Fast Fashion = The New Fast Food + How to Build a More Sustainable Wardrobe Ft. My Favorite Ethical Brands

Is fast fashion the new fast food? Pretty much. Fast fashion is just as bad as fast food (if not worse)! It has dramatically lowered the cost for some clothing, and as brands compete on price, manufacturers search for super cheap labor, which typically come from factories with harsh working conditions. “Slow fashion” on the other hand, allows us to build a healthy and high-quality wardrobe, while also protecting the planet & humanity. 

There’s no denying that the expectations created on social media and the ease of online buying has made fast fashion retailers explode and the continuous shopping trend to increase. With that being said, I also believe that many of us have become more and more conscious about our purchases, and understand the idea of conscious consumerism. We all have the power to use our knowledge about the impact that fast fashion has on humanity and the planet, and rise up, speak up, and make a positive difference for the people involved in the making of our clothes and goods. 

New clothes make us feel confident, but the pressure to keep up with new trends and always wanting new fits, comes at a steep price. We need to slow down the rate at which we consume clothing, and adopt a more conscious approach to what we do spend our money on. Enter the “slow fashion” movement because like the slow food movement, it emphasizes quality over quantity and promotes conscious consumption. Don’t just buy a T-shirt because it’s on sale for dirt cheap, really ask yourself if that item will bring you joy or serve a purpose and if it’s quality made and will last you a long time. If not, don’t buy it!

I now see fast fashion in a new light, the same way I view fast food: Cheap, low quality, and it isn’t doing a single good thing for me, or anyone else involved.

It’s time to enter the “slow fashion” movement, just as I did with the “slow food” movement.

My personal backstory…

I have known somewhat about fast fashion for a couple years now, but I never realized the extent of it. I have been so naive and almost hesitant to learn about it, since I have shopped at many fast fashion stores throughout most of my life without even thinking twice. Starting in 2018 I watched a fast-fashion documentary “True Cost” and since then realized there’s no better time than now to research the truth of the fast fashion industry and let you in on what I have been looking at, and provide you with some helpful resources to do your own self educating on this important topic.

I also want to preface that I still own clothing from Zara and H&M, and I don’t plan on getting rid of those items right now since I can still get use out of them. But after diving deep into researching and channeling the inner activist within me, I now see fast fashion in a new light, the same way I view fast food: Cheap, low quality, and it isn’t doing a single good thing for me, or anyone else involved.

“The Swedish retail giant H&M, generates so much surplus inventory that its home government now burns the clothing for fuel.”
— Jessie Sholl (Experience Life Magazine)

How to build a more sustainable + minimalist capsule wardrobe & reduce clothing consumption 

  1. Know what your clothing is made of: Many textiles are made with toxic additives and many are known hormone disruptors. Apparel companies aren’t however, required to list the chemicals in their fabrics, so one way to know if your clothing item has been naturally dyed is to look for the Bluesign seal. (Popular brands like Patagonia and Prana carry clothing items with the Bluesign seal)!

  2. Adopt a strong sense of style: A strong sense of your personal style will make you less vulnerable to the insta-trends sold at fast-fashion shops. It also makes it a lot easier to keep your closet organized and high quality. Create your signature timeless sustainable look with the brands I have listed below. You don’t have to wear the same thing everyday, but if you’re into a high end minimalist look, then go for staple pieces you can mix and match everyday. Create a capsule wardrobe to develop your personal style and streamline your purchases. 

  3. Take it easy on your clothes: You don’t have to wash your clothes every time you wear them, this just wares them out even more.

How you make change: take baby steps

Don’t start by looking at your wardrobe and throwing away every unsustainable piece you own. The goal here is to make the clothing you do currently own, last as long as possible so you can reduce the amount of clothing you consume in the first place. If what you currently own no longer makes you feel good or isn’t your style anymore and your due for a wardrobe re-haul, then instead of going out and purchasing a bunch of random pieces that can’t be worn together, consider building a capsule wardrobe for yourself with sustainable clothing pieces from brands I have mentioned below. A capsule wardrobe captures your personal style in a few high-quality staple pieces that can be worn with each other in many different ways. You will be spending more money upfront, but saving A TON in the long run because your clothing will last for years and will continue looking timeless.

