Fast fashion and slow fashion – which is best?

You have most probably heard about “fast fashion and slow fashion” and wonder what it actually means. Here we will look at what is fast fashion and the problem with fast fashion and also the difference between fast fashion and slow fashion. At the end we will also make suggestions about sustainable slow fashion brands.

What Is Fast Fashion?

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Fast Fashion is a contemporary term that is often used by fashion retailers. Fast fashion environmentIt refers to designs that capture and copy current fashion trends and very quickly move the new trends from the catwalk to the shop floor. It is often regarded as cheap trendy clothing that gets worn once or a few times and then discarded.

The fast fashion environment creates a sense of need that we “have to” go shopping for new clothes, that we might not even need, thus adding to the attitude and culture that everything is disposable.

Fast fashion retailers take designs and ideas from top fashion designers and turn them into trendy clothing in a very short period of time. As little as fifteen days can pass from seeing the trend on the catwalk and the new style being available on-line or in the shop.

So what happened or changed that brought on this fast fashion environment?

What Was There Before Fast Fashion?

Before the 1800s and the Industrial Revolution, fashion was slow and garments were sourced and produced locally. One often had to source your own wool or natural fibers, spin and weave it and then hand sew your clothing. People would buy durable clothing that could be worn for a long time. Clothing usually reflected the culture and the place of the people wearing them.

During the Industrial Revolution, technology advanced and new machinery like industrial looms and sewing machines were developed. This meant that clothing could easily and quickly be produced. Dressmaking shops appeared to cater for the middle class. Social media

Since the late 1990s the internet and social media have exploded, making it far easier and quicker for trends to be published and shared. In the past twenty odd years, on-line shopping has also arrived, making it even easier and quicker for the consumer to have a new fashion item.

It used to be that one bought new clothes when the seasons changed or you had outgrown it, with two seasons a year for new fashion, Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. Fashion houses used to bring out two collections per year to cater for the changing of the seasons. But with fast fashion we have 52 mini seasons per year.

Global fashion chains now dominate the high street with H&M, Zara, Topshop, Gap and Target some of the biggest fast fashion chains. Boohoo and Fashion Nova can be added to this list with their big online presence and sales.

What Is The Problem With Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion seldom uses sustainable fabrics and it is mostly made with polyester and other synthetic fibers which contain plastic and doesn’t biodegrade. Problem with fast fashionClothes are cheap because cheap materials and low cost production methods are used. It is instant and affordable fashion, available to the masses.

The fashion industry is the second largest global polluter after the oil industry and, after agriculture, the fashion industry is the second largest polluter of clean water.

It is often harmful to the environment and has a huge impact on the planet through unsustainable materials and practices. Fast production means fast disposal and fast replacement which is bad for your wallet.

There is also a human cost, from farmers working with toxic chemicals and pesticides to factory workers with no human rights and low wages.

There is a huge textile mountain of discarded clothing that end up in landfill every year and tonnes of unsold garments are burned by fast fashion brands each year. Fast fashion waste

This comes from garments that have either been discarded by manufacturers and retailers, or the consumer. Looking at the growth in fast fashion sales, it unfortunately doesn’t look as if it is slowing down. Consumers are also to blame with huge amount of clothes that are disposed of when it could have been recycled or upcycled.

The fast fashion industry is responsible for a considerable amount of pollution and has a sizable negative impact on climate change. Consumers can help to change this by choosing clothing brands that last longer and which are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. Fast fashion is not sustainable fashion.

Reasons to avoid fast fashion, is also discussed in this post: Avoiding Fast Fashion How to Get a More Sustainable Wardrobe.

What Signifies A Fast Fashion Brand?

These are some of the key factors that normally indicate that a brand is fast fashion:

  • Thousands of styles that show the latest trends.
  • Low quality and cheap materials that fall apart after a few wears and washes and are then discarded.
  • Limited quantity of a particular style which makes the consumer feel pressured to buy it now in order not to “miss out”.
  • Very short turnaround time from seeing a garment or trend on the catwalk, to the garment being available to buy.
  • Using factories and manufacturing facilities where labour is very cheap. Workers often work for very low wages and without adequate safety and health provisions and limited rights, if any at all.
  • Complex supply chains with subcontractors and low visibility of where and how the garments are manufactured.

What Is Slow Fashion?

Slow fashion is like slow food, it is created at a pace that is sustainable and viable. Slow fashion ethosThe core of slow fashion is based on the ethos of “less is more“, thereby supporting sustainable fashion and sustainable living. “Mindful consumption” is part of the sustainable approach of the slow fashion industry.

