Many of us have felt first hand the effects of a life lived fast. The glorification of busy-ness can lead to anxiety and stress. As if that wasn't discomfort enough, disease and depression can result from the prolonged effects.
Some say, the Slow Movement is the antidote.
My Experience With The Slow Movement
I thought i'd begin by sharing my personal journey in seeking slow.
It begins with a severe case of work burnout; months of insomnia where I couldn't sleep for days on end, round the clock panic attacks and a complete loss of self worth. I spent most days crying and pleading for reassurance that everything was going to be ok.
I had spent the previous decade or so with what others described as an 'strong work ethic'. Pushing to prove myself in hollow job roles, all the while trying to find purpose in a life where I was just living for the weekend. For a number of years my spare time was consumed by my pursuit for purpose-driven work as a side-hustle, which I never got off the ground because of my pursuit for perfection.
I am extremely fortunate. My partner and family were incredibly supportive and gave me the confidence to do what I knew deep down was right for me. I quit my job, and with no kids or other commitments on the table, I knew now was my time to heal and try to build the life I wanted.
Over the next several months, I started going for long walks across the moors. I started running. I started to try things out just for fun (fun, I previously believed was ill-spent time on the constant trail of productivity). I got back into yoga, eating well, and practicing awareness to ease the storm of my mind. I began practicing gratitude and patience. I found part time work at a café so that I could pursue my own purpose-led craft.
Intuitively, I had started to live more intentionally. In the years that followed, my partner and I downsized our home to a space roughly 1/4 the size of our previous, simplifying and minimising our material possessions, (thank you, Marie Kondo). I began to shift some of my unhealthy, ingrained beliefs. I gained greater clarity in the purpose of my work, how I wanted to live and who I wanted to share my time with. I began to hear my gut speak to me again.
Over time, I began to heal the deep hurt I had been in. By the time I learned about the Slow Living revolution, I realised that intuitively I was already doing it. There is no miracle cure (believe me), but I believe that the shift from fast to slow has been pivotal in improving my overall health, and is a much more sustainable way to live.
What The Slow Movement Means...
The Slow Movement has no single definition, as a quick google search will demonstrate! What it means at its essence, is slowing down the fast pace of our modern-day lives in order to experience more joy and fulfilment. Carl Honoré coined the term 'Slow Movement' in his 2004 international bestselling book, 'In Praise Of Slowness; Challenging The Cult Of Speed' where he describes it simply as "...a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better".
The movement began with food in the 80's (more on that in a moment) and has since been applied to several other aspects of our lives, such as slow fashion, slow travel and slow living.
But it's not all about speed. Buzzwords, such as 'conscious', 'intentional', 'purposeful' and 'mindful' are pillars of the movement, and are used increasingly in today's vernacular. Quality sits at the heart of the culture-shift; spending more quality time with loved ones or on a hobby, reducing consumption and opting for better quality that lasts, to name just a few.
Slowness is said to counter the damage and discomfort caused by fastness; fast convenience foods cause obesity, whilst a fast pace of life can heighten our anxiety and stress levels, leading to depression and disease. Advocates for the revolution against speed will tell you that when we slow down to fill up our own cups, we also become more able to pour ourselves into helping loved ones when they need us too.
By all accounts, we're not the only ones who benefit from this approach to life. The slow movement encourages less consumption, which brings about a reduction in resources required and in turn, produces less waste. So slowness can reduce our impact on the planet (where ironically, the rate of the crisis is only speeding up).
A Slow History
The Slow Movement can be traced back to the 1980's, when Carlo Petrini initiated the Slow Food movement in Italy (fitting, isn't it? How many times have you visited one of our European neighbours and felt envious of their seemingly slower pace of life?) The movement emphasises eating mindfully and savouring the shared experience of enjoying a delicious meal with family and friends. Taking the time to appreciate food and connecting over something so joyous, vs. noshing through your lunch as quickly as you can so you can get back to being 'productive'.
The Slow Movement expands the same ethos to other areas of life. The movement has grown in popularity over recent years, alongside other lifestyle approaches such as Hygge (Danish) and Lagom (Swedish). This surge in interest of alternative lifestyles signals to a collective desire for a change to the often chaotic, fast-pace of modern life.
Slow Living
Whilst many of us live our lives planning or looking for the extraordinary moments, the ordinary moments of everyday life are often overlooked. Research has shown that when we lose someone we love, it's not the extraordinary things they did that we remember fondly, but the small, everyday things. The slow approach encourages appreciation of the 'ordinary' everyday. Slow living sees the elements of the slow movement brought into our everyday lives.
