What is slow fashion? Its sort of a catch-phrase in the world of shopping and fashion right now and these catch-phrases can be confusing or difficult to appreciate when there is such a fast turnover of trends in the fashion industry.
That is exactly what slow fashion isn't. Slow fashion is part of the concept of "slow living" which encompasses all aspects of life including food, living, clothing, and traveling. Slow living helps us look at what we consume, how we consume it, and what is affected by our consumption of it. If you order a meal, the concept of slow living would encourage you to think about where and how the ingredients were sourced, how were the people who prepared your food treated, and who are you supporting by purchasing that meal.
Slow fashion then is a way of looking at how we consume clothing, accessories, and shoes. Asking yourself questions like: "Where were the materials sourced?", "How were the creators of this item treated and paid?", "How does my purchase of this item affect the world around me?", and "Who am I supporting by purchasing this item?". These questions may seem too large to answer when you are thinking about buying a pair of shoes in the mall, but in this age of internet at our fingertips, I promise you, it is easier to get answers to these questions than you may think.
Whole companies, organizations, and determined individuals are making this information clearer and more easily accessible to consumers. It may seem like a cumbersome way to shop if you need to research each company you would like to buy from, but the effort is worth it and becomes easier as you educate yourself about the fashion industry and how items are made.
Any small effort you choose in making more educated, conscious choices in your consumption is a huge pay off for the world! One of my favorite sayings is "We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly". This concept applies to any type of waste or consumer habit, every little thing helps!
I recently noticed that some big clothing retailers are making changes for the better, however slowly, and that's something to celebrate!
ASOS now offers a Responsible Edit that features clothing, accessories, and shoes made with sustainable or recyclable materials.
H&M has set a goal that by 2020 all of their cotton will be sustainably sourced.
When I started building my company, I asked myself some questions like "Is my e-commerce t-shirt and art print design company going to be another fast-fashion brand that will continue to fill up landfills with plastic packaging and waste?" and "How can I add more value to my products for my customers?", quality might cost more but isn't it worth it? The answer to these questions came clearly to me, Poppy Hayoun Designs needs to be an ethical and sustainable store for art lovers to shop without compromising their values.
Whether you are shopping my Hebrew Zodiac t-shirt collection or my Bull Terrier t-shirt collection, know that you are getting a quality product, ethically sourced that ships plastic-free via low-emission worldwide shipping. Organic cotton bull terrier t-shirts are a better decision for you and the rest of us!
What other changes can companies make to be more sustainable? What decisions have you made to start living more consciously? Share with me in the comments!
Avigail
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