How to Give Up Fast Fashion
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you probably already know my relationship with fast and slow fashion. I studied fashion marketing at university and went on to work in the fast fashion industry for a decade before a shock redundancy drove me to embrace a slower pace of life. For a while I didn’t want anything to do with fashion, as I realised what an awful industry it is, contributing to waste, pollution and climate change. Then, over the past few years, I became interested in how fashion can be slowed down, introducing myself to ethical and sustainable brands that had an easy, simple aesthetic that I loved. I now love to champion these brands and the slower side of fashion on here and my Instagram.
Fast fashion was the bane of my life for many years. Working in the industry, I felt a constant need to be buying new clothes and adhering to current trends. Consequently, I ended up with a wardrobe filled with garments that I barely wore and often forgot about. I had an addiction to buying cheap, throwaway clothes that I didn’t need nor love. So many people are in this position - thinking that they can buy happiness through high street shopping sprees. Perhaps you realise the emptiness and thoughtlessness of buying fast fashion; maybe you’re trying to stop buying into fads and invest in garments that you’ll love forever. Here’s how to give up fast fashion …
DISCOVER YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
When I was throwing my money away on fast fashion, I rarely stopped to consider whether a garment fit in with my personal style. I don’t think I even knew what my own style was back then - I would throw outfits together inspired by friends, celebrities and catwalk collections, without considering what actually suited me or what I felt comfortable wearing. I definitely know my own style now, but it’s taken years to realise it. If you’re trying to pin down your style for the first time, I recommend creating Pinterest boards (I have separate ones for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter) and a saved folder on Instagram. These folders are where I save all the images that catch my eye. They might have started out as a melting pot of inspiration, but if you look at them now there is definitely a common theme that runs through them. Not only do they help me to realise what I actually like to wear, but I use them to plan out future purchases. When you’ve pinned two dozen white jumpsuits, it makes you realise that there’s a gap missing in your wardrobe. When you’re creating these mood boards, it’s important to only save images of styles that you would actually wear - you can keep a separate fantasy board.
CLEAR OUT YOUR WARDROBE
Once you’ve honed your personal style, it’s time to go through your wardrobe with a fine toothcomb and have a good sort out. I find it easiest to take everything out and pile all of your clothing on your bed, so you can put pieces away neatly as you sort. Anything that you love, get a lot of wear out of or find exceedingly comfy, put straight back in your wardrobe. Stand back and look at what is there - can you see a common theme? Are there any obvious gaps? With the remainder of your clothes, make several piles. Anything that you hate, that doesn’t fit or haven’t worn for over a year, put to one side. My favourite thing to do with this pile is to let it accumulate then gather my friends together for a clothes swap. Anything that doesn’t get picked up by your friends can then be taken to a local charity shop. You may still have garments left over on your pile that don’t fit into the categories of definitely keeping or getting rid of. I like to pack these clothes away in a suitcase for a few months, then come back to them with fresh eyes and see if you have missed them or forgotten about them.
AVOID THE TEMPTATION
The easiest way to break up with fast fashion is to remove the temptation. Go through your emails and remove yourself from fast fashion mailing lists. Block these sites on your computer if you have to. Avoid wandering aimlessly down your local high street. If you start browsing fashion websites, you’re going to be tempted into making purchases. These sites all have clever marketing plots in place too - so if you put something in your basket and close your browser, you’re going to be emailed with a reminder to complete your purchase. I might not want to buy from high street brands, but if I find myself on one of their websites, I inevitably fall in love with numerous garments. It’s so hard to walk away without making a purchase, so just don’t put yourself in that situation in the first place.
MAKE CONSIDERED PURCHASES
Giving up fast fashion doesn’t mean giving up fashion altogether. You can quit the high street but still love clothes - something that took me a few years to fully realise. The difference is that you will be making more considered purchases less often, rather than just buying clothes to relieve boredom or for a quick fix. I generally have a list of clothes that I’d like to buy saved on my phone, that I add to whenever I realise a gap in my wardrobe. I refer to this list on birthdays and at Christmas, when I allow myself a little treat, or when I’m tempted to make a spontaneous purchase. I carefully consider the gaps in my wardrobe - either garments that I constantly admire online that I know would easily slide into my wardrobe, or gaping holes where I’m clearly missing an essential piece. Sometimes I will realise that I’m not getting enough wear out of a particular garment because I’m missing the piece that I’d like to wear with it. When I go ahead and allow myself to make a purchase, I always look to slow, sustainable and ethical brands, saving up over several months if necessary. I also make sure that the piece I am buying is made from natural materials and will stand the test of time. I want to curate a wardrobe full of garments that will age well, that I will wear for years. The complete opposite of fast fashion.