3 Ways to Do Slow Fashion Without Buying Anything
Recently it has been brought to my attention that some people don’t make clothing a priority in their budget. Sometimes these very same people have friends who are way into slow fashion and though these friends don’t aim to provoke feelings of irritation and guilt, they maybe sometimes do. Then these people wonder if there are ways that they can participate in slow fashion on their meagre clothing allowance. Take heart, dear friends! I have some very inexpensive options for you.
01. Wear the clothes you own
The average American wears an item of clothing a mere 7 times before tossing it. Don’t be the average American.
It’s amazing that we’ve come to a place where “wear the clothes you own” is legit advice, but here we are. Wearing your clothes out runs counter to the fast fashion machine that constantly compels you to replace what you got two months ago with something new.
And if you’re thinking “no worries, I’ll just donate!”…well, only a small percentage of stuff you donate actually gets sold at the thrift store. The rest ends up in the landfill or is turned into rags or floods markets of faraway countries and decimates their own textile industry. I know. I’m guilt tripping you. I’m sorry. I don’t mean you should never donate clothes, just be aware of their afterlife.
02. Mend, darn, patch
Is there a hole in your favourite socks? Darn ‘em. Do your jeans have a hole in the crotch? Patch ‘em. There does come a point when clothes are beyond repair, but make them work for it.
(And okay, you might have to buy a needle and thread, but learning how to use them isn’t hard. Or pay someone to mend for you. Yes, that costs money. I don’t think it’s a criminal offence to very slightly mislead you in a blog post title.)
03. Find a swap meet in your area
Are your clothes still in good condition but you’re sooooo sick of them? Hop on The Google or The Facebook or whatever the kids are using these days and see if anyone else has the same problem. If you regularly feel like you need to refresh your wardrobe, this is a great way to keep rotating new pieces through your closet without, you know, destroying the world.
No. I am not being overly dramatic.