Slow fashion is more sustainable

Introduction

Slow fashion is all about enjoying your clothing for as long as possible. It’s an idea that some people are still skeptical of, but I think it’s a great way to make sure that you don’t buy something just because it’s on sale or you need new clothes right now. In fact, I believe that slow fashion is a great approach to shopping more sustainably! Here are some things to consider when investing into slow fashion:

Consider the clothing’s care instructions

Consider the clothing’s care instructions.
Natural fibers are usually more durable and require less maintenance than synthetic fibers, but some of them can still be pretty delicate. Wool, for example, is very soft and was originally used primarily for garments worn next to skin; however, it can now be found in everything from socks to sweaters because men found it useful for its warmth in cooler climates. Cotton is another example—it’s hardier than silk or wool but is also sensitive to heat (and fire). Silk has always been one of the most expensive natural fibers used in clothing because silkworms produce only about 100 yards of silk per year compared with as much as 1,000 yards for cotton or over 10,000 yards for wool!

How does the item make you feel?

Of course, there are more factors to consider than just the materials and production process when choosing how you will wear your clothes. As with any product, good design is important. The garment should fit well and look good on you—and it should make you feel good about yourself!

If a piece of clothing feels comfortable, it’s likely going to get worn more often than not. If it doesn’t fit right or make you happy when wearing it, then why bother? There are many factors that go into what makes someone happy in their clothing choices: personal style preferences; cultural influences like trends or family expectations; even personality traits like extroversion (or introversion) can influence our decision-making process when shopping for clothes!

What is the brand saying about themselves?

The more you know about the brand, the more you can feel good about buying from them.

You should look at what they’re saying about themselves. Do they say that their supply chain is ethical? Are their workers treated well? How does their product make you feel? Do they share information about how sustainable it is and why?

If a brand says that they’re slow fashion, but then don’t follow through with those claims in any way, it’s not likely that it’s actually sustainable.

What fibers are being used?

How is the fabric made?

The most sustainable fabrics are natural fibers, such as cotton and linen. They use less energy to produce, and they’re often made from renewable resources like plants. Synthetic fabrics—like polyester and nylon—are made from petroleum products, which is a non-renewable resource. As you can imagine, this adds up to a lot of carbon emissions!

So why do we keep buying them? If you look at the labels on your clothing items right now (don’t worry about being too specific), chances are good that you’ll find some variation of these words: “X% nylon.” It’s incredibly practical for clothing manufacturers because it strengthens clothes so that they can last much longer than those made from traditionally woven cotton or wool fabrics (which would wear out after a few years). That being said, these synthetic blends that a lot of fabrics nowadays are made from are not sustainable in the sense that they shed micro plastics and are nearly impossible to recycle at the end of the garments life cycle. That’s why it’s always better to opt for well-made clothes that last a long time and use natural fabrics such as cotton or wool.

Is the garment made locally?

Let’s start with the basic idea: local production is more sustainable because it means less transportation and waste. It takes fewer resources to make a product in your town than it does to get that same product from across the globe. Additionally, if you live in New York and buy a dress from a factory in China, there will be no jobs for other people in your community who could’ve worked on that garment instead.

Even if you don’t live near an environmentally friendly factory yourself, there are still many benefits of purchasing locally made clothing over imported clothing—including supporting local economies and creating jobs within those communities.