TSR Focus: What is "Circular Fashion"?
We believe that in order to sustain our planet and the fashion industry we need radical transformation from a linear economy to a circular one.
What is Circular Fashion?
A circular fashion industry is one where the practise of take, make, waste is designed out and instead products and materials are reused, recycled and regenerated for as long as possible. Ultimately a new way to design, make, and use things within planetary boundaries.
As an industry we have heavily relied on a linear economy using up finite resources to over manufacture and ultimately produce vast amounts of waste that end up in landfill or incineration.
FACTS (all from Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
- Less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments.
- The fashion industry generates 13 kilograms of waste for every person on the planet.
- A new textiles economy (i.e. the circular economy) presents a $500 billion opportunity to the fashion industry.
- The clothing waste accumulated between today and 2025 will weigh as much as today’s world population.
Ways To Become More Circular
Design with circularity in mind:
Whether using natural materials or man made ones research fabric that can be recycled and regenerated, that uses renewable energy and closed looped manufacturing in production.
Consider the after life of a garment. Can it be repaired, recycled or resold?
The movement towards a circular fashion industry is integral not only for the longevity of business but also of our planet and requires huge commitment, collaboration and innovation from all stakeholders.