defined how I think about personal style (and I still maintain that those pants were amazing).
If you are staring at your closet or browsing the shops for something, think: If you were in a cartoon and forever cast to be wearing one specific outfit for your whole run time--except for maybe in the Christmas special-- what would you be wearing? What singular outfit would be the representation of your character? What is the one outfit in which you feel completely, and undeniably yourself?
If you need a good reference look no further than Disney's "Recess" (shout out to the 90s kids out there), as I can think of no stronger use of costuming in animation. Without having seen a single episode, just from the picture you know that Spinelli and Gretchen are not the same, and no amount of peer pressure or shopping would make Spinelli look comfortable being an Ashley.
2. MAKE/ SEW/ KNIT SOMETHING
Pick a medium and craft something that is wearable. Knit a sweater, scarf, or some socks, take some old fabric and make a shirt. Understand how clothes are made, the effort, the skill. This will teach you to value the labor of good handcraft.
3. HAVE A CARE DAY
Best for a slow day in winter or a crisp day at a garden table, get some leather cleaner, jacket wax, a sewing kit and prepare for a lovely exercise in caring for your items (and also yourself). Give your winter books a refresh, grab some thread to fix the holes or missing buttons in your garments, learn that things can be mended. Not only can proper maintenance extend the lifespan of your garments but it is also a nice reminder that you don't need a new you, sometimes you just need a little care or a hot shower.
My husband and I usually do this together, maybe pick a long movie (or long series like Lord of the Rings) to put on in the background. Instead of scrolling our phones we can feel positive and productive, while we do something that provides instant gratification.
4. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH GOOD QUALITY
Despite the growth of trends like "de-influencing" or "stealth wealth", which strongly push for buying less but better, many people don't actually know what good quality feels like or looks like. What is good leather, how does high quality denim fit, what is a good fabric for a coat?
One of my favourite YouTubers is Jennifer Wang because she shares specific, actionable information about what makes a good fabric or good fashion construction. One of the common trends in her advice is that not all garments from the same store are created equal from a quality perspective and price is often not a good single indicator of that quality.
Research high quality brands in your area. Even that store's items are out of your current budget, consider going there anyways to try on items, feel the fabrics, and become familiar with high quality items. This will make it much easier when searching for good pieces second hand or even on the high street, because you will not be as easily swayed into just believing marketing claims about quality.
5. DO A DECLUTTER; DO IT OFTEN
Marie Kondo, Swedish Death Clean, whatever floats your boat, just do and do it more than once in your life, and not for the reasons you might expect.
There really is something about Marie Kondo's approach to piling every piece of clothing you own onto your bed just to marvel at the vastness of your own consumerism. You might feel a bit ashamed, guilty, or a bit nauseated. Critically though, this process will remind you have you have.
Unless you have a particularly amazing memory, you might suffer from a bit of object impermanence, meaning if you can't see your item you might forget that it still exists. I use seasonal changes as an excuse to re-edit my wardrobe, pack away non-seasonal clothes and get the dopamine hit of my old items feeling "new" again when I bring them back out.
NOW GO FORTH SLOWLY
As you wrap up no-buy January, I hope you will have deeper appreciation and the skills to support truly buying with intention. So go forth, slowly.
Commenti