Slow Fashion

…when shopping:

Where it was made doesn’t mean much. You can’t tell if a garment was made ethically by the country of origin. There are sweatshops in California and good factories in China.

What is it made of? I prefer organic cotton, linen, and Tencel. I avoid rayon and polyester. But I’m okay with synthetics for performance gear (aka I don’t wear a wool swimsuit) and a little bit of spandex can help clothing fit better and last longer. Recycled polyester is not necessarily as good as it sounds, as it takes a recyclable product (plastic bottles) and turns it into an unrecyclable product (textiles).

Certifications. My favourites are B Corp (evaluates the whole company, from how their product is manufactured to how sustainable their offices are), GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), and OEKO-Tex.

Look for details. Do they say “we are dedicated to treating our workers fairly” or do they have a whole page devoted to showing the ins and outs of each of their factories? Do they say “sustainability is a core part of our brand” or do they list specific actions they take?

Watch out for vegan leather. There are many problems with the way animals are farmed for clothing and the chemical processes that turn hide into leather. This is a great reason to choose leather carefully or avoid it altogether. But vegan products are often just plastic (you may see it called PU) which is an oil product and…if you’re aware of the climate crisis you’ll understand why that’s not a good substitute. Many plant-based vegan leathers are still coated in plastic. You may have better luck with cactus leather or organic cotton canvas.

Support the little guys. I love supporting local makers and small brands. Many of them take sustainability to heart and only make what they can sell and have creative ways to use up scrap fabric.

…when not spending money:

Wear the clothes you own. This is the easiest one by far! Wear and rewear and rewear again. If you like a goal, consider Livia Firth’s advice to only buy clothing you will wear at least 30 times.

Care for your clothes. Wash in cold water. Don’t use the dryer. Try airing out your clothes instead of washing them each time they just need to freshen up. Spot clean between wears.

Mending and altering. I do what I can to love my clothes as long as possible. This means mending them when they’re damaged and altering them to fit me better if I find I’m not reaching for them.

What to do with clothes you no longer wear. Before heading to the thrift store, try to re-home clothes on your own. Can you swap clothes with friends? Sell them on a secondhand app? Is a local charity asking for gently used winter coats? Or if it’s really worn out, can you use it as a rag around the house? Can you find a reputable textile recycler?

Learn more! Read Elizabeth L. Cline’s book The Conscious Closet. Watch Verena Erin’s YouTube channel My Green Closet. Follow Aja Barber on Instagram.