What is Slow Fashion?

What is Slow Fashion?

Simply put, slow fashion is essentially the opposite of fast fashion…

So, what is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion is generally low cost, low quality & generally disposable clothing that is produced rapidly, in high volume, by mass-market retailers to keep up with the latest international fashion trends. (Read More: Style verse Fashion- The truth behind the clothes you wear)
It works on high volume sales encouraging consumers to purchase more garments, more frequently – which have a very short life cycle, and ultimately ends up as textile waste. Sadly, consumers now dispose an average 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year.
According to Greenpeace, the average person buys 60% more clothing and keeps them for about half as long as 15 years ago.

Ultimately, both Fast fashion and slow fashion come down to what, and how consumers purchase.  However, Both the problem and the solution - falls on both manufacturers and buyers. You can’t have one, without the other.

Fast fashion ultimately relies on consumers to purchase high volumes frequently. And Slow fashion relies on brands to manufacture high quality garments – giving consumers the choice. Slow Fashion asks consumers to be mindful in their purchasing - to buy fewer garments of a higher quality, with greater longevity.

Is Slow Fashion Sustainable Fashion?

Slow fashion sits under the umbrella of sustainable fashion, they are in the same realm and are a part of same movement. Slow fashion focuses mainly on manufacturer and consumer actions – and more specifically, reducing production and consumption.

Basically, slow fashion asks consumers to stop treating clothes as disposable. Slow fashion encourages purchasing fewer garments, less often. For example - instead of purchasing 6 low quality fast fashion tops that will unravel after one or two wears, it asks conscious consumers to invest in higher quality pieces with much greater longevity. With every conscious decision to purchase of a higher priced quality garment – over a poorer quality alternative – consumers are part of the solution to minimise their footprint – by reducing waste in the rag trade and lowering the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

But for this to happen, the onus is ultimately on brands - we have a responsibility to manufacture quality garments that allow for this.

Blackpants has always been committed to delivering quality workmanship, and long-lasting garments with function. It is synonymous with the Blackpants brand. We believe in the notion of quality over quantity – not only from a manufacturing standpoint – but also for consumers.

Sadly, the Hair industry is renowned for destroying clothing – ask any hairdresser how many black work clothes have been ruined by bleach and general wear & tear!? Blackpants offers a solution – designed specifically for the industry. Manufactured in Blackpants own Stayblack textiles, all garments are bleach resistant, non-fade, hair repellent, and wash & wear - wear after wear. Quality workmanship means a long life cycle; which ultimately means less purchasing, and less waste.

So not only does Blackpants supply the industry with overall cost effective, high-end functional workwear (Read More: Cost per Wear) – you can also purchase knowing you are helping to reduce textile waste and minimising the industry’s environmental impact.

Save money, and the environment? That definitely great style!