the quiet cost of fast fashion — and why we chose a different way

we're not here to make anyone feel guilty about their purchasing choices, its hard to navigate the intricacies of fast fashion as it is, and that's part of the very reason we started funk+fina

fast fashion produces an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste–or 80 billion new pieces of clothing–every year. that's a lot of unworn hoodies and tees sitting in landfills, so why are we getting involved in the fashion industry at all?

the numbero uno reason was because we wanted something cozy, vintage-feeling, a little disco but couldn't find one we liked. so we made our own

then we thought: what if we just kept making things we couldn't find - vintage 70s mountain vibes + 80s streetwear energy funky clothes?

that's how funk+fina was born. and now we're here 

well, the fact is, we wear clothes. and we like clothes. we like what they express about us, who we think of ourselves as a person. but what really got us was hearing how fast fashion is even found at the very top designer houses; basically, the same factories are producing the same clothes but with an extra zero (or two!) at the end of the price

at funk + fina, we do things differently – and it starts with made-to-order

what does made-to-order actually mean?

simple: we don't make your piece until you order it. no overproduction, no excess inventory, no guessing games. every hoodie, tee and hat is created specifically for the person who ordered it

• our manufacturer is oeko-tex certified on many blanks — meaning fabrics are tested for harmful substances
• they work with established blank suppliers like gildan, bella+canvas, next level — brands that have their own social compliance programs
• on-demand printing means zero overproduction — which is genuinely better than fast fashion
• their facilities in latvia, mexico, and the us are owned and operated by them directly, giving them more control over working conditions than a typical outsourced factory

why it matters

when you buy made-to-order, you're choosing to opt out of the cycle of overproduction. you're saying that your piece is worth waiting a few extra days for

you're investing in something made intentionally, not just churned out to fill a warehouse shelf — and when they say fast fashion 'churns' out clothes, it's true, the designers are thinking of seasonal new releases a season or two in advance

fast fashion facts

01 25% of new garments remain unsold. as much as 12 per cent of fibres are discarded on the factory floor.

02 3,500 chemicals are used in textile production. ten per cent are hazardous to human health. five per cent are hazardous to the environment.

03 35% of primary microplastics in the ocean are from washing synthetic textiles — releasing 0.5 billion kilograms of microplastic fibres into the ocean each year.

 

flipping the lid on fast fashion

the industry is built on one idea: make you feel like what you have isn't enough. new season, new trend, new reason to buy and discard.

we're built on the opposite idea: buy one great thing. wear it everywhere. love it for years 

that's slow fashion. that's made-to-order. that's funk + fina

we'd rather you buy one hoodie from us and wear it for five years than buy five hoodies from anyone and get rid of them in a year

we have lots of products and don’t want to start a summer line just because we 'should capture the seasonal market'.

we don’t want throw away clothes. we want people to wear our tees and hoodies until they are thread-worn and so so soft from too many wears to count—we want people attached to their funk+fina clothes not throw them away at the end of the season

I mean, can we skip the fall/winter/spring/summer collections already and focus on how we want to flip the lid (pun intended) on the fast fashion industry?!

the trade-off (and why it's worth it)

made-to-order means slightly longer wait times. we think that's a fair trade for a piece that was made specifically for you, with care, near the mountains of whistler, bc. good things take a little time

some strategies David Suzuki Foundation recommends to find an affordability and sustainability balance:

• buy less and choose quality - invest in a smaller number of high-quality, versatile clothing items that will last longer. although these may be more expensive upfront, they may be more cost-effective in the long run and have a lower environmental impact
• shop second-hand and thrift - thrifting, consigning and buying second-hand clothing is affordable and eco-friendly. it extends the life of existing clothing. it contributes to a circular economy. it reduces demand for new, mass-produced items
• host a clothing swap - make it a habit to declutter every season and host a clothing swap. you’ll refresh your wardrobe and get items you’re not wearing into the hands of someone who will
• repair and upcycle - learn basic sewing and mending skills to repair damaged clothing. consider upcycling old clothing into new pieces to give them a second life. turn unsalvageable clothing into rags, quilting squares or art projects!
• take care of your clothes-  they’ll last longer. you’ll pollute less
• build a capsule wardrobe (I've talked about it before, if you're new to the term) - some 40 per cent of clothing bought is never worn! choose 10 to 20 versatile, high-quality, durable items that can be mixed and matched
• rent or borrow - for special occasions or one-time events, rent clothing or borrow from friends and family
• embrace slow fashion. this movement advocates for environmental and social justice. support retailers that proudly display and align with your values

 

shop intentionally. wear it forever

nine pieces worth owning — and keeping

01. the one you'll live in discoball back | crop hoodie

wear it to the trailhead. wear it to the farmers market. wear it until it's your most-reached-for thing

pairs beautifully with: funk + fina | trucker hat + retro vibes | racerback tank

02. the conversation starter big ol' sparkly discoball | garment-dyed hoodie

someone will stop you. someone always stops us when we wear our discoball hoodies!

pairs beautifully with: discoball | trucker cap + funk + fina | tee

03. the trail essential go outside trees | trucker hat

because the mountain doesn't care about your hair, but it's okay if you might

pairs beautifully with: funky mountains | hoodie + retro vibes | muscle tank

04. the one that goes with everything funk + fina | baseball tee

the perfect base layer that somehow always ends up being the whole outfit

pairs beautifully with: happy camper | cotton bucket hat + funk + fina | hoodie

05. the après everything blue moon | hoodie

hike done. patio found. this is the hoodie for that exact moment

pairs beautifully with: rainbow path | knit toque + discofunk | v-neck tee

06. the one for golden hour retro vibes back | racerback tank

made for the moment the light hits just right and someone has a camera

pairs beautifully with: retro vibes | visor + funky mountains | hoodie

07. the slow fashion statement rainbow mountain | baseball tee

bold enough to start a conversation about why you stopped buying fast fashion

pairs beautifully with: club funk | trucker hat + moon dial | crop hoodie

08. the one you'll pass down funky mountains | hoodie

classic enough to outlast every trend. funky enough to never be boring

pairs beautifully with: old skool camper | trucker hat + bubble funk + fina | ringer tee

09. the winter-to-summer crossover discoball | pom-pom toque

whistler has exactly two seasons: ski season and almost ski season. be ready

pairs beautifully with: big ol' sparkly discoball | garment-dyed hoodie + funk + fina | waffle toque

p.s. if you read this whole thing and felt something — share it. the more people who opt out of the fast fashion cycle, the better. for everyone. 🌍

because everyone deserves funky fashion that doesn't cost the earth. 🌍 and the earth deserves better than another summer collection nobody needed 🏔️✨