The Slow Clothing Project 2016

After more than a decade of ‘disposable’ fast fashion, there’s growing interest in ethical and sustainable clothing with a good story to tell.

The Slow Clothing Project is about people choosing to make or upcycle their own clothes – read our maker stories here.

The Slow Clothing Project aims to spark a national conversation about clothing use and reuse by creating a digital collection of stories and garments handmade by local makers. The focus is on natural fibres, textile reuse and making our own, where possible. The garments – made between February to November – each tell a different story about mindful and sustainable resource. These stories reflect 10 actions to enable us to thrive in a material world.

1. think – make thoughtful, ethical, informed choices
2. natural – treasure fibres from nature and limit synthetics
3. quality – buy well once, quality remains after price is forgotten
4. local – support local makers, those with good ethos and fair trade
5. care – mend, patch, sort, sponge, wash less, use cold water, line dry
6. few – live with less, capsule wardrobe, have one best style, unfollow
7. make – embrace home sewing as a life skill, value DIY and handmade
8. adapt – refashion, eco-dye, create new from old to suit yourself
9. revive – enjoy vintage, exchange, op shop, and swap
10. salvage – donate, pass on, rag, weave, recycle or compost

The project narrative weaves knowledge and skills to help people choose well, use clothes for longer and reduce textile waste in landfill. It celebrates the mindful/healthful benefits of handmade and grow awareness of the value of simple sewing skills. It informs about natural-fibre choices. Some of the makers are:

• Jane Milburn – natural fibre champion, founder of Textile Beat
• Julie Hillier – Ministry of Handmade, teaching made-by-hand skills with modern twist
• Annabelle Brayley – wedding-dress maker turned author – Morven, western Queensland
• Karen Ellis – RUDE – refashioning clothes from discarded excess – Melton, Victoria

The project aligns with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goal to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.