Donating your clothes may not be the best solution…

Many people believe (myself included) that when we donate our clothes they are going to a good cause, but that’s not always the case. Most of what get’s donated to thrift stores (& the items that don’t sell), get thrown away and added to the landfill. Before you donate, think about extending the life of that clothing item or host a clothing swap/give to friends & fam!

So then what is the best solution to this whole issue? Buy less, and better quality! 

“We should all be asking ourselves: Who makes the clothing we wear and in what conditions?”

What is fair trade?

According to google the definition of fair trade is: “Trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers.” In other words, companies who choose fair trade practices are paying their workers fair wages that enable them to thrive in life, not just survive. Fair trade companies don’t negotiate the lowest possible price of labor, jeopardizing peoples lives in the process. Instead, they let their workers decide on what prices are fair and what prices are not.

Conscious shopping guide + fave sustainable brands

These are my personal favorite sustainable brands + conscious shopping guide. Each brand below has made it a huge part of their mission to approach fashion in an ethical and transparent way that considers both people and the planet. Win win :)

Personal favEs

  • Reformation is my fave EVER! Made in the USA, sustainable fabrics, purchases carbon offsets, + fair living wages for its garment workers. My faev eco-friendly trendy clothing. Reformation creates products only from sustainable and up-cycled materials in fair wage environments, and each item comes with a description of its environmental footprint. 

  • Sezane: I’M OBSESSED WITH! Born in Paris, France, Sézane believes in sustainable production that benefits people and the planet. 

  • Kotn: IN LOVE WITH KOTN. Best staple turtle necks! If you’re looking to add some luxury to your daily wardrobe, look no further than Kotn’s ultra-soft basics made from Egyptian cotton. Kotn creates all of its garments in a fair and safe environment.

  • Petite studio: Calling all petites! Here’s the sustainable shop for you. Ethical & small batch production + sustainable fabrics. Petite studio is passionate about creating capsule wardrobe items and small-batch staples. 

  • Black Beat: Like urban outfitters, but make it sustainable. All their clothing is made in California, and with organic cotton + recycled packaging. Ok, let’s just take a moment and admire this epic brand.

  • Lacausa clothing: La Causa is Spanish for “The Cause,” and the name also represents the company’s Los Angeles location. Most garments are made in LA, and for the apparel crafted overseas, the brand ensures fair factories, living wages, and healthy working conditions for its team members.

  • LOVE Hackwith Design House. Their apparel is made in the US and features simple and clean basics for every season. Classic investments to add to your capsule wardrobe.

More brands I love…

Sustainable Denim

More epic ethical/fair trade clothing brands & companies

Shoes + accessories

Alternative Shopping methods

- Thrift stores

- Second hand stores

- Poshmark/Depop 

- Clothing swaps with friends

Ethical shopping apps to check out

  • Good On You App - Ranks major and emerging brands on their ethical and sustainability initiatives.

  • Cladwell - Wardrobe organizing app helps you pair down and capsule what you've got.

Self-educate with these helpful resources, all of which have taught me what I now know about fast fashion and sustainability 

Must watch eye-opening documentaries

Top book recommendations

  • The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good by Elizabeth Cline.

  • Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline.

  • To Die for: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? by Lucy Siegle.

  • The Song of the Shirt: The High Price of Cheap Garments, from Blackburn to Bangladesh 1st Edition by Jeremy Seabrook.

  • Wardrobe Crisis: How We Went from Sunday Best to Fast Fashion by Clare Press.

How can you take action? visit the fashion revolution!

Hanna Trajlov