In 2013 over a thousand workers were killed in Bangladesh when the Rana Plaza clothing factory collapsed. People started questioning the true cost of cheap clothing. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental cost of fast fashion and asking questions like “where was it made?” and “who made my clothes?”

More brands are rejecting the principles of fast fashion and moving back to slow fashion, producing better quality garments that will last longer. They are looking at resources and processes in the fashion industry to make garments with a focus on sustainability. There is a move back to producing “made to last” basics, using quality workmanship and sustainable fibers.

Characteristics Of Slow Fashion

Slow fashion puts the focus back on the art of making clothes and the skills of the craftspeople.Slow fashion characteristics

  • Locally sourced and produced garments that are often only sold locally.
  • Slow fashion clothing is usually only sold in smaller local stores and not available in high street chain stores.
  • Each collection will only have a few styles and is released only twice or maximum three times per year.

Handmade, artisan, organic, ethical, eco friendly and lasting fashion are all terms that are associated with slow fashion.

The big difference between fast fashion and slow fast is the sustainability and impact on the environment.

What Can We Do?

  • The first step is to buy less and ask yourself if you really need it. By buying less you will also reduce your carbon footprint. Look at these options:
    • Thrift stores, second hand shops and charity shops – by being thrifty, used garments are given a new lease of life.
    • Vintage shops sell clothing from a specific era eg. the sixties or the seventies.
    • Consignment stores buy and sell second hand clothing.
  • The second step is to choose well and ideally select natural fibers. Textiles that have a low impact on the environment are wool, linen, hemp and silk and Pinatex leather made from pineapple leaves. Clothing made from natural fibers might cost you a bit more at the start, but you will not need to replace them as often as with fast fashion clothing.
  • If you look after your clothes, they will last longer.

There is growing support for slow fashion with a focus on quality, not quantity.

Alternatives That Are Better For The Environment

Look at labels and certifications like Fair Trade that pays fair wages to workers in developing countries. Better cotton initiative

Certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard is awarded to textiles with a minimum of ninety-five percent organic fibers.

Ecocert is a certification for organic agricultural products and the Oeko-Tex Standard uses a four tier system to look at the toxicity of chemicals used in clothing.

The Better Cotton Initiative promotes sustainability and better working conditions for farmers and workers in the cotton industry.

It is true that everyone in his own small way can help safeguard the environment, but if big companies are moving, perhaps that is better.

Slow Fashion Brands

These are some of the affordable brands and retailers that are using sustainable practices, green manufacturing methods and recycled materials:

  • Allbirds produce sustainable footwear and apparel using only natural, sustainable fabrics and recycled materials.
  • Thought is an all-natural company that produces timeless fashion using organic cotton and sustainable fabrics.
  • Laara Swim, a Danish company, is one of the 100% sustainable designer bikinis brands. They use fabric made from regenerated plastic waste that is found in the North sea, Adriatic sea and Mediterranean.
  • Vitamin A  produce sustainably made swimwear and leisure wear clothing using recycled nylon and natural fibers.
  • Nudie Jeans is an environmentally conscious Swedish fashion brand that use organic cotton to produce sustainable denim jeans.
  • Coalatree Organics designs eco-minded apparel and gear for exploring and enjoying the great outdoors.
  • Asket produces ethical sustainable underwear, yoga and outer clothing, using organic cotton and recycled materials.
  • Beaumont Organics is a British based Organic and Ethical clothing company that was started in 2008. They create contemporary conscious clothing for the modern woman.
  • Soul Flower is an Organic Boho Hippy Clothing Range that is based in Minneapolis, USA. You can respect our planet while at the same time expressing your bohemian spirit.
  • PrAna is an ethical North American company that only use sustainable fabrics and ethical practices. They do a full range of yoga, climbing, hiking, travelling and active wear for men and women.
  • Oliver & Rain make eco-friendly organic cotton baby products, using sustainable and ethical practices.
  • Kowtow is a New Zealand retailer that uses organic and fair trade cotton and non-toxic dyes to produce elegant and timeless garments.
  • Alternative Apparel produces quality basics using organic fabrics. They are committed to sustainability.
  • Synergy makes clothing that combines timeless design with sustainability.
  • Encircled creates ethically made versatile women’s fashion for travel and life. It is made in Canada from eco-conscious and sustainable fabrics.
  • People Tree has for more than twenty years been producing ethical clothing using Fair Trade workers and farmers.
  • Vetta produces capsule wardrobe essentials. They are made in USA using eco-friendly fabrics.
  • Under the Canopy strives to produce clothing that is better for the environment and for you.

More slow fashion brands to look out for are Reformation, Amour Vert, Eileen Fischer, Everlane, Pact, ThredUp,  Kotn, Outdoor Voices.

