Zakeia's Thoughts

"Seventy-five percent of fashion supply chain material ends up in landfills. This amounts to the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles per second."
Pulse of the Fashion Industry 2018 Report

We have all been victims of fast fashion at least once: buying too many items each season, and donating clothes we have barely worn. Most unworn clothes still end up in landfill. Fashion is the second largest polluting industry in the world, and we have all played a part.

What is slow fashion?

Slow fashion is a reaction to fast fashion. The movement encourages you to stop and think before every purchase, and to be more intentional with what you buy. Slow fashion brands focus on quality over speed, producing limited quantities rather than chasing trends. The pieces are timeless, designed to be worn again and again, and made to last.

Slow fashion in Egypt

Egypt's garment industry is one of the largest in the region and generates hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textile waste every year. A growing community of Egyptian slow fashion and sustainable brands is changing that, by upcycling deadstock fabric, producing locally, and making clothes to order. At Zakeia, we rescue leftover haute couture and deadstock fabric and turn it into limited-edition pieces, handmade by artisans in Cairo. You can read more about our sustainability approach here.

How to shop slow fashion in Egypt

• Make more thoughtful purchases. Before buying, check that you do not already own something similar. A good test: can you create at least nine different outfits with the new piece, across different occasions?
• Shop vintage and second-hand. Buying pre-loved is one of the most sustainable choices you can make. Looking for second-hand stores in Egypt? Email us at hello@zakeia.com and we will share some recommendations.
• Choose sustainable brands, and do your due diligence. Ask how many items a brand produces each month, where they source their fabric, what makes them sustainable, and whether they support social causes. A real slow fashion brand will be happy to answer.

There are so many other ways we can all shop more sustainably.

Buy less, choose well, and make it last.

We would love to hear from you. If you have other suggestions, email us and we will add them to the list for others to benefit from.

Explore Zakeia's latest slow fashion pieces, made in Egypt.