Westerly Sun Column | Fast Fashion ad How to Slow It Down

Recently I have been hearing the term “fast fashion”. I have been (and if being truthful still sometimes am) guilty of buying clothes, wearing them once or twice, and then getting rid of them, only to buy more clothes because they were on sale. It’s a cycle that is causing huge problems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States, 14.5 million tons of textiles were landfilled and incinerated in 2018 — clothing being the main source. There are ways to lessen our impact and you can learn about them at the library.

“Make Thrift Mend: Stitch, Patch, Darn, Plant-Dye & Love Your Wardrobe” by Katrina Rodabaugh offers a guide to building (and keeping) a wardrobe that matters. Whether you want to repair your go-to jeans, refresh a favorite garment, or alter clothing you already have rather than buying brand new, Rodabaugh covers it all. The author includes stories, essays, and a slow fashion call-to-action, to change the habit of overconsumption. Now, I do not have skills in the textile arts, but it’s never too late to learn, right? Thank goodness we have books that will teach me how to sew at the library!

“Thriftstyle: The Ultimate Bargain Shopper’s Guide to Smart Fashion” by Allison Engel reveals how savvy shoppers can cultivate upscale, upcycled wardrobes at thrift and consignment store prices. I’m particularly interested in this book, but not because I’m into upscale … far from it! However, I tend to get overwhelmed in consignment shops because there are so many choices, so I’m hoping for some helpful tips and tricks.

If you’d like to learn more about fast fashion, we are hosting the talk, “Introduction to Sustainable Fashion” on Thursday, June 22, at 7 p.m. Amanda Lee McCarty, host of the “Clotheshorse” podcast, will teach us what fast fashion is and where to find out about it! Amanda will break down the impact of our clothing on the planet and its people. We will also learn what greenwashing is, how we can make better choices, and what we can do to get more people involved in the slow fashion movement! This event is virtual, so please email cbadowski@westerlylibrary.org to receive the Zoom link to the event.

by Caroline Badowski, Head of Adult Services