One of the most important parts
That leads us to a simple question; if we want to be sustainable but also either want to or have to buy new clothes, how do we do that? You can choose to purchase clothes from clothing brands that are completely sustainable and ethical from beginning to end. Often, most people find themselves in a predicament where either those companies don’t have a clothing article they are looking for, or the prices are simply too steep
Slow fashion means “designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity” to reduce our carbon footprint and waste.
Practicing slow fashion means that you don’t necessarily have to limit yourself to buying only from sustainable fashion companies, so long as
A good rule of thumb for calculating what “a long time” looks like is to start
Then, I will increase this by challenging myself to own a top for 1 year and wearing it 20 times. The growth becomes exponential, and before you realize it, you will have clothes you have owned for several years!
I still have several items in my closet that I have owned since 2015 that I still consistently wear to this day!
There are many different types of ways to practice slow fashion, but the key thing to remember is that so long as you’re making progress each time, who cares what other people’s rules are!
It sounds insane to think that clothing can last that long, but if we look for the right things and take care of our clothes properly, it is very doable!
When I am investing in quality pieces, this is what I am looking for:
- Good material and good craftsmanship: A good, high-end fabric doesn’t mean anything if it is not well-made. You can buy the most expensive cashmere sweater, but if the craftsmanship is not there, then it will not last. Likewise, you can have the best seamstress, but if the material is polyester that pills after one wash in the washing machine, it will not last either.
- A classic style and good fit: The biggest downfall most of us have is in this category. We get sucked into trends and often buy clothes that don’t flatter us. The worst thing we can do is buy clothes that do not flatter our body that is designed with a trend that won’t look good in a few months.
- Care instructions that fit into my lifestyle: Our clothes should fit our lifestyle; our lifestyles shouldn’t have to adjust to fit our clothes. Personally, I hate dry cleaning, and I am a messy eater. I point-blank refuse to buy clothes that will be ruined if they get one-stain (silk tops, I’m looking at you) and clothes that must be dry-cleaned.
These three points make up the holy trinity of picking out the best types of clothing.
I discovered these three key points after making several purchasing mistakes. As an example, I never realized the cost (monetary and environmental) associated with dry-cleaning, and I once purchased half a wardrobe of items that need to be dry-cleaned. Now, I am in the unfortunate example of not being able to wear those pieces. The three guidelines I listed above have helped me in defining the rules of what I should be buying, and what I won’t be buying.
By practicing slow fashion and being conscious about what it is we are purchasing, our wardrobes can start being sustainable a lot quicker than we anticipate! Remember, if at any time you do decide to get rid of certain clothing pieces because they no longer suit you, check out this post on environmentally responsible ways to dispose of your clothing.
If you liked this post, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Sustainability!
