The Slow Fashion Movement

If we are what we eat, then what do our clothes say about ourselves? With runway looks reproduced at a record breaking pace for fashion meccas such as H & M and Old Navy, we are constantly buying short-lived pieces that appeal to our trend-setting agendas. Just as fast food quells those on-the-go, fast fashion satiates our appetites with quick fixes to a Saturday night out. These cheap and chic garments, made from non-recyclable materials and sprayed with toxic pesticides, are not just harming our well-being, but plaguing the environment with waste. Thanks to eco-conscious designers creating stylish wear and accessories from natural and renewable fabrics such as bamboo, a solution to consumerism exists. With the Slow Fashion Movement quickly finding its place on the fashion scene, concerned consumers should consider investing in classic, locally made pieces made with care and thoughtful beginnings.

1. Embrace your femininity with the Fringe Wrap Top and help promote fabric waste reduction with the Scrappy Panty, made from leftover scraps. www.nixxi.com

2. Sweetly seductive, the Tiered Dani Tunic hugs your body with 100 per cent handmade bamboo. www.laramiller.com

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3. Dive into the blue with EcoSkin’s Indigo halter mini dress. Crafted with bamboo, spandex and toxic-free Tencel® (a natural raw material extracted from wood pulp), this planet-friendly piece adds a contemporary finish with its side pocket draping. www.ecoskin.com

4. Comfortably luxurious, The Downtown Look by Toronto’s rising fashion designer Monica Mei is both aesthetically pleasing and gentle on the environment, with the reversible, gathered vest boasting Italian viscose, silk and a grosgrain ribbon.  www.aimeluxury.com

5. Play nice with the environment in Sandy Skinner’s Hickory dress, made with environmentally sustainable fabrics. With its soft rose dust hue and wood bead details, comfort comes naturally. www.ecoskin.com

6. Get to the bottom of sophistication in the Uptown Look, a cowl back dress with detachable bow belt. Produced in Canada with the use of all-natural and sustainable materials, this sweatshop-free, luxury designer house doesn’t turn its back on the environment. www.aimeluxury.com

7. The tiered colour block trend comes alive in Sassafras, a flirty aqua dress woven with 100 per cent bamboo. www.ecoskin.com

8. Mother Nature never looked so pretty. Both the Bobbie Blouse, made with 100 per cent organic cotton voile paired with cotton and lycra, and the Jonah skirt, prepared with hemp and organic cotton, are coloured with low-impact dyes. www.laramiller.com

9. Plunge into spring with the Alexandrite dress. Its assymetrical, off-the-shoulder style contributes to a balanced Earth. www.ecoskin.com