What is the Difference Between Fast Fashion and Slow Fashion?

Have you ever heard of the term “slow and fast” in the fashion world? It can be said that they are the backbone of the modern textile industry. Fast fashion is the complete opposite of slow fashion because slow fashion focuses on sustainability and quality, while fast fashion focuses on availability and quantity. But it doesn't stop there. So let’s learn more about the difference between fast fashion and slow fashion.  

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion means producing quickly and then bringing trendy fashion items to market. Most of these trends come from popular fashion magazines. They learn from manufacturers what people like or what is popular. Then, within a short period of time, they began producing and selling popular clothing. People may like this type of clothing because it is fashionable and inexpensive. However, due to low price and short time, quality suffers. In short, all trendy and cheap clothes fall into the category of fast fashion.  

What is slow fashion?

As the name suggests, slow fashion means sustainable fashion. Buying, designing or producing high-quality products that last for a long time is called slow fashion or sustainable fashion. It was basically founded by Kate Fletcher from the Center for Sustainable Fashion. This fashion concept has now taken the world by storm. This involves producing fashionable products on-site using high-quality materials. No hazardous chemicals are used in the production of these fashion items. All production and products are environmentally friendly. Therefore, slow fashion is also a sustainable form of fashion that has a positive impact on living things and the planet. You can even style your clothes in silk or organic cotton and it will fall under the slow fashion category. So you follow slow fashion when you have high-quality fashion pieces and they will support you for years because you take care of them.  

The difference between fast fashion and slow fashion  

Here are six key differences between fast fashion and slow fashion:

1.    Production

The first difference between fast fashion and slow fashion is the method of production. For example, fast fashion is the rapid design of replicas of popular clothing. Production of these designs then began to proceed at a very high rate. Finally, the job is passed to the marketing team, who must quickly market the garments and then distribute them. On the other hand, the production process of slow fashion is completely different from that of fast fashion. The reason is that the clothing is mostly handmade in a slow fashion style. Many artistic minds work on creating designs and then turning them into reality. Many hard-working designers put in a lot of time to create these slow fashion garments. Your work must be of the best quality not quantity. Finally, fast fashion uses synthetic materials for production and is produced for about ten seasons per year.

2.    Quality

In the fast fashion industry, clothes are made in a short time. In addition, low-quality materials are prioritized in the design of these fast clothes. Therefore, you need to replace them quickly after two to three years. This is why fast fashion clothes are of poor quality. Slow fashion products guarantee their quality. They are made in such a way that you can use them without wearing out or even aging. The reason why slow fashion has the best quality lies in the use of high-quality materials and resources.

3.    Fees

As with any purchase, it really comes down to cost. Therefore, fast fashion is usually more expensive than slow fashion. It's cheaper to buy them separately. But due to poor quality, the cost increases when replacing fast fashion clothing. Slow fashion, on the other hand, requires a relatively low budget. The individual products can be a bit pricey. But remember, these products will last you a lifetime due to their high quality.

4.    Water consumption

The production of fast fashion clothing consumes trillions of liters of water every year. So a lot of water is wasted in the process. This causes water pollution due to the use of microplastics and chemicals and has very harmful effects. The water slowly goes through several recycling and filtration processes. Its purpose is to prevent pollutants from entering waterways. However, even with natural fibers, not that much microplastics get into them.

5.    Sustainability

Fast fashion is unsustainable compared to slow fashion. The first main reason is that fast fashion clothing is not recycled. Producing a polyester shirt using fast fashion technology emits approximately 9,000 grams of carbon dioxide into the air. Materials such as nylon, polyester and acrylic are also used in the production of fast garments. As a result, they contribute more to the harsh environment. However, slow fashion is sustainable because sustainable materials are used and less waste is produced. In addition, the production of carbon dioxide is lower since approximately 2000 grams of carbon dioxide are released into the air in this way. Recycling and donating clothing also reduces waste. This means that slow fashion has a more positive impact on the environment than fast fashion.  

6.    Labor Practice

Fast fashion does not pay its workers ideal wages because most of these jobs are moved to developing countries. In these countries, labor laws are not followed; their wages are low and their treatment is poor. But slow fashion has benefits in terms of treating workers well and paying wages. You have to work less. But they are paid handsomely for their hard work.

Conclusion

We hope you have clearly understood the difference between fast fashion and slow fashion. Fast fashion offers a trendier, trendier look at a fraction of the price. But it also contributes a lot to the environment and health. Therefore, you should become a responsible citizen and choose slow fashion instead of fast fashion.