Can the slowfashion culture improve our qualitity of life?
We’re inundated by marketing 24/7. Insecurities are constantly forced upon us, and we learn one way to remove them is through consumption. So the more these insecurities make us feel unattractive and out-of-date, the more money these companies make.
We should be aware that once our basic needs are met, wealth makes very little difference to one’s overall well-being and happiness. And in fact, extremely wealthy people actually suffer from higher rates of depression.
“Material things are neither bad nor good. It is the role and status they are accorded in one’s life that can be problematic. The key is to find a balance: to appreciate what you have, but not at the expense of the things that really matter–your family, community and spirituality.” James E. Burroughs, PhD, University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce.
Some numbers about the modern fashion industry to consider:
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world after the oil industry, since many years.
In 2010, 150 billion garments were produced, and that number is increasing each year. (The world’s population is 7.5 billion people, of which at least half can’t buy 3 garments a year)
In one year, an average UK family doesn’t use at least 30% of their clothes.
Waste of used garments only in UK was of 350 tons in one year.
Tell me, do you have garments at home that have never been used? Or were used maximum 2 times in this year?
The Slow movement
Is a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. It puts the attention back on our basic needs and our human essence. It helps to remind everyone that our basic needs never change. The need to belong, of love, for protection , of freedom, of identification, etc. All this is given only through slowness in human relations.
The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It is about finding the balance to do everything at the right speed: Savouring, enjoying and feeling inside us our actions rather than just counting the hours and minutes to do them, doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything we do, from working, to eating, to being a friend, a couple, a sister/brother.
Slow Living is enriching our life with both meaning and fulfilment. It emphasizes a less-is-more approach, focusing on the quality of our life in all aspects.
The Slowfashion spirit:
Is a unified representation of all the “sustainable”, “eco”, “green”, and “ethical” fashion movements.
Encourages education about the garment industry’s connection and impact on the environment and depleting resources,
Aims to slow down the supply chain to reduce the number of trends and seasons, through consumption of fewer products, with higher value
Encourages quality production, and returns greater value to garments removing the image of disposability of fashion.
Aims to produce garments for Human Beings with values, with feelings.
Stands for Quality over Quantity”
Means pleasure and fashion linked with awareness and responsibility. This means that designers, buyers, retailers and consumers are more aware of the impacts of products on workers, communities and the ecosystems. vs a complete unawareness of poverty wages, forced overtime and climate change.
reduces the pressure of time to give companies the opportunity to build mutually beneficial relationships, where workers will have secure employment with regular hours and the opportunity for promotion.
A recent report revealed that people are buying one third more garments than four years ago, fuelled by the rise of supermarkets and ‘low cost fashion’ retailers.
The slowing down process is simple! Here are some Slowfashion practices you can follow:
Choosing artisan products to support smaller businesses, fair trade or locally-made clothing.
Prefer clothing made with sustainable, ethically-made or recycled materials.
Buy quality garments that will last longer and transcend trends (with a timeless or classic style).
Reduce our consumption of mass-produced “fast fashion”
Repair your clothes with a smile
As you see, it’s easy to slow down! Be part of this movement and shift from Quantity to Quality in every aspect of your lives.
About us
B.e Quality is a Slowfashion brand using only premium materials with an extraordinary softness and non-allergenic: the Organic Pima cotton and Baby Alpaca.
Italian design that goes beyond fashion trends, versatile pieces with the highest quality allow you to wear them for years to come. The tailor-made details of our garments make the difference. You don't have to choose between dressing well and being sustainable.
For Women, Men and Newborn. Ethical & sustainable production.
Writer: Pilar Morales, Textile Engineer, founder B.e Quality.