How to get Started with Slow Fashion

Whatever you call it, slow fashion, ethical fashion, sustainable fashion, it’s a big subject. And honestly the first time I heard the words “slow fashion” I didn’t know what it meant. And after reading one article on it, I felt so overwhelmed that I pushed the very ideas way deep into the back of my mind.

It can be so overwhelming. I get that especially when we are brought up in a fast-fashion culture. A culture that sees clothing as disposable and praises Shein hauls with millions of views. When most of the clothing in those hauls costs less than $5 and is bought only to show off or wear once.

When this is what we are constantly shown, it can be tough to transition to a slow fashion mindset.

How to get Started with Slow Fashion:

1. Don’t panic

When I first decided to switch from fast fashion to slow fashion, I immediately felt guilty about the amount of fast fashion in my closet. My first instinct was to throw it all out and start new with only ethical fashion brands. This is dumb. Don’t do it. If you take anything away from this post I want you to take away this: The most sustainable clothes are the ones you already own.

2. Learn how to properly take care of your clothes

If the most sustainable clothes are the ones we own, then it only makes sense that we want to keep owning them for a long time. Fast fashion brands or not. If the natural lifecycle of a garment is to be made, worn a handful of times and then get thrown into the landfill, then we have to break the cycle by taking care of our clothes and making them last longer than intended.

3. Thrift, thrift, thrift!

Buying secondhand is arguably more sustainable than buying from sustainable fashion brands. The idea is essentially clothes recycling. Saving them from ending up in a landfill. And since everything at the thrift store already exists, no extra resources are being spent to create new clothing.

4. Slow down your consumption

There will come a time in everyone’s slow fashion journey when you buy fast fashion. Whether it’s a need, an accessibility issue or something else. The point of slow fashion is not to be perfect but to slow down our consumption. Whether you’re buying fast fashion, second-hand or ethical fashion. When we consume things slowly, we are actively opposing “fast” fashion.

5. Purchase ethical fashion

This is the very last point because it shouldn’t be your starting point. Ethical fashion is more expensive, there is no denying that. But we only think it’s expensive because we’re used to fast fashion prices. But when you are able, you can start supporting ethical fashion brands to further build your ethical wardrobe!

Related reading:

Affordable ethical fashion brands

Ethical fashion brands if you love H&M

Getting started with slow fashion doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. When you start with what you have and slowly build from there, it’s really easy!

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