The Future of Slow Fashion
Each September, The Butterfly Club hosts a Slow Fashion Week to celebrate the intersection of fashion + climate. Sandwiched between New York Fashion Week and Climate Week, Slow Fashion Week is a 7-day event series featuring a mix of hands-on workshops, sustainable shopping, and panel discussions. Continue reading to learn more about our key takeaways from Slow Fashion Week 2024.
Around the corner from East Williamsburg’s bustling Morgan Avenue is a small warehouse building where dozens gathered this past month for The Future of Fashion panel discussion. Not a hint of polyester was in sight, with guests dressed in what seemed like a never ending assortment of slow and sustainable garb — upcycled jeans, naturally dyed blouses, vintage dresses, handcrafted accessories, and so on. No two attendees dressed alike, each seeing the event as an opportunity to celebrate their love of eco-conscious design. As guests trickled in, they meandered through meticulously curated racks of our favorite pieces from emerging independent brands: knit bucket hats from Warm Hugs Only, plaid sets from Le Bobú, handwoven textiles from Semula.
Our panelist, Kristy Drutman of Green Jobs Board, Jessica Vetterli of Simply Sustainable, Katya Moorman of No Kill Mag, and Holly Carroll of Remake, quickly jumped right in to a brutally honest conversation about the future of slow fashion. Skipping over the nonsense jargon, our panelists were eager to explore all aspects of the industry: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Discussion ranged from the positive uptick in conscious consumerism, to the inevitable reality of greenwashing, and of course, the desperate need for values-aligned collaboration (namely from designers, retailers, and funders alike) — and then, it was time for audience questions. A brave guest stood up, somewhat apprehensively, and apologized in advance for what she felt might be an upsetting question: “How do you remain hopeful about the future of slow fashion, fighting what feels like a never ending uphill battle against fast fashion?” Our panelists looked to one another, sharing glances that suggested the answer required a bit of nuance.
The reality is, we all share the same frustration and fear that the slow fashion movement is up against a lot. Luxury pricing and limited sizing make it difficult for most consumers to participate. The demise of retail, alongside the oversaturated e-commerce market, make it difficult for small brands to compete. All while the social and political climate continues to intensify, making the debate itself seem frivolous. But in an effort to be both transparent and optimistic, the panelists shared where they find hope. From collective action and advocacy, to growing consumer interest in conscious goods, to innovative design and ethical material sourcing, the panelists listed example after example of the various silver linings striking through what can be a very grey cloud surrounding slow fashion.
While it can feel exhausting (if not all together impossible) to fight against the monster of fast fashion, there's something profoundly beautiful about having a room full of conscious consumers, eco-creatives, and emerging sustainable designers talking about it. And that's the future of slow fashion. Bringing people together who share a vision for a healthier planet, who see the potential of conscious consumerism, and who feel inspired by the new wave of innovative design, is the future of slow fashion. Creating an authentic and genuine community, where people can gather to learn a hands-on craft, discover a new sustainable brand, and hear from industry leaders, is the future of slow fashion.
While many of our slow fashion journeys stem from disappointment in the fast fashion industry, the hope we all share is in the community we create when we come together to solve a shared problem. It isn't easy and it isn't linear, but it is possible. When we work together, collaborating and sharing resources to fight against a shared enemy, we have the potential to create a new fashion industry. Instead of competing against something we may never beat, we're better off redesigning something they can't replicate.