My entry into the world of sustainable fashion felt like the room I was standing in was slowly starting to tilt.
Before working with Fashion Takes Action (FTA), I spent my mid-to-late 20s learning about textile waste, overproduction, and the fashion industry’s lack of commitment to change. Suddenly, everything I thought I understood about shopping and self-expression through clothes began to shift.
Fast forward to a family dinner with my younger cousins. Between bites of dessert, they casually talked about how “fast fashion is so bad,” comparing their favourite thrift stores and Depop finds as if it were obvious. “We only thrift,” one shrugged.
That moment gave me a sense of hope. The next generation is picking up something we lost—and showing us what more sustainable choices can look like.
What Is Fast Fashion?
For many of us, fast fashion feels normal. New styles drop weekly, shipping is fast, and “new arrivals” never stop.
Behind that convenience is a system designed to produce clothing quickly, cheaply, and in massive volume—not based on need, but on constant consumption.
How the Fashion Industry Impacts the Environment
The impact is significant:
- The fashion industry is responsible for up to 8% of global carbon emissions
- It consumes 215 trillion litres of water per year
- Globally, 92 million tons of textile waste are generated each year
In Canada alone, 500,000 tons of textile waste ends up in landfills each year, while the United States produces millions of tons annually.
These numbers reflect a system built on overproduction and overconsumption.
Has Anything Changed in the Last Decade?
There has been progress—but not enough.
The Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh exposed unsafe working conditions and triggered global reforms.
Since then, the Fashion Transparency Index
has pushed brands to disclose more about supply chains.
New regulations include:
Some companies are also exploring digital product passports
to improve transparency.
However, progress is uneven. Some factories show risk of backsliding, while ultra-fast fashion platforms continue producing hundreds of new styles a day.
What Is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is the opposite of fast fashion—it’s about intention.
It means choosing, wearing, and caring for clothing with greater awareness of its impact on people and the planet.
At its core, slow fashion encourages us to:
- buy less
- choose better
- wear clothes longer
What Slow Fashion Looks Like in Everyday Life
Slow fashion in real life is not perfect—it’s practical.
It can look like:
- shopping your closet first
- borrowing or swapping clothing
- embracing hand-me-downs
- choosing durable pieces
- repairing and mending garments
Secondhand shopping is growing quickly. The secondhand apparel market is projected to reach 350 billion USD by 2028,
with 60 percent of growth coming from new shoppers.
Upcycling is also on the rise, with upcycling in fashion growing significantly in recent years.
How to Avoid Fashion Greenwashing
As sustainability becomes more mainstream, so does greenwashing.
Brands may use vague terms like “eco” or “conscious” without evidence. Some have even been investigated over misleading sustainability claims.
Here’s how to navigate it:
Start with behaviour, not branding
The most sustainable item is already in your closet. Ask if you truly need something new—or if you can buy secondhand or borrow it.
Rental and resale are growing quickly, with rental and resale platforms expanding rapidly.
Check materials & durability
Many synthetics contribute to pollution and are a major source of microplastic pollution.
Look for real transparency
Credible brands share supply chain details and use recognized certifications like organic textile or fair labour standards.
Make it a shared learning process
Kids are already noticing these issues—invite them into the conversation.
Why Slow Fashion Matters for Families
Slow fashion is no longer niche—it’s becoming everyday culture.
While fast-fashion still contributes heavily to climate change, water use, and waste, there is growing awareness and change happening at home, in schools, and online.
Young people are leading this shift through thrift culture, resale platforms, and conscious consumption habits.
As parents and caregivers, you can support this by:
- normalizing secondhand shopping
- teaching repair and mending skills
- encouraging creativity over consumption
- talking openly about where clothes come from
Every thrifted piece, repaired garment, and shared story builds a more intentional relationship with clothing.
And that shift is already happening.
