Slow Fashion
Benefits All

Slow Fashion
Benefits All

As we strive to maintain our eco-friendly practices, local production, and high-quality standards, we can't escape the reality that these priorities place us in the luxury fashion category. Nevertheless, we always strive to keep our handmade hair accessories as affordable as possible while continuing to meet our ethical business practices.

 

To explore why garments with the "conscious" or "green" label are more expensive, let's take a "behind the scenes" look at our slow fashion efforts. As we value transparency and honest practices, we care about sharing the roadmap of how a truly sustainable production system works.

As we strive to maintain our eco-friendly practices, local production, and high-quality standards, we can't escape the reality that these priorities place us in the luxury fashion category. Nevertheless, we always strive to keep our handmade hair accessories as affordable as possible while continuing to meet our ethical business practices.

 

To explore why garments with the "conscious" or "green" label are more expensive, let's take a "behind the scenes" look at our slow fashion efforts. As we value transparency and honest practices, we care about sharing the roadmap of how a truly sustainable production system works.

As we strive to maintain our eco-friendly practices, local production, and high-quality standards, we can't escape the reality that these priorities place us in the luxury fashion category. Nevertheless, we always strive to keep our handmade hair accessories as affordable as possible while continuing to meet our ethical business practices.

 

To explore why garments with the "conscious" or "green" label are more expensive, let's take a "behind the scenes" look at our slow fashion efforts. As we value transparency and honest practices, we care about sharing the roadmap of how a truly sustainable production system works.

As we strive to maintain our eco-friendly practices, local production, and high-quality standards, we can't escape the reality that these priorities place us in the luxury fashion category. Nevertheless, we always strive to keep our handmade hair accessories as affordable as possible while continuing to meet our ethical business practices.

 

To explore why garments with the "conscious" or "green" label are more expensive, let's take a "behind the scenes" look at our slow fashion efforts. As we value transparency and honest practices, we care about sharing the roadmap of how a truly sustainable production system works.

Premium and eco-friendly fabrics

It all starts with the fabric. We love working with high-quality fabrics.  When possible, we use fabrics incorporating all natural fibers and/or recycled fibers. Our 'upcycle' collaborations are another example of this, wherein, partnering with other eco-minded companies, we are able to work together to rescue fabric remnants or repurpose garments not destined for retail.

 

Next, there's the nature of the fabrics. We only use premium-grade textiles to create our handmade scrunchies and hair ties, including natural cottons, satins, silks, bamboo and hemp. To ensure the highest level of durability, these materials are made from longer fibres, creating a finer yarn that can be more tightly bound. Not only is the resulting fabric stronger, but it’s much more resistant to scratching, pilling and general wear-and-tear.

 

Another plus of long fibres is that they can often create a softer yarn. The fabric stays smooth and supple in all weather conditions, and remain more resilient to fray in all directions. We even apply these same quality standards to our proprietary elastics which are engineered to provide all-day hold, comfort and stay power. It's through these rigorous details that we continue to produce our products that are enjoyed by many for years.

Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion

Slow fashion garners its name from one simple fact: it's slow to produce. Why? Because the company must invest care and quality-control into their creations every step of the way.

 

Although it's a longer road, we would rather be a part of this avenue. We distinguish ourselves by maintaining strict inspection standards for our fabrics. Next, as the fabric is transformed into Chelsea King pieces, its future rests in the hands of our skilled sewers. Within the calm and quiet atmosphere of our small local ateliers, every aspect of the production process is gradual. But with fast fashion, on the other hand, picture this: noisy factory spaces; fast machine production lines; and cheap, poorly woven textiles.

 

There's nothing human about it. However, countless companies work this way because the more products a manufacturer can make, the more the cost of production goes down. But here's the problem: when you prioritize speed over quality, you'll never have a garment that lasts. That's the crux of fast fashion. Although it's cheaper, it never lasts. And what's worse, these garments eventually end up in landfills, which crowds our environment even more.

 

Our slow fashion efforts protect our environment while offering excellent quality, but this process is very slow. It demands diligence, time and care to make every single handmade Chelsea King product. This slow, luxury approach to our production helps us deliver the quality and value our products are known for.

Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion

Slow fashion garners its name from one simple fact: it's slow to produce. Why? Because the company must invest care and quality-control into their creations every step of the way.

