The Slowest Fashion: A Radical Experiment in Meaning and Value

Eve Ogden Schaub is challenging the dominant fashion industry with her project to grow her own dress from seed. By documenting every step of her process on Instagram, she’s forcing us to confront the environmental, social, and economic costs of fast fashion.

In an era where clothes are designed to be worn once and discarded, Schaub’s approach stands in stark contrast. She’s cultivating flax from seed to linen yarn, highlighting a craftsmanship that was once commonplace but has largely been lost. This exercise is not just about making something with one’s own hands, but also questioning the value we place on speed and convenience.

Schaub notes that “if you can do something cheaper and faster, it’s always the preferred option.” But what if we chose to prioritize craftsmanship, creativity, and community? What might we gain by slowing down and embracing the value of making things with our own hands?

The implications of fast fashion are far-reaching. Garments end up in massive landfills, workers suffer from lung disease – these are not just environmental problems, but also symptoms of a broader cultural malaise. We’ve lost sight of what truly matters: the connection we make to our clothes, to the people who wear them, and to the planet that sustains us.

Schaub’s project is a call to reevaluate our priorities. By valuing shared knowledge and expertise, she’s demonstrating that true value lies not in cheap, disposable goods but in the slow, deliberate process of creation. Schaub asks, “the whole system…is this what we want?” For many of us, the answer will be no.

Growing a dress from scratch requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Each step – retting to spinning, breaking to scutching – demands attention to detail and a commitment to mastering new skills. Schaub admits that there’s “something inherently funny in the learning process…because you screw up and you screw up.” It’s this willingness to take risks, to fail, and to learn that will make her project truly meaningful.

As Schaub navigates the complexities of growing, spinning, and weaving a dress from scratch, she’s giving us a glimpse into a world where creativity is valued over convenience. Will her final product be beautiful? Only time will tell. But what’s certain is that it will be deeply meaningful to her, and perhaps, if we’re lucky, to the rest of us as well.

The slowest fashion imaginable may not be for everyone, but Schaub’s experiment serves as a reminder that true value lies in the connections we make with each other and with our clothes.