We live in a funny old world. Jeans can cost less than a sandwich. There are now 52 micro-seasons of fashion, rather than the previous two major seasons with resort in between. A dress can appear on a starry Instagram feed one day and a copy in high street fashion stores a week later. It’s all so fast. Fast. Fast.
When things gain lightning speed, perspective can reduce to a pinpoint. I recognised this in myself. It’s part of the reason I have committed to my no-buy year and why I’m still on track.
In the face of all the fast fashion, how can we slow it down? How can we make fashion about value, about us and about style. I want to feel like a fashion individual, not a cog in a machine that relies on my constant consumerism to propel it forward.
Here are some ideas on how to slow fashion:
Make it yourself
This really is the glacial version of slow fashion. Making it yourself takes time, it takes investment in fabric and learning and it takes risk. Not every thing that I make is easy or comes out right the first time. Things evolve and become other things. But there is intrinsic value in every seam I stitch. There is nothing fast or throw away about it. The longest lasting items in my wardrobe are the ones I have made myself.
Collaborate with a dress maker
You may not want to make your own clothes, but you can always work with someone who can. It’s not an every-day solution, but consider working with a dressmaker when you need a special outfit. It keeps skills alive and you will have a piece of art.
Ask how often will you wear this?
If you know you will it thirty times or more, then it’s a slow investment. You also need to know that the quality is going to sustain at least thirty wears.
Pay cash
Pay pass is one of life’s great time savers. But it does enable spending without thinking. The act of physically handing over hard-earned cash slows the thought process. I really think so much of this is about intention. When buying clothing I’d often feel like I was in a race with myself. That I had to rush to pay for an item before the sensible part of me slowed the impulsive part. Paying cash can ensure that the sensible part of us is also on-board with the purchase.
Let it settle
There is no rush to buy an item. There are no lines of people behind you waiting for you to let go of a dress so that they can pounce. The shops are designed to illicit that feeling of panic – particularly sales racks. But it’s a confection. And, really, if you do miss out, is it that really a big deal? By letting a decision settle for a while before purchasing it slows the impulse that fast fashion relies on.
One in – one out rule
My wardrobe is bursting at the seams. Again, why I have committed to this no-buy year. So once I do lift my self-imposed ban, I’ll bring a one in – one out rule. I cannot let a piece in without removing something I already own. AND it has to be a thoughtful reduction. It might be a gift to a friend who I KNOW will wear it, selling it on or physically going into an op-shop to donate. Stuffing it in a garbage bag that will travel in the car several months before I see an opportune charity bin does not count.
Try minimalism challenges
Challenges like going six months or a year without buying things can be helpful. The 333 project is something you might like to try. The ideas is that you choose 33 items (including shoes and accessories) and only wear them for three months. I have been enjoying the Minimalist’s podcast and their philosophy of reduction and re-introduction. You remove something from your life for a decent period of time and reintroduce it if you really feel that not having it has reduced your quality of life.
I have conflicting feelings about the stores with low price points and their role in throw-away fashion. Not everyone who buys from those stores does so with the intention of cycling their wardrobe regularly. They definitely serve a purpose and allow people to buy things at a price that make sense for them. Accessibility is not something I want to stomp on or ignore. However, I do think those stores need to be transparent about how they achieve their price points.
The Ethical Fashion Report was recently released and a number of fast fashion players have improved drastically. This report is centred around the fair treatment of workers and the support of a living wage. It doesn’t take into account the environmental and psychological impacts of fast fashion. So I’m still hesitant to support a business model that relies on high volume turn over in short periods of time.
I like this. I was always good at the one in one out rule but that has slipped a bit lately so I must start again. You have inspired me to do something about the wardrobe bulge and what a great idea about paying in cash – it absolutely does make you slow down and think about it more.
Vicki @ A Box Of & Boiledeggsandsoldiers recently posted…Mothers Day Gift & Food Guide 2017
It really does put that pause in between impulse and reason!
I love the idea of one-in one-out. I am cringing as I know I have bags of clothes in the car waiting to be dropped off at the charity bins (and they have been there for months!).
jess recently posted…The Ultimate Rabbit Hole #116
I am so bad at this and then I wonder where it’s REALLY all going to head. From herein, I’ll be taking singular pieces into the store itself.
You are speaking my language Robyna!
Loving what you are doing in this space – I think as bloggers we can really help make a difference (even if it’s small)
Slow fashion is something that I’ve decided to embrace again. I suppose you could say that the way I purchase clothing has come full circle. When I was growing up, there was no fast fashion, our clothes were made, recycled among family and neighbours, bought in charity shops and sometimes bought new. This was a time when clothes were made to last and there were only two seasonal ranges per year. Then, in my early 20s fast fashion hit our shores in a small way. We could finally purchase the brands that I had seen advertised in magazines from overseas. Slowly things became cheaper, then the quality dropped and now we are lucky if a lot of the stuff sold would last one season. I’m looking forward to going back to being an op shopping, enjoying the thrill of finding that something special that could not have been purchased new. There will also be more thought put into finding out the background of the the brands I choose to buy from. It’s going to be about quality product that I fall in love with that someone else is not bearing the cost of my purchase.
Jenni @unclutter my world recently posted…I’M EMBRACING SLOW FASHION
I think it’s great that so many of us are turning our minds to this. I read somewhere that the op shops are struggling to on sell clothes because they are designed to last such a short time 🙁
I too have been listening to The Minimalists (my heroes!) and much of what you say resonates with me. I am really trying to think about what I buy and am trying to steer away from fast fashion. I love hat idea of letting it settle and having that “cooling off” period before you buy.
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid recently posted…The Ultimate Rabbit Hole #116
I think it’s all about the gap between impulse and reasoned thinking.
Robyna recently posted…How to create a uniform
I started a sewing course years ago and gave up halfway through for lots of reasons… But maybe I should try again – I like the idea of making my own clothes. I often go out or trawl the internet with something very specific in mind, so that might be the solution! #TheUltimateRabbitHole
It’s so rewarding once you get something lovely made. I do that specific thing as well – sometimes I know exactly where I will find it and sometimes I do have to make it.
Robyna recently posted…How to create a uniform
Love this post Robyna. My purchasing is definitely slowing down and my favourite way to do that is to buy more second hand and to onsell items that were or are now mistakes. I too am looking more and more at the ethical track record of labels and always at the quality. Fortunately my style is classic so fast fashion really doesn’t appeal to me in any case, but I hate the whole concept. I agree that some buy from those labels because it is all they can afford but I also wonder about the pressure created for those buyers by something new popping up every week!
Jan recently posted…Two speed Singapore
When you step back from it, it just seems like such a bizarre way to be. Everyone’s stressed out and taking advantage of other human beings. And who is it really benefiting? Just the heads of the companies really.
Robyna recently posted…How to create a uniform