We live in an age of ethical consumerism – increasing numbers of people are paying more mind to where and how they spend their money. The objective of the ethical consumer is to ensure that their purchasing power goes towards companies, causes, and values that personally resonate in a positive way.
In light of recent controversies, conscious consumers are reminded of the impacts of buying fast fashion – and may be seeking information on how to combat its negative effects through smarter, more ethical purchasing decisions and support of “slow fashion” brands.
Read on to learn more about ways to counteract fast fashion and the advantages of slow fashion.
How to Counteract Fast Fashion
Living as an ethical consumer demands we reassess not just where we buy our clothes and how much we spend, but how those garments are made and what they stand for.
So how do you combat the deleterious impacts of mass-market fashion houses? Fortunately, it’s not difficult to do.
Buy American
One easy way to combat the negative effects of fast fashion is by buying American made products. Doing so supports safe and healthy worker conditions, reduces carbon footprint (many American companies support sustainable manufacturing practices), and protects creative rights of independent, quality-over-quantity designers.
Buy Sustainable
Sustainably made products are another option, whether U.S.- or foreign-made. Sustainable fashion describes a clothing supply chain that is socially and ecologically responsible. Look to shop from brands that have taken action to reduce their environmental impacts, use natural materials in fabrics, and protect and uphold employee welfare.
Buy From Quality “Slow Fashion” Brands
Part of combating fast fashion means reducing the overall quantity of product we consume.
An estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste ends up in landfills every year, and that’s due in part to throwaway culture and the wasteful nature of cheap garments produced exclusively to reflect passing fads.
Buying your clothes from quality “slow fashion” brands means supporting companies with a commitment to producing timeless styles that last. The clothing is handcrafted or made with exceptional care using top-grade fabrics from ethical sources. Production teams are small and highly experienced. The price point may be slightly higher but you’ll be paying for years of enjoyable, reliable wear.
The Advantages of Slow Fashion
Slow fashion brands work with small teams of designers and garment makers, emphasizing local production and resources and the use of high-quality, sustainable materials. American slow fashion brands like SAINT CROIX recognize the advantages of operating on such a model, which has benefits for both people and the planet.
Longer-lasting Clothing
The meaning of the word ‘slow’ in “slow fashion” may be seen as twofold – not only is production a longer, more conscientious process, but the end product is similarly designed to have a longer lifespan, with garment integrity slower to break down.
SAINT CROIX, for instance, has a production process ranging from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the garment. But all clothing styles are designed for decades of reliable wear, using only the highest quality natural materials. We regularly encounter customers who report owning and wearing our menswear pieces for 20 or even 30 years before needing to buy a replacement. This, in theory, is an essential goal of all slow fashion brands: taking the time to make something that lasts and provides benefit to the buyer for years to come.
Unique Styles
Unlike fast fashion brands, which rely on trend-tracking algorithms and large teams of commercial designers to come up with knock-offs, slow fashion is created by small design groups who create unique, exclusive styles endemic to the brand itself.
Buying clothes from slow fashion brands opens the door for you to explore one-of-a-kind styles you wouldn’t find elsewhere. It also supports and protects the creative rights of independent designers with cutting-edge perspectives.
Significantly Less Pollution
Slow fashion is partially characterized by local or domestic production, using certified materials with a low carbon footprint, that adheres to environmentally protective regulations. In the U.S., standards of production, ecological safety, and worker welfare are higher than many common “outsource” nations, such as India, China, and the Philippines.
If you live in the U.S., supporting American slow fashion brands means making a conscious choice to minimize the pollutive impact of clothing manufacturing, a complex process encompassing everything from textile dying to factory energy usage to transportation of product. You can feel good about buying from slow fashion companies like SAINT CROIX, whose fabrics are processed artisanally and whose carbon footprint is significantly lower than that of weakly regulated, often unsustainable fast-fashion warehouses.
Positive Economic & Social Impact
Domestic production using small teams of highly skilled workers benefits slow fashion brands and local economies and communities. Keeping production in the U.S. guarantees jobs and supports American business, including not just the brand itself but also small enterprises and local businesses to which the slow fashion house may provide products.
Want to buy ethical, eco-friendly menswear?
SAINT CROIX is an American-made, ethical luxury menswear brand committed to slow fashion standards. Learn more about our commitment to quality or explore our products.
