Slow fashion, an alternative to fast fashion

In my previous blog I talked about the textile industry, specifically about fast fashion and the consequences for the environment and people.

This time I will talk about sustainable fashion, better known as “slow fashion”, a new movement, in trend but that has already existed for a long time, which is an alternative to fast fashion.

If we define sustainable fashion in a simplified and precise way, it could be said that it is the opposite of fast fashion. The main characteristic of this alternative is to consider the processes and resources necessary to manufacture quality and durable clothing.

It seeks that people buy better quality clothes which will last longer, throughout the process people have a fair payment for their work and it is sought that the waste it produces does not affect the environment or to a lesser extent. It has control of the production process from the beginning to the end, that is, when it reaches the customer (Tierra Madre, 2021).

While slow, ethical, and sustainable fashion all describe efforts towards an aspirational goal—rethinking our relationship to clothes—slow fashion combines a brand’s practices (and promises!) with a customer’s shopping habits (Stanton A, 2018).

Fast fashion was born approximately 20 years ago which caused clothing to become cheaper and clothing seasons accelerated, slow fashion is opposed to the fact of using and throwing away.

Before the Industrial Revolution, the manufacture of clothes was local, people bought durable fabrics from local materials, or made their own, if in case of damage it was repaired before throwing it away. Clothing in many parts of the world reflects the culture of the people.

Slow fashion combines a brand’s practices (and promises!) with a customer’s shopping habits. The movement works towards creating an industry that benefits the planet and all people. In a perfect world, and hopefully, someday soon, slow fashion will simply be the norm  (Stanton A, 2018).

Sustainable fashion has as its main axis to stop treating clothing as disposable objects, we must strive to care for it, repair it, recycle it, pass it on from generation to generation, dispose of it responsibly when it no longer serves.

The fashion industry is a highly polluting industry, we must be conscious not impulsive consumers. Let's investigate brands, look for alternatives, small changes bring huge changes.

References:

¿Qué es Slow Fashion? - Tierra Madre

What Is Slow Fashion? (thegoodtrade.com)

Why Fair Trade - Why Buy Fair Trade | Fair Trade Certified

Slow Fashion - Food for Thought ? | Xenya Cherny-Scanlon | TEDxGeneva - YouTube

¿Qué es la moda lenta y cuál es su impacto? - MediaLab (up.edu.mx)