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Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion

3/31/2021

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The last piece I wrote was on Slow Fashion and I know for some, the question is ‘Why Not Fast Fashion?’ Fast sounds cool, right. Yes, it does sound cool when it comes to productivity and some other related areas, however, fast is not a cool word for sustainable fashion. I will say for this, ‘slow and steady wins the fashion race’ if everyone will give huge contribution and support to SLOW FASHION.
Here is a simple calculation of these two concepts, it is left to you to make a good choice for yourself and your environment.
SLOW + FASHION= hand made garments, slow production pace, environment-friendly garments, long-lasting garments, etc.
FAST + FASHION= low quality fabrics, fast and mass production, and complete opposite of slow fashion’s results.
Read more about Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion here

How You Can Contribute to Slow Fashion
  • Awareness Creation: Yes, let’s all talk about it. People usually leave this role to the professionals or rather, wait for some kind of big campaigns/rallies to create awareness which should not be. Every little talk and chat about the said ‘topic’ counts and matters, you really don’t have to wait for such big events. Just like sustainability, slow fashion is still in its early ages and not everyone knows about it which is our talking about it is very important. Talk about slow fashion and implications of fast fashion to your friends, colleagues, acquaintance, and even strangers because we all live on this planet together. And the responsibility to improve it and keep it going fine all lies on every one of us, stranger or no stranger (well, try not to piss a stranger off..LOL).
  • Patronising Slow Fashion Brands: What better way to show your support than to go for brands that stand for Slow Fashion? You should shop for clothes and other accessories from them as that will also encourage them to produce more at the right pace. You can research about brands to know the type of fashion they are promoting and as I will address later on, there are some brands that practice Slow Fashion in Sweden. However, if you are not in Sweden, you can research for your country and will surely get something.  You can get such information from the company’s website, social media as well as valid sources (like news publications).
  • Other actions you can take are:
  • Go for quality clothes.
  • Only buy clothes when you need them, no unnecessary purchase
  • Always check the clothes materials when purchasing; synthetic fibers, polyester, and plastic are not good because they are not biodegradable while materials cotton, silk, line, and wool are better options and some as well state on the label if the material is organic or not.
  • Donate your used/unwanted clothes.
  • Repair your clothes and accessories rather than going for news ones.
 
Scandinavian Brands That Promote Slow Fashion
  1. Woron: This is a slow fashion brand for lingerie and lounge wears. Every of their fabrics is made from Lenzing Modal, a smooth fiber. Link to their website.
  2. Asket: The brand uses low-impact dyes to produce the best mens-wear wardrobe, check it out here.
  3. Nudie Jeans: as the name implies, this fashion brand gives you the truth about denim, that is, ‘the naked truth’. Nudie Jeans use eco-friendly materials to produce long-lasting and good quality designs and click on this to get to their website.
Other Scandinavian brands that promote slow fashion are:
  • Dedicated
  • Filippa K
  • Organic Basics
  • Aiayu
  • Armoire Officielle
  • Swedish Hasbeens
I hope you got two or more from this piece. My next post will address this interesting question ‘How can an individual contribute to sustainable development goals?’ so be on the lookout. Ciao!

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TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.
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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES!

3/27/2021

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Buying Locally

Oftentimes, when people order a product online, it is easier to get it from a global marketplace such as Amazon or Ebay. However, especially with the current pandemic, it is important to support your local businesses as well. 

What does it mean to buy locally?
With “buying locally”, I mean a scenario where, instead of buying from a global marketplace or international conglomerate, a shopper buys their product or service from a business that is either completely locally sourced or locally situated. For instance, instead of buying at Lidl, opt for a local, small-scale grocery store.

Why buy locally?
Instead of ordering, let's say, your dish soap at the internationally owned supermarket, think of buying from a local supplier. Not only do you directly support the local economy and community by buying locally, it is also a great opportunity to save on shipping costs and international taxes. However, arguably  the most important reason for local purchase is SUSTAINABILITY. Buying locally is more sustainable!
Besides the economic sustainability in your local community, buying locally is also an excellent way to contribute to reduction of global shipping. A paper published by MIT researchers found that the ‘impatient shoppers’, or the people who more often than not opt for fast shipping, increase their carbon footprint threefold over that of local shoppers. 
Also, the material usage for packaging is significantly less damaging for the environment, which is an added advantage. This is often the case because it does not need to be shipped in bulk packaging across the world, but can instead be transported locally, or not even at all!
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Local recommendations
Now, we will try to outline and showcase some of the locally sourced or located stores, products, and services that might be a good alternative to the globally sourced items. Note that this list will of course not include all of the local alternatives, but is instead a highlight of some particular alternatives!
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Skosh
As one of the brands that 180 Degrees Consulting Lund works with currently, we can not help but recommend this as an excellent alternative to your usual cleaning supplies. Where Skosh differs from others is that it is not only a Lund-based startup, straight out of the Lund University Venture Hub, it is also a very sustainable solution to one of the biggest problems of current cleaning supplies. Where regular cleaning supplies that you would normally buy at a grocery store are 97% water, Skosh gives you spray bottles and tablets. By cutting down on this incredible amount of water weight, the carbon footprint of the transport and shipping is cut down drastically. The products are currently available on www.Skosh.se.
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Skosh
Africa Daily Market
Tucked away in the centre of Lund, right by Botulfsplatsen, Africa Daily Market is an excellent place to do some shopping for African food or spices, or to get an amazing meal. The products in the store are very affordable, and the staff is incredibly friendly, willing to help you with any need or question you may have. Besides this, another highlight is the incredible food that is sold there. The owner will passionately tell you about all her dishes, while serving you a luxurious amount of deliciously prepared African food. Whenever you need some incredible food and a comfortable atmosphere, do not hesitate to check it out!

