TheLoneSol’s Guide to Slow Fashion
I used to religiously shop fast fashion.
I also used to have a new piece of clothing in my closet every week. My job at the time, a clothing boutique, also contributed to my minor shopping addiction. I was avid about constantly sticking with the “trends” and barely wearing the same outfit twice. It was a need that I didn’t know had become an addiction, it had just been normal.
Now, I can't even walk into a boutique without seeing the history behind each item of clothing.
There was one main factor that contributed to me quitting my job. It was that I realized “small-town boutiques” are no different than large companies like Zara and H&M. The clothing is all produced by the same factories and bought by the same manufacturers.
At that time I was just beginning my journey with sustainable fashion, slow fashion, and the anti-fast fashion movement. I still had my job at the boutique and at that point, I was on a train going full speed and had no means of getting off.
Quitting opened doors to a whole new world, but I was left with a sense of feeling completely lost. This is why I hope to be a light I didn’t have inside this wonderful world of Slow Fashion.
I went completely cold turkey. No shopping fast-fashion AT ALL. I thrifted for months, found quality sustainable clothing stores (which will be shared, don't worry!), and shopped at my local vintage clothing store. It was all very fulfilling until the high wore off, and then I wanted to just go back to my old ways because it is SO EASY to find exactly what you need for a low cost while shopping at Shien or H&M.
Welcome to my Guide to Slow Fashion. And I’m gonna show you that it’s worth it to not shop fast-fashion and that you CAN do it!
Start Small
When I first began my sustainability journey I thought it was my responsibility to single-handedly take down the industry. Then I realized that is ridiculous. That the true impact is made when many people start small. There is a stigma around sustainability being hard. It really isn’t, even though so many people think that way. You can try your best and still live sustainably.
Step one is to research where your clothing is coming from. Having a sense of knowledge around the clothing industry really empowered me, and gave me the motivation I needed to stop shopping fast fashion. Once you bring light to your eyes with what is happening with over-production, labor, materials, and slave labor, it is harder to ignore. So that is my first step to starting small: Research.
The second step is to get over second-hand prejudice. Not everything good and beautiful is new and unused. The most favored items of clothing in my closet are from Goodwill. Trust me, the earth will thank you later.
So start checking the local thrift or consignment store first instead of Target. And if you absolutely cannot find what you need, yes, need, not what you want, then look at the other options. Realizing that you can look at thrift stores first is a big step in itself.
And also, DONATE YOUR CLOTHING. Throwing away your clothing is wasteful. Think of where it’s going and who that will affect, and also think of who those clothes could have gone to.
My last small step is to buy less. When you shop from places where the clothing is 5-15 dollars then you should know it won't last long. That item will be worn once, break, and get thrown out. This is why it is imperative that you are conscious about what you're buying and wearing.
Sustainable Brands
Shopping from sustainable brands makes a huge difference. It is pricier…but that comes with this side of fashion. When it’s more expensive the production is going to be far better, and a plus is that they most likely don’t source from places that promote slave labor!
I have listed down below some of my favorite brands to shop from and I hope you do as well!
My second point is shopping your closet!
We own way more than we think and if you have the right items you can go on months just shopping your closet.
Before you click purchase on a fast fashion website, check the clothing you have. Is there something similar I could substitute? Can I wear an outfit? (which is isn’t shameful!!) Can I hold on off on a purchase until I know I need it?
Ask yourself these questions and be willing to try tactics.
Why It's Worth It
I am a hardcore believer that we all have a role to play. Even the smallest actions can create a large impact. Adjusting your mindset and realizing that YOU CAN make a change in your community will affect everything.
I will admit, it is still hard, and I am not perfect. As an almost 18-year-old who is dead broke, there are days when all I want to do is go onto a cheap website and find exactly what I need for as little money as possible. Days when thrifting or scavenging Depop sounds like the worst possible scenario. And because I am someone saving and being mindful of my money, I cannot shop constantly at these sustainable stores just like I would at H&M. And it gets rough.
But all of it makes you think just a bit more about why you need those clothes in the first place. What is behind the indecent need to own something new every week? I’ll tell you. Consumerism. We live in a world where trends circulate constantly and millions of items of clothing are made daily, all of which these fashion companies make you believe you need to have. The truth is though…trends are temporary.
Brands such as Shien want you to believe that there is no impact on the consumerism they promote…but there is. The same goes for hundreds of other brands. My mission for you is to recognize those patterns and think about the different ways you could be shopping.
Living a sustainable lifestyle does not have to be as hard as some people make it look. Shift your perspective and realize that you do not have to feed into society’s idea of normal.
You got this!
