Hey Style Junkies! We've realized that we talk a lot about choosing slow fashion over fast fashion, but we haven't talked much about exactly why. Many people probably hear a lot about how terrible fast fashion is but might be unfamiliar with WHY its terrible.
Lets first define both slow and fast fashion:
SLOW Fashion: Slow fast is a counter-movement, in which attention is paid to a sustainable and conscious approach to fashion.
FAST Fashion: Fast fashion is a business model of the fashion industry where as many collections as possible are brought to market in the most short period as possible. These trends are produced in short possible time, low quality, and very low price to shift the items as quickly as possible.
Now that we've defined both slow and fast fashion, we need to elaborate more on the differences between both.
Fast Fashion:
Consumption: A lot of clothing is bought inn a short time, but the purchased items are not worn for long as they quickly go out of style/trend. 40% of clothes remain unworn and land in the garage after 3 years on average due to constantly changing trends.
Material: Made of synthetic fibers (polyester, elastane, etc.)
Production: Takes place in developing countries where standards are not respected. Furthermore, workers do not receive fair wages.
Water: Responsible for a lot of water pollution through the use of chemicals and micro-plastics.
CO2: A polyester t-shirt causes 9 kg of CO2 during production.
Waste: 80% of all clothing is thrown away, only 1% of clothing gets recycled.
Slow Fashion:
Consumption: Attention is paid to sustainable consumption, where only what is really necessary is bought. Value is placed on environmentally friendly materials and good production. Second-hand clothes are also part of slow fashion.
Material: Made from natural fibers such as cotton or recycled fabrics.
Production: Takes place either in western. countries or in developing countries where human rights, standards and fair wages are respected.
Water: Water is often recycled and filtered, so that no pollutants get into the waster water. In addition, hardly any micro-plastics get into the oceans and rivers through the natural fibers.
CO2: A cotton t-shirt causes 2 kg CO2 in production.
Waste: Clothes can be repaired, sold, exchanged, or donated to create a circular economy. In this way, waste is reduced.
In summary, fast fashion not only pollutes and harms our environment but also puts workers in an abusive working environment. The next time you are shopping in-stores or online, be sure to stay cautious of fast fashion brands, especially those that are greenwashing and pretending to be sustainable when really they are not. If you are not familiar with greenwashing, its when brands use vague marketing terms to communicate a product's "sustainable" fabric composition or production without supporting their claim. If you would like to listen more on greenwashing, be sure to check out our podcast "Recognizing Ethical Clothing Brands". Definitely do your research if you are curious about a new brand or a brand you are already purchasing from.
Thanks for tuning in Style Junkies, be sure to stay tuned to our next blog! ♡
Information from www.us.sanvt.com
Image from www.slowfashionfanatic.com/slow-fashion-vs-fashion/
Comments