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The fashion industry is one of the major contributors to environmental degradation worldwide. According to the UN, it is responsible for approximately 20% of global wastewater, 9% of the microplastics that end up in the ocean annually, and as much as 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions every year. This industry is driven by aggressive marketing and the power of social media, which creates a culture of impulsive purchasing with the appeal of low prices and the promise of boosting individuality and social acceptance. The processes used in the production of clothing and footwear are mostly made from fossil fuel-based synthetics and are not designed to be reused or recycled. The fast-moving, high-production fashion model encourages the disposal of clothing after minimal use when trends change. As a result, these items often end up in landfills, get incinerated, or are sent to developing nations, resulting in numerous environmental and social complications.
The growing consumer pressure regarding environmental and social impacts has shifted the fashion industry towards a circular model. Progress is very slow with only a small fraction of fashion companies committing to integrating circular fashion principles.
What is circular fashion? Is it the same as sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion involves adopting various practices, such as using eco-friendly materials, reducing water and energy consumption, ensuring workers receive fair wages and work under safe conditions, and promoting ethical sourcing and production. The primary goal of sustainable fashion is to create a positive impact across the entire fashion supply chain that lasts long-term.
Circular fashion, on the other hand, goes beyond sourcing and processing by addressing the problem of waste and resource depletion. Its primary objective is to design and build processes that enable materials to be reused, recycled, or regenerated, thereby closing the loop. By extending the lifespan of materials and reducing waste, circular fashion aims to create a regenerative system. This is accomplished by promoting practices such as garment repair, rental and sharing, upcycling, and closed-loop recycling.
How can you participate in the circular fashion movement?
The second-hand clothing market is estimated to grow three times faster than the overall apparel market by 2026, due to the increasing demand for rental clothing and the growth of the resale fashion market.
By Rotation
By Rotation is a fashion rental platform that operates on a peer-to-peer basis. The app encourages users to rent clothing and accessories from other users for special occasions and to lend out items they don’t frequently use at a fraction of the retail price. With the app, you can easily list items and set your own prices and rental dates. As a user, you’ll receive rental requests, analytics, and can communicate securely with potential renters through the messaging system. Since launching in October 2019, the platform has grown to over 330,000 users and lists more than 68,000 items. By Rotation prioritizes building a community of fashion-conscious and environmentally-conscious individuals.
Sign of the Times
For those who have a taste for luxury fashion, Sign of the Times is a marketplace that specializes in selling pre-owned designer goods. They carefully handpick the most coveted pieces and also provide advice if they believe any item might not sell well. Compared to other marketplaces, their service is more hands-on. Sign of the Times has experts who deal with photography, buyer communication, and shipping, ensuring that the entire process is streamlined for a seamless experience. They handle everything from collection to delivery, providing a hassle-free experience for their customers.
The Seam
The Seam is an online platform that was launched in 2019. It can help you find over 700 makers who can take care of all your clothing repair and alteration needs. So how can repairing your clothes benefit the environment? A study found that repairing one item of clothing saves approximately 13.9 kg of carbon emissions. Additionally, 13 million used clothing items end up in UK landfills every week. Repairing our clothes not only keeps them in circulation and out of landfills but also promotes the idea of fashion as an experience of caring for our possessions and making them last.