"Slow Fashion Day": San Diego proclaims the second Sunday of November as "Slow Fashion Day"
The Birth of Slow Fashion Day: How San Diego Made History
From a Seed of Inspiration to a City-Wide Movement
Every movement begins with a moment of clarity. For San Diego's Slow Fashion Day, that moment came in the summer of 2024 when news arrived from across the Atlantic: France had just hosted the world's first Slow Fashion Week. As we read about Parisians gathering to mend, create, and reimagine their relationship with clothing, a question sparked: Why not San Diego?
The Vision Takes Shape
What started as a conversation between Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski and Manny Biezunski of Sew Loka and Christopher Carson of The Homegrown Project quickly evolved into something bigger. We weren't just planning an event—we were imagining a future where San Diego could lead America's sustainable fashion revolution.
The timing felt destined. California had just passed SB 707, groundbreaking legislation addressing textile waste. The climate crisis demanded action. Fast fashion was producing 92 million tons of waste annually. Our community needed practical solutions, not just statistics.
Building the Foundation
The path from idea to reality required believers. The Conrad Prebys Foundation became our Sustainability Champion, ensuring the event would be free to all—removing every barrier between our community and the skills they needed to fight textile waste. Goodwill San Diego stepped forward with donations of materials, furniture, and their decades of circular economy expertise.
But perhaps the most meaningful moment came on November 4, 2025, when the San Diego City Council officially proclaimed the second Sunday of November as Slow Fashion Day. Councilwoman Vivian Moreno championed our cause, and suddenly, we weren't just hosting an event—we were making history as the first major U.S. city to officially recognize Slow Fashion Day.
November 9, 2025: The Day Everything Changed
When the doors opened at The Lane, we expected 500 attendees. Over 800 RSVPs had poured in. The community's hunger for change was palpable.
The day unfolded like a beautiful garment coming together:
Sewing machines hummed as hundreds learned to mend and transform
The panel "Combating Textile Waste" brought together voices from CalRecycle, Goodwill, I Love A Clean San Diego, and Material Happiness
Go Scarlet & Beazie Beats music energized the crowd
Local sustainable makers showcased possibilities
The "Sew Homegrown" fashion show proved that upcycled could be extraordinary
But the real magic? Watching grandmothers teach teenagers to sew. Seeing someone's face light up when they successfully attached their first patch. Witnessing our community realize that their hands held the power to heal our planet.
The Thread That Binds Us
None of this would have been possible without our volunteers. They were the patient teachers, the gentle guides, the problem-solvers who ensured everyone—regardless of skill level—felt capable and welcomed. They transformed what could have been chaos into a symphony of creativity.
What's Next?
Slow Fashion Day 2025 was just the beginning. We've proven that San Diego can lead, that community-driven change is possible, and that sustainability doesn't mean sacrifice—it means creativity, connection, and celebration.
As we look toward 2026 and beyond, we see Slow Fashion Day growing into a movement that spreads across California, then the nation. We envision schools teaching mending as life skills, businesses embracing circular fashion principles, and a generation that sees clothing as something to cherish, not discard.
Join the Movement
The second Sunday of November will forever be Slow Fashion Day in San Diego. But the truth is, every day is an opportunity to choose slow fashion. Every mended hole, every thrift store visit, every decision to repair rather than replace—these are acts of rebellion against a system that profits from waste.
Thank you, San Diego, for believing in this vision. Thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers, and every single person who picked up a needle and thread on November 9th.
The revolution isn't coming. It's here. And it's beautiful.
Want to be part of Slow Fashion Day 2026? Follow @sewloka and @thehomegrownprojectsd for updates, workshops, and ways to get involved.