Slow fashion is not just about countering the speed of an inherently unsustainable fast fashion system. It is also an acknowledgement of the multiplicity of fashion ways needed to build a better fashion system. Slow fashion is a mindset.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of what slow fashion can look like in practice.

1. Try a ‘no new clothes’ challenge

Challenge yourself to not buy anything new for a set amount of time. Some people do it for a year, but it could also be shorter. By removing yourself from the endless cycle of consumption that defines the fast fashion industry, you can take a step back and heal your relationship with fashion.

2. Shop your closet

You know the saying: The most sustainable garments are the ones you already own, including old fast fashion pieces. Find ways to love them, wear them, mend them, and make them last as long as you possibly can. This also helps you gain a deeper understanding of your personal style.

3. Wearing (and loving) your old fast fashion pieces

Actively working through your eco-guilt by continuing to wear – and love! – the fast fashion pieces you bought in the past is an important step in your slow fashion journey. Everybody has old fast fashion pieces in their closet. Getting rid of them creates unnecessary waste and perpetuates the idea that slow fashion has to look a specific way. The best thing you can do is keep them, find ways to love them, wear them, mend them, and make them last as long as you possibly can.

4. Be a proud outfit repeater

Despite what social media will have us believe, it’s perfection acceptable to repeat outfits – as often as you like! We don’t need to wear a new outfit to feel and look good. Follow these fun hashtags #proudoutfitrepeater,  #rewearthat, and #reweardontcare.

5. Borrowing clothing from friends and family

If you are going to an event or have been eyeing that dress in your friend’s closet every time they wear it, why not ask if you can borrow it for a little bit? You can even offer to return the favour and ask them if there is anything in your wardrobe that they have been eyeing. You’re saving money, keeping impulse buys at bay, and it really does give you the same rush as trying on a brand-new garment.

6. Swap before you shop

Swapping allows you to switch up your wardrobe, without buying anything new, and it’s usually very cost-effective. If you are based in Cape Town, join Twyg’s monthly Swap&Mend at NUDE FOODS.

7. Buy preloved

Consider shopping secondhand. Buying secondhand clothing, instead of new pieces, extends the lifespan of that garment and saves it from going to waste.

8. Learn to mend and repair

Mending and repairing help us wear and keep our loved clothes for longer. These tutorials are good for the basics: The Essentials Club and Repair What You Wear. Another useful resource is The Fixing Fashion Academy by Fixing Fashion. If you don’t have the time to learn, hire a local, small mending or tailoring business that can do the repair for you.

9. Give rental a go

If you are looking for an outfit for a special occasion or event, and nothing in your wardrobe is inspiring you, give clothing rental a try. In South Africa, you can rent from: Style Rotate, Shared Collective, On Rotate, and Closet Runway.

10. Starting a DIY project

This could be anything from beading a necklace or learning how to use natural dyes, to figuring out how to crochet or making a scrunchie. Working with your hands is not only a great way to practice mindfulness, but it also brings you closer to the process of making and fosters a greater sense of appreciation for the effort and energy that goes into making the clothes and accessories that we wear. When you pour love and care into making something of your own, it starts to undo the culture of disposability that we have all been encouraged to take on.

11. Take care of your clothing, sustainably

Take the time to read the care labels on your clothing. And adjust your clothing care routine so that it is as sustainable as possible. This includes washing your clothes less often, at lower temperatures, and try to use eco-friendly detergents. Check out this guide on how to make your loved clothes last.

12. Assess your fashion news source

Shifting out of a “fast fashion mindset” is key to any slow fashion practice. This is such an important step on your journey of hopping off the hamster wheel of fast fashion and overconsumption. We are constantly being bombarded with adverts and marketing campaigns that are trying their very best to convince us to buy more and more, at every turn – even in our email inboxes and social media.

Unsubscribe and unfollow those that do not align with your values. Follow Twygmag and Fashion Revolution for slow fashion news and tips.

13. Support local

We have incredible small fashion brands and businesses actively prioritising ethics and applying eco-conscious practices. Because of their size, these brands can be more transparent about their supply chains.

14. Following the ethos of ‘fewer better things’

If you are shopping less, by prioritising practices like swapping, borrowing, mending, and getting creative with what you already have, it means that you can choose to save up and invest in conscious fashion brands that are leading by example and showing us what a more just future of fashion could look like. Before buying a new item of clothing, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I really need this piece?
• Is this piece comfortable enough to wear again and again?
• Can I style this piece with clothing I already have?
• Is this piece my style? Or am I just buying it because it’s a trend?
• Do I like the fabric?
• Do I feel good about supporting this maker, brand, or seller?
• Does it feel high-quality enough to last me many wears?

15. Becoming a fashion activist

Learning about ways to extend your slow fashion advocacy beyond just the clothes you wear is a powerful step, because it allows you to participate in collective action and larger reform in the fashion industry. Signing a petition, emailing a brand, posting on social media, or getting involved in a support advocacy group are a few great ways to extend your impact and become a fashion activist.

16. Continuing to educate yourself

Life is one continuous learning journey, and this applies to the slow fashion space too. The issues – and solutions – in the fashion industry are complex and nuanced, so there is always something to learn or something we can dive deeper into. Continuing to educate yourself will make you feel more committed to your slow fashion journey and allow you to share your learnings with others too. Check out the Twyg School.

 

• Cover image: Photo by Andile Phewa for Confections x Collections
• Images in article: Photos by Andile Phewa for Essential Elegance