IN Australia, an estimated 6,000 kg of clothing and textile waste are dumped in landfill every ten minutes. These staggering statistics, produced by researchers at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI), are reflected worldwide: out of the 100 billion garments produced globally each year, 33% will go to landfill within the first year of purchase.

Fast fashion – the mass production of ultra-cheap, poor-quality clothing – has encouraged a view towards of clothing that is wasteful and disposable. The rapid pace of design, manufacturing, transportation and retailing of merchandise is what makes it “fast” – but at the expense of exploiting people and planet.

“Fast fashion is based on very linear modes of production that is designed to make concentrated profits for a few, often at the expense of labour and environmental resources,” says Kim Pearce, co-founder of slumwear108, a slow fashion clothing label. “It is best described as a take, make and waste mode of production, where minimal concern goes into the life cycle of a garment.” 

In contrast to fast fashion, the “slow fashion” movement advocates for a circular economy through repairing, repeat wearing, recycling and repurposing clothing. 

“The circular approach looks at waste and how it can be put back into the production system,” says Pearce. “Slow clothing is thrifting, using charity shops, clothes swapping and repeat wearing. It’s about being mindful and exercising good consumer choices. Rather than treating your wardrobe as disposable, buy less but buy better and make it last.” 

Kim Pearce co-founded slumwear108 nine years ago with Kath Davis. The slow clothing range ethically sources and makes clothes from waste fabrics, including upcycled silk saris and Indian cottons. The garments are naturally dyed using traditional woodblock prints.

Working along the NGO I-India, slumwear108 provides employment and vocational training for street youths in Jaipur. 

“We’re a social enterprise, so we’re all about [providing] work, not charity,” says Pearce. “With the help of I-India, we have seen these [street youths] finish high school, have some savings and go to college.” 

In 2020, Pearce and Davis opened The Possibility Project in Wahroonga. Alongside their slumwear108 clothing line, the store stocks ethically sourced, slow fashion garments and gifts from Australian designers and artisans. The store also offers meditation classes and creative workshops.   

“Meditation classes are a big part of what we do, because we change our consumerism when we shift our mindset,” says Pearce. “The slow fashion movement is not about projecting guilt, but about waking up and realising how powerful my choices can be as just one person. It educates people in a really nice way and is an easy springboard into climate justice.” 

Find The Possibility Project here.