Slow Fashion: An Ethical And Sustainable Guide

These days, it’s not uncommon to hear about the troubling trend of fast fashion taking over the industry. But calm those anxieties because there’s an antidote to fast fashion: slow fashion. Slow fashion goes against all the negative of fast fashion and emphasizes high quality, sustainable fashion.

But what is slow fashion, and how can local LA clothing manufacturers help you achieve your creative goals?

What Is Slow Fashion?

Slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion. More specifically, it’s a current fashion movement emphasizing the value of choosing domestic clothing manufacturers, sourcing sustainable materials, and ethical practices.

It’s a breath of fresh air from the infamy of fast fashion, which, unfortunately, has a large grasp on commercial fashion.

Let’s examine the differences between slow fashion and fast fashion.

Slow Fashion vs. Fast Fashion

So what’s the difference between fast and slow fashion?

Materials

When it comes to the battle between fast and slow fashion comes down to environmentally-friendly materials is a massive point of contention.

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion production aims to create massive amounts of clothing, anticipating consumers who will buy in bulk, then quickly toss out clothing in a short period of time.

As such, fast fashion materials are produced cheaply. More specifically, petrochemical textiles are a fast fashion manufacturer’s dream: cheap to produce and cheap to implement.

And, in keeping with the fast fashion ethos, this cheaply made clothing isn’t meant to last. Often, this easily discarded clothing makes its way to landfills, directly affecting the environment.

Slow Fashion

On the other hand, slow fashion shoots for sustainability. Sustainability, in this case, means that production that emphasizes the slower sides of production will use materials like organic cotton, hemp, and Tencel.

These alternatives to petrochemical textiles are leaps and bounds better for environmental safety.

Water Consumption and Waste

Regardless of fast or slow, the fashion industry produces waste and uses a lot of water. However, the distinction lies in just how much each makes.

Fast Fashion

Perhaps the elephant in the room, waste due to fast fashion, is vast. Estimates put water use at 93 billion cubic meters annually.

This number is part of the bigger picture of the fashion industry’s environmental toll on the earth.

Not only that, but fast fashion brands are dependent on fossil fuels during the production of the initial petrochemical textiles.

When your materials and wasteful impact include the direct use of fossil fuels, you know that there’s something seriously wrong. Ethical and sustainable practices are simply impossible at this point.

Slow Fashion

On the other hand, slow fashion aims to recycle waste. Remember those materials like organic cotton and Tencel? By focusing on using sustainable materials for your brand, you’re directly cutting back on wasteful practices and water consumption.

With the slower side of things, there’s no dependence on fossil fuels to create materials, ensuring that sustainability is well within reach.

Selling Clothes

And finally, how does the difference between slow and fast fashion affect how clothes sell?

Fast Fashion

Well, with fast fashion, it’s all about quick turnaround times, selling products in bulk, and cheaply made products. And unfortunately, companies that sell fast fashion collections are widespread.

Companies like Uniqlo, Primark, and Urban Outfitters are all involved in the fast fashion side of the industry. While they may provide some stylish looks and great deals on your trip to the mall, the larger impact on the environment can cause some friction.

Slow Fashion

On the other hand, when an established or emerging fashion designer opts to take some time to manufacture clothing, they focus intently on their target markets. That could mean selling items to a boutique, outfitting models for New York Fashion Week, or teaming up with a retailer.

For example, independent fashion designer Greg Lauren teamed up with retail giant Banana Republic to help launch his iconic menswear collection, ‘Made In LA.’ So it’s entirely possible to find a notable place for your brand—a place where ethical and sustainable garments fit right in.

Building Your Clothing Brand With Slow Fashion at The Evans Group

At The Evans Group (TEG), we’re all about total transparency with how we manufacture clothing in Los Angeles. First and foremost, we want to empower designers to create their own clothing lines.

Although we’re enthusiastically riding the wave of the slow movement, we’re dedicated to helping you launch your own clothing line in the fashion industry quickly.

We’re proud of our talented team of experts, all dedicated to sourcing sustainable fabric helping clients move through the clothing creation process and production.

We help produce new clothes and quality sustainable fashion brands that fit with the movement.

Emerging independent fashion designers will hit the ground running, filling out their fashion mood boards, collaborating with creative experts, and fleshing out their designs.

Choosing Slow Fashion

If you’re debating between slow fashion and fast fashion, it’s no contest.

Slow fashion leans into sustainable practices, allowing independent fashion brands to lay the fundamental groundwork for both developing environmentally-conscious clothing collections and stressing sustainability.

At TEG, we aim to help independent clothing designers create new eco-friendly looks. More than that, looks aren’t entirely dependent on the supply chain and overseas quality checks.

The time to engage in slow fashion is now. Consider your options, address your needs as a designer, and start manufacturing your garments.