There is a lot more to slow fashion in 2022 than just shopping, sustainably or not. Slow fashion exists in reaction against fast fashion, and everything that comes along with it. Fast fashion preys on women’s insecurities and various kinds of exploitation to grow and thrive. Slow fashion, on the contrary, advocates for a kinder, more mindful approach to clothes and style.
Practicing slow fashion in 2022 means reflecting on our own shopping habits to understand our triggers, why and how we shop. It relies on the idea that we know our own style, shop with longevity in mind and don’t easily buy into passing trends.
How to transition from fast fashion to slow fashion?
Slow fashion is also about supporting women and indigenous communities around the world. Clothing is predominantly made by women of colour, in various conditions, from horrendous sweatshops to ethical artisanal ateliers. The fashion industry relies on them and traditional crafts that are often appropriated.
Finally, slow fashion is also about reducing our consumption and finding joy wearing clothes we already own or that already exist (i.e. second-hand). From styling to mending, slow fashion is also about putting the fun back into dressing up – at least in my opinion.
The slow fashion monthly calendar
In this article, I’m detailing a slow fashion version of this year’s fashion calendar, based on my own intentions and interests. It aims to get you inspired in your slow fashion journey, every month, in 2022. The calendar is designed for people who want to use fashion as a fun tool to learn and grow throughout the year. So here we go…
We declutter in January
It’s time for a wardrobe introspection. Review what you own then sell, upcycle or give away what you no longer wear using my guide. Then, make a very precise list of what you want to buy this year – if you want to buy anything at all. Keep it somewhere easily accessible to be less tempted to buy things on a whim. I keep mine on Notes but you can also make it visual using a Pinterest board.
January is commonly known as a sales month. Retailers are trying to make way for spring-summer fashion, so you will be bombarded with promotional messages trying to sell you heavy coats, warm sweaters and winter boots 50% off. Check your shopping list before attending any sales, and buy only what you’ve identified as missing in your closet. Remember that most trendy items on sale now will be completely out of trend next winter… Their lifespan in your closet may be very short.
February is no shopping month
This month try to buy nothing and see how it impacts your mood and… your bank account. You can keep scrolling your favourite fashion websites and stay up to date with fashion week catwalks throughout the month if you’re into that.
Document this shopping fast in a journal. You can write, record voice notes, or videos, to track your thoughts and emotions away. Keep a separate list of items you almost bought. Wear your closet as much as possible in the meantime – especially your trusted basics. Try new combinations, swap and borrow clothes from friends.
Support women-owned small businesses in March
If you’re based in the Northern hemisphere, new spring-summer looking clothes will start hitting the shops. Since you’re just out of your shopping fast (bravo!), tread carefully as to not binge on fresh new clothes irrationally.
World Days are for the most part absolutely useless, but they are weaponised by brands to drive consumption. Why not use this month to shop from small, woman-owned businesses. Let’s use the 8th (International Women’s Day) to support female entrepreneurship with our cash. Alternatively, share their work on social media and with friends to inspire others without spending a single cent.
April is Fashion Revolution Month
In April, we raise awareness of the plight of garment workers around the world. Many sacrifice or lose their lives every day to produce cheap fast-fashion for the Global North. Ask brands who made your clothes using the FashRev email template or posing with the organisation’s logo on social media.
Head to the International Labour Organization website to read about the Rana Plaza. This is one of the deadliest factory incidents in the history of fashion manufacturing. It killed 1,132 people and injured more than 2,500 in April 2013 in Bangladesh. It sparked the Fashion Revolution you’re now a part of.
May calls for a wardrobe switch
Winter is over. Depending on your wardrobe set up, you may need to store away your jumpers and knitwear pieces until next year. To make sure you’ll find them in the same condition you last left them (i.e. not eaten alive by moths), check these 6 eco-friendly tips to care for your knitwear.
Summer is around the corner. By now, every fast-fashion retailer will have a limitless amount of summer dresses, flowy skirts, and tank tops at your disposal – replenished approximately every two weeks for fast fashion brands and daily for ultra fast fashion ones. Most of them will be directly copied or heavily inspired by high-end designers. The truth is, if you live in the UK or Europe, the cost per wear of these will be huge as summer realistically – and sadly – lasts for about one to two months maximum.
