Fast fashion brands throw millions of dollars at ads to stay visible. They flood our social feeds with influencer hauls, discount codes, and 'limited time only' sales that never actually end.
It’s exhausting. It’s frustrating. And it feels impossible to compete with.
But if you're running an ethical, sustainable, circular, handmade or slow fashion business, you don’t need a massive budget to increase your sales. You need a smart, free strategy that works for slow fashion.
And the best free marketing strategy that most slow fashion brands aren’t using enough?
Leveraging customer content.
Your best marketing asset isn’t a perfectly curated Instagram feed. It’s your actual customers—the people who have already bought from you, the people who already love your brand, and the people who honestly and authentically want to share their experience.
Fast fashion relies on paid ads to create hype. Slow fashion thrives on trust. And nothing builds trust faster than real customers talking about your brand.
So how do you turn customer content into sales without spending a cent on ads?
1. Make it easy for customers to share their experience.
Most customers love to share their favourite brands—but they won’t if they don’t know you want them to. Add a handwritten note to your orders encouraging them to share their purchase. Create a branded hashtag and tell them to tag you. Run a 'wear it, share it' giveaway, rewarding customers who post their outfits. Make it super simple—and customers will do it.
2. Reshare, reshare, reshare.
User-generated content (UGC) is gold for slow fashion brands. It’s proof that people love what you do. Post customer photos on Instagram and stories. Feature their testimonials in your emails and product pages. Show behind-the-scenes clips of orders being packed to create excitement and FOMO. The more strangers see your brand and products in real life and on real customers—the faster they'll become customers.
3. Turn happy customers into brand ambassadors.
Your best customers don’t just buy from you once—they become advocates for your brand. Start a referral program. Offer perks for customers who share your brand with friends. Highlight customer stories in your marketing to build a deeper emotional connection. Real customers sharing real experiences will always be more powerful than any ad.
And when you build a community around your brand—when your customers feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger—they don’t just buy from you once. They come back again and again, they tell their friends, and they help you grow.
So you don’t need fast fashion’s budget to win. You just need the right strategy.
And if you’re ready to get your slow fashion brand seen, heard, and selling—without burning out or competing on price—I can help you.
Join me for this month’s LIVE online workshop on February 27th at 9am AEST, F*ck Fast Fashion: The 7 Secrets of Successful Slow Fashion Brands, where you'll learn the exact strategies you need to grow your business ethically, organically, and profitably.
Because f*ck fast fashion.
Are you with me?
Claire x
