Have you noticed how quickly one fashion trend is replaced by another? Just a few months ago, crochet tops were a huge trend, but suddenly, they have become tacky! The trend for cold shoulder dresses died within a few months. And yet, a simple white cotton shirt with blue jeans is still fashionable and stylish! This is the impact of over-consumption and fast fashion. 

So, exactly what is fast fashion? And why is it bad for us? This is a vast topic, and it's the need of the hour to spread awareness for it! Let us dive deep into the current trend of fast fashion, its impacts on our lives, and what we can do. Keep reading to know more. 

What is Fast Fashion?

Over the recent years, we have seen the rise of several fast fashion brands that sell clothes dirt cheap, but the clothes look worn out in just a couple of washes! This is because fast fashion survives on the rapidly changing trends. These brands need you to keep buying new clothes every season, telling you that your clothes from last season are outdated! 

Initially, fast fashion was a way to bring designer clothes in the market for common people at a lower cost. The expensive designer clothes were replicated and mass-produced so that they hit the market while still in trend! 

However, with the rise of social media and influencer culture, brands are always coming up with new collections and styles, quickly moving the old clothes out of the shelves. 

This has led to multiple problems that need to be tackled. 

Fast fashion impacts the environment: Fast fashion is the biggest contributor for the textile waste in the landfills. Plus, making new clothes all year round requires a lot of resources. 

Takes a toll on your pocket: Buying cheap clothes might feel like a good deal, but it will actually cost you more in the long run.

Your wardrobe is always cluttered: If you keep buying clothes according to the trends, your wardrobe will be overflowing with outdated clothes that you cannot wear. 

You feel pressure to keep up with trends: If you try to keep up with the fashion trends, you will feel the pressure to update your wardrobe, and in-turn, buy new clothes. This will stress you out and you won’t enjoy dressing up, you will just keep feeling pressured.  

Generates massive amounts of waste: Fast fashion industry creates a lot of solid as well as liquid waste. Toxic chemicals and dyes are dumped into the rivers, and old clothes end up in the landfills. 

What is Slow Fashion?

Slow fashion or sustainable fashion is the counter to fast fashion. In this model, people consume timeless and good-quality clothes that can be used for multiple years. Owing to the quality, these clothes look like new even after multiple wears. 

Fast Fashion vs. Slow Fashion: Key Differences 

Sustainable fashion vs fast fashion: here are some major differences between slow fashion and fast fashion that you should know:

Social Impact

The aim of fast fashion is to keep the cost of clothes as low as possible. To achieve this, fast fashion industry uses the cheapest possible material, machines, and chemicals to make the clothes. Most of these clothes are mass produced in under-developed countries where it accounts for child labour and workers working in poor conditions. 

On the other hand, slow fashion clothing is made from ethically sourced materials and recycled fabrics. 

Environmental Impact

Fast fashion is very destructive for the environment. Making new clothes requires a lot of resources, and old clothes get dumped into landfills. Fast fashion is a major contributor to land pollution and water pollution.

On the other hand, sustainable slow fashion is environmentally friendly. Sustainable clothes are made of natural or recycled materials, using non-toxic dyes. 

Cost to Consumer

Up front, fast fashion is cheaper and appears to be more convenient. However, these clothes are poor quality and you will end up spending more money on buying new clothes. Slow fashion is costlier up front, but are cost effective in the longer run. 

Spending 1000 rupees on 1 dress is better than buying 8 dresses for 250 each that you cannot wear more than twice!

The Benefits of Sustainable Fashion vs Fast Fashion

Choosing sustainable clothing has many benefits for you as an individual, as well as for the environment. Here are some of the major slow fashion benefits: 

1. Quality and Durability

By choosing slow fashion, you actually choose better quality clothes that can last for many years. Ethical clothing dresses can last for over 5 years and you can get many wears out of them. And, since these sustainable clothes are made to last, they have a timeless style and look. 

2. Ethical and Social Responsibility

Slow fashion clothing is made ethically, with minimum damage to the environment and animals. The fair production of slow fashion makes them a greener choice. By choosing a pair of sustainable trousers and organic cotton tops

3. Mindful Consumption

Slow fashion promotes mindful consumption where consumers ae aware of what they are using and what impact it has on others. This is very important to combat the over consumption trends. 

Conclusion

Choosing sustainable fashion is the need of the hour. By choosing responsible fashion brands that create sustainable clothes, you can make a big difference in our carbon footprint. Virgio is one such brand that makes sustainable clothing fairly produced from natural fabrics and recycled materials. From cotton wear to modal clothing, you can find a huge range of sustainable maxi skirts, organic cotton tops, dresses, co-ord sets, linen outfits, and much more at Virgio.

Remember- we have not inherited this Earth from our ancestors, we have borrowed it from our children. 

Faqs on Sustainable Slow Fashion

Q. What is sustainable fashion vs fast fashion?

Fast fashion is the business model of mass producing cheap-quality clothes to flood the market with trending clothes. Sustainable fashion or slow fashion is the process of ethically producing good quality clothing that is environmentally friendly. 

Q. How can I transition from fast fashion to sustainable slow fashion?

Stop consuming fast fashion brands and invest in sustainable fashion. You would be able to wear these sustainable clothes for many years. 

Q. Is slow fashion clothing more expensive?

Slow fashion clothing is more expensive up front but it saves your money in the long run because you don’t need to buy more and more clothes every month. 

Q. Can slow fashion be stylish?

Yes, slow fashion can be very stylish and timeless. Slow fashion clothing will be in style even after many years.

Q. What are some sustainable materials used in slow fashion?

Natural materials like cotton, linen, and modal are used to make slow fashion clothing. Apart from this, recycled fabrics are also used to make sustainable fashion. 

Q. What is the future of fashion slow?

Slow fashion is the future of the fashion industry. More and more people are becoming environmentally aware and will choose sustainable fashion in the future.