What Is Slow Fashion And Why Is It So Important?

Slow Fashion is a term that we’ve all been hearing a lot more lately, but what exactly does it mean? Is it related to fast fashion or is it completely different? Why is everyone talking about it and why is it so important? Those are all great questions and now is your chance to find out the answers to all of your burning Slow Fashion questions by giving this a quick read… Who knows, it might even change your life for the better. 

What is Slow Fashion?

Slow fashion is a new-ish term being thrown around that we’ve all heard recently but what does it really mean? Well, essentially slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion, meaning that brands are slowly starting to make clothes that are designed to last while still being fashionable. It is also a lifestyle that eco-conscious people are starting to adopt were they shop for clothes less frequently, shop more in thrift stores and eco-conscious stores, and repair any damaged clothes before throwing them away. It’s a great way to do your bit for global warming as it encourages the reduce, reuse, and recycle system we have all been taught since we were kids. 

Why is it so important?

We all know at this point that global warming is a thing and a pretty scary one at that. What you might not have known is that the fast fashion industry makes up around 10% of emissions that have caused global warming. Slow fashion is important because not only does it focus on reducing fashion’s carbon footprint, it also aims to look after people who work for fashion brands. By now we all know that quite often it is children working in terrible conditions for an awful pay but if we stop buying from these brands, they will have to shut down their factories and sweatshops or change their working conditions to bring back customers. 

How can I adopt a Slow Fashion lifestyle?

It’s easy! Simply shop less often (which will also save you some coin if you’re a regular on the high street), shop with fashion brands who design clothes that are made to last instead of with fast fashion stores who cheaply mass-produce garments that only last a few washes, stop wearing outfits once to then throw them away, even try to repair damaged clothes before you get rid of them, try to buy from charity and thrift shops and even donate your unwanted clothes to them. It’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and waste and better yet, it’s not as hard as you would think. 

How do I know which fashion brands are eco-conscious?

This one can be a little trickier but there are ways to know how brands are eco-conscious. One way to know is by shopping locally or from independent shops on Etsy or BigCartel. Another way is by doing your own research online about whatever brand that it is you want to buy from, although this can take a while and a lot of information online isn’t always 100% true so it could be hard to know your information is reliable. One of my favourite ways to check is by using the app Good On You. This is an app that you can shop from and look up retailers and rates their eco-consciousness by animal skins sold, environmental damage, labour, and price. They will also recommend retailers similar to your high street favourites that are more environmentally focused. 

Did you learn anything new about Slow Fashion and will you be more eco-conscious when you’re shopping for clothes in the future? Let us know in the comments!

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