Some retailers and manufacturers have started introducing “green lines” with H&M bringing in a “Conscious Exclusive Collection”. It uses more sustainable materials like ECONYL. (Econyl is regenerated nylon from fishing nets, industrial nylon waste and fabric scraps that have been turned into new materials).

Slow fashion brands are on the increase, but we still have a long way to go to change the fast fashion environment.

If you have any questions or suggestions about sustainable slow fashion brands, please leave your comments below and I will get back to you.

16 thoughts on “Fast fashion and slow fashion – which is best?”

  1. Hi Lin,

    I didn’t know what was slow fashion and fast fashion until I read your article. This is awesome; I am now going to start buying slow fashion clothes. I wonder what types of clothes they make from fishing nets:). I have bookmarked your website, and I am going to share it with friends and family. Since slow fashion is of better quality, it must be more expensive, right? Even second hand? Well, when we think about it, we pay the price, but it lasts longer too.

    Thanks a lot for this knowledgeable post!

    Reply
    • Hi Daniella, Recycled fishing nets are basically recycled plastic and is used in making swimwear, footwear, outdoor garments like jackets and bags, and also incorporated in other clothing. It is a great way of reducing the huge amount of plastic waste that we already have, without adding more plastic to the environment. 

      Slow fashion is not always more expensive, if anything, it is cheaper in the long run as you don’t have to replace cheap fast fashion items. And of course slow fashion is much better for the environment as well. 

      I hope this helps you, Liné

      Reply
  2. I really enjoy reading this article about fashion. I was looking for fashion that the design and materials will last longer. I don’t like materials that worn out fast especially those fashion that I love so much.

    It is good to learn about fast and slow fashion.  We should do our part to save the environment.

    Reply
    • We can indeed all do our own bit to make the planet better for everybody else. This could very well start with supporting slow fashion

      Reply
  3. Slow fashion is definitely preferable. Quality should always be priority. I was personally disappointed when I bought a  shirt a few months ago. It was not cheap but now it has washed and now discarded. Then I wonder why a reasonable industry should make such a cloth.

    Each person will need to have a new mindset not to support fast fashion. We don’t need to buy new clothes every now and again. We need to encourage the production of clothes that are durable. Line, thanks.

    Reply
  4. This is rather a unique discourse and a very interesting one to read on. Due to the influence of the fast fashion industry, we have started to waste more money on clothing materials to which are made of cheap qualities. Though that is bad but the worse is the environmental hazards it is taking us into. On the other side, the slow fashion has been available for long and it is still providing quality products. Also, excellent tips youve given concerning the fact that we need to pay closer attention to needs, also we need to be conscious of the quality and also take note of the branding certifications. I will definitely start to take all these more seriously. Thanks

    Reply
    • The fashion industry is indeed very powerful and to take note of slow fashion brands and their sustainability is the way forward I think

      Reply
  5. We the consumers like you said are still to blame for the increase in fast fashion trends. We like to change our wardrobe on a regular basis which obviously leads to an increase in demand of trendy clothes. Not a lot of people are into slow fashion especially teens, youths, young adults. 

    This is a problem because as we buy these clothes we are unaware of the damages been done just to produce these trendy outfits. It is not in my place to say that we should all go for slow fashion but we need to cut it down a notch on how we purchase trendy clothes.

    Reply
    • Hi Jay, trendy clothes do not need to be fast fashion. There are many slow fashion brands that make beautiful trendy clothing that you can find at places like Thought and People Tree and it is affordable and will last much longer than fast fashion clothing

      Reply
  6. Slow fashion! Here are 3 reasons why:

    1. I am a minimalist. Like what you said, less is more! 
    2. I love supporting sustainable products. Now is the perfect time to support these products, mother earth needs it! 
    3. You get to support your local products. Aside from that, since you are buying it locally, it is inexpensive. You get to save more or buy more!

    Thank you for this article! All the best!

    Reply
  7. Thanks for doing this article about fashion. It was quite interesting finding information about fast fashion and slow fashion and what are their differences, I liked that you gave out the details about each fashion type. I am sure that I will share this with my friends and family who are really into fashion. Thanks again

    Reply
  8. Wow, that was a deep article. I never thought of fashion in these terms before. Thanks for sharing and spreading the importance of living sustainably. Its so sad the effect that we have on the Earth and even how much people will put money before saving the planet. We can’t live without oxygen so what’s money going to do? Greed is something else. Well, this has definitely changed the way I look at fashion and I will be more conscious about the clothing I wear and buy. I also try to donate when I can instead of throwing things away. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Marlinda you are so right that money is often the most important thing to most people. Remember you can also the recycling bins for clothing rather than throwing it away

      Reply

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