Fashion that runs in circles: Is circular fashion a solution to global problems?
Do you ever ask yourself where your clothes, shoes, and accessories end up after you no longer need them? Do you recycle them? Give them away? Sell them? Or throw them away? For most of us, the latter is the answer.
Because of this, the fashion industry is already known to be responsible for polluting the environment. Why is this the case and what could be done to become more conscious and able to make more sustainable decisions?
Fashion as we know it. Linear model
Some time ago “going shopping” was a thing. Especially with all those discounts and sales that attract us to buy what we don’t necessarily need. Have you ever heard your close ones saying that they don’t have anything to wear but they can find pieces of clothing or things that still have price tags on them? Or maybe you have ever encountered this problem yourself? What consumerism brought us is not only the “opportunity” to buy more for less but also it made us become a very important part of the linear economy model.
This model works on a basis of making something just for it go to waste. For example, the designer of fast fashion brand X creates an amazing design for a t-shirt. Later on, this t-shirt is made in large quantities, distributed to stores where consumers buy it. After a while, a t-shirt is thrown away like garbage, probably because it is no longer wanted or is worn-out.
Each of these mentioned processes is complex and adds its “fair” share in polluting the planet. The solution, in this case, is to re-consider each step of the linear model and to create another system that would help to reduce waste, minimize pollution and provide consumers with better production.
Circular economy but make it fashion
In a circular fashion, every little detail needs to be kept in mind. For circular fashion to work best, certain decisions should be made in every step of the making, starting from design and finishing to how an item will be given a “second life”. Simply said, the most important task here is to make sure that the made item would never become trash. Let’s see how this is ensured in every step of production.
Design and materials
Let’s ask ourselves what is important for us and what kind of things we consider essential when buying some piece of clothing? Material? Design? Where it was made? Price? There are a lot of factors to consider, but for brands and designers, one of the most important things in production is the material.
Not only do they have to make sure to use materials that are comfortable to a person’s skin and long-lasting but to ensure that these materials are good to be recycled. We should remember that something once created should go around in a circle and not end up in a waste bin. An important role plays design: a smart, practical, and at the same time attracting one’s attention.
Being sustainable is quite a challenge that can cost a lot of time and resources. What is important to notice is how brands and designers present themselves in this journey: are they really taking into account the scope of the problem or they just label their garments as “sustainable” when in reality this is not the case? What buyers should consider is that circular fashion and consciousness are not other trends but the consequences of our actions.
Distribution
Another important step in a circular fashion is distribution. How much does it “cost” for an idea to be distributed to a buyer’s home in a currency of carbon emissions? Having this in mind, most brands are now collaborating with shipping companies that find ways to get their work done in more greenways. Transportation is not the only aspect to consider here. What these companies take into consideration is also work processes, packaging, recycling, and tracking of data that shows the progress done and what should be implemented later on. This example shows how combining personal growth and collaboration can bring effective results.
What happens after?
We all had this dilemma of what to do with clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. that we no longer need but they are too good to be thrown away. So, what are the possible ways to give them a chance at a second life?
There is always a possibility to give them away, donate or sell. If you decide to go with the latter, there are some great platforms where you can sell and swap garments you don’t longer need. In case of despair of what to do with worn-out clothes — there are clothing recycling bins where one can leave their clothes for them to become another usable item.
What we should remember is that everything we own, could become something new and (re)usable if we just make an effort to think about where it could go further than the garbage bin.
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