Sustainable Clothing Trends in 2024 by Ashley Fuchs
Fast fashion is out, and slow fashion is the latest trend in balancing style, quality and sustainability. Whereas fast fashion produces clothing in the cheapest possible way, pieces are often poor-quality, poor-fitting, and pour your money down the drain. Slow fashion, alternatively, prioritizes quality and durability in addition to style. The adage “you get what you pay for” comes to mind concerning these options, and the choice is often between fast and cheap or slow and expensive. So, what is a person to do if they want slow fashion at fast fashion prices? Clothing Swap: Hold a clothing swap party with your friends! Pull gently used and rarely worn items and accessories from your closet and set them up in stations around the host’s house. Add refreshments and music, and now it’s a shopping party! Any leftovers can be donated to a worthy charity, such as Bubbe’s Closet, which serves Anne Arundel County (AACO). Freecycle: There are a number of smartphone apps connecting people across a community who have clothing items (and more) to give away for free: Trash Nothing, BuyNothing, Craigslist, and Freebie Alerts are just some of your choices. You can arrange for porch pickups or public spaces only if you are uncomfortable giving out your address.
Thrifting: Those of us who love the thrill of the hunt could spend hours picking over a new thrift shop! AACO has many Goodwill locations, as well as New to You (Annapolis), LMS Compassion Place (Annapolis), Around the Corner Thrift Store (Pasadena), Joy Reigns (Edgewater), Savvy Consignment (Severna Park), Simply Jill’s Consignment Clothing (Dunkirk), and Plato’s Closet (Glen Burnie). If you know of another off-the-beaten-path location, drop it in the Annapolis Moms Facebook page! Online resale: Clothing resale’s popularity has created a whole industry of online websites which connect sellers to buyers for a small fee. Websites like Thred-Up, Mercari, Depop, Poshmark, and Ebay are treasure troves of high- end, brand name, or vintage pieces for shoppers. And for sellers, online resale offers massive exposure to national and international markets. Ditch Fast-Fashion: And finally, the most important thing you as a consumer can do to help the earth with your fashion selections is choose not to purchase fast fashion! You are voting with your dollars when you spend (or not) on certain types of products. By choosing slow fashion options, you communicate to retailers that you want more quality options, and less drain on the planet for less money.
SUMMER 2024 | 93
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