Slow Fashion Festival: The Inaugural Celebration

The first annual Slow Fashion Festival took place October 21 to 23, 2022.

The very first Slow Fashion Festival marked the beginning of a vibrant movement dedicated to reimagining how we create, consume, and celebrate clothing.

This groundbreaking event brought together makers, designers, activists, and communities passionate about sustainability, ethical practices, and mindful style. Through workshops, markets, panel discussions, and creative showcases, the festival sparked meaningful conversations and inspired attendees to embrace a slower, more intentional approach to fashion.

Rooted in our mission to foster transparency, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility, the festival aimed to challenge the fast fashion industry’s harmful norms by highlighting the value of quality, craftsmanship, and community. It created a space for education, collaboration, and empowerment, encouraging both creators and consumers to make thoughtful choices that benefit people and the planet. The inaugural event set the foundation for a growing movement dedicated to transforming the fashion industry from the ground up.

Our mission has always been to showcase every link in the chain!

Our mission has always been to showcase every link in the chain!

The 2022

Inaugural Designers

55 models walked in our first show! 

Nayeli Crosssdale - Lucy Ngyuen - Lena Lee - Basie - Michelle Humphrey - Mimo Gorman - Yury Carospina - Xena - Laila Imam - Rachel Elaine - Savannah Schoffstall - Tess Ellen - Beks - Alayna Suber - Luis Betancourt - Ikiah McGowan - Daniela Pachon de Stefano - Ciara Birley - Maliabo Diamba - Nala - Yanett - Shorna Haque - Mikel Hamilton - Kursten - Grant Owens - Alacia - Anna - Chloey - Carolina - Hannah - Andie - Brianna Medina - Ash Risinger - Jade Wright - Sooz Knox - Diego Duarte - Fonzy Hernandez - Savee Young

Panel Highlights:

Conversations That Inspired Change

These panels ran all weekend long & brought together thought leaders, creators, and activists who shaped meaningful conversations around sustainability, fashion, and social impact. From slow living to environmental policy, each discussion offered real-world insights and actionable steps that helped our community take informed, intentional action.

Gallery Show:

Fashion as Expression

As part of a past Slow Fashion Festival, we curated a visual art gallery that celebrated fashion as a powerful medium for self-expression and intentional living. Through an open call, we invited artists and photographers to submit work, particularly fashion photography and portraiture, that explored personal style, the emotional resonance of clothing, and the impact of thoughtful style choices.

The selected works were exhibited on-site for the duration of the festival weekend, transforming the venue into a dynamic showcase of creativity, identity, and sustainability through fashion.

Thank you to all our 2022 Gallery Artists

Devin RichardAlexandra Tavera – John Paul – Blake TimmonsJumana Abd Al Rahman (@1mushrooms, @amethyst.mushrooms) – Joel CarterPaola Sire (@artxsire) – Shorna Haque, Hayden SutherlandSteph Kersch | mavenmaintenant@gmail.com – Joshua Oliver – Jade Wright – Rebeka Perales (Website)

Sunday Market

Our Sunday Market showcased 25 local slow makers and artists, offering handcrafted, sustainably made goods from our Austin community. It was a vibrant celebration of creativity, connection, and conscious consumption—all in one place.

Thank you to all our 2022 vendors

POORBABY FASHIONChiquita’s ClayZak The MakerDaughter's of the Mountain VintageAshley BrownJello Mom VintageRosemary's GoodsNot Nice CreationsLil LionHappy HookerBobbie WilsonDrive Slow Drink MilkFuture VagabondAshdelThrift StitchMorgan MarsImpact VintageLucid VoyageWhiskey River VintageAll Tomorrow’s PartiesPhebgbKnot Your AbuelaEphrance Vintage

The Living Closet at

Slow Fashion Festival

Hosted by GOOD Group ATX, The Living Closet was a free, ongoing clothing swap created for and by Slow Fashion Festival attendees. Open to all, this shared closet invited guests to give and take clothing, proving that everything we need already exists within our own community.

With surprises like handwritten love notes tucked into garments, special donations from local vintage shops, and appearances by photographers and stylists, the Living Closet offered space for creativity, connection, and style exploration. Any leftover pieces were responsibly rehomed, and GOOD group ATX tracked real-time data to highlight the environmental and social impact of swapping over shopping.

2022 Look book ~

2022 Look book ~

Photography by Javi Glz/ @javi_glz

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Spring 2023