The Moral Quandary of ‘Slow Fashion’ Influencers

Mornings are spent in a quiet corner of the internet, curled up in a chair, drinking café au lait from a cracked ceramic mug.

When wearing this type of attire, sturdy handcrafted clogs and loose-fitting, earthy colour schemes are popular footwear choices. Both indoor vegetation and natural materials are in plentiful supply.

The Moral Quandary of ‘Slow Fashion’ Influencers

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The Moral Quandary of ‘Slow Fashion’ Influencers

Many people in the “slow fashion” community post their clothes and advocate for the benefits of buying high-quality, second-hand clothing over fast-fashion items.

Due to their environmentally conscious purchasing practises, peaceful Instagram posts, and remarkable ability to look beautiful in clothing, these influencers have developed a devoted follower base. The truth that lies beneath all of the lifestyle photos is more nuanced.

Reusing and recycling clothing is encouraged by the idea and way of living known as slow fashion. However, brands who only create apparel in smaller batches than, say, Gap are increasingly using the term.

Even while the clothing offered by these brands (and pushed by its influencers) is produced in tiny quantities, it nonetheless uses materials obtained from a finite earth by well compensated employees. The communist adage that “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism” is more than just rhetoric; it actually represents a challenge for slow fashion.

Aditi Mayer, a 24-year-old Los Angeles-based video creator, photojournalist, and labour rights activist, claims that the phrase “sustainable fashion influencer” itself might sound very paradoxical.

Even if these influencers may be endorsing firms that care about the environment, their posts nonetheless push consumers to purchase their goods. You might feel compelled to spend $400 on an oversized sweater from a business you’ve never heard of if you spend enough time looking up related hashtags; the pricing may reflect fair labour wages.

“Trojan Horse” in the Fashion World

Mayer describes herself as a “Trojan horse” in the fashion world, using discussions to learn about businesses’ business practises. She was in an unusual situation because the typical consumer does not have access to a major corporation’s internal suite. She discovered that the brands didn’t always respond positively to her questions about them.

Marielle TerHart, a plus-size fashion designer who goes as Marielle Elizabeth online, thinks there is a lot of potential for development for the typical consumer.

Ms. TerHart, 32, encourages her followers to take better care of their clothing and supports firms that offer an inclusive range of sizes in order to help them create more aware connections with their gear.

Last Words

Lyndsey DeMarco, an Oregon-based content creator who utilises budgeting software to keep track of her expenses, claims that in 2021, she made 15 clothing purchases (both new and used) and received an additional 15 garments from brands.

She claimed that she only accepts 5% of the free clothing that is frequently given to her. Ms. Rogers claims that she regularly buys between 15 and 20 pieces each year.