How to Cultivate a Slow Fashion Mindset

In the past decade, we’ve awakened to the true cost of fast fashion, and the concerning reality of overconsumption, environmental degradation and labour exploitation. While the responsibility lies with fashion retailers to reform the industry, consumers also play a crucial role in slowing down the purchase cycle and catalysing positive change.

Slow fashion emerged in the 2000s as a reaction to rapid trend cycles and overproduction. Since then, it has evolved into a mindset and lifestyle, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards mindfulness and intentional living. Today, being a slow fashion advocate means prioritising quality, sustainability and longevity above all. 

However, slowing down isn't always easy or comfortable. Like other patterns of behaviour, our shopping habits can be difficult to change. Most of us have a complex and nuanced relationship with fashion. We have a wardrobe full of clothes we never wear. We’re never fully satisfied with the items we buy, and we replace our clothes instead of repairing them.

But what if there was another way of relating to our clothes? What if we only bought the things we truly loved? What if we viewed our clothes as an investment in quality, comfort and fit? What if we learned how to re-wear, repair and care for our garments?

Transforming our shopping habits requires an intentional shift in how we think about and engage with fashion. In order to evolve beyond the fast fashion zeitgeist, we have to be willing to challenge our perception of value, and reimagine our relationship with our clothes. Here’s how you can start to cultivate a slow fashion mindset.

1. Reflect on your relationship with fashion

Examine your current relationship with fashion — not just with clothes, but with fashion marketing and media. Reflect on the emotional triggers and external pressures that influence your purchasing decisions.

• How do you feel about your current wardrobe?
• What role does fashion play in your life?
• What motivates your clothing purchases?
• Do your purchasing habits align with your values?
• What happens to the clothes you no longer wear?

2. Know where your money is going

Money can be a powerful driver of positive change. Understanding the flow of money empowers you to put your money towards the things you care about most, and enables you to derive greater meaning from every transaction.

Track your spending. Create a spreadsheet to keep track of your fashion purchases. Monitor your spending monthly and look for patterns in your consumption. When do you tend to make your purchases, e.g. on pay day, during end-of-season sales?

Get to know the brand. Before investing in a new item, learn more about the brand’s values, materials, supply chain and business practices. What do they stand for? What are their commitments? Do they align with your own values?

Calculate cost per wear. The true value of a garment is related to how often you’ll wear it, and how long it will last. When evaluating a purchase, cost per wear will give you a more accurate indication of value than the price tag.

Cost per wear = price / (number of wears per year x lifespan of garment)

Know the flow of money. Consider who or what your purchase is funding. Reflect on how this impacts the world. What are the ripple effects? How does this ultimately impact you, the planet and the people you care about?

3. Understand the business of fashion

Developing an awareness of how clothes are produced, marketed and consumed gives you a deeper insight into the external factors that shape your perceived value of fashion. Fast fashion is the predominant business model, but it’s not the only way we can create and sell clothes.

	Fast Fashion	Slow Fashion
Business Model	High volume, low cost	Low volume, high cost
Purchase Cycle	2-4 weeks	6-12 months
Marketing Strategy	Urgency, peer pressure, FOMO	Transparency, values alignment, relationship building
Design Principle	Trend-driven	Human-centred

 

4. Shift your value perception

Fast fashion has built a paradigm of lowest pricing, aggressive marketing, fleeting trends and disposable garments. When we understand how the industry has distorted our value perception, we can start to write a new narrative of buying less, wearing more and taking care of the things we own.

Fast Fashion	Slow Fashion
Shopping for lowest price	Investing in quality, comfort & fit
Instant gratification	Long-term satisfaction
Disposing and replacing garments	Repairing and caring for garments
Frequent re-purchasing	Fewer, more intentional purchases
Chasing trends	Developing your personal style

 

5. Reframe your inner dialogue

The way we speak to ourselves has a profound impact on how we view the world and make decisions. By consciously reframing our thoughts, we can build empowering beliefs, make better choices, and establish more fulfilling habits.

Looking at Price	Understanding Value
Clothes are an expense.	Clothes are an investment.
I’m losing money.	I exchange money for value.
It’s too expensive.	I will save up for this.
I have to have it!	I don’t need this right now.
I saw ____ wear this.	It’s not for me.
This is such a bargain.	If I’m not going to wear it, then it’s not worth it.

 

At its very core, embracing slow fashion is about healing our relationship with our clothes. It compels us to question whether the cheapest option offers the greatest value. It means abandoning the pressure to keep up with ever-changing trends, and dressing to satisfy our own expectations. Ultimately, it’s about redirecting our money towards our highest values, and curating a wardrobe that offers long-term satisfaction.

As we start to change our habits, we'll most likely encounter resistance and discomfort. There will be moments when we revert to old patterns, but it’s important not to get discouraged. It takes time to create lasting change, and in the journey of slow fashion, there is no rush; slow and steady is the way.