slowfashion

Slow fashion is a movement and approach to clothing production and consumption that prioritizes durability, quality, and ethics over speed, price, and disposability. It advocates garments designed to last, be repairable, and produced under fair labor conditions with lower environmental impact.

The term emerged in the 2000s as a critique of fast fashion, drawing inspiration from the Slow Food movement. Core principles include sustainable materials, transparent supply chains, fair wages and safe working conditions, smaller batch production, timeless design, and localization when feasible. The emphasis is on long product lifespans, repairability, and reducing waste through a combination of responsible sourcing and mindful consumption.

Practices associated with slow fashion include prioritizing high-quality fabrics and construction, modular or timeless designs, and offering repair services or upcycling options. Business models often favor near-shore or local production, longer warranties, higher price points tied to quality, and investments in waste reduction and circularity. Consumers are encouraged to adopt capsule wardrobes, buy fewer but better garments, and care for clothing to extend use.

Environmental and social impacts can include reduced waste, lower per-item resource use through longevity, and improved working conditions when supply chains are transparent. Critics note that slow fashion can still be resource-intensive and may be less accessible to some consumers due to higher upfront costs. Additionally, achieving broad scale and clear metrics remains a challenge.

Related concepts include sustainable fashion, ethical fashion, and circular economy initiatives.