At ZIA Budapest, we strive for sustainability from the very beginning, from the use of materials through the production processes to sales. Our goal is not only to satisfy aesthetic and artistic needs with our work, but also to create value by steering the fashion industry in a more livable and conscious direction. That is why we have been designing since 2017 in the spirit of the slow fashion movement.
What do we mean by fast fashion?
At first naive glance, fast fashion may seem like a dream come true: the latest trends, copying the big fashion houses, at absolutely affordable prices, with an incredibly fast-changing range. But it is enough to stop for a moment and think about the situation with common sense, and the offered dream is already bleeding from several wounds. Then, as soon as we start to peel off the glazed layers, it becomes clear that we are being invited into a linear system instead of the ideal, circular - or at least a much gentler - economy, which we happily join without suspecting anything.
For the most part, these pieces of clothing are so trend-sensitive that they hardly remain relevant for the next season, and if they do, their continued use will be questionable due to the low-quality material composition. These textiles quickly and easily stretch, fluff and fray, and they are not gentle on the skin either, and can even cause irritation in people with sensitive skin. The most pressing problem, however, is their polluting effect. The production of most of these materials can hardly be called sustainable, nor can their afterlife, moreover, they quickly disappear from our wardrobe due to the loss of their actuality and their poor quality. In addition to these, fast fashion companies encourage impulsive and mass purchases with every ounce of their power, while also showing serious shortcomings in social responsibility - for example, in the area of safe working conditions and fair wages.
Source: Luise Wagner: The environmental impact of the fast fashion industry (SANVT)
What about slow fashion?
Slow fashion is quite simply the perfect opposite of fast fashion. In a nutshell, a slow fashion brand launches a smaller, often limited number of products on the market instead of hugely produced collections that change at breakneck speed. In the case of ZIA Budapest, these are carefully designed drops focusing on timeless staples, which are made of quality, almost 100% natural materials in a dignified working environment, with fair wages for the workers.
In this way, the price difference between a fast fashion and a slow fashion product is more understandable. If you choose the latter, you will spend more, but your money will pay off many times over in time: a slow fashion piece is not only more special, it can be with you for many years or even a lifetime, and last but not least, you do not support those that violate human rights and harm the Earth processes.
