Where did you get that?
If it’s an older item (which many pieces in my closet are), chances are I got it from Aritzia – I used to shop there a lot in my shopaholic days. I always try to include links to exact or similar items when I can throughout my articles. Also check out my partner shop page to see a list of brands that I love and would recommend!
What apps do you use to make your capsule wardrobe?
I use Stylebook on my tablet to organize my closet and create outfit ideas. To create my full capsule wardrobe overview for each season, I use a web app called Canva. Finally, to gather outfit inspiration I mainly use Pinterest – you can follow me there if you want!
When/how did you get started with slow fashion and sustainable living?
I started moving towards minimalism around 3 years ago. Before that, I was quite the opposite. I was working a high stress job and living in an expensive city. Any money I had leftover after rent went to ‘retail therapy’ to make me feel better. After years of dealing with anxiety and low mood, I knew something had to change. One day I watched the Minimalism documentary and the light bulb came on. I realized I was crazy to be working myself into the ground just to afford all this stuff I didn’t really need; it was all just for keeping up appearances or because it’s what society values as success. I started by decluttering my closet and selling all of the clothes I didn’t use, making back a little bit of the money I spent on them and giving them to a better home. Then it spread to other areas of my life, and to my family and friends. The benefits were enormous – I saved money, I was much happier and content with what I had, and I felt better about my environmental footprint. I changed jobs and moved cities, slowing down the pace of my life to something I could keep up with. I found a wonderful community of like-minded people online. And I realized I wanted to share this journey, which is how I started my blog.
How do you define ‘slow fashion’?
Fashion is almost a bad word for it because that’s linked to trends or what’s currently ‘in style’, something which ‘slow fashion’ definitely veers away from. To me it means checking our consumption; basically, shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories with more intention, mindfulness, and ethics. The core principles are quality over quantity (clothes that last), timeless style (style that lasts), sustainability (less clothing waste and eco-friendly production), and ethicality (fair living wages and conditions for garment workers.) It’s the opposite of “fast fashion” where low-quality (essentially disposable), trendy clothes are produced unethically and released almost weekly. Fast fashion encourages consumers to be constantly purchasing more new stuff so corporations can rake in the profits which do not go back to the actual people making the clothes.
What are your favourite sustainable/ethical brands?
The great thing is that these days, there are so many brands that are trying to make an impact. I love Everlane, Tradlands, Elizabeth Suzann; take a look at my partner shop to see which brands I love and work with! While there are a lot of great brands, I also don’t think it’s up to them – as long as consumers out there are buying fast fashion, it’s profitable and companies will continue to do it. It’s our responsibility as consumers to break that cycle and turn to better alternatives or shop less frequently. Thrifting is a great way to shop sustainably without breaking the bank, as high quality, ethical clothing is very expensive and not accessible to everyone.
What advice would you give someone looking to get started with slow fashion and living more sustainably?
I would recommend watching a good documentary or two, like the Minimalism documentary or The True Cost. They’re great sources of information and opened my eyes to the real damage consumerism is doing to this world and to people. Then start doing your research on how you can make a difference – there are plenty of blogs and websites out there dedicated to this way of life that offer good information and practical advice. And finally just make small steps where you can. A thrifted shirt here, a pass on new shoes there. It may seem daunting but you don’t need to be perfect about it right off the bat, progress is much better than perfection.
Don’t see your question? You can always contact me and I’ll get back to you!