9 Ways You Can Help Slow Down Fast Fashion

As most of you who landed on this page probably already know, fast fashion is a major problem. Not only does it rely on low wages and sometimes actual slave labor to produce, but it’s also completely unsustainable for the environment. The fashion industry as a whole is the second largest polluter, only falling behind the oil and gas industry.

The fast fashion industry is a double polluter too. For one, The manufacturing and processes used to create textiles and garments before they get to the consumer create chemical run-offs that cause health problems in surrounding communities, and they use vast amounts of resources and energy to create all of those clothes. 

On top of that, we get flimsy garments that are made so cheaply that they may as well be disposable. This has led to massive amounts of useless clothes making their way to landfills and lower-income countries.

Fast fashion as an industry has to stop. The reality is that there are limitations to our individual actions when fighting this problem. This will take laws and regulations being put in place by governments around the world. However, that doesn’t mean we have absolutely no power. We can embrace the slow-fashion lifestyle and learn about the sustainability and practices of different brands before choosing to purchase new clothes.

1. Buy second-hand clothing

Buying secondhand clothing is a powerful way to slow down fast fashion by reducing demand for new items. It promotes sustainable fashion practices, reduces waste, and discourages unethical production. By giving pre-loved garments a new lease on life, we can break free from the cycle of constant consumption and contribute to a more eco-conscious and ethical fashion industry.

2. Rent clothes or borrow from friends

Renting clothes offers a smart solution to avoid fast fashion. Rather than purchasing trendy items that may only be worn a few times, renting allows you to enjoy unique pieces without the need for permanent ownership. This reduces the demand for mass-produced garments and minimizes wasteful production.

Renting is especially useful for the type of garments that you’re likely to only wear a couple of times, such as evening wear used for special events. It’s not as useful for products like a pair of jeans or a winter coat that you’re likely to wear over and over again.

You don’t have to always rent your clothes either. If you have a friend or family member who wears a similar size, you can also borrow dresses and clothing items if you want a fresh look. By embracing the sharing economy, we can break away from the quick turnover associated with fast fashion and embrace a more sustainable and mindful approach to our wardrobe choices.

3. Learn how to mend your clothes

Learning to mend clothes is a valuable skill that will help keep your clothes functional for longer. By repairing and fixing our garments instead of disposing of them, you can extend their lifespan and reduce the need for buying new items. This promotes a culture of sustainability and reduces the demand for fast fashion products. 

Additionally, mending encourages a sense of creativity and individuality in personal style, as we can customize and transform our clothes instead of constantly seeking new trends. By embracing the art of mending, we contribute to a more sustainable and mindful fashion industry.

You can also embrace the idea of visible mending. Rather than hiding the repairs, visible mending embraces the flaws and turns them into unique, eye-catching features. By using creative techniques like embroidery, patching, or darning, visible mending transforms damaged clothes into one-of-a-kind pieces, extending their lifespan and reducing the need to buy new ones. This trend promotes sustainability, encourages personal expression, and challenges the conventional notion of disposable fashion. 

4. Learn about what types of fabric are sustainable

Choosing more sustainable fabrics helps to reduce the environmental impact of your clothing choices. Traditional fast fashion brands often rely on cheap, synthetic fabrics that are harmful to the planet and have a high carbon footprint. 

By opting for sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen, Tencel, or recycled materials, we support responsible sourcing, reduce water and energy consumption, and decrease the use of harmful chemicals in the production process. Sustainable fabrics also tend to be more durable and long-lasting, allowing us to build a wardrobe of high-quality clothing, rather than cheap clothes that fall apart after just a few uses.

Learn about what types of fabric are the most sustainable

5. Avoid fast-fashion greenwashing

Many brands and corporations have realized that consumers want to buy more sustainable clothing. They will try to get you to buy more clothing from them by pretending to be more sustainable than they really are.

Some common tactics that are used to make a company seem more sustainable than they are include: 

• Vague or Ambiguous Terminology: Companies may use buzzwords like “eco-friendly,” “green,” or “sustainable” without providing concrete evidence, specific details, or certifications about their practices. This lack of transparent information allows them to make unsubstantiated claims.
• Misleading Marketing: Fast fashion brands may highlight a small aspect of their operations that seems sustainable, such as a single environmentally-friendly collection or a recycled material, while conveniently obscuring the overall unsustainable nature of their business model.
• Token Sustainability Efforts: Fast fashion brands may implement minor initiatives to create an image of sustainability, while the majority of their practices remain unsustainable. For example, launching a small recycling program or reducing packaging waste can give the impression of being environmentally conscious while overshadowing deeper issues.
• Greenwashing Collaborations: Partnerships with genuinely sustainable brands, eco-friendly influencers, or environmental causes can be used as a marketing ploy. While the collaboration may lend credibility, it does not necessarily reflect the overall sustainability of the fast fashion company itself.
• Distorted Supply Chain Narratives: Fast fashion companies may selectively highlight positive aspects of their supply chain, such as fair labor conditions in certain factories while ignoring exploitative practices in others. This selective storytelling can create a misleading perception of their overall ethical practices.

