I talk about slow fashion a lot. Sometimes I think the word ‘slow’ can get diluted and passed off as a fad, but committing to maintaining a slower wardrobe is the complete opposite. All around the world, we buy too many clothes. The fashion industry is a huge source of pollution, as well as being one of the most unethical industries when you examine how it’s workers are treated. We are all buying too many clothes that we simply don’t need, contributing to this enormous problem that is never going to be solved if we continue to buy, buy, buy.

How many clothes do you actually need? I feel like a hypocrite writing this as I definitely own many more garments than I ‘need’, even now after I’ve purged my wardrobe and given away most of what I used to own. We’re not cartoon characters, we don’t wear the same outfit everyday, but we do all have favored garments that we wear on repeat. By embracing slow fashion, you are building a wardrobe full of these favored pieces that you wear on repeat, and resisting the urge to add trend-led, fast fashion garments that you wear once or twice and hide away, never to wear again. If you want to have a slow wardrobe, you should only buy clothes that you need or love, only buy clothes from brands that commit to sustainable and ethical practices, and never throw clothes away to landfill, finding new homes or new uses for them.

When I add a new garment to my wardrobe, it’s a considered purchase that I have thought long and hard about. Take this Off On jumpsuit (ad/gifted) in these photos. I fell in love with off-white sleeveless jumpsuits, researched many, many styles from different brands and eventually stumbled across this particular jumpsuit that fits me perfectly and does exactly what I wanted it to do. It’s easy to throw on and I like how it looks, meaning that I wear it often. I very, very rarely make a spontaneous purchase and even more rarely do I buy from high street brands. I’d rather save up money for one special piece from a brand that I trust that I will wear over and over again.

Put simply, slow is the opposite of fast. If the fast fashion industry repels you and you seek an alternative, it’s time to pursue a slower approach to your wardrobe. Rather than making hurried decisions and buying something because it catches your eye or you’ve seen someone else wearing it, slow down the buying process and ask yourself a few questions before adding it to your basket and rushing to the checkout. Here are a few questions I ask myself every time I’m considering a new purchase:

Do I need this garment? Do I love it? Is it missing from my wardrobe?

Does this brand abide by ethical and sustainable practices in all aspects of their supply chain?

Is this garment made from natural materials that will stand the test of time?

How often will I wear this?

Do I have anything to wear this with? Does it go with other garments I already own?