Slow Fashion: what it is and why it matters

You may have heard of the term fast fashion, but what is slow fashion and why does it matter?

Slow fashion is a movement that encourages consumers to be more mindful of the environmental and social impacts of the apparel and footwear industries. Instead of fast fashion, which promotes quick, cheap production of trendy clothes, slow fashion is all about quality, durability, and sustainability. 

So why does slow fashion matter? 

Fast fashion is notorious for damaging the environment. The rapid turnover of cheap clothing amounts to enormous waste, with clothes often being worn only a few times before being thrown away. 

The production of fast fashion also requires huge amounts of resources, including water, energy, and chemicals - all of which contribute to pollution and climate change.

Aside from the environmental impacts, fast fashion is also largely associated with poor labor practices and worker exploitation. Nearly 98% of garment workers are underpaid and work in unsafe conditions (source: re/make). Alternatively, slow fashion promotes ethical and fair labor practices, with a focus on local production and supporting small, sustainable businesses. 

So what can you do to help support slow fashion? 

To start, consider buying less, but higher-quality clothes and shoes that will last longer than cheaper, trendier things. Not only will this save you money in the long run, but it will also help reduce waste. 

Also, consider buying from ethical and sustainable brands, which prioritize responsible production and paying living wages to their factory workers (check out some of our favorites in this blog post). 

Our shoes are designed to last, responsibly sourced, and ethically made to meet the highest standards. To learn more, visit our sustainability page. 

Another option is to buy second-hand clothing. Not only does this reduce waste, but it gives life to pre-loved garments. 

Lastly, think about repairing your clothes or shoes when they need it instead of buying something new (read our tips on shoe repair here). 

Looking for more on ethical fashion? Check out our other blog post here!