The culture-shift has been driven by evidence which shows our modern lifestyles are damaging our health. We've known for a long time the harmful effects of fast food, now we also know that living fast is no good for us either. A rise in diseases caused by stress and anxiety can be attributed to a number of modern stressors. Burnout has become the norm. The Slow Movement challenges the fast-pace by encouraging movement at the right pace.
It's not about completing tasks in the slowest time possible, but rather taking the time to do things well. Studies have shown that mindfulness improves focus and clarity, as well as creativity; a rested mind is stronger than an overworked one.
Whether it's what you buy, what you eat, or how you travel, taking the slow approach means being intentional with how you live day to day. It's choosing the brands we buy from for their ethical and sustainable values, as equal to our love and appreciation for what they sell. It's savouring the meals with a single friend, the whole family, or just yourself. It's travelling to one destination and really getting to know the place, the culture and the life there.
It's understanding what is important to you, and letting this guide how you live. Cultivating connection with ourselves, others and our surroundings. A simpler life doesn't have to mean a frugal one; material wealth doesn't equate to happiness. It's a celebration of quality over quantity. It's no longer glamourising busy-ness and the hustle, and accepting that by slowing down we can actually be more productive and effective in our work.
Slow Fashion
So how does the Slow Movement translate to industry?
It can be easier to understand slow fashion by thinking of it as the opposite of fast fashion:
Slow fashion brands care about the fair treatment of people, animals and the planet, where fast fashion brands don't
Slow fashion brands pay their garment workers a fair living wage and celebrates the skills of the craftspeople, where fast fashion brands do not
Slow fashion brands focus on the quality and longevity of their garments, where fast fashion prioritizes profits
Slow fashion brands consider the entire production process and works to minimise consumption and waste, where fast fashion brands opt for speed
Slow fashion brands aim for long term style, where fast fashion brands opt for short term trends
Over the last few decades, fast fashion brands have prioritized profits over all else; contaminating the ground and water supplies with chemicals, wasting precious drinking water through water-intensive textile and garment production, and burning tonnes of unsold garments each year. Not to mention the dreadful working conditions, unfair treatment and un-livable wage for their garment workers. Throughout the pandemic we've seen just how little they value the factory workers they employ as several high street names refused to pay them for their labour. The clothes they sell are cheap and copy trends, encouraging a disposable mentality when it comes to our wardrobes.
Slow fashion brands will research and consider the entire chain of production for environmental impact and ethical labour. Garments are often made in small batches, or to order to minimise waste, and emphasise the use of high quality, recycled or sustainable materials which are often natural and/or organic, ethically or locally sourced and produced, and have a fully traceable supply chain. Slow clothing usually costs more than fast-fashion items, but with more of a focus on style we are encouraged to buy with long term wear in mind, and care for our wardrobe.
(Unless you are buying pre-loved/second hand, yes, ethical goods are more expensive than mass-produced goods such as fast-fashion, because with fast-fashion, something or someone else along the way has already paid the price!)
Slow Jewellery
For consumers, the slow jewellery movement signals a turning point for the jewellery industry. Unethical industry practices that have long been the norm such as large-scale mining, blood diamonds and forced labour, have been exposed and are no longer the unavoidable consequences of buying jewellery. Slow brands afford their consumers greater peace of mind, while affording workers and the planet fairer treatment.
There is no standard definition for slow jewellery, but jewellery designer-makers who take this approach holistically within their studio settings will follow a similar set of principles to the slow fashion movement.
Slow jewellery brands will recognise the shortcomings of the jewellery industry and pursue a different path to the mainstream brands of yesterday.
Each stage of the process from design to shipping should be considered for environmental impact; energy and resource consumption, as well as waste production.
Metals are often sourced from recycled or fairtrade/fairmined sources. Jewellery pieces will be carefully planned to make the most of these precious resources, and waste should be recycled for future use. Waste is further minimised by producing small batches of jewellery, or making to order.
Quality, ethical materials are championed, and sources with a fully traceable supply chain are preferred. Natural resources are often favoured and the use of toxic chemicals are avoided throughout the making process wherever possible.
Slow jewellery challenges the disposable and expendable mindset through creations of quality and longevity. Trend-oriented styles are abandoned for unique brand styling, to encourage long-term wear and care.
