We've talked about slow fashion and its many benefits including clothes that last for years, transparency in production, and less waste in landfills. Not sure what you can do? Where to get started? Here are a few tips to get the ball rolling. Trust me, it's easy.
Garments made by hand or by ethical companies and designers cost more for the consumer. I don't have to tell you at this point that it's worth it, right? Obviously, it’s not practical for you to go out and buy all new garments -- that would also produce a lot of waste. But, it’s not hard to make small adjustments in your life to make a big difference.
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Care for your current garments.
- Wash everything in cold water (except undies and dish towels). Air dry. Hanging clothes in the sun is great for whites laundry.
- Holes? Small fixes? Mend 'em up or find someone who can. There are some really cool mending techniques that can add visual texture to your clothes.
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Give your clothes a second life.
- Consign or sell. Join the Buy/Sell/Trade sites on Facebook. Still have an eBay account? Try Poshmark. Selling or consigning clothes you don’t wear anymore is a great way fund your next purchases.
- Donate. I like to donate to The Brown Elephant in Chicago, but there are plenty of places that will take clothing that's in good shape.
- Pass them on. Have kids' clothes? Hand them down to another family or friend. Save them for a future baby.
- Shop vintage, consignment, and second-hand. Trade with friends. Attend clothing swaps.
- Buy from the maker. You’ll be able to hear the maker’s story first hand. This is great for gift-giving or to introduce someone to slow fashion and the maker movement.
What else are you doing to make a difference? Shoot us an email to info@lillabarn.com and let us know.
Photo by Tipping Point Photography.