Broder Jakobs Stenungsbageri
Another gem in the centre of Lund; Broder Jakobs offers delicious, locally-sourced coffee and various goods and pastries that are prepared and baked in-house. With arguably some of the best kanelbullar and kardemummabullar in the city, you should definitely try most of their menu items. The staff is incredibly friendly and the atmosphere in the café is similar to that of a big family living room. This may be because it is a family-owned business, but seeing the staff together and with their customers makes you feel truly at home. If you want to further support their business, they also offer various merchandise for their café.

I hope you enjoy some of the local alternatives, and truly wish for everyone to support their local business in these tough times. However, do remember that in the current pandemic, do what you can to minimize risks!!​
PIM KASTERMANS

Master’s student in International Marketing and Brand Management at Lund University. The author holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Amsterdam. Pim is a Marketing Director at 180 Degrees Consulting, Lund.
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SUSTAINABLE FASHION: A Good Time to Go Slow

3/11/2021

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P.C: Ocean&Me


Seeing this topic, tell me, what was the first thing that came to your mind? Or let’s start with this-why does this lady keep writing about sustainability?

At 180 Degrees Consulting Lund, we are passionate about social impact which is one of the major reasons for our consulting services. Sustainability is one of the vital ways to impact our environment and yes, we will keep talking about sustainability, social impact, consulting, social services, promotion, and support of non-profit organizations. 
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Check here to see some of the projects we are working on in creating a more sustainable future.
To create more awareness about making our present and future more sustainable, I wrote on the topic of SLOW FASHION. To have a concept called ‘Slow Fashion’ means that there is another concept called ‘Fast Fashion’, right? Fast Fashion is a topic for some other time. The following are some of the questions that people ask on this topic:

What is Slow Fashion?
Slow Fashion is the opposite of Fast Fashion and it simply means ‘Sustainable Fashion’. Slow fashion refers to a slow movement of fashion; such that fashion is made considering the people and the environment, that is, an environment-friendly fashion. Slow fashion encourages local production of clothes with the use of eco-friendly materials. It deals with the use and reuse of clothes to promote a sustainable environment.

A Sneak Peek into Slow Fashion’s History
According to Wikipedia & Filosofiala, the term ‘Slow Fashion’ was first coined in 2007 by Journalist Kate Fletcher; it was used in her article in the British publication ‘The Ecologist’. However, the idea of Slow Fashion was widely spread because an article titled ‘Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Clothing’ was published by Elizabeth Cline; this created more awareness about the dangers of fast fashion.

Why Slow Fashion?  

​I would say the next important thing for us to know as long as we know what Slow Fashion means, is its importance. As humans, we will never do something unless we identify the need for it and its benefits. So let’s dive straight into the need for Slow Fashion in our world:​
PictureP.C: WTVOX

  • Fights Climate Change: I honestly think this should be the biggest reason/motivation for us in choosing Slow Fashion and as well, in promoting it in our communities. Fashion makes a huge impact on climate with a large amount of its greenhouse gas emission. McKinsey research shows that the sector was responsible for some 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, about 4 percent of the total global emissions. 
  • Slow Fashion ensures that clothes are manufactured with quality materials which means our clothes will last longer than usual. This means that we will have more well-made and long-lasting clothes in the fashion industry and there will be almost no worries for new clothes.
  • It uses organic materials as well as those made from recycling. Therefore, Slow Fashion is ethical, sustainable, green, and very eco-friendly. And for you who want to contribute to sustaining our world, then Slow Fashion should be your go-to fashion.
  • It embraces the use of local products/materials and biodegradable textiles which has very little or no adverse effects on our environment and so these products can be easily recycled and can as well return to the ecosystem.

​Fashion can turn ugly considering how it pollutes our water supply, causes overconsumption, and tend to exploit those in the industry and most importantly, its negative effect on sustainability and climate change (due to greenhouse-gas emission). However, Slow Fashion is our chance to ensure all these are minimally reduced to the barest minimum. Therefore, it is our responsibility to do this together. Are you willing to promote Slow Fashion? 
CHALLENGE/ACTION POINT: Be more conscious and deliberate about your fashion, clothes and disposal of garments!!! 

QUESTION: Do you know about the Slow Food Movement?

If any other questions come to mind outside the ones addressed above, kindly ask in the comment section and I will be glad to answer them in the next episode. Thank you.
The next episode will be on Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion, how you can contribute your quota to Slow Fashion, how it can be adopted in developed and developing countries among other subsections to come. Watch out!!!

TITILOPE OLADIRAN

Master student in Media and Communication at Lund University. The author holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication Studies from the University of Ilorin. Titilope is an Editorial Director at 180 Degrees Consulting Lund.
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