 

Although it's a longer road, we would rather be a part of this avenue. We distinguish ourselves by maintaining strict inspection standards for our fabrics. Next, as the fabric is transformed into Chelsea King pieces, its future rests in the hands of our skilled sewers. Within the calm and quiet atmosphere of our small local ateliers, every aspect of the production process is gradual. But with fast fashion, on the other hand, picture this: noisy factory spaces; fast machine production lines; and cheap, poorly woven textiles.

 

There's nothing human about it. However, countless companies work this way because the more products a manufacturer can make, the more the cost of production goes down. But here's the problem: when you prioritize speed over quality, you'll never have a garment that lasts. That's the crux of fast fashion. Although it's cheaper, it never lasts. And what's worse, these garments eventually end up in landfills, which crowds our environment even more.

 

Our slow fashion efforts protect our environment while offering excellent quality, but this process is very slow. It demands diligence, time and care to make every single handmade Chelsea King product. This slow, luxury approach to our production helps us deliver the quality and value our products are known for.

Handmade (with love) in Canada

We don't manufacture — we craft. Thanks to our team of local sewers, we can continue focusing carefully on craftsmanship while pursuing our goals in the sustainable fashion space.

 

Why stay local? When producing eco-friendly garments, there are two strategies: order cheaply from overseas or our way — keeping it local.

 

All our hair accessories are actually sewn here in Canada. Although this business practice is much more expensive for us, we strive to create jobs for our local tailors and seamstresses, which help sustain our communities. Plus, there’s the pride factor: when a scrunchie, headband, or hair scarf is handmade, there’s a special level of patience and artistry imbued into every stitch and seam. For us, it’s a matter of passion and integrity, an aura of ethos that’s ingrained in each individual scrunchie.

 

Local production also empowers us to work more closely as a team. Together, we can preserve the beauty of our craftsmanship and careful tailoring — all the intricate features for which Chelsea King is known.

Special Design Details

All of these "extras" take time and money. Beyond the final appearance of any garment, we invest care and effort to focus on the details: the seams, the consistency, the quality of tailoring etc.

 

Our hair accessories are finished by the most experienced and capable of sewers who love their craft. Yes, their work is time-consuming, but it's worth the unique nature of these hand-executed techniques. We have a team of people, who to us, are like family.

 

We even go the extra mile to offer beautiful, biodegradable packaging. Each scrunchie and hair scarf comes in an adorable cotton drawstring pouch. It acts as a "dust bag" to protect your scrunchie over the years, whether they're sitting in your closet or under your bathroom vanity.

 

You'll even notice other special details like the discrete Chelsea King label, which is sewn onto every product. It's an extra little finish that we feel makes all the difference. Ultimately, in our eyes, owning a hair accessory by Chelsea King is not just a fashion choice — we endeavor to make it an experience.

Special Design Details

All of these "extras" take time and money. Beyond the final appearance of any garment, we invest care and effort to focus on the details: the seams, the consistency, the quality of tailoring etc.

 

Our hair accessories are finished by the most experienced and capable of sewers who love their craft. Yes, their work is time-consuming, but it's worth the unique nature of these hand-executed techniques. We have a team of people, who to us, are like family.

 

We even go the extra mile to offer beautiful, biodegradable packaging. Each scrunchie and hair scarf comes in an adorable cotton drawstring pouch. It acts as a "dust bag" to protect your scrunchie over the years, whether they're sitting in your closet or under your bathroom vanity.

 

You'll even notice other special details like the discrete Chelsea King label, which is sewn onto every product. It's an extra little finish that we feel makes all the difference. Ultimately, in our eyes, owning a hair accessory by Chelsea King is not just a fashion choice — we endeavor to make it an experience.

We Value Your Business

We're grateful for patrons like you who understand and support our slow fashion efforts. We don't have an "easy come, easy go" attitude toward fashion. That's the defining factor between fast fashion brands versus eco-minded creators like us who strive to be leaders of sustainability. We love taking the extra steps to craft our products because we refuse to cut corners. Despite the many costs we absorb during production, we refuse to disrupt the delicate balance of our eco-minded system.

 

We're so thankful for your patronage and support. And we humbly ask that you remember that with each Chelsea King hair accessory, you're not only supporting our local economy but also the slow fashion movement.

 

Thank you!

Emily, and the Chelsea King Team.