H&M is the oldest of all the fast fashion brands, as it first opened as Hennes in Sweden in 1947, and Zara’s 15-day process of designing to selling a garment is the reason The New York Times coined the term “fast fashion… Buy less. Vintage and thrift stores Fast Fashion Alternatives. From design to production, to the life of the item after it is sold, sustainable clothing brands use organic cotton, cut down on water usage and waste, and promote the longevity of their items. With the rise in awareness around climate change and sustainability in the fashion industry, your favorite style influencers are also a great place to look for sustainable clothing inspiration. You've done the research, talked to some friends about it, and decided it's time to quit fast fashion once and for all. But fast fashion has an enormous social and environmental cost. Today, the fashion world is overwhelmed with fast fashion options. Alternatives to Fast Fashion By Ava Calpino • LMU Contributor • Style February 26, 2019 at 6:00pm Fast fashion is the term for clothing brands like Forever 21 and Zara that make cheap clothing in unethical conditions to keep up with the rapidly changing fashion trends. Now, over seven years after the Rana Plaza tragedy, dozens of slow fashion brands have emerged that are dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices. You don’t have to continue contributing to the damage that fast fashion is causing as there are a number of fast fashion alternatives and ethical clothing brands you can consider. Generally speaking, H&M and Zara are the big players. Today's consumers want affordable and stylish clothing from reputable labels. Fast Fashion Alternatives – Where to Buy. Alternatives to Fast Fashion Now that we’ve uncovered the major problems prevailing within the fashion industry, it’s time to learn about some alternatives. Fashion is a growing industry, and fast fashion brands are the major contributor to its growth. Alternative options can help break the cycle and show major fashion producers that violations, such as those mentioned above, won’t be tolerated any longer. Read More: Women Prepare to Bare Breasts for Annual Go Topless Day. Natural fabrics like cotton, hemp, silk and Tencel are better for the environment, less energy-intensive, biodegradable, and they're a healthier option to wear too. Eco Style| Sustainable alternatives to fast fashion Our article today is a contribution by GenZ Eliza Dawn Victorio , penned as part of her AIESEC internship with Secondsguru. The 35 companies we have listed below are some of our favorite ethical alternatives to fast fashion companies. 1. From 60s chic to modern summer dresses, these are the best alternatives to fast fashion according to influencers. There are plenty of sustainable alternatives to polyester fast fashion. Here are a few good and affordable options: 1. It's responsible for large amounts of pollution, waste, and carbon emissions, contributing massively to climate change. Discussion. I'm pretty close to getting an entirely new wardrobe after I finish my two years in the Peace Corps. Majoring in Geography and minoring in Geoscience at National University of Singapore (NUS), Eliza is extremely passionate about the environment and sustainability. Here are 9 side-by-side comparisons of alternative options to some fast fashion … For those who want to send the world a message about what you stand for, making sustainable fashion choices is one of the most beautiful ways to do that. Fast fashion brand alternatives focus on sustainably and ethically made clothing during the full life-cycle of the product. I just watched Hassan Minhaj's most recent Patriot Act episode on fast fashion (link below) and had no idea how shitty fast fashion brands like Zara and h&m are for the environment. Fashion retailers, like H&M, Urban Outfitters, Zara, and GAP all follow the “fast fashion” model—that is, a business model in which these stores push out the latest trends as quickly as possible, sacrificing both quality for consumers and fair wages for workers.