One resource that I use to check the sustainability of brands is the website Good On You. This site has evaluated and rated thousands of different clothing brands from around the world based on the environmental impact, worker conditions, and animal welfare policies of the companies.

6. Wash your clothes less frequently

Did you know you don’t always need to wash your clothes every single time you wear them? Of course, for some types of clothing, like undergarments and workout clothing, it’s necessary to wash them quite frequently, but this is not true of all of your clothes.

Washing your clothes less often can help extend the life of them. While it may seem like clothes receive most of their damage when you wear them, it is usually the harsh washing practices that are worse for garments. Frequent washing can cause fabrics to deteriorate faster, leading to pilling, fading, and general wear and tear. By reducing the frequency of washing, you can preserve the quality and appearance of your clothes, making them last longer. 

The frequency at which you should wash your clothes can vary depending on several factors, including personal hygiene, climate, dirt and stains present, and the type of garment. However, here are some general guidelines:

• Outerwear and Outer Layers: Items like jackets, coats, and sweaters can typically be worn many, many times before needing a wash, as they are less likely to come into direct contact with your skin and sweat.
• Tops: Shirts and blouses that come into direct contact with your skin (and armpits) may require more frequent washing, particularly if you sweat heavily or wear them during intense physical activities. They should generally be washed between 1-3 uses.
• Bottoms: Pants usually hold up a little better than tops since they typically don’t come into direct contact with the smelliest parts of the body. However, you still want to wash them after 2-5 uses depending on the type of material
• Undergarments and socks: These items should generally be washed after each use.

Remember to assess the overall cleanliness and odor of your clothes rather than adhere strictly to a specific schedule. If a garment appears clean and doesn’t have any odors, it probably doesn’t require immediate washing. By adopting a “wash when necessary” approach, you can reduce water and energy consumption, and extend the longevity of your clothes.

7. Avoid too-cheap clothes

If the clothes you’re purchasing seem too cheap to be true, it probably is not a sustainable brand. Inexpensive clothing is often mass-produced with little regard for sustainability or eco-friendly practices. Extremely low-priced clothing also reflects low-quality materials and construction. Such garments are likely to wear out quickly, leading to a shorter lifespan and frequent replacement.

I also encourage you to try to shift your mindset around finding something at a bargain price. When you pay a rock-bottom price for a shirt, it’s often because the garment workers making the clothing are not being paid what they should. Unrealistically cheap prices often indicate the use of unethical labor practices. Behind the scenes, workers may be subject to substandard conditions, unfair wages, and long hours.

That being said, just because something is expensive does not mean that it’s automatically sustainable either. In recent decades many high-end brands have also taken to using cheaper materials and corner-cutting construction for their clothing while still maintaining sky-high prices. So you want to look into the brand and their specific practices.

8. Repurpose old, worn-out clothing

No matter how sustainably clothes are purchased, they will eventually reach the end of their life. Repurposing old, worn-out clothing is a fantastic way to give them new life and reduce waste. Here are some creative ideas to repurpose your old garments:

• Cleaning Cloths or Rags: Cut up old clothes into smaller pieces to use as cleaning cloths or rags around the house. They can be useful for dusting, wiping surfaces, or even as reusable alternatives to paper towels.
• Patchwork: Use scraps of old fabric or other worn-out clothes to create colorful patches and mend holes. 
• Accessory Revamp: Convert old clothes into accessories like headbands, scarves, or hair ties. Fabric flowers or bows made from worn-out shirts or dresses can create stylish accents or sustainable decorations for festive events.
• Upcycling: Transform old clothes into new, fashionable pieces by cutting and sewing them into different styles or combining them to create unique designs. For example, turn worn-out jeans into shorts or skirts, or repurpose a tattered t-shirt into a trendy tote bag.

9. Simply buy less clothes

The best thing that you can do to thwart fast fashion is to wear what you already have. Buying fewer clothes directly contributes to avoiding fast fashion by disrupting the cycle of overconsumption and reducing the demand.

Wear each article of clothing as much as possible. Right now, an average article of clothing is only worn 7-10 times. The general goal is to increase that to at least 30 wears per garment over its lifetime. But if you can increase that to 100 or even more, go for it!

Starting now, we can embrace the mindset of wearing clothes for their life.  It involves cherishing and making the most out of the clothes you have instead of constantly seeking new items.

Bonus: Learn to sew

Learning to sew garments from scratch is not for everyone, which is why I kept this as a bonus tip. Many people don’t have the time, space, or desire to get started with the hobby. However, if it’s something you’ve been thinking about, consider this a little voice encouraging you to get started.

A little over a year ago I decided to try making my own clothes as a way to really embrace the slow fashion lifestyle. It’s only been a year and I’m already creating sturdy pants, lovely dresses, and cute shirts that are more “me” than any store-bought fashion could be. 

Of course, the first few items I created are not well made and will not last. But already, I’ve improved enough that I’m confident my handmade clothing will stand up to everyday wear and tear much more readily than the store-bought clothes in my closet.

That, combined with my emotional attachment to my handmade pieces, will ensure I wear my clothing longer and more frequently.