From fast fashion to slow fashion, how can we change our mind frame to build a sustainable, chic, and ethically conscious wardrobe you can always count on to stay current? And what will it take to rekindle the relationship to your wardrobe? Continue reading to find out...
Transitioning to Slow Fashion from Fast Fashion is a different experience depending on your current shopping habits. For many of us, it can come as a rather shocking moment- a moment where we realise that our relationship with our clothes has been diminished to a two month magic line where the pieces transform from chic to let's be frank, not so chic. Here, the trick to transitioning and rekindling your relationship to your wardrobe is to start slowly and to embrace the change. That's why we put together a little guide on how to comfortably transition your mind and wardrobe from fast fashion to slow fashion.
1. Stop and Take a Moment.
Look through your wardrobe and think about what's infront of you. Do you relate to the clothes you have there? Do they represent you? (Do they even still fit??). Try to re-examine your relationship to your clothes and identify the pieces that fit you, that you feel amazing wearing and that you want to keep wearing until they are worn out! Take the time to identify the common thread in the clothes you cherish as opposed to the clothes that are in there in the dark but that are never worn.
To put your wardrobe in perspective, in Britain there are unworn clothes valued up to £2.7bn hanging in our closets as brits only wear 44% of their clothing and we can all assume that this is the same in many western countries. This costs money, resources and also time as a superfluous wardrobe requires more time deciding what to wear and let's not forget, finding whatever garment you are looking for!
2. Clear and Refresh
Now is the time to embrace change and have the guts to separate the goodies you want to keep from the pieces that need to find new homes in wardrobes where they will be more loved. If you still have a few pieces that you are unsure about, pile them on your bed and start going through them one by one asking yourself questions like:
- When did I wear this last?
- Does it still fit?
- Is this my style?
- When could I see myself wearing this again?
- How would I style this garment with pieces that I already own?
If you are really struggling to answer these questions and haven't worn the piece in question in over two years, place it in a pile to either give away, to sell and to recycle. We promise you, you will feel a pound ease of your chest after you're done cleaning out your wardrobe.
3. Wear & Don't Buy
Having recently cleared out your wardrobe, the best thing to do to keep transitioning from fast fashion to slow fashion as simple as possible is to simply wear the clothes that you have kept and not to buy new ones. Try to set a time frame for this to stay motivated! This will allow you to re-discover your wardrobe and to try new things with the pieces you own. You might want to try 'the capsule wardrobe', the idea that you can limit your wardrobe to a smaller capsule of clothes that you wear and style only with pieces from this capsule. This will force you to really challenge yourself in terms of limiting your options and allows you to feel in control of your relationship to your wardrobe and the appeal of an ever-growing closet.
4. After transitioning from Fast Fashion to Slow Fashion, What's Next?
Hopefully step 1-3 helped you feel like you can take back the control of your wardrobe and develop a more personal style in this age of never-ending input of inspiration and visuals. So, if you are now feeling in control and your mind is playing with the thought of making a new addition to your wardrobe, what are the things to consider when making a purchase?
For each new piece that you consider, we recommend to make sure it is something you actually feel will be long-lasting style wise. For instance, if you find a garment you love, don't buy it and wait for 20 days. Then see if you are even thinking about it after the time has passed. You'll be surprised by how many times you will have forgotten about it once a few days have gone by.
Also make sure to include ethical and sustainable manufacturing conditions in your search for new pieces and try to find brands that use certified or recycled textiles and that are transparent in their supply chain. You can also look into vintage and 2nd hand which is a great way to bring life into older garments.
When you finally make the decision to purchase a new garment, make sure you follow the wash and care instructions carefully and try to air your clothes rather than constantly washing them to allow a longer lifespan. You could also try to keep the rule of 'one in, one out' in your wardrobe which means that you have to sell or give away a piece you no longer use when you purchase a new one. And lastly, don't forget that your wardrobe has an array of possibilities you probably never tried out; what about pants under a dress, a skirt over a dress or a simple new combination of pants and sweater?
Feel free to share your story with us on how you transitioned from fast fashion to slow fashion and we might feature your experience!
What is your best tip to make the transition from fast fashion to slow fashion as simple as possible?
P.S. if you want to know more about Slow Fashion, we put together the 9 things you need to know about it here. D.S.