Kanula Clothing’s Guide to Slow Fashion
So, you might have introduced Ecozone’s cruelty-free, eco-friendly laundry products into your home, but have you ever considered how eco-friendly the clothes that you’re wearing and washing are? We’ve teamed up with sustainable and ethical clothing brand, Kanula, to talk all things slow fashion. Read what they have to say below.
Slow is not the opposite of fast – there is no dualism – but is a different approach in which designers, buyers, retailers and consumers are more aware of the impacts of products on workers, communities and ecosystems. It is an approach to clothing production which takes into account the processes and resources needed to produce the items, particularly focusing on the aspect of sustainability. Slow fashion requires buying higher quality garments that will last longer, delivering quality over quantity.
It’s easy to shop cheap, fast fashion. And it’s easy to shop often. But you can make a conscious choice to shop slow, ethically, and sustainably. Like all things in life, with great choice comes great responsibility.
Why exactly is slow fashion important?
There are numerous reasons as to how and why slow fashion is so important and why we must continue this movement to create a more sustainable fashion industry.
Cruelty Free
We know that in the fashion industry using animal products for clothing, shoes and accessories is the norm. A common misconception, for example, is that leather is a by-product of the meat industry. However, on the contrary, each year over one billion animals are killed worldwide for the leather trade. Sustainable fashion brands are increasingly starting to grasp the concept of using animal free alternatives.
Better Working Conditions
It must be noted that slow fashion also supports fairer and safer working conditions for those that are producing the clothing. For many years, poor labour has been an issue in some global fashion companies and unfortunately, modern day slavery does exist. In reality, endless working hours, very low wages, and shocking health and safety conditions are what the fast fashion sector involves.
For Kanula it is important for us to be aware of the conditions in the factories we use. The wellbeing of our workers is critical to us as a brand and for that reason we ensure that all our factories meet fair and safe working conditions, without negotiation.
Better for Mother Earth
The impact on our planet due to fast fashion is astronomical. Fast fashion essentially focuses on speed and low costs in order to provide frequent new collections based on current trend, a process used to meet the high demand for larger brands. A popular fabric which is commonly used in fashion is polyester; many garments have elements of polyester in them whether it’s a high percentage or low. However, when polyester garments are washed, they shed microfibres which then end up in our oceans, contributing to the high levels of plastic in our waters. Fast fashion increases this significantly which is why it is important for us at Kanula that we do not add to the unnecessary waste and we continue to make only what is needed.
Protect our Oceans
A 2015 report from the Ellen McArthur foundation estimated that half-a-million tonnes of microfibres are released into waterways every year, with 53 million tonnes of new textiles produced annually. At Kanula, we are big advocates for sea turtles (also donating a percentage of each purchase to the Sea Turtle Conservancy) and protecting our oceans is of paramount importance to us. Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales, and other marine mammals, and more than 1 million seabirds die each year from ocean pollution and ingestion, or entanglement in marine debris.
Avoid Toxic Materials
Vibrant colours and patterns are used in tie dying, which is a popular trend at the moment. In order to achieve such results, toxic chemicals are used which are in fact the second largest polluter of clean water globally. Toxic chemicals alone are enough to harm sea life, and with the masses of garments being made due to the fast fashion model this is extremely worrying for our marine life. There is also a devastating impact of toxic chemical use in agriculture which affects the growth of cotton, the main fibre in many clothing items.
It is clear that fast fashion has a huge impact on our planet and all included. That’s why at Kanula our made to order process is something we are proud of. Slow fashion is forever. It is not a trend and we as a brand promise to use our platform to advocate for this. We are here to make a difference.
We are Kanula. We are Unique. We do it for the future Me.
Find out more about Kanula and explore the collection at Kanula.org and discover Ecozone’s eco-friendly, vegan laundry range here.
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