You want to stop buying so many clothes but you either don’t know where to start or, whenever you tried to say “no more”, the only thing that changed was you… into yet another new outfit?
I’ve been there myself, which is why I know that ditching fast fashion can seem hard but is possible. And you can actually have some fun, too.
So, I prepared this fast fashion detox challenge to help you create sustainable, long-term change in only a month.
How to approach this fast fashion detox challenge
- Do it on your own, or get a friend involved for accountability: whatever works best for you
- Save this list so you can easily come back to it, and set a reminder on your phone to check a new prompt every day
- Be prepared to be flexible (for example, by tweaking my suggestions around your routine, if needed) and kind towards yourself. Don’t you dare fall for some negative self-talk if you end up missing a couple of days or taking a step back! You’ve got this
30-day fast fashion detox challenge
Are you as excited as I am? Let’s go.
Week 1 – Foundations
Day 1. Remove distractions – Delete shopping apps, unsubscribe, and unfollow brands or influencers pushing overconsumption. Replace them with slow fashion inspiration
Day 2. Educate yourself on why fast fashion is that bad – As well as that clear breakdown, consider other types of resources (the documentary The True Cost is what did it for me)
Day 3. Connect with why this matters to you – This will help you stay motivated during this fast fashion detox challenge (and beyond!). For example, initially, I struggled, thought “I can’t be perfect. So, what’s the point?”, and walked straight back into my regular fast fashion store. But once I decided I didn’t want to contribute to the exploitation of people and children just to wear something new, I never went back
Day 4. Consider a no-buy challenge – Not just ‘no new garments’, as that could still mean shopping second-hand. I did it for a whole year but you don’t have to be as ‘extreme’, especially if you’re used to purchasing clothes every other day (how about ‘until the end of this challenge’ or even just ‘for a week, to start with’?). The main thing is starting to question and break the habit of ‘buying clothes just because you can’
Day 5. Keep a wish list – Tempted by something? Log it, and decide you’ll only get it if you still want it by the end of this fast fashion detox challenge
Day 6. Identify your impulse triggers – Doing this no-buy challenge should give you clarity on why you feel the need to keep buying clothes, but here are some trigger examples (and tips to prepare for them)
Day 7. Choose a mantra or affirmation to stay motivated – Mine? “If an outfit was made by exploited workers, it can never make you look and feel good.“ Why not turn yours into a phone wallpaper?
Week 2 – (Re)discovering slow fashion
Day 8. Reframe it – Sustainable fashion is NOT about “wearing boring, beige clothes”. It’s about being mindful and intentional (and it can genuinely be fun, too)
Day 9. Get inspired – Try not to buy anything yet, but do browse the collections of a few ethical brands to see what slow fashion can actually look like (pretty stylish, right?)
Day 10. Know your fabrics – Discover the best and worst fabrics for the environment
Day 11. Think about the money – How much were you spending on fast fashion? Start tracking your savings! Also, understand the concept of cost per wear: by switching to buying fewer garments—that match your style and were made sustainably—and rewearing them for years, you’ll save money in the long run, even if they have higher price tags
Day 12. Have fun with one of these sustainable fashion activities
Day 13. Start seeing clothes as durable pieces to fall in love with, not temporary throwaway items – Next week, we’ll start moving away from microtrends. For now, try this mindset shift
Day 14. Learn how to make your clothes last longer
Week 3 – Wardrobe
Day 15. Find your signature style – No more “wearing what everyone else wears”. What feels ‘you’ in a more timeless way? For me, to find my style, it was helpful to rent various clothes or swap them with friends (without buying them) to try different things
Day 16. Turn it into a moodboard and include your mantra
Day 17. Declutter, re-discover, and re-arrange your wardrobe
Day 18. Digitise it
Day 19. Remix your clothes and accessories – Start pairing them up in creative ways to obtain new outfits using the same items. You’ll be surprised by how many combinations you unlock!
Day 20. Embrace repeat outfits, too – Let’s ditch the unsustainable idea that we shouldn’t be seen rewearing them (don’t our favourite characters have a handful of iconic outfits, too?!)
Day 21. Create a grown-up version of outfits you wore as a kid – Because… why not? Here’s to fully reconnecting with ourselves
Week 4 – Mindfulness & intention
Day 22. Journal on what you found easier or more challenging
Day 23. Celebrate your progress (not perfection)
Day 24. Get in the mindset of buying clothes mindfully from now on – Here are some questions you can ask yourself
Day 25. Rewear your favourite outfit – How does it feel to wear something that matches your style and allows you to express yourself? Journal on this
Day 26. Explore ways to enjoy new clothes without buying new clothes, occasionally – For example, I sometimes rent them (especially occasionwear), borrow them (my mum once lent me the most beautiful dress for a wedding), or buy them second-hand (while avoiding overconsumption)
Day 27. Make a plan for after this fast fashion detox challenge – It’s not about suffering or restricting yourself. So, based on what you enjoyed the most and what didn’t work well for you: how can you keep it up in a way that feels aligned?
Day 28. Find your new favourite ethical brands – Switching to sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be hard! On Project Cece, we brought hundreds of brands in one place and added filters to simplify your choices
Nearly there
Day 29. Share this fast fashion detox challenge with your friends – Amplify your impact by getting more people involved
Day 30. Reflect on this experience – What ‘clicked’ and changed for you? What did you learn about yourself? And how will you use it to stay motivated?
And regardless of whether you’ve had some hiccups, skipped a few days, or took a bit longer than a month… WELL DONE for giving this a go!
_large.png)