Marseille played host to France’s very first Slow Fashion Week from June 7 to 14, offering a refreshing alternative to the high-gloss runway shows of global fashion capitals. This pioneering event put the spotlight on secondhand clothing, sustainable practices, and local production, responding to growing concerns about fashion’s environmental toll.
Spearheaded by the Marseille-based Baga collective, the event included more than 50 unique activities such as runway shows, embroidery and repair workshops, upcycling sessions, and studio tours. With a focus on hands-on learning and accessible fashion, the week intentionally stepped away from the extravagant visuals typical of mainstream fashion weeks. Guests appeared in everyday wear, and shows took place in real urban settings rather than glamorous venues.
One standout moment was a runway show aboard a sailboat moored at the MuCEM esplanade, where local label Topsis showcased designs crafted exclusively from secondhand sportswear collected in Marseille. The unconventional setting and approach perfectly embodied the event’s commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and local culture.
Although more inclusive than traditional fashion weeks, this inaugural edition still drew primarily fashion professionals, revealing the ongoing challenge of making slow fashion resonate with a broader audience. However, organizers are optimistic. The Baga collective plans to make Slow Fashion Week an annual event, establishing Marseille as a hub for sustainable and community-driven fashion innovation.
The event also coincided with the French Senate’s discussions and adoption of new laws targeting fast fashion giants like Shein. Against this backdrop, Slow Fashion Week offered a clear and timely contrast, drawing attention to the environmental and human costs of mass-produced, disposable clothing.
As the fashion industry faces increasing demands to reform, Marseille’s Slow Fashion Week underscores France’s rising influence in ethical fashion. Through a mix of progressive legislation and grassroots movements like this, the country is carving out a vision for a more conscious and community-centered fashion future. The success of this local, low-impact model hints at a new direction that could challenge fast fashion’s global dominance and restore sustainability and care to the forefront of fashion design.
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