The Rise of Slow Fashion; What is the Benefit of Home Sewing?

We have all heard it time and time again, fast fashion is the big bad wolf of the fashion industry. But what does that really mean, and what does that have to do with each one of us?

The fashion industry is one of the leading contributors in the production of global waste, with 92 million tons of fabric ending up in landfills per year. Experts believe that with the steady growth of consumerism, that number will only continue to steadily rise. Of the 92 million, 11.3 million tons of fabric waste is from the United States alone. That breaks down to around 85% of textiles from the United States ending up in landfills. For the most part, we can blame the rise of Fast Fashion for these infographics.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, Fast Fashion is a term that relates to ‘an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers’ We are all aware of the online shopping brands that promote cheap prices, and trendy accessible pieces that arrive to your doorstep in a matter of days. Especially with the cost of living only getting more expensive worldwide - the desire to be on trend for an inexpensive price seems like the perfect pairing. The cycle of trends once took a full decade or two to make its way off the runway, into magazines and onto the streets of big cities and small towns. In the digital age in which we live, what becomes trendy spreads across social media platforms at a much faster rate - making trends widely accessible. That being said, what is seen during New York fashion week on a Tuesday will then be replicated, and resold for mass consumption by the following week, allowing you to dress like your favorite super model for a fraction of the cost. This cycle repeats itself over and over again, causing consumers to want to continue to buy in order to be seen. This is where we see over-consumption, of the modern consumer shine through.

Because of this high demand of goods, companies are eager to pump out product the quickest way they know how - through the exportation of goods from other countries and the exploitation of workers overseas. These employees of some of your favorite brands, work upwards of 14 hours a day to meet factory demands, making little in comparison to what minimum wage workers make here in the United States. It is reported that the average American factory worker makes around $8 dollars an hour, whereas reports show that factory workers in Bangladesh make around $113 USD in a month. Companies mostly find themselves outsourcing production from around the world because the labor is cheaper, the cost of production is less and it allows them to up-charge on things such as shipping to provide you with the newest styles. This way you are paying the low prices and they are still able to make the most profit - at the expense of the people making your garments. There is no such thing as a self-operating sewing machine, so it is key to remember that there are always sets of hands behind the garments you wear. In addition to non-ethical practices, companies will often times skimp out on the materials the clothing is made of itself. Most of the fabrics are made of synthetic fibers, (think like that pair of nylon, spandex, polyester, lycra blend pants that sits in the back of your closet) meaning they are man-made, and not a product of the earth such as a cotton or linen fabric. Due in-part to their make up, these fabrics tend to be treated with various chemicals and dyes that are harsh on the human skin. A lot of consumers look to synthetic fibers because they are advertised with a variety of different buzz words that sound enticing, whether it be ‘moisture-wicking’ or ‘wrinkle-resistant’ those properties do not come from the fabric itself, rather the chemicals it has been soaked in. Synthetic fibers are also non-biodegradable, meaning that once those pants in your closet no longer fit you, and it is time for you to throw them away, they will go on to live their life in the dump along with all the other 92 million tons of fabric waste.

Now, you have read all of this majorly depressing information and may think to yourself, ‘how do I change my shopping habits?’ and the news is, there are many different enticing options. The first of which is to do your own investigative research. All clothing companies are required by law to release a yearly emissions report to the public of every single thing that goes into their yearly garment production - the pitfall to this? Often times, these reports are difficult to understand and can be so long winded that the facts end up getting lost within the verbiage. The second option, begin buying things second hand, from garage sales, the thrift store, or other online consignment options - a personal favorite would be ThredUp, an online thrift store with lots of size inclusivity. However, it may be difficult to find things that speak true to your personal style, especially as buying secondhand has surged in popularity over the last several years. Finally, the last way to lessen your carbon footprint, stay stylish and save a couple extra dollars, would be to learn how to sew! Creating your own garments allows you to have full artistic control over every detail that goes into making something new. It also gives you delayed gratification and a sense of a job well done. You can also participate in mending old clothing you already have, giving it new life and more years of wear! Especially in a time of climate uncertainty, we must look for way to protect the environment, and lean in to our own personal creativity. Our own small personal habits add up in result in changes that we will see ripple across the fashion industry.

In all, fast fashion is all around us, we see new content within our phones each day that tells us what to wear, who to be, how to get noticed. With the fast-paced eager to produce content we see through influencer culture, that changes daily, and the dress that once made us feel unstoppable, is now the epitome of what-not-to-wear in a matter of weeks. Behind the shiny sequins and the jeans entirely made up of spandex, we as consumers almost miss the hands of the garment workers, in factories striving to provide for their own families and children across seas, so that we for a moment in time can feel special. It is only through opening our eyes, turning off our phones and switching off the part of our brain that tells us that ‘we need more’ will we make a difference in our own environmental impact. Making smarter shopping decisions, learning a new hobby, fixing our favorite blouse - is the first step in making that difference.