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Can't truly be fashionably late whilst dressed in fast fashion can you?
There are very few things that have come out of the enormous cobweb that is social media, that are better than small business fashion designers. In all honesty, they tick all the boxes! You want unique; sustainable; comfortable; affordable? You’ve got it all!
We live in a time where fast fashion has overpowered our closets to the point where no space is allowed for individualistic, creative pieces to be put on the rack. By no means am I suggesting that fast fashion should be looked down upon because I do strongly believe that it has become as huge as it is because of how accurately it groups clothing into the latest trends and patterns. That being said, I do think fast fashion has created a generalisation in the industry; a slump where we keep seeing the same bubble of comfort zone regenerate within itself again and again, shutting out the countless opportunities for change.
Small businesses have been rising so steadily and yet rapidly because of the community that has been created on social media regarding amateur fashion designers. Depop, Instagram shops, Facebook marketplace; they all provide a space for people to be able to reuse and or up-cycle clothes. This creates the kind of sustainability as well as less intimidating manner that fashion has lacked in the past.It allows anyone to get involved. In this way, a lovely circuit is constructed, full of connections and people one can turn to when wanting to switch things up in their wardrobe! I myself have once become friends with a Filipino fashion designer based mostly on Instagram. I stumbled across her clothing page during one of my searches, and soon later was messaging her about her bank details as I had already picked out three pieces she had made.
Many times in the past have we seen huge brands being penalised for their unethical and less sustainable methods of creating and selling fashion good. There has been change towards the better which is very pleasant; it’s evident in articles included in Vogue Magazine, with founder and CEO of footwear and accessories brand Nisolo, Patrick Woodyard suggesting that “you can be fully transparent before you have to be perfect. I think that's a critical flaw in the conversation today. I also don't think the average consumer is actually expecting that.” Unfortunately, however, not even half of the leading brands think in the same way. Primark, H&M, Boohoo are still leading fashion brands parading around their unethically manufactured mass productions whilst smaller, sustainable and environmentally friendly brands stand on the side-lines, waiting for their chance at a breakthrough to the industry. The Guardian phrases it best: “small fashion businesses are pioneers in sustainability”. And it’s true! Sustainability is the new trend. I’d like to see big brands do mass productions of that for a change.
Here’s how to support small business fashion designers:
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