Slow fashion at TEGEN Accessories
If the term "slow fashion" is new to you, you may have heard of its opposite: "fast fashion". Fast fashion follows trends at low prices to maximise profits, so what could be wrong with it? On the surface it seems accessible and convenient, but in the long term it is quite the opposite. Lower-quality materials mean fast fashion is not built to last, so we end up buying more to replace the original purchase or to keep up with short-lived trends. Over time, this can add up to the same as buying one higher-quality piece. The volume of synthetic fibres from fast fashion sent to landfill every day has a serious impact on our environment, and there is nothing convenient about that.
So what is slow fashion, and why does it matter so much to us? Slow fashion is a more conscious way of shopping that is gaining traction. It means choosing higher-quality pieces, often made from natural, plant-based materials, with designs that are not led by throwaway trends, which means less waste. In the long run, as more shoppers choose slow fashion, businesses adapt, helping to give the fashion industry a greener makeover. Slow fashion pieces are made from higher-quality materials and are designed to last much longer. At TEGEN Accessories, our French Handmade collection very much follows this approach. The pieces are made from cellulose acetate with high-quality metal clasps, so they are made to last.
What is cellulose acetate?
Cellulose acetate is a non-toxic, plant-based material. The cellulose used to make it comes from wood pulp and cotton rather than crude oil. Read more about cellulose acetate.
Slow fashion is not only about eco-friendly materials (although these are preferable). Any piece that is built to last, and that can be enjoyed by more than one person over the years, can count. Explore our other made-to-last collections, including French Essentials.
The TEGEN Promise
The TEGEN Promise is our quality guarantee. Our French Handmade (Ooh La La!) pieces are guaranteed for one year, and all other pieces, including our French Essentials and crystal collection, are guaranteed for six months. French Essentials are injection moulded from recycled acetate offcuts from our French Handmade pieces, and use the same strong mechanisms.
The guarantee covers quality issues such as:
- Loss of crystals
- Damage to the spring
- Breakage of the fastening mechanism
In keeping with our slow fashion values, if you notice a quality issue with your piece within the guarantee period, please do get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Slow fashion and manufacturing
Fast fashion often moves at such a pace that factory waste and working conditions are given little thought. At TEGEN Accessories, we work with a small family-run maker in Oyonnax, France, to design and make our French Handmade accessories. We have worked closely with them for many years, and they are passionate about what they do.
"Sustainability is not something new to us, it's not the fashion, it's not the feather, it's something we have been conscious about for many years."
Philippe, owner of our French maker
"100% of items that don't meet our highest of standards during the manufacturing process are ground down and recycled."
Philippe, owner of our French maker
Shop our slow fashion hair accessories
References
- Lisa, A., How Long It Takes 50 Items To Decompose, Stacker (2021)
- Puls, J., Wilson, S.A. and Hölter, D., Degradation of Cellulose Acetate-Based Materials: A Review, Springer Link (2011)
- Hosch, W.L., Cellulose Acetate, Britannica (2009)
