So many words have emerged out of the slow fashion movement. Call it Circular Fashion, slow Fashion, or Conscious Fashion. They all differ in meaning, but all share a common goal: Produce less waste, be ethical, do good, believe in karma.
If a fashion company brand were to adopt slow fashion initiatives, they would typically tick as many of these boxes as possible:
- the clothing is made out of higher quality and sustainable material
- Styles are timeless, not necessarily trendy
- They hale from the boutique and small businesses as opposed to conglomerate enterprises.
- They typically represent artisanal styles with materials sourced from local suppliers.
- manufactured locally, sold locally
- Less is made, less often.
- Fashion leftovers are used to manufacture new garments
- Consumer waste is used as material.
- The supply chain is traceable, from beginning to end
- Quality trumps quantity
This skirt is made out of top quality cotton by Camilla and Marc
The slow fashion movement encourages slower production, combines sustainability with ethics and urges us to choose well-made clothes and clothes that last.
Another aspect of slow Fashion is preventing the garments from landing in landfills. Channelling second-hand goods into marketable treasures that support a greater good.
A charity close to my heart is the gorgeously generous @fashionforward327. They contribute to fashion circularity and get people to feel good about their love for Fashion, not guilty!
This is how they work:
- Clothes are typically donated by like-minded women. Summarily seeking to purge their excess or clean out their closets whilst elevating their soul simultaneously. The clothes are then sold on their Instagram account @fashionforward123 (follow them!) or sold-out events.
- Typical garments that come through the doors: A Zimmermann jumpsuit, a Camilla and Marc skirt, Karen Walker sunglasses, a lovely Alice McCall dress, basics from Bassike, or an Ellery jacket. The list is long, and it is extensive. Sometimes you discover outstanding designers you never heard of, till now!
- Excellent Fit with a Size Guide to help you navigate.
- 100% of proceeds go to crisis centres run by Jewish House.
- A delighted fashion lover scores herself a designer piece for a song all the while.
- The act of donating and monetising discards to support people in need contributes to the community's welfare in which we live.
- The fashion piece is given a new lease on life, a chance to live a new adventure in someone else's shoes. Or the same shoes on someone else's feet.
I hope I have explained my take on circular Fashion quite clearly. I think that circular Fashion is not one particular thing but rather a mentality. A mentality of creating circularity in everything that you do. Because what goes around ... is certain to come around.