There is a slow movement sweeping across the globe that started in Italy with the Slow Food organization. The idea is that there should be more mindfulness in the things we eat, how we shop and even travel. Slow Food has spawned the Slow Travel movement and now it has finally arrived in the fashion world.
For a long time, fashion was part of a disposable culture and encouraged mass consumption of cheap clothes. Now, slow fashion is attempting to disrupt that and create a culture of mindfulness and a reworking of how the industry and shoppers treat clothing.
In this article, I will go over what the slow fashion concept entails and how you can incorporate it into your life.
1 – Made from sustainable materials
Not only should you be buying from manufacturers that use high quality materials, but that material should have a low impact on the environment. To be sustainable, the material should be something that is easily renewable, such as wool since a sheep is constantly growing its fur.
Wool needn’t be thick and heavy as a material as it can also be lightweight and easy to wear. Darzi Clothing is a good example of this as they use wool from impeccable sources and are very mindful about their material.
Bamboo is also another material that is easily grown, but be careful as sometimes the processing of the bamboo can be harsh on the environment.
Also, recycled material is an excellent way to reduce the impact of your purchase on the environment. Since so many clothes end up in a landfill, it makes sense to look for recycled materials.
2 – Built to last
You may always be on the lookout for the latest trend, but try to find some that still will look classic even years from now. Then, on top of that, you should buy clothes that not only won’t go out of fashion, but that will hold up while being worn for years.
Material and craftsmanship should be high on your list when it comes to finding good clothes to wear. You’ll pay a higher price for them, but you end up spending less in the long run. When you are replacing clothes every year, you end up spending far more than when you buy a higher priced item that is made well.
3 – Independent boutiques
Avoid going to the mall and buying clothes that are cheap and not made to last. Instead, look for small, independent fashion boutiques. These places put far more care into their product and are always mindful about the entire process.
You’ll do far less damage to the planet when you shop in a boutique fashion house that is not looking to mass produce their clothing. And, you are supporting a small and local business. Instead of filling the coffers of some corporate clothing firm, you are helping somebody who could very well be your neighbor make a living which keeps more money in your community.
