SLOW FASHION
The Term Slow Fashion
THERE IS NO OFFICIAL DEFINITION OF THE TERM SLOW FASHION. IT CAN BE BEST DESCRIBED IN OPPOSITION TO FAST FASHION. WHEREAS FAST FASHION IS ABOUT CREATING TRENDS THAT CHANGE QUICKLY, CAUSING HUGE AMOUNTS OF TEXTILE WASTE AND EXPLOITING TEXTILE WORKERS, SLOW FASHION FOCUSES ON DESIGNS WHICH LAST LONGER THAN ONE SEASON. BY BUYING LESS AND INVESTING IN FEWER, HIGHER QUALITY ITEMS, IT AIMS TO CREATE BETTER CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. ITS KEY ASPECTS ARE
- HIGH QUALITY,
- ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CHOICE AND USE OF RESOURCES,
- FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRANSPARENCY,
- AND OFTEN A MORE REGIONAL PRODUCTION CHAIN.
What Slow Fashion means to us
SLOW FASHION IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO OUR VALUES AND THE WAY WE WORK AT SULKA. BY PRODUCING ONLY ON DEMAND, WE ARE PURSUING WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE MOST SUSTAINABLE WAY OF MAKING AND CONSUMING CLOTHES. IT IS ALSO THE SLOWEST WAY.
NEXT TO THAT, WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THE CREATION OF EACH NEW DESIGN. AS A SMALL BRAND, RESEARCH, FIRST DRAFTS, TEST WEARS AND IMPROVEMENTS TAKE UP A LOT OF TIME. WE GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO EVERY DECISION AND KEEP ALL TASKS IN OUR OWN HANDS – QUITE LITERALLY SO WHEN CUTTING, IRONING AND SEWING EACH GARMENT.
THE BIRTH OF SULKA HAS BEEN A VERY LONG PROCESS, STARTING WITH SECRET DAYDREAMS, AND MAKING SMALLER AND BIGGER MISTAKES THAT MADE THINGS GO EVEN SLOWER – SOMETIMES UNBEARABLY SLOW. BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, TAKING TIME TO DO THINGS RIGHT FEELS LIKE THE BEST APPROACH, AS IT ALLOWS US TO TRULY PURSUE OUR VALUES AND VISION, AND TO GROW ALONGSIDE THIS BRAND.
Practicing Slow Fashion
SLOW FASHION IS MORE THAN BUYING CLOTHES FROM FAIR FASHION LABELS. IT ALSO MEANS BEING CONSCIOUS OF THE THINGS YOU ALREADY OWN.
MENDING BROKEN PIECES, SWAPPING ITEMS YOU NO LONGER WEAR WITH FRIENDS OR AT SWAP PARTIES, OR ALTERING THEM TO (RE)SUIT YOUR TASTE CAN ALL BE WAYS OF PUTTING THIS PHILOSOPHY TO PRACTICE.
IT ALSO MEANS ASKING YOURSELF WHETHER YOU REALLY NEED TO BUY SOMETHING NEW, AND IF SO, WHETHER IT SUITS YOUR STYLE AND THE THINGS YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR WARDROBE. IF YOU DO NEED TO BUY SOMETHING NEW, TRY TO LOOK FOR QUALITY AND DURABILITY.
Read more about our values, philosophy and background story