When you visit a clothing store, the rails jammed pack full of mass-produced clothing is known as ‘fast fashion’. Slow fashion is a handmade garment and this type of fashion has become increasingly popular in recent years. The reasons include benefits to both the consumer and the environment. Slow fashion represents a greater investment in purposeful design and better fabric with the aim of buying less items but of a higher quality. Here are some benefits of embracing slow fashion:
Transparency – People who buy slow fashion items know who made their clothes and where the fabric was sourced from. Such garments are often handmade by artisans and dressmakers. If the low wages and poor working conditions of third-world textile workers pricks at your conscience then, slow fashion is a more ethical choice.
Quality – Slow fashion involves a much greater emphasis on quality fabric selection. The goal is to produce an item of clothing that is highly durable, so consumers benefit from items made from natural, comfortable fabrics like cotton, silk, wool and linen as opposed to synthetic materials. For a wide range of material to start your own slow fashion pieces, take a look at the Dressmaking fabric available at http://www.quality-fabrics.co.uk
Durability – Fast fashion is all about current trends and garments not really built for longevity. Most fashions are throw-away these days but slow fashion bucks this trend and aims for high quality clothing that won’t lose shape, won’t fade in the wash and has good longevity. These items are made to last for years as opposed to a couple of seasons.
Exclusivity – Slow fashion produces bespoke, unique and unusual designs that are either one-of-a-kind or strictly limited in number. Wearing slow fashion items means you have a completely personal and individual look that won’t be achieved by buying your clothes from a high street chain.
Custom-Sizing – Slow fashion items are tailor made so you can guarantee the item will fit well and be flattering. Sizing differs so greatly between stores that it’s often extremely difficult to work out what size you are and to find fast fashion items that fit perfectly.
Environmental Benefits – Fast fashion produced in factories uses huge amounts of energy resulting in the release of greenhouse gases. Toxic waste is also being released into the environment whereas handmade items avoid all these negative processes completely. As items are made to order or for personal use, there is no waste like there is with mass-produced clothing which ends up in landfill if it remains unsold.
Another benefit of slow fashion is the recycling and reuse of what is known as deadstock fabric. Companies who order in too much fabric have leftovers so getting hold of this waste material is a great way to save it being wasted and ending up in landfill. Making clothes at home also reuses fabric in this way, as outgrown items can be re-purposed into something new. By keeping as much as possible out of landfill, we are reducing waste and helping the environment.