What will fashion look like in 2025? That is a question Forum for the Future decided to research. The answer they came up with is described in the report: Fashion Futures 2025: Global Scenarios for a Sustainable Fashion Industry. While the report describes four different possible scenarios for the future of fashion, the one we honed in on and believe is the most likely picture is one in which slow fashion precepts have taken hold of mass consciousness.
In the “Slow is Beautiful” world the authors describe the fashion scene as “über sustainable and über cool… most consumers are prepared to pay more for a smaller number of high-quality sustainable clothing items.” This vision of the future brings clothing that is durable and worn longer. When we are done with a garment we take it back to where we bought it for the fabric to be remanufactured into something else making apparel truly cradle to cradle with no waste.
The report even envisions government campaigns to encourage consumers to “wash less; wash cold”. What a fresh concept to have government propaganda to prolong the life of garments and reduce needless energy consumption by washing clothes only when truly dirty and then with cold water. In our society of hyper cleanliness, driven by corporate propaganda, some common sense messaging about apparel care could save a lot of human and fossil fuel energy.
Imagining a Slow Fashion future is the first step to making it a reality. Once we decide to reframe the concept of “fashion” to encompass appreciation of craftsmanship, longevity and classic style we are on our way to a place where consumers buy more intentionally and with an eye to keeping and wearing well what they purchase. Bring on the slow fashion future.
--Your friends at Birch
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