Who Are the Women Behind Slow Fashion?
Written by: Luísa Rangel
Published on: April 05, 2025
Hana Katoba
Estimated Reading Time:5-10 minutes
More than just a trend, slow fashion is a movement — and many of the voices driving this transformation are women. With courage and innovation, they’re rewriting the rules of an industry historically marked by exploitation. These women aren’t simply creating sustainable clothing. They’re restoring dignity to labor, putting social and environmental impact at the core of every decision, and choosing quality over quantity. In a world dominated by fast fashion, they are resistance in motion.
“With courage and innovation, they’re rewriting the rules of an industry historically marked by exploitation.”
Why do we need to rethink fashion?
Fast fashion changed how we consume clothing — but at what cost?
“The fashion industry generates around 92 million tons of textile waste every year. And 93% of fashion brands don’t pay living wages to their workers.”
This system thrives on precarious working conditions, disproportionately affecting women. According to the UN, 80% of garment workers worldwide are women, many of whom face long hours, poor wages, and ongoing reports of violence and harassment in factories. In response, the slow fashion movement not only promotes more mindful consumption — it also empowers women across the globe, especially in regions where the traditional fashion system has exploited their labor for decades.
Why do we need to rethink fashion?
Madhu Vaishnav and Saheli Women:
Transforming lives in India. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
“These hundred ladies also, you know, break the culture norms.”
Madhu Vaishnav is one of three women honored by the UN and supported by the Fashion Impact Fund for their pioneering work. She leads Saheli Women, a female-founded ethical fashion initiative in rural India.
“We co-create slow fashion garments with international fashion partners, utilizing traditional craft practices and creating meaningful livelihood opportunities.”
Saheli Women preserves traditional techniques while offering women the chance to gain financial independence and change their social reality. Madhu has shared deeply moving stories — including one woman who, after joining Saheli, was able to educate her children and escape domestic violence.
“When a woman earns money, she changes everything.”
Upcycling, education and purpose: Chloé Mukai’s fashion path
With Japanese roots and a career based in Brazil, Chloé Mukai is one of the most influential voices in the national slow fashion movement. At the helm of her brand, Mukai, she works with recycled fabrics and upcycling techniques to create timeless, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her purpose goes beyond aesthetics — she aims to educate consumers about the impact of consumption and the power of more intentional choices.
Ngozi Okaro and community-building through fashion in the US
A lawyer by training and the founder of Custom Collaborative, Ngozi Okaro launched a program that provides training and support for marginalized women in the United States — helping them build sustainable careers and businesses in fashion.
How can we consume fashion more consciously?
Faced with the challenges of the fashion industry, these leaders remind us that real change starts with what — and how — we choose to consume.
“Buying less… buying fewer things, but nicer things and taking care of them for longer.”
Slow fashion isn’t just about buying better — it’s about making fashion a force for good. Each sustainable piece is not just a style choice, but a vote for a fairer world. Women like Vaishnav, Mukai and Okaro prove that it’s possible to unite tradition, innovation, and justice to transform the industry — one garment at a time.
So what if fashion wasn’t just about style — but about impact?
Supporting women-led brands, valuing craftsmanship, and rethinking how we consume are powerful ways to shape a future that’s more ethical, more thoughtful, and more human.
