Fast Fashion Detox: One Month No New Clothes
When a student pursues a fashion and apparel designing course with us, we don’t just focus on teaching them how to design garments or come out with their own collection. Instead, we focus on teaching them how they can make a difference, recycle garments and concentrate on a slow-fashion approach. It’s crucial in today’s day and age, especially if you want to serve eco-conscious consumers.
Just like you have a food and alcohol detox, there’s something new which is taking the world of fashion by a storm. It’s none other than a fast fashion detox. Yes, you read that right!
What is a Fast Fashion Detox?
As the name implies, a fast fashion detox helps you tackle clothing waste. It’s all about not buying new clothes and recycling what you have. It’s definitely a great initiative considering the huge environmental and social impact the fashion industry has on the environment.
Did you know? In India, we produce 7793 kilotons of textile waste. Appalling, right?
By embarking on a path of a fashion detox, you will not just be able to save money but also tackle the amount of waste generated.
By committing to not buying new clothes for a month, you can surely break the cycle of fast fashion and raise awareness about its negative impact.
How to Fashion Detox?
Do a Wardrobe Cleanse
A wardrobe cleanse is nothing but decluttering. Get all your clothes and shoes out of your closet and lay them on the floor. Make three cartons namely keep, donate, and trash. Whether you’ve bought something by mistake, made an impulse shopping decision or some clothes simply don’t fit well anymore, it’s a must to get rid of clothes you’re no longer wearing. It’s the first step of doing the fashion detox. You might even find a few clothes you’ve never worn. Make a note of the clothes you haven’t touched in years so that you can accordingly plan your future purchases. Once you take an inventory of what you already own, you can recycle/upcycle them better.
Set Fashion Detox Goals
You can’t go on a detox without setting clear goals. Ask yourself why you’re doing this in the first place. Is it to reduce consumption, save money or be more mindful of the environment/planet. When you write down your motivations, you’ll constantly be reminded of your goals.
Review & Unfollow
Review the kind of pages you follow on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Ask yourself if this is the kind of content you want to expose yourself to every month? Unfollow the pages that no longer make sense to you. It’s better to invest your time into something productive rather than mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. If you’re on mailing lists that keep reminding you of the latest drops and trends, it’s probably time to unsubscribe. The more you consume such content, the more tempted you will get to give in. You need to be able to resist.
Reinvent your Clothes
Just because you’re on a fashion detox, it does not mean that you need to give up clothes altogether. It only means that you need to stop buying any new clothes. Get creative and create new outfits from your existing wardrobe. Mix and match so that you gain a fresh perspective on what you already own. It’s a good idea to upcycle and repair. You will find plenty of inspiration on Pinterest on how you can upcycle your existing closet. If you’re finding it hard to do it on your own, you can also get a friend to join you. After all, more the merrier.
Borrow, Rent, Thrift
A lot of individuals have made fashion detox a lifestyle. They don’t buy new clothes unless it’s really necessary or if they need anything for a specific event. Instead, what they do is that they rent or borrow. These days, there are a whole lot of portals that allow you to rent wedding or occasion wear. This way, you not just save large amounts of money but also stick to your agenda. Another mindful shopping alternative is thrifting or second-hand shopping. Thrift stores have some really unique pieces at a fraction of the cost.
Evaluate & Reflect
Any kind of detox can make you feel out of touch with yourself. Half way through the detox, it’s a good idea to pause and reflect on how it’s going. You can even journal your experience and jot down your thoughts. Write down some new ways you found to style your clothes. Once you’ve successfully completed one whole month of a fashion detox, reflect on how you can make it a lifestyle and where you can improve.
Conclusion
If you’re in the fashion industry, it’s important to do your bit and make a difference. We at Vogue emphasize on sustainability, upcycling and thrifting, and thus all the modules in our curriculum have chapters dedicated to slow fashion. Together, we can all become conscious consumers.
