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Why Slow Fashion?
Put simply, Slow Fashion is proposing a more ethical way of making clothes. But why should this matter to you?
Imagine an ideal morning in the countryside. Taking a breath of fresh air, walking barefoot in wet grass, while savoring the delicate scent of cherry blossoms in bloom. Yet beneath this beautiful scene lies a question: what if the dress you're wearing is a small part of a system that's gradually destroying all of that?
Unfortunately, the garment industry is one of the largest carbon polluters on the planet and one of the greatest producers of waste, including toxic chemicals that permeate the environment and worker communities.
We live in a 'throw-away' culture, consuming and wasting too much, too fast.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, "every second, the equivalent of a rubbish truck load of clothes is burnt or buried in landfill." Our consumption and waste keep increasing year after year, nurtured by and nurturing a constant pressure to reduce costs and speed up production. The result? More and more low-quality, cheap, disposable products. This toxic system wears out valuable resources, pollutes the environment, and degrades ecosystems.
The real cost of cheap clothing extends far beyond its price tag.
Most fashion industry workers face inhumane conditions and insufficient wages, while toxic dyes and synthetic materials continue polluting our waters and soil. Consider these estimates: 20% of global wastewater comes from fabric dyeing, while plastic particles from synthetic clothes make up 35% of the primary plastic polluting our oceans.
"Few industries are as connected to the natural world as fashion. At its most simplistic, fashion is dependent on water, on crops such as cotton, and on a whole host of animal species. Yet the fashion industry has barely begun to factor in the consequences of its actions on habitat loss, shrinking biodiversity and climate change," writes Lucy Siegle, an expert on environmental issues.
How can you make a difference?
We love the motto of Fashion Revolution, the world's largest fashion activism movement: "Be Curious, Find Out and Do Something."
Ask questions, read on the subject, talk to your family and friends about it. Look beneath the surface. Learn to value quality and cultivate moderation. And in the end, always remember the words of British designer Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less, choose well, make it last."
Sources: fashionrevolution.org, ellenmacarthurfoundation.org, unep.org, goodonyou.eco, fashionchecker.org.