What is slow fashion? And what a tomato teaches us about sustainable bags

About slow fashion and conscious choices

I'm writing this blog in Spain, in a place where life moves at a different pace. In our vegetable garden, all sorts of things are growing – including beautiful tomatoes. Not perfectly shiny specimens, but rugged, firm fruits with a full flavor. I know exactly where they come from and how much work goes into them, because I planted them myself and keep an eye on them daily.

And that got me thinking: why do we understand that good quality food takes time and attention, but we expect the opposite from fashion?

During our workshops, I'm often asked what slow fashion actually is. And honestly? Many people don't even know what fast fashion means. These are terms you hear often, but rarely explained clearly.

Fast fashion?

It's all about speed and low prices. Clothing that's often worn only a few times, where no one knows who made it or what it's made of. After a short season, it disappears again. It's focused on mass production and mass consumption – trends follow each other quickly, and quality is secondary to price.

Slow fashion?

The opposite – but not just in terms of pace. It's about more conscious design, working with sustainable materials, local production, and choosing something that lasts. Not something new every season, but something that lasts. It's a different way of looking at clothing and accessories – and also at how we consume.

Why is slow fashion important to us?

At SA Design, we create sustainable leather bags and accessories with a mission: to make slow fashion the new normal. So, no large production runs, no pressure from trends, and no rush. We use naturally tanned leather—not chemically treated, but vegetable-based. This process takes weeks instead of hours, but it results in a material that becomes more beautiful with age.

And sometimes you have to wait a little while for your order. Sometimes it's just a day, because we make something special for you from the moment you place your order, to avoid stockpiling. This way, you always have something unique.

Why is 'slow' then 'expensive'?

People sometimes ask us if our bags are "expensive." That's an understandable question. But I'd rather ask the counter-question: why do we actually consider it normal that so many things are so cheap, and accept it without a second thought?

What's "expensive" if something lasts for years? If you know a product is made honestly, without waste, with attention to detail – what does the price mean, when you also factor in quality, provenance, and durability?

I believe it's important to rediscover the value of making something good. Not just from an environmental perspective, but also from a place of respect for the product, the craft—and for ourselves.

What often surprises me?

The realization that we are used to being guided by supply and not by demand.

That's something I see very often in our workshops. When designing a bag, I always ask: what do you want to use the bag for? And how? And this simple question often surprises our students. It's a question we almost never ask ourselves anymore. We're primarily guided by what's available, not by what we truly need or want.

So even when you order a custom-made bag, you first think about what you want, and therefore also about the why. And that makes you think about yourself, your habits, what you value and what you don't. It's a really fun process to experience.

Once you start thinking about how a bag will support your life—practical, personal, stylish—you'll see the object and yourself in a whole new light. Wonderful, isn't it?

Choosing yourself makes you aware and gives more value

The same thing is happening here in the vegetable garden: we planted three varieties of tomatoes, each with a different purpose. Because we knew what we wanted and could choose, we made a conscious choice. And now we see them growing. Slowly, but perfectly.

No rush. Just pay attention. It takes a little getting used to, but it feels truly wonderful!

👉 Would you like to know more about how we work, or experience what it's like to make something with your own hands?

View our collection or register for a workshop at www.sa-design.nl .