Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion – an Honest Take

By the end of this article, you're going to be able to make informed decisions about the fashion you buy and how you consume, what to look for when shopping for sustainable, slow fashion, and when it's okay to buy fast. Plus, our top six tips on how you can consume slower and smarter.

Buying fast-fashion with a specific objective in mind is OK. If you have a party or one-off event to go to, and you need something particular and know you’re unlikely to wear it again, then it might make sense to buy cheaply. Or you might be buying a fast-fashion label second-hand and contributing to the circular fashion economy – this is encouraged for one-off events, and much more sustainable than buying off a fast-fashion rack. 

Breathing new life into a pre-loved garment is kinder to the environment. Just ensure you’re not purchasing flippantly. Remember – Buying something because it’s cheap does not equate to long-term love and wear. In fact, the more cheap items you consume, the less meaningful they become. As your wardrobe piles high with cheap and fast finds, Items are likely to be missed and buried deep within your wardrobe, never to be worn, collecting dust only to be thrown out the following year when you realise you’ve never worn them.

Trend alert – If you’re keen to buy into a trend that you know is only going to stick around for a hot minute, you may want to check out the ‘fast-fashion’ options, but again, our advice is – carefully consider if that cheap purchase is an impulse buy or if you really, truly want it.

Slow fashion = feel-good fashion

For the mums looking to escape the absurdly quick wear & tear of fast fashion, we strongly believe that ethically made clothing rewards thoughtful investment – with lasting quality, timeless style, and confidence in how you move through the world.

Cost-per-wear consideration

Make this your mantra. Whenever you’re looking at an item that feels more expensive (i.e. premium), consider the cost-per-wear value you’ll get out of that item (girl maths). If it’s a beautiful pair of jeans made from organic cotton and in a timeless style that you’re going to wear 3x a week, then the premium price point will be worth it in the long run. 

There are certain items that make sense to invest in. Here's our list:

• Denim – jeans, jackets and denim shirts. We love Ceres Life and Outland Denim.
• Cotton t-shirts in classic, flattering styles – you want quality-made t-shirts in premium fabric, as you will reach for a t-shirt many times over. We love Nina Daisy Tees and Outland Denim Tees.
• Lingerie, oddly, underwear is an afterthought rather than a primary thought for many. You need to start considering the cost-per-wear of your underwear, too. Buy quality for all-day comfort, PLUS your clothing will look better styled over the top of well-fitting lingerie. Videris is our favourite flattering, sustainable & stylish lingerie brand – it's the kind of lingerie you never want to take off. 
• Knitwear – unless you live in the tropics, you'll need knitwear and if you live in New Zealand, you'll need knitwear even during the spring and summer months. Opt for soft, quality knitwear made of natural fibres or at least mostly natural wool blends (merino, alpaca, cashmere) for durability, warmth and softness. We love Aleger Cashmere and Standard Issue.

High-quality fabrications

We always check the label. We are discerning about what fabrics and fibres make up the clothing we carry at The Mum Loop. The brands we partner with use organic cotton, recycled textiles, natural fibres and minimal synthetic fibres wherever possible.

Our fashion selection is proudly made with high-quality materials, attention to detail, and stitching. Compared to fast fashion, which is churned out at lightning speed, resulting in haphazardly made garments with minimal attention to detail or design.

Better fitting

Part of what makes an item a wardrobe staple is the way it fits, i.e., its cut and design. You might be able to ignore how that maxi skirt crinkles unflatteringly on your hip, but fabric that fits like a second-skin and shapes you ‘just-so’ will instantly boost your confidence, and is therefore less likely to end up in landfill, and instead see you stylishly through many seasons.

1. Curate a capsule wardrobe that works for you (you’ll more easily identify your go-to pieces and where any gaps lie) and therefore, consume less throw-away items.

2. Support slow and sustainable fashion brands. How do you tell if a brand is sustainable? Look for these clues: Look for credible certifications on their website and in their brand bios, such as GOTS, Fairtrade, or B Corp, Okeo Tex, and Leaping Bunny. Look to see if a brand’s supply chain is visible, and make sure you check what fabrications they predominantly use.

3. Educate yourself as you go – you don't need to become a master of sustainable fashion and how to consume slowly overnight, but you can learn bit by bit. Explore the 'about' page – do the brand or business ethics align with your own, do they treat their workers fairly and do they have a transparent supply chain. Remember to check the fabric composition for natural and or recycled materials when reading product descriptions. Fabric composition is so important for comfort, durability, style and longevity. 

4. Buy trans-seasonal clothing. Is it a layer? Will it outfit back easily with other go-to items in your wardrobe? Can you wear it unbuttoned in summer and layer it effortlessly in winter? Spend your money on versatile pieces and classic staples.

5. Care for your clothing. Follow the wash instructions and invest in a good quality stain remover (lord knows you need one with children around). Fold your knitwear and don’t hang things that will lose their shape. Wash less to maintain the integrity of your clothing, and instead, spot-clean as you go.

6. Finally – remember this, Stylish people wear the same clothing, they’re not afraid to be seen in the same thing twice (or many times). They know their style, and they have outfit formulas at the ready. They buy quality and consume less, and wear their favourites to death! This is the sign of a truly chic woman and smart consumer.

Nina Daisy tees