Daria about How To Avoid Fast Fashion

During my zero waste journey, I try to learn as much as possible, from as many as possible different people. Next to reading books, watching documentaries, following Instagrammers and YouTubers, I decided to visit people who are professionally engaged in a sustainable lifestyle. By taking pictures and a little interview, I want to share the stories from these inspirational humans.

One of these inspirational people is Daria, who recently started Golden Girl Vintage, an online Vintage Shop for Vintage Lovers and Fast Fashion Haters, with beautiful, curated original 60's, 70's and 80's vintage pieces.

This is how Daria's love for vintage clothing and fashion developed:

' It all began when I didn't even know what vintage was. I've always loved to watch "The Golden Girls". And while my mother thought of their styles as terrible 80's trash she already had been through, I always admired their clothing. Never could I decide whose style I adored most and always struggled to pick a favourite of these amazing power women.

So here I am. With a strong belief in sustainability and a love for clothes one has loved before, many years ago! In my shop you'll find original vintage pieces of my own wardrobe but also pieces I picked specifically for the shop.

'My vision is to provide all bodies with extraordinary and casual vintage pieces for every wallet and wardrobe, to be my own boss and to inspire others to step away from fast fashion, bit by bit. '

And just for the record: I'm a Dorothy with a touch of Sophia... and Rose... and Blanche...'

From fast fashion to slow fashion:

'I’m going to be honest with you guys! I’ve always been a complete fashion addict! I love to dress up and never care when people think I overdressed (still a very good feature I can only recommend!). Despite of knowing that the fast fashion industry I bought from to express myself trough my style wasn’t produced under fair circumstances, I always closed my eyes of who made my clothes and what it does to our planet. The urge to always go with the latest fashion trend was too irresistible and the prices too good for my student bank account.

But I had a key moment and since then my life has completely changed: I watched a youtube video from “vegan ist ungesund” where they explain how leather is fabricated in India and emergent countries. The disgust in me grew so fast and immense and I hardly bought a single piece of fast fashion since then. I do not know why it was this specific piece of information that captured me so hard, because it wasn’t the first documentary I watched about fast fashion. But I’m glad that it happened.

So the first big question I recommend you guys to ask yourself is: Who made my clothes and what are the circumstances? Does the company I buy from pay their workers, care for our environment and does no harm to animals? If you can answer these questions with a big and happy “YES”, great, support them! If not, don’t get involved, do not become an accomplice.'

Are there other factors that can help to avoid fast fashion, besides the environmental factors and the human rights violations in the fast fashion industry?

'The second thing to talk about is social media and especially Instagram, as one of the platforms I use. One of the best things about Instagram is that you’re in control about the content you want to see (of course once the algorithm catches your interests hell breaks loose, but that’s another topic). So unfollow fast fashion companies that don’t pay their workers. Out of sight, out of mind!

Instead follow small businesses and companies that choose sustainability over profit. You’ll soon see that your algorithm adjusts, and you’ll get to know so many interesting people and companies changing the planet! But also here we have to reflect consumption.

Consumption behaviour is the third thing on my list that helps me keeping an eye on what are my needs and what does capitalism want me to think I need to possess; and Instagram really boosts every kind of consumption, also the consumption of sustainability and sustainable products.

The argument of „not everyone is able to afford vintage” is a big aspect. First of all: Yes, there are different vintage shops with different pricing in the world of online shopping with completely different pricing arguments that needs to be considered. But vintage also is affordable, try for example the hashtag #affordablevintage on Instagram and check out shops with lower prices. Also, local second hand shops often have an affordable vintage section, and let’s be honest: going through vintage stuff in a second hand or vintage shop is one of the most fun things!'

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You can find Daria's curated collection of vintage clothing on Etsy as GoldenGirlClothing and on Instagram as @goldengirl_vintage.

Thank you dear Daria, for the interesting talk and the fun photoshoot!

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Are you interested in a portrait or social media session?

Feel free to contact me to receive more information

or take a look at my website to find an overview of my products and prices.

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