Anyone for a slow fashion thread???

[CorianderSnell]

I’m watching Stacey Dooley’s ‘Fashion’s Dirty Secret’ thing and feeling pretty horrified ... making me feel more determined about buying responsibly.

I’ve seen no new stuff threads on here, but I will genuinely need to buy some things - eg got nothing I can wear on my feet in the rain at the moment - so want to concentrate on buying well.

I’m a terrible clothes buyer - indecisive and never really loving what I buy. I could really do with some help. I do want to have nice enough clothes, but don’t want to just mindlessly buy heaps of stuff...

So, please, join me and give me tips about good places to find more responsibly made stuff, second hand, stuff that really lasts etc.

My first mission - as I said - is winter footwear and a jumper that doesn’t stop halfway between my elbows and wrists...

Great idea for a thread. I'm a minimalist and also as one get's older (birthday today, so yet another year lol) I do think better quality stuff trumps cheaper. I watched SD too. I used to work in M&S in the late 1980s. It's so true; we'd have 4 different lines of clothes a year. That was it. It was constantly restocked for a whole season.

I recently set up a spreadsheet (saddo) to list items I want to buy so that I can buy more consciously in terms of cost, research, non-impulsive and to fill gaps in my wardrobe. For example, I wanted a navy blue wool blazer style jacket so I just got one. I've found it a really useful exercise.

Also, a good tip is if you're trying stuff on in a changing room ask yourself "do I like it more than what I was wearing when I came into the store". Wouldn't work if you were shopping for a completely different garment (skirt vs jeans for example) but say if you're looking at a similar style of top. This works for me. I know what suits me and whilst I'm not averse to having identical such things in mulitple colours it can get a little bonkers.

I was going to suggest UGG for boots that last - the proper leather ones rather than the slipper style. Also Toms shoes have a brilliant company ethic so I buy from them.

H&M have a conscious range that use recycled or organic fabrics. This philosophy extends to their other brands but not sure what they're called under them all. COS is one of theirs.

I think ASOS also have a recycled fabric range. Will have to check what it's called though.

I started doing the slow fashion challenge in June and I've got to say I really don't miss going clothes shopping. I try and buy clothes if I need them from charity shops, ebay and depop. I'm dressing better as I'm really considering what I'm buying instead of just buying something because its on trend. I'm also saving a ton of money, so much that I don't think I could go back to how I used to be.

I’ve got 3 summers wear out of my toms by being very careful when I wear them (eg not on the beach, when it’s wet, or to do any huge distances walking in them), they aren’t a particularly hard wearing shoe. This third year though, all the colour has faded out from the sun. I still wear them as slip ons for when I pop out with the bins or to hang washing out.

I have recently revived a few items using a black dye (although now wonder if that’s not a great idea, environmentally speaking) but it’s pretty much saved a pair of faded blue cords, a towel, and a pair of black Levi’s that were faded and never worn anymore, and now they are like new again.

Happy birthday pupsiecola!

I agree with toms, love the principle. No the hardest wearing, DP wears them out in a summer but mine have lasted 2 and look hardly worn.

I also do the spreadsheet thing. I makes it fun for me as I spent my spare time hunting down that one thing

Great idea for a thread!
I'm 80% eBay these days, most of it BNWT or BNWOT and always natural fabrics from decent brands. I have never had so many 'good' clothes. I also recommend having a look at M and M direct online, I got beautiful sheepskin lined black leather Ugg Chelsea ankle boots for £40 last winter!

I've lost lots of weight recently and basically had to get a entire new wardrobe. I've discovered lots of ethical brands with cool clothes such as bleed clothing and armed angels. Or I look online for second hand stuff. But trying to be minimalist is the key I think

I meant to say the proper shoes/boots from Toms rather than the canvas ones they're famous for. I have a pair that are 3 years old and still going. I wear them all year round too. I also have a pair of leather sandals from them that are very comfortable and are lasting well too.

I also decided this year to only buy second hand as far as it's possible. This is made quite a lot harder due to living in Korea where vintage is not in any way fashionable and there is precisely one charity shop brand. Recently, I have found an auction house where everything starts at 10,000 won (like 7.50) and apparently a lot of it sells at that price, so looking forward to getting some stuff for the house there. There is also a flea market in the centre which has clothes/house stuff etc. And there is one vintage shop brand, but most vintage stuff here is really over-priced - and tbh, I don't care if stuff is vintage aesthetic or not, I just miss a good charity shop!

One good point is that a lot of clothes in independent shops here are made in Korea, so the welfare standards are a bit higher, though tbh, they do still treat the workers there pretty badly. But they at least have decent accommodation and it's nothing like as awful as in SE Asia. So I do try to buy stuff in the small shops, rather than H&M, Zara etc, it's mostly ok quality and quite cheap.

But like others have pointed out, I also don't like my consumption of clothes. I buy something, then a few weeks later, I don't like it any more. I want to get out of that cycle.

Also, if I buy stuff from abroad (eg Asos Marketplace/Etsy) that's also obviously terrible for the environment, so I am trying to keep it local, but it's definitely a struggle.

The worst part is shoes, locally made shoes are terrible quality and high street brands like H&M are both terrible quality and the mark-up from UK prices is ridiculous (at least another 30%).

I'm coming back to the UK in January for a few weeks, so I will be charity shopping HARD.

I think it's important to say that second hand isn't conducive to thoughtful shopping. You can't plan. If you go away and think about an item, even for an hour, there's a good chance someone else will grab it. So choose or lose. I've made some bad buys although I tell myself the money's gone to a good cause and redonate it.

