5 Lessons on Slow Fashion From A Dressember Advocate
By Caitlin Kinder
This year marked my third consecutive year of donning a dress every day in December and advocating with Dressember to combat human trafficking. On the eve of the style challenge each year, I grapple with doubts about the impact of my advocacy. What if my voice and choice to advocate don’t really matter? Can I actually make a difference in the huge fight against human trafficking?
The answer, every year, is yes.
As we head into the new year, I encourage you to reflect on your Dressember experience and know this: the valuable lessons learned through your advocacy can extend well beyond December. Here are five key takeaways on slow fashion that I learned from participating in the Dressember campaign:
5 Ways I Learned to Fight Fast Fashion with My Closet
1. I probably don’t need any more clothes.
According to CleanClothes, 3 out of 5 of the 100 billion garments produced in a given year will end up in landfills where the toxins will affect the working communities that made them. So as I prepped my closet for Dressember, I decided to get a better understanding of the clothes I already own and realized that I own more than I realized. Rather than shopping and participating in over-production, I realized that re-styling and re-wearing my clothes is the way to go.
2. My capsule wardrobe already exists.
The media would have us believe that what is trendy right now will always be trendy and should, therefore, be included in our “capsule wardrobes.” But the truth is that most of those trendy clothes are actually fast fashion, being produced in unsafe workplaces where workers are experiencing labor trafficking. A capsule wardrobe is really just clothes that I love to wear and can wear for a long time! One of the most sustainable and conscious choices you can make as a conscious consumer is wearing beloved items you already own.
3. Renting and borrowing clothing is an option.
Some rental companies, like Nuuly, make it possible to refresh your style and enjoy the thrill of having new-to-you clothes in your closet without the fear of contributing to an industry that thrives on exploiting their workers or the pressure of choosing lifelong items. This became an especially exciting option during Dressember, when I was looking to beef up my dress selection, but we can embrace the fun and ease of renting or borrowing clothes all year long!
4. I can find almost anything in a thrift store.
When I look patiently and with an idea already in mind, I can walk away from a second-hand store confident in my purchase and sustainable choice as a consumer. Thrifting is often a budget-friendly method of shopping, making for an altogether less stressful purchasing experience. Head to a thrift store to extend the life of unique, pre-loved clothes!
5. There Are Ways To Shop Ethically.
Using Dressember’s Ethical Fashion Directory, I can find products I can feel good about at a price that fits my budget (especially with Dressember’s exclusive discount codes!). As a bonus, the directory contains affiliate links, so when you shop, a portion of your sale may come back to support Dressember and our concerted efforts to fight human trafficking. When I shop the directory, I’m not only not participating in fast fashion, but I am actively participating in the dismantling of the evil of human trafficking.
Our purchasing habits (and lack thereof) play a pivotal role in the fight against human trafficking.
While wearing a dress daily in December is challenging, it can help you adopt a slow fashion mindset and encourage second-hand shopping from ethical brands and your closet. Let’s carry the same care and vigor we bring to Dressember into the rest of the year as we collectively combat human trafficking—because your voice and choices matter. For more insight on ethical fashion and tips for practicing slow fashion year-round, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @dressember.
About the Author
Caitlin Kinder is a third-year advocate for Dressember because she believes that all people have inherent dignity and value. She recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s degree in English Creative Writing and is now an editorial intern for Dressember while she remains in Lubbock, Texas, investing in her local community. Caitlin enjoys dancing, hiking, painting, and sitting around a dinner table with her friends. You can find her at @caitkind on Instagram.