A solution is renting. You can rent clothes online quite seamlessly for a short period of time, including very expensive designer items. If you love taking holiday pics in your outfits and sharing your incredible #luxurylifestyle on Instagram (not judging, I was a #luxurylifestyle editor myself and 100% guilty of it), these will allow you to play with fashion without spending a fortune or creating avoidable waste.
Make June your self-care month
Do more of what makes you feel great, inside and out. Slow fashion is rooted in kindness to our planet, people and animals, but kindness always starts with… yourself. Think about what makes you feel good in the long term, and plan to do more of these activities in the next 6 months of 2022. If you made a list of resolutions or intentions back in January, take a look at it and reflect. My blog also has a wellbeing category you can browse to find inspiration.
Give the “plastic-free July” challenge a try
Have you heard of plastic-free July? It’s a campaign to raise awareness of single-use plastic pollution. It encourages consumers to ditch it for a whole month. Plastic pollution is rife and this study even suggests that the equivalent of a credit card of plastic enters our bodies every week through the seafood we eat. How did this plastic end up in our plates in the first place, you may wonder.
Well, besides the myth of recycling (most plastic isn’t actually recycled), there’s also all the microplastics discarded by washing machines every single time we wash synthetic, oil-based, materials such as Nylon, polyester, acrylic, polyamide, etc. This also includes recycled or regenerated synthetic materials. You can invest in a GuppyFriend to catch them before they enter our food chain.
If you’re looking for a good book about sustainability to read on the beach this summer, I recommend Turning the Tide on Plastic : How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again by BBC journalist Lucy Siegle.
Learn how to pack before your August holidays
As you unpack pile after pile of clothes from your suitcase, desperately trying to pair things together, you suddenly realise that you are miles away from home without a decent outfit to put together. You forgot to pack that one top you kinda remember goes well with your only well-fitting skirt, and you have ‘nothing to wear’ tonight. You did buy this cheap top from a local fast fashion store you’ve never heard of, but it isn’t really ‘you’ and… it itches.
It’s time to get acquainted with the concept of capsule wardrobe, which is particularly useful when travelling. A ‘capsule’ is a reduced amount of clothes that you love and wear on repeat because they fit you and work together as coherent outfits.
A capsule doesn’t happen magically though. It takes some work to build it properly. You can really tailor it to you and your own personal taste, which is crucial because pairing a black boring top with a black basic skirt isn’t hard. Wondering how to do it? Read my guide to putting together a seasonal capsule wardrobe, followed by my tips to pack efficiently.
Celebrate Second-Hand September
My wardrobe is composed of at least 70% pre-loved items. I had to squash deep-rooted misconceptions about wearing other people’s clothes (i.e. it’s dirty, it’s faulty, it’s out of trend,…). Shopping second-hand is the most sustainable and fun way to buy new clothes in my opinion and features heavily on this blog through bespoke guides and ‘look of the day’ inspo articles.
Charity organisation Oxfam came up with the campaign Second-Hand September, to promote thrifting and get people excited about it. I cannot encourage you enough to take part in it and start building that capsule wardrobe we talked about last month using charity and vintage stores as your first port of call. That’s how I found my favourite knitwear, coats and winter jackets.
October is Black History Month
Commemorative events can be utilised as a driver of consumption or, when done properly, it can bring positive change. In October, in the UK, we honour Black History Month by reading, learning from, shopping and supporting black-owned businesses and black writers, entrepreneurs, artists, designers, activists,…. Get curious and share your discoveries with others.
In November, we shop consciously
November 1st kicks start 6 weeks of intensive shopping worldwide. Some retailers will host extremely aggressive flash sales such as 11.11 (also called Singles Day), Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, I recommend avoiding these sales and limiting your social media exposure to not be tempted.
If you decide to attend Black Friday, bring:
- Your January shopping list updated with any other wish list you made
- A clear idea of your personal style with details of your favourite colours, materials, shapes and sizes (which, as we all know, vary from brand to brand) to avoid mistakes and returns
- A clear and detailed budget and timeframe
- A clear head and no distractions
December is the month for reflection and introspection
Congratulations! You made it through a whole year of slow fashion. Take a moment to reflect on this year’s shopping and compare it with the year prior. How much have you bought? Did you wear your new purchases?
I’m not forgetting Christmas. I know you want to buy gorgeous gifts for your loved ones. Here are a few tips for a slow Christmas. First, prioritise longevity and the lifestyle of the person you’re buying for. You can make sure they won’t return your gift by asking them to send you a list. Then, gift small designer items, vintage finds, immaterial experiences or make the stuff yourself!
