What the Italian slow food movement can teach us about fashion

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In 1989, in response to the growing number of fast-food outlets such as McDonalds, the Italians went on a mission to prevent the disappearance of their food cultures and traditions by establishing the Slow Food organization. Today, Italy is universally known for its high quality and excellent tasting cuisine, with the Mediterranean diet being classed as one of the healthiest in the world. This may surprise carbs-fearing pizza and pasta lovers, but the Italian nutrition approach is very different from the standard American diet. 

In Italy, the priority is given to the quality and freshness of the ingredients, rather than supplying low-calorie chemical-filled alternatives. The seasonality of the product is another consideration, and thinking about how food choices can affect the wider world. The no-short-cuts homemade option is better for your health and the planet, and the same slow food philosophies should be applied to clothing. The cheap and instant availability of fast fashion may be the easy option, but the handcrafted and ethical results of slow fashion are the only way forward if we want to ensure the planet's longevity.

Italians are deeply passionate about food, savouring and cherishing their meals; this emotional connection does not exist in throwaway fashion culture. The scarcity of the human touch has become increasingly coveted in a digitized era. It has become more critical than ever to relate to others, and storytelling through clothing, where the maker is traceable, is a part of this connectivity. The slow food manifesto preserves the enjoyment of food from the pressures of fast-paced modern life that we have become conditioned to see as the norm. 

The organization promotes local food and traditional ways of cooking as an 'alternative’ way of living. But should a system that protects the exploitation of the ecosystem and stands up against overproduction and waste concerns still only be enjoyed as part of a tourist attraction? Healthy eating is an accepted and encouraged lifestyle choice, heavily supported by government funding and initiatives. If society can endorse such a commitment to our health and appearance, should it not be prepared to do the same for our planet?

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