What is “Slow Fashion” and Where to Find it in Prague?

What is slow fashion?

Slow fashion is a term that has crept into the fashionista lingo, well, slowly. And now it’s starting to pop into the mainstream.

Following in the footsteps of the more widely known Slow Food movement, slow fashion is a backlash against its nemesis, the “fast fashion” industry, where trends are churned out at the lowest cost without regard to the social and environmental impacts.

Instead, slow fashion emphasizes craftsmanship, quality and tradition, with a respect for biodiversity and human rights.

Instead, slow fashion emphasizes craftsmanship, quality and tradition, with a respect for biodiversity and human rights.

An article in The Ecologist by slow fashion advocate Kate Fletcher puts it succinctly:

“Slow fashion is about designing, producing, consuming and living better. Slow fashion is not time-based but quality-based (which has some time components). Slow is not the opposite of fast – there is no dualism – but a different approach in which designers, buyers, retailers and consumers are more aware of the impacts of products on workers, communities and ecosystems…

Slow fashion, with the shift from quantity to quality, takes the pressure off time. It allows suppliers to plan orders, predict the numbers of workers needed and invest in the longer term.”

Keep it simple

Practically speaking, we think slow fashion can ultimately be boiled down to a few easy to follow rules:

Less is more
Quality over quantity
Buy local

In our minds, the movement is associated with minimalism, timelessness and simplicity. It involves clothes that are made to last, immune to the fickleness of trends. It appreciates fashion as a means for self-expression and cultural richness, yet bows to Leonardo da Vinci’s enduring words of wisdom that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.

It appreciates fashion as a means for self-expression and cultural richness, yet bows to Leonardo da Vinci’s enduring words of wisdom that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.

Where to find slow fashion in Prague?

Knowing the definition of slow fashion is one thing, but you may be wondering how to implement it in your own life. We asked ourselves the same thing, which is why we have interviewed 50+ shops and e-shops where you can find more sustainable fashion in Prague. Below are ten options (note: the list is by no means exhaustive), or for a full list see our “fashion & design” category.

1. Bohempia