Within the realm of sustainable fashion, there are an infinite number of concepts, and it is simple to feel overwhelmed by this fact—especially when some of these concepts seem to be interchangeable with one another.  The question now is, what precisely is slow fashion movement? In this blog, we are going to tackle slow fashion Australia and how it paved itself through the years. 

The concept of "slow fashion" refers to an understanding and attitude to the fashion industry that takes into account the steps and resources necessary to produce apparel. It promotes the purchase of higher-quality clothing that can be worn for longer periods of time and places an emphasis on the ethical treatment of people, animals, and the environment throughout the supply chain.

In all honesty, slow fashion, also known as sustainable fashion or ethical fashion, has a lot of parallels with these other terms. They are sibling movements that operate according to the same overarching principles. The primary distinction between fast fashion and slow fashion is that the latter places a greater emphasis on minimising both production and consumption.

The First Stages of the Slow Fashion Movement

A sea of transformation has washed over the fashion business over the course of the last ten years or more. An increasing number of businesses are turning away from the ideas behind fast fashion in favour of a method that is more environmentally friendly when it comes to the production of clothing.

The concept that we now refer to as slow fashion movement developed fairly naturally. After seeing the success of the slow food movement, Kate Fletcher, who works at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, came up with the term "slow fashion." Fletcher saw the same need for a slower pace in the fashion sector as was being addressed by the slow food movement.

The paradigm of fast fashion, which originated around 20 years ago and was characterised by increased clothing affordability and accelerated trend cycles, is diametrically opposed to the practise of slow fashion. It is abundantly evident that this mindset is an essential component of the movement as a whole given that well-known companies still dispose of several tonnes of unsold items on a yearly basis despite continuous sustainability attempts to complete the loop in the fashion industry.

The Journey of Slow Fashion

Ahead of the Industrial Revolution, fabrics and clothes were gathered from their immediate surroundings and made there. People would either manufacture their own clothes using the materials and resources that were at their disposal or purchase long-lasting garments that could serve them for a significant amount of time. The clothing of a people represented both the culture of their homeland and the culture of the individuals who wore it.

Some of these time-honoured practises having recently made a comeback, thanks to the rise of the slow fashion movement. At first, it encourages us to take a step back and evaluate whether or not we really need anything new, or whether or not we can go through our storage space for a long-forgotten item that maybe just requires a little adjustment. As a result, it motivates us to purchase fewer clothing on a less frequent basis and choose pre-owned options wherever possible. When it comes to buying new items, conscientious buyers spend on pieces of better quality rather than, for instance, purchasing several inexpensive polyester blouses that would unravel after one or two wears. They will be manufactured using more environmentally friendly procedures and textiles that highlight the art of clothing creation and honour the abilities of artisans.

For instance, you may purchase one or two tops made of organic cotton or linen that you are certain will be worn for many years to come. Last but not least, affordable slow fashion encourages us to stop thinking of our clothing as something that can be thrown away and instead make an effort to have it fixed, upcycled, passed on, or disposed of in a responsible manner when it is no longer useful to us.

In the last several years, there has been a shift towards a consumer desire for greater environmental and ethical standards, which has led to increased support for the concept of slow fashion Australia. According to the findings of recent study, one nineteenth of the most popular searches pertaining to fast fashion include topics such as ethics, the environment, and sustainability. This slower and more deliberates approach to fashion is poised to help the world as a whole as well as all of its people as knowledge and popularity of the movement continues to grow.

Paving the Path of Slow Fashion Australia

It is essential that both businesses and consumers make changes in order to reduce the negative effects of fast fashion and to reduce waste in the industry. Considering that Australians are among the highest consumers of textiles per capita in the world, and that an astounding 6,000 kg of clothing is discarded every ten minutes—a large portion of which is made from polyester that does not biodegrade—it is vital that businesses and consumers make changes.

            The principles that underpin the slow fashion movement advocate for a wholesale rethinking of both the consumption and manufacturing of clothing throughout the industry, from high-end designers to independent boutique owners. As we have seen, this method has been the impetus behind a great deal of innovation over the last several years, most notably in the manufacturing of garments but also in the practises of consumers.

There is a rising support for slow fashion Australia; yet, there is still a long way to go before the movement can be considered successful. Simplifying our closets allows us to preserve an understanding of what a brand really stands for while also allowing us to concentrate on quality rather than quantity. We need to embrace the sustainable attitudes that started more than fifty years ago and continue to shape a contemporary sector that is good to people and the earth. This is something that we need to do. Even while there is still much work to be done, there is a rising movement towards conscious purchasing, and a more sustainable future for the fashion industry is becoming more and more apparent.

Slow fashion Australia is steadily becoming more popular, and with it, you can always feel good about clothing. We are the paragon of ethical and environmentally responsible slow fashion Australia, visit our website to learn more!