Most of us have probably had a piece of clothing purchased in the last few years that just... didn't last. It seems too many shirts these days seem to dissolve after a few washes, jeans are thinner than ever, and seams come unstitched. As the consumer fashion market pushes to cut corners and increase profits, the resulting products have become flimsy, fragile, and made of low quality materials.

But the inconvenience to our closets is a pretty minor problem in the grand scheme of how this industry has grown. "Fast fashion" is an industry built on clothing that's quickly designed, quickly produced, and meant to be quickly disposed of. In 2025, it was the second largest consumer of water among industries, and contributed to 10% of the global carbon emissions. The world produces over 80 billion pieces of clothing each year, and, tragically, over 80% of what's produced ends up in landfills.

Even if you're striving to hang on to what you buy, you aren't imagining it when you feel like your clothes fall apart every wash. A 2017 report from the IUCN found that 35% of microplastics found in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles. Water sources are further contaminated by dumped wastewater from dyeing and poorly managed byproducts of the tanning industry.

Even aiming for natural fabrics can still have a big cost. Cotton is a common fabric, but it also requires a lot of water to grow, and is currently often farmed in arid regions. A single cotton tshirt can require 700 gallons of water to produce.

And this is just the environmental cost. Fast fashion also has a massive social cost. We look back at events in US history like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire with horror, yet rarely hear about similar tragedies that happen in modern times, like the collapse of an eight story garment factory that killed thousands.

Most fast fashion is made by young women between ages 18-24 who work long hours in dangerous situations for little money. Shifting production overseas allows companies to take advantage of lower wages, fewer laws for worker protection, and convenient tax loops.

So... if both natural and synthetic products are a problem, what's the solution? A deliberate effort to slow down, hold onto what we have, and embrace slow fashion.

Natural textiles can be grown sustainably, but it takes effort to farm with intention, as well as people willing to explore alternatives like hemp and linen. Clothing can be made by people paid sustainable and living wages, but that results in a higher price tag for the consumer. It's a world where you spend a little more, but the things you buy are made to last - and made to protect human dignity and preserve the earth.

Change starts by changing the demand on the industry. Small steps add up. Choosing to shop secondhand, to mend a tear rather than throwing something in the garbage, to skip on that second option in another color, and to spend a little more when it counts are all ways to vote for a more sustainable industry.

Here are a few of the vendors we work with who craft with slow fashion ideals. If you've got the time to give them a follow or subscribe to their newsletters to show some support, it's greatly appreciated!

Landmark Leather | Leather can be a burden on the environment, but Tyson works to craft a sustainable product. He uses vegetable-tanned leather that avoids harsh chemicals, and the full-grain leather is all a byproduct of the beef industry, reducing waste. These handcrafted wallets will weather beautifully with age and last for decades to come.

The Parlour Handmade | What started as a thoughtfully curated vintage boutique ended up growing to include a clothing line of sustainably-crafted pieces! The Parlour Handmade designs size-inclusive pieces inspired by vintage designs. They're committed to sourcing fabric from family-owned producers and sustainable farms, and the clothing is made in small batches in San Francisco.

Renogade Vintage | While there are tons of amazing places around Reno to shop vintage, if you've ever fallen in love with anything off our vintage rack at the shop, it was curated by the amazing Kat. She has a great eye for style, and we love seeing stunning pieces go home with the right person. 

Of Earth and Salt | This California brand is dedicated to clothes that feel good and are made well. They use dead-stock materials and natural fabrics in their production, which all takes place in California. In addition, their hand-dying methods are meant to reduce water waste and avoid harsh chemicals.