By definition, slow fashion stands in opposition to the phenomenon of fast fashion*. The idea is to be part of a conscious and sustainable process in the way we consume fashion. Sample Slow Jewelry recognizes itself and is part of this gentle and planet-friendly movement.

How to apply slow fashion?

In our eyes, slow fashion is not a series of rules to follow but rather a philosophy to apply as best as possible in our daily choices. There are a multitude of ways to follow a slow fashion approach. We have identified 6 that we would like to share with you in this article, using six keywords.

Above all, to consume consciously it is necessary to adopt a little reflection. To ask yourself the right questions before purchasing a new item. Do I really need it? Where was it produced? By who ? What materials were used in its manufacture? It's about becoming aware of the action you take when you make a purchase. Indeed, with globalization and overconsumption, the act of buying has become a trivial and very common act, which we sometimes carry out even without realizing it.

A technique also known as “upcycling”, it involves using what we have or at least what already exists to make something new. A circular and environmentally friendly approach, which applies as much to fashion as to any area of ​​our life. When you cut old jeans to make shorts or when you reuse a glass food jar for decoration, you are practicing upcycling.

To start, you can sort through your belongings to see more clearly. So think about how to revalue certain pieces that you no longer wear. Sometimes a simple adjustment or small customization can be enough to modernize it and give it a second life.

Repair is obviously a form of upcycling as well. Taking a piece of clothing to a designer, a bag to a leather goods manufacturer or even a piece of jewelry to a designer can give them a second and long life.

Pssst! If you don't know her yet, we highly recommend following Juliet Bonhomme on Instagram. She's a bit like the queen of upcycling and slow fashion in general.

“Less is more...” The minimalist lifestyle consists of choosing to consume less, to settle for fewer material objects in order to concentrate on what really matters. The idea is to get away from the “earn more money to own more” model. It goes without saying that this lifestyle, applied to the wardrobe, is entirely compatible with the slow fashion approach. If you haven't seen it yet and you're interested in this topic, the documentary “ Minimalism ” on Netflix is ​​really interesting.

Economical and ecological, there have always been fans of thrift stores, wardrobe clearances and vintage stores of all kinds. However, second-hand goods have become accessible to everyone in recent years thanks to Vinted (among others). Second-hand clothing is in some ways the easiest and most affordable solution when you want to consume fashion in a more thoughtful way. Buying already worn clothes is part of a circular approach, which fights against waste and overproduction.

For example, Déjà Vu , Ozer Concept , Think Twice (T2) , The Wild Girl Shop and La Belge Gosse Shop are several Belgian (e-)boutiques that we recommend for second-hand shopping.

The quality of a garment or accessory is a guarantee of durability and can be opposed to quantity. Indeed, from the point of view of slow fashion, we would prefer to own a few quality pieces that will last over time to a multitude of clothes that deteriorate quickly and encourage us to always buy more.

Especially when it comes to buying something new, one may ask questions about how the item in question was made. We would prefer something produced locally, both from an ecological point of view, to avoid the environmental impact of long-distance transport, and from an ethical point of view, to support local crafts and entrepreneurship.

The raw materials used in manufacturing must also be taken into account: their ecological impact, their origin and traceability, or even their quality.

More and more brands are developing eco-friendly concepts, particularly in the manufacturing of their products. At the Belgian level, we are thinking in particular of Sé-em which uses fabric scraps, Shak & Kai which uses entirely recycled materials or even Kaly Ora which produces elegant and refined swimsuits from plastics recovered from the oceans.

Here are the six ideas that we have identified in our slow fashion approach. We hope we have provided you with some useful advice.

Note that fashion accessories (bags, shoes, jewelry, etc.) are also part of this awareness. Slow fashion is not just limited to clothes.

Finally, let us remember that it is a guide, a philosophy, to allow us to become more aware of our consumption. There is no need to put pressure on yourself by aiming for unattainable perfection. We believe that it is possible to adopt slow fashion even while still occasionally purchasing from major fast fashion brands. Everything remains to act consciously.

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*or “ephemeral fashion”, which is characterized by the very frequent renewal of clothing collections on sale in order to encourage consumption.