Slow Fashion Benefits + How to Find Eco-luxe Fashion in Paris

What is Slow Fashion? How Does it Compare to Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion hurts workers and the environment by overproducing cheap garments which overwhelm our oceans and landfills. 

Slow fashion combats both worker injustice as well as environmental damage.

This is really what it boils down to. Fast fashion can be cute and trendy but it’s brought to you by cruelty and environmental degradation. Slow, quality, sustainable fashion is preferable every time.

So, now that we’re all clear on the basics, a question you may now be asking yourself is, “Is it actually possible that I can be stylish and on trend as well, though?” Or, “Can I truly be effortlessly chic without looking like a patchwork of well-meaning though woefully unkempt thrifted fabrics?” The answer to both is, “Oui, bien sur!” The feelings of luxury and eco-consciousness can harmoniously coexist. Promise! Curating a one of a kind wardrobe that's also sustainably sourced is as fun as it is uplifting. As luck would have it, you can also have one that’s handpicked just for you by a professional stylist.

The Meaning of “Waste Colonialism”

If you’re unfamiliar with the term “waste colonialism”, it’s when high-income countries discard high-volume waste in smaller, developing nations which have less oversight. This causes more impoverished areas of the world to be overrun with literal waves of garbage which causes them to be perceived and often fined as polluters even though the pollution is not of their own making. This waste then releases tons of micro-plastics into the oceans. All of those cheap, synthetic fibers not only poison the waters but sea creatures as well. It’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish!

Much of that is what has been discarded is from the fast fashion industry. The images of miles of clothes which ebb and flow from tropical beaches is heartbreaking to behold. Of course none of us want to contribute to that. While it’s not in our power to change single handedly, we certainly can take steps towards minimizing our contribution to this crisis.

What Are the Elements of Slow Fashion?

We want to know that whomever we purchase from is keeping the following priorities centered when creating their collections : 

• Eco-friendly materials

• Locally produced 

• Quality over quantity

• Living wage 

• Safe working environment 

• Fair labor practices 

All of these elements are the foundation of creating a purposeful wardrobe. One that has been thoughtfully handpicked & based upon your own personal style as opposed to current fashion. The pieces should not only be flattering and make a statement, but feel uplifting for you, knowing that they’re treasures which were created with kindness to the Earth and each and every person it came in contact with on its way to you. 

Shopping with smaller designers does indeed combat fast fashion. It does so by allowing you to choose pieces which will not only last decades because they're so well made but are also sustainably sourced and sustainably created. By ‘sustainably created’, I mean that it was produced under fair labor practices & in safe environments for the workers.

Purposefully choosing to shop with smaller designers supports a true-to-you aesthetic. You’ll beautify your closet, while helping to keep fast fashion out of a landfill or waterway. You’ll also be standing against industries where workers are mistreated when they're being forced to create these polyester (read: petroleum) All-too-often, they’re also harassed to produce the pieces very quickly, in a high volume and in completely unsafe working environments. 

A ‘Total Ethics Fashion System’ is the Goal 

The forward thinking minds at Collective Fashion Justice coined the term, “total ethics fashion.” The thinking is that by embracing each of the elements of slow fashion, we can collectively move towards a better system. Simply put, one which values workers in all parts of the fashion industry, the planet and other animals. Here’s a helpful infographic from their site:

The Long-Term Benefits of Slow Fashion

First and foremost, we support fair trade practices when we choose slow fashion. We also invest in higher quality and usually handmade clothing. Wearing handcrafted pieces means we’ll wear them for longer which directly reduces our carbon footprint.  

They’re more unique, meaning they can represent your personal style more precisely. They’re more memorable and in turn make you and your style all that more memorable. Of course, then, they’ll grow to have more sentimental value, possibly even becoming heirlooms. 

So not only can you feel fabulous when you’re wearing one of your eco-luxe pieces, but heck! You’ll even make Marie Kondo proud! Scaling down your wardrobe to just the pieces you love most and that spark joy.

Managing our consumption is how we can take a bit of personal responsibility in the face of a massive industry which is all too easy to fall into. Correcting this environmental crisis doesn’t fall to just little ol’ us, but being conscious of it and making informed choices certainly does. 

How Do I Find Slow Fashion Designers in Paris?

Wonderfully, many fashion houses are incorporating sustainability into their collections. There are also smaller designers who are committed to tracing their entire supply chain and who source their materials ethically. Some are using vegan alternatives. Some use local artisans and seamstresses all the while bolstering the local economy as well. They are committed to luxury creations which are gentle on the Earth and her resources.

If you’d like some help jumpstarting your foray into eco-luxe fashion, you can book a Paris shopping tour with a stylist who can assist you as you design your new personal collection of sustainably crafted pieces. Enjoy feeling good as you do knowing that you’re supporting the best of what the fashion industry has to offer.

PS You can check out an organization started by ethical personal stylist Aneta Kawecka called Kind People. She cares deeply about this and closely related issues. The org assists refugees throughout Europe, many of whom are directly affected by climate change and environmental destruction in their homelands.