Slow Fashion Isn't Easy

We explored how countries differ in their engagement with slow fashion by comparing domestic sustainable and ethical product output, consumer interest in “fast fashion”, innovation capacity, and policy quality (using corruption perception as a proxy).

Key Takeaway

Policy and Innovation Alone Aren’t Enough. High innovation or good governance doesn’t guarantee sustainable fashion production—local industry and existing supply chains matter too.

What the Data Suggests

• Consumer Interest ≠ Local Supply. In countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, public awareness is growing—but domestic production hasn’t caught up.
• Mature Markets, Subtle Signals. The US, UK, Germany, France, and Italy lead in sustainable output, but search interest is moderate—suggesting slow fashion is now mainstream, not just trending.
• Southern Europe’s Quiet Strength. Spain and Portugal thrive on strong local craftsmanship and responsible manufacturing, even with lower innovation scores.