Eco-conscious consumers have probably heard of the term "fast fashion", a trend that has been speeding up ever quicker over the last few decades. The model is fast because it involves the rapid mass production and consumption of cheap, low-quality clothing that imitates the latest runway and celebrity styles. The fast fashion industry depends upon consumers' desires for two things: to keep up with the very latest trends and to do so at rock-bottom prices.
Why should we seek alternatives to fast fashion?
But most of us know that if clothes are low-cost for us, this means that Global South garment workers are the ones paying the real price, with unsafe and exploitative working conditions. For instance, the well-known 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh killed over 1,100 workers and injured over double that. Not to mention child labour. The Fashion Revolution writes that only "1% of major fashion brands disclose the number of workers in their supply chains being paid a living wage rate."
As with most exploitative capitalist mechanisms, the entire system is fundamentally unsustainable.
Moreover, fast fashion's environmental impact affects us all, including humans, non-human animals, and biodiversity in general. Just a few of these issues include enormous water resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (if the industry were a country, it would be one of the leading emitters), microfiber and plastic pollution, and mass textile waste from unpurchased garments.
And as these clothes are so cheap, consumers may be more likely to think that they're disposable after a couple of wears.
Most of us in wealthier countries have bought fast fashion products without realising it, so don't be too hard on yourself – especially if you don't know which brands are the biggest culprits (SustainablyChic has compiled a comprehensive list for 2024). Also, the most famous brands have the financial resources to engage in greenwashing through their marketing.
So, for those of us who don't have tons of money to spend, how can we play a part in preventing the wide-ranging damage caused by the industry? In this post, we'll have a look at five practical alternatives to fast fashion that support a circular fashion economy and that, dare I say it, won't cost the earth.
1. Choose slow fashion and quality over quantity
Slow fashion has been around for a while, having arisen in response to the ills of fast fashion. The movement prioritises sustainable, ethical clothing production. While these brands can be pricier, they generally offer higher-quality and timeless pieces, so the consumer hopefully doesn't feel the urge to keep mass purchasing so many cheaper clothes unnecessarily.
Also, a higher price tag means that buyers will likely value their garments more and be less inclined to just toss them out after a few wears. And there are affordable options. Buy better-quality clothes, less often, and use them for as long as you can. And maybe create a capsule wardrobe.
While we're talking about ethical clothes, consider purchasing sustainable clothing from brands that are Indigenous-led or that support refugees and marginalised migrants, such as The Social Outfit and Clothing the Gaps in Australia.2. Thrift to save clothes from the landfill
According to the Clean Clothes Campaign, "Three out of five of the 100 billion garments made in 2018 will end up in landfill within a year." You can help save these pieces from an untimely demise by thrifting at second-hand clothes stores or markets. Some people make a lifestyle out of thrifting, rarely purchasing new clothes and finding joy in discovering an excellent quality piece at a bargain price.
Giving second-hand garments a second life helps deter the over-production of fast fashion. Also, many thrift stores are attached to charities.
3. Rent, swap, or borrow clothes
Along with dress-hire companies, there are now plenty of peer-to-peer fashion rental platforms that allow sustainability- and budget-conscious users to rent and lend clothes rather than forking over for new ones. Examples are Rent a Dress and Tulerie.
While there's been some criticism over how sustainable rental truly is in comparison to ditching old clothes (e.g., transportation costs), commentators have concluded that extending your clothes' lives for as long as possible, at the end of the day, has a positive impact on the environment.
If you want to keep the threads and have some to offer in exchange, you can try free clothes swaps that are often organised online or between friends. Peer fashion exchange also lets you know just who owned your new-found second-hand garments. Another option: Hold onto pieces handed down to you by relatives who've outgrown them.
4. Mend and creatively upcycle your clothing
Resisting a consumerist mindset and throwaway culture sometimes means that our old goods might get damaged or go out of style. Rather than give into the urge to buy buy buy, we can repair and mend our old garments to increase their longevity. This will save you cash and let you get creative and personal in your DIY efforts.
Upcycling, opposed to recycling, just means repurposing aged, unused, or damaged items for a similar or different purpose – and that includes fashion. Some fun examples are crafting scarves from tops, trimming a maxi dress into a skirt, or reworking sweater material into gloves or mittens. Most of us have upcycled without even knowing that we were "upcycling", like when we use worn-out shirts as rags.
These are just four of the numerous alternatives to counteract the destructive and exploitative systems driving fast fashion. Along with oil, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters. In our small ways, we can all participate in the circular fashion economy, preserving and giving new life to our threads for as long as possible. Not only does this likely save you money over the long run, but it helps to safeguard natural resources (Earth is our only home!), protect Global South garment workers' rights and dignity, and mitigate the consequences of over-consumption.
Guest blog written by Monique Moate
Monique Moate is a neurodivergent and disabled freelance proofreader, editor, and writer of nonfiction. Some of her interests are thinking about the ways people use language and how this usage evolves, writing and editing for sensitivity and inclusion, and accessibility.
Header image from shutterstock.