Published by Vanessa Brunner under Green Living

There’s always been a general belief that EcoFashion should be Slow Fashion. Stemming from the ideas of the Slow Movement, these incredibly complicated terms and beliefs have come to be stated into two overly simple ideas: Slow Fashion= Good, Fast Fashion = Bad.

However, I read a really interesting post on the Fashion Incubator this morning that opened my eyes.

The author, Kathleen Fasanella, discussed her main concerns with the general belief system, all of which I think are important to consider:

1. Slow Fashion and Fast Fashion are not mutually exclusive.

2. Slow Fashion is not necessarily more sustainable than Fast Fashion.

3. Fast Fashion is not limited to cheap trendy items and quickly discarded.

4. Slow Fashion is not necessarily more valuable–Fast Fashion can produce classic and quality designs.

I think that like the movement in the food industry, people (including myself) have automatically equated the idea of things done quickly as things done poorly. In many senses of the term, this is very true. The emphasis on quality versus quantity is absolutely vital. The core of the EcoFashion movement is not just about making things differently–it’s about needing to make things less. If we rethink what clothing and fashion means to us, and reduce our need to buy so often, then we can pursue and afford high quality clothing that can be used more often and for longer durations of time.

Fasanella’s point of paying attention to definitions is essential. In a world of constant capitalization and trends, it’s easy for greenwashing to become the norm.

The main issue with the definitions as they exist now is this: it enforces the ideas that Slow Fashion has more responsibility, and Fast Fashion has less or none. I think there are definitely examples that could defy both of those definitions–so the division has to go deeper than that. As Fasanella asks: “In saying fast or slow fashion, are we talking about product or process?”

What do you think? What makes Slow Fashion and Fast Fashion different? Is one good and one bad? Is EcoFashion really that black and white?

(Photos from this post are via The Uniform Project, a wonderful project where one woman has decided to wear the same dress for an entire year–in a practice and example of sustainable fashion. You can follow her story and her outfits on her blog–where she also accepts donations for the Akanksha Foundation, to help provide funds for uniforms and school supplies for children living in Indian slums.)