And I wouldn't like to try and build up a whole wardrobe this way. It works for me because I already have a lot of clothes and I'm looking for the gems, not the basics.

flo for me, I very often have an idea of what I want to buy, like these days I'm looking for a mustard sweater so if I see a second hand one, I will buy it. I make far fewer impulse buys in second hand stores for some reason (less appealingly laid out/less marketing perhaps).

In my local charity shops back home, if you ask them to put something behind the counter for a couple of hours while you think about it, they normally will do so.

Really? I'm the exact opposite If I'm buying new I'm quite anal these days but if it's second hand - and especially charity shop - I lose all control. I've bought some stinkers, which I tend to keep quiet about on here. They're usually label-victim buys - a yellow Prada jumper floats into my head for some reason...

flo I think because I'm a shortarse so not that much fits me anyway so makes it easy not to buy.

A yellow Prada jumper sounds pretty nice imo. I'd be all about it.

It's lovely on the hangar but the colour makes me look like shit. I'd dye it but there's quite a lot of stitching (which almost certainly won't take the dye) so I'll probably redonate rather than risk ruining it.

flo if you don't mind pm-ing me a photo and a price, I would possibly buy it from you (if you don't mind shipping to Korea).

Not at all This. I'll have to dig it out first (it's somewhere on the 'needs some work' pile) and take a photo so it might be tomorrow before I manage it. From memory it's either size 8 or XS and very fitted with a deep V neck (which is another issue for me - I'd feel self conscious without a vest top underneath but there isn't a lot of room). I wouldn't want any money for it - I paid less than a tenner - I'd rather it just went to a good home.

flo woo excited!!

I’m joining too as the Stacy Dooley documentary really made me think. At the moment I’m looking at my wardrobe to work out what the 20/80 is (the 20% of stuff worn 80% of the time). It’s already helped me empty a virual shopping basket of clothes that I’d intended buying as it highlighted that a dress, skirt and sweater would end up as surplus when a) I already have perfectly good ones and b) they are items worn only 20% of the time since my daily staples are trousers and cardigans. Instead it’s a hunt for the perfect pair of comfortable black trousers as the only item to be added this winter. Yes to buying fewer items that last longer and will become a loved part of the 80% rather than languish in the back of the wardrobe as an ill thought through bargain.

I’m also going to start emailing some of the retailers that I have frequently used in the past to ask about the ir supply chain and will be referencing SD’s documentary. Even if they don’t answer, enough queries it might make them realise that this has become an issue for their customers (I won’t mention my impulse buying days are behind me:)

I love this thread, some really useful tips. I agree it’s about getting into the mindset of being excited about wearing old things in a new way or tracking down the perfect item over time.
I bought a book called ‘sew your perfect capsule wardrobe’ and although I haven’t yet had time to try any of the patterns, they look very adaptable to changing fashions, eg the trouser pattern has options for straight, skinny or wide leg, or culottes, and the skirt can be mini a line, maxi, pencil, etc.

Also I was looking at specialist cobblers - there are a couple online (shoe spa and original cobbler) that do repairs that other high st cobblers have turned down, and might be able to save your uggs @Coriander - you can email them a pic and then they say if they can do it. I’m planning to see if they can put block heels on a gorgeous pair of suede knee boots that I have but never wear because they have uncomfy stiletto heels.

And ps for those into sewing- when I was in Lidl last week I noticed a poster for the overlocker and sewing machine coming back on sale, along with various other sewing items- not sure when exactly they will be in store or if it happened already.

I have lately been trying to revamp my wardrobe by not buying new, but making over what I've got, getting rid of unflattering, cheap clothes and shoes and mending stuff that's hanging around in the cupboards unworn. Environmental and economic reasons both come into it for me - and the fewer clothes I have, the easier it is to find something to wear - who knew?

Biggest successes so far -

A pair of favourite ankle boots resoled and the leather treated - they're over ten years old, but I reckon I'll get another couple of years at least now

Sewing a button back on a leather jacket - again over ten years old, but looks like new

Cleaning tarnished costume jewellry and the scuffed soles of my trainers (with the help of Youtube for natural cleaning ideas)

Finally taking a stained silk shirt to the dry cleaners (after about three years, ahem) and it being a big hit at a birthday party at the weekend

Next project - getting indigo dye out of a suede bag

Most of the clothes that survived the cull are navy, cream/white, grey, black and khaki, so it's so much easier to put an outfit together! I am still making a short list of things I might need to fill some gaps, but am having a good think about it and am determined not to make my usual rash (!) purchasing decisions!

I also get lots of stuff second hand. I hadn't really thought of it as being sustainable particularly, it was just a good way of getting high quality stuff at a price I can afford. But if it does both, happy days! If I see something expensive that I love, I'll try it on and then look for it second hand on eBay/Vestiaire/dress agencies over the next few seasons.

I'm don't go for the latest thing usually, so a few years here or there make little difference. I've just bought a Mcqueen black velvet frock coat that I lusted over eight years ago on Vestiaire. It's the sort of thing I'll wear for decades.

I'm useless in charity shops though. I'll follow the parking access tips, thanks @Floisme.

Those of you are are decent at sewing. I have a Ralph Lauren top that I love but it's a size 18 and I'm now a 10. Do you think it's possible to get it taken in that much? The sleeves have a elbow patch so not sure how that will work

Today I am wearing 20 year old Doc Martins. I'm gutted they aren't made to the same standard anymore. My newer ones gave up the ghost after 3 years.
Does anyone go to weigh and pays? It's generally £15 a kilo and you do have to rummage and sift through piles of monsters but I have found some favourites there. There are Facebook groups which have their sales dates on.
As a tip, take a tape measure with you, queues for the changing areas are long.