In a world of fast fashion and disposable trends, slow fashion is a radical act of intention. At YESAET, it's simply how we've always worked.
What is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is a movement and philosophy that prioritizes quality over quantity, people over profit, and longevity over trend cycles. It's the opposite of fast fashion — which produces cheap, disposable clothing at massive environmental and human cost.
Slow fashion asks: Who made this? What is it made of? Will it last?
The Fast Fashion Problem
The fashion industry is one of the world's largest polluters, responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of industrial water pollution. Fast fashion brands produce 52 "micro-seasons" per year, encouraging overconsumption and generating mountains of textile waste.
Most fast fashion garments are worn fewer than 10 times before being discarded, most of which ending up in the Global South and polluting the environment.
YESAET's Slow Fashion Approach
From the very beginning, YESAET was built on a different set of values. Here's what slow fashion looks like in practice at YESAET.
1. Women-Led Artisan Cooperatives
We design our artisanal textiles with the collaboration of our women-led artisan cooperative partners across Africa, where traditional weaving, printing and crocheting techniques have been passed down for generations. By partnering with these cooperatives, we support economic empowerment, preserve cultural heritage, and bring truly one-of-a-kind textiles to our collections.
2. Deadstock & Natural Fiber Fabrics
We source deadstock European and Japanese luxury fabrics in natural fibers— high-quality textiles that would otherwise go to waste. We also work with natural fibers including Ethiopian cotton, Italian merino wool, Scottish cashmere, and wild Ethiopian Eri silk. These materials are chosen for their beauty, durability, and minimal environmental impact.
3. Made in NY
Every YESAET piece is tailored in NY. We believe in NY expert tailoring and local production, fair wages, the irreplaceable value of human skill and a reduction in our carbon footprint. When you wear YESAET, you're supporting Women artisans as well as local production.
We choose to use GOTS Organic Cotton from organic cotton farms in our hand looomed cloths and hand crocheted accessories.
4. Limited, Intentional Collections
We don't follow trend calendars. YESAET releases small, curated collections designed to be worn season after season. Many of our pieces are one-of-a-kind or produced in very limited quantities — because we believe the best clothing is rare, considered, and made to last.
5. Size-Inclusive & Gender-Fluid Design
Slow fashion is also about inclusion. YESAET designs are size-inclusive, with styles ranging from 0 to L and many pieces offered in gender-fluid silhouettes that transcend traditional sizing and gender norms. Shop In Store for help with sizing if needed.
Why It Matters
Choosing slow fashion is one of the most impactful decisions a consumer can make. When you invest in a YESAET piece, you're choosing:
- A garment made to last decades, not months
- Fabrics that don't harm the planet, during the make of the fabric and during the wash of the garment
- Fair wages for skilled artisans
- The Versatility of the garment
- A story worth telling
How to Shop Slow
Ready to make the shift? Here are a few principles to guide you:
- Buy less, choose well. Invest in fewer, better pieces.
- Ask who made it. Transparency matters.
- Choose natural fibers. They last longer and biodegrade.
- Care for your clothes. Proper care extends the life of every garment. Mend and upcycle as needed.
- Shop brands with values. Shop YESAET.
The YESAET Promise
Slow fashion isn't a marketing strategy for us — it's a way of life. Every stitch, every fabric choice, every artisan partnership is a reflection of our commitment to a more beautiful, more equitable, more sustainable world.
We invite you to be part of it.