Putting Slow In Motion: Ideas To Try
It is widely reported that slowing down the fast-pace of modern life can give us more time, energy and headspace to appreciate and enjoy the big and small moments alike. If you're thinking of giving it a go, here's a few ideas to help you get started:
leave space in your to-do list daily, weekly or even monthly to allow time for yourself. Activities that take us out of our heads, like exercise or doing something creative, helps in making the switch from our overworked minds to reconnect with ourselves.
unplug from your devices, even if it's just for a few hours.
don't be afraid to set boundaries to protect your wellbeing. It's ok to say no!
spend your downtime on things that will enrich you, such as quality time spent with loved ones, reading a book, or getting out into nature. You will feel more rested by making time for the activities that nourish you.
practice mindfulness, gratitude or simply, patience (easier said than done for some of us, I know!)
witness the luxury of the simple daily routines and rituals. Bring awareness to the task at hand (instead of thinking about the next one) and take the time to do them at the right pace. Something as simple as lighting a candle can elevate daily regimes.
shop small, and even better, shop local. Supporting small businesses whose values align with your own makes for a much more fulfilling purchase not just for us, but for the business too.
the most sustainable clothes are the ones you already have, but if you choose to declutter your wardrobe, damaged or unwanted clothes should be repaired, upcycled, sold, or passed on before considering disposing of them responsibly.
invest in refillable/reusable containers to reduce consumption, and leave the disposable mindset behind
There's no one-size-fits-all approach, and that's the beauty of it; you can find what works for you. Adopt what you like, leave what you don't.
Be kind to yourself, the resistance is real! It can be really hard to slow down when you've been Go! Go! Go! for so long. Remembering to focus on quality over quantity as well as starting out small, and really knowing why it is that you want to give this a try will help in making this a more sustainable approach to daily life.
Sibling & The Slow Approach
At this early stage in my business I accept and acknowledge that Sibling isn't perfect, nor do I imagine it ever could be; there is always more to be done! But I believe in the integrity of my business values, the foundation of which has been developed slowly and intentionally. This foundation leads every aspect of my business.
I view Sibling as a slow brand. I apply the slow movement holistically to my business. First and foremost, I hold people and planet over profit.
My jewellery is made using fully traceable, 100% recycled solid silver and gold, sourced from E-waste (electronic waste), automotive parts and the jewellery industry, and are repurposed into pieces designed to have a long life. I make all findings and fastenings (earring posts and scrolls (backs), fastenings and jump rings) in-house to ensure complete traceability of all metals. Necklace chains are manufactured in the UK in fully traceable recycled metals.
I do not offer plated jewellery due to the difficulty it presents for future recycling, and to avoid the use of virgin metals in my pieces. Because I only use solid metals, each piece of jewellery can be fully recycled or repurposed into a new piece.
My packaging is minimal, nothing is included that doesn't need to be, such as jewellery boxes and order slips which serve no lasting purpose.
I use hemp throughout my packaging for it's numerous sustainability benefits; it is less water intensive and has higher CO2 absorption than it's counterparts, and requires no pesticides for a successful crop yield. Repurposed vintage hemp fabric, raw hemp fibre and hemp card make up Sibling's protective packaging and stationary.
For each order, a percentage of the profit is donated to an environmental charity or cause. Aware of existing tree-planting schemes often employed by businesses, this doesn't go far enough for me as often the trees are planted unsustainably with little understanding of forest-culture.
Each piece is designed with your comfort in mind. Rings are designed to be comfortable and necklace fastenings are crafted in-house to create closures that don't take a battle with your fingernails. Inspired by the elemental, each piece of Sibling jewellery is grounded in the intention of bringing you a conscious connection to the natural world.
UK only shipping (due to the environmental impact of international shipping), choosing to support small, local, green-minded UK suppliers, as well as utilising renewable electricity sources to power the studio, are just a few further ways I work to make Sibling a slow, conscious brand. Transparency of my practices and processes is very important to me, so a transparency documentation can be provided on request. In developing my business, I aim for intentionally slow growth. In doing so, I can maintain the high level of quality that I have established within my business, whist ensuring sustainable working practices and growth of my values-led brand.
More Information
geoffreyandgrace.com - Melanie Barnes literally wrote the book on slow living. 'Seeking Slow' details simple ways to slow down the everyday. She also hosts UK retreats! @geoffreyandgrace
goodonyou.eco - Good On You is a great resource for slow fashion, taking the hard-work out of the search for stylish ethical brands. They even have an app for quick and easy referencing! @goodonyou_app
slowfactory.foundation - An educational, research and new media platform dedicated to 'catalyzing systemic change and climate positive solutions for regenerative social and environmental justice'. They present their findings in a way that is accessible and engaging, aided by @ajabarber no least on the Board Of Directors! @theslowfactory
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