Slow Down – Choosing Handmade Over Mass-Produced

It was a few years ago now that I started to realise that I didn’t want to support fast fashion and consumerism anymore. It took time to change my impulses and break the cycle of consumption, but I feel like I am almost there.

Capsule wardrobe

I keep a capsule wardrobe. Living in a climate with four seasons, I have thus far kept a small amount of garments in a storage unit for when they’re not in use. During the winter, my summer clothes would be in storage and vice versa. But this year I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore.

Of course there will be a few things like shorts and swimming trunks, my coat, hat and mittens and boots, that I will not be able to use all year. However, the rest of my garments are now all year-items. I have about 40-50 garments.

Work clothes

One 4th of that is made up of the clothes I need for gardening and certain work outside. I have utility shorts, mid length trousers and then I have long trousers with flannel inside for winter gardening/work outdoor. The same applies to my work gloves. I have one thin pair, one that I use throughout spring and summer, and a warmer pair for fall and winter gardening.

Make what you need

About half of the rest of the garments in my wardrobe are handmade. I have either made them from scratch, altered them or re-designed them. Usually the former, but I do like to add my own details to the rest of my clothes as well.

Everything in my wardrobe is considered sustainable and part of the slow fashion movement. Most of the garments are made out of organic and/or recycled materials and several garments were purchased second hand. I still prefer not to support big brands that I know could be doing more for the environment. Therefore I am now trying to slowly faze out the branded items. I’ll use them all until they cannot be mended or used anymore, and then I will replace them with homemade garments. I will also, if possible, repurpose the buttons, zipper and as much of the main fabrics as I can.

Shoes

I prefer barefoot shoes and the ones I wear most of the year were purchased about five years ago now. They’re well looked after and still look brand new. During winter I have a pair of boots from a famous brand, and I will use them for as long as I possibly can. When they do need to be replaced, I will likely choose a longer barefoot boot to invest in instead. For winter, I prefer a shoe that will end a few centimetres below the knee. The snow can pile up and I don’t like getting snow inside my shoes. Nor do I like getting mud splatter on my trousers. So, wwith a taller boot, I can avoid both of those things.

Warmer clothes

I have a coat that I bought many years ago and it will serve me well for at least 5-10 more years. Likely more. The same goes for my mittens, hats and scarves. Most, if not all, are handmade and very warm. Should they need mending, I can mend them. I won’t need any new ones, but if I would like some, I can easily make myself some.

Washing clothes

I wash my clothes as rarely as I can, and I am very careful when I do wash them. Handmade items are handwashed. The rest are gently washed on a shorter, colder washing program. I add baking soda to the drum with the clothes, and I pour a bit of ACV in where some pour in their softener.

I don’t like perfumes or scented items, and that applies to detergents as well. Baking soda and vinegar have always served me well. If I want a scent, I could potentially add a natural scent to the vinegar. But personally, I prefer perfume-free garments.

I also have a non-electric washer called a Drumi and it works great. It’s a bit of a light workout and everything is cleaned well. For travelling, I have a Scrubba wash bag, and it also works well.

How do you feel about fast fashion?

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