Circular Fashion: The New Model
Our values are changing.
A new idea is germinating as fashion moves away from the wasteful linear take-make-waste production model.
What is circular fashion?
Circular fashion is a closed-looped system that promotes the minimisation of waste, a more ethical and equitable supply chain, and the use of materials that can be continuously reused, recycled, and repurposed. At its core, circular fashion rejects treating garments as throw-away commodities and instead imbues each piece with a long—or multiple—lifespans. The four foundations of this system include:
1. Waste Reduction and Utilisation
In the UK, 350,000 tonnes of unwanted clothing end up in landfill. Globally, each second the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles ends up the same way, or is burned. If this amount of unwanted clothing, non-stock (clothing that didn’t sell) and discarded fabric cut-offs continues to be dumped there will be irreversible negative environmental impacts for everyone.
However, companies such as our beloved Bee & Alpaca are tapping into this previously unutilised resource producing new, exciting designs and reducing the cost to the planet with their closed-loop model.
2. Ethical Supply Chains: By the People, For the People
In 2017 child labour in the fast fashion industry was big news. However, in the last seven years, still prevalent issues such as the dangerous working environments and modern slavery practises related to the fashion industry have been quietly brushed into the corner. Earlier this year, the Investigative Journalist Foundation reported that Shien was lobbying about a Canadian federal law that prevented forced labour.
Thankfully, circular fashion gives the power back to the people, aiming to support and create ethical supply chains built on the fair treatment of workers in safe environments. We at TCL take president from Bo Carter, who supports ethical manufacturing practises by producing her products in Leeds by local communities.
3. Designed for Longevity. Keep Calm and Reuse, Recycle, Repair!
Garments inclosed-loop systems are designed - and made - to last longer (and therefore are more economically viable for the wearer). Because of this, they are perfect for repurposing to a new home and are worth repairing.
Embroidery techniques such as the Japanese art of Sashiko covers damage with simple and beautiful stitching. Turning each blemish into an admired feature.
Shopping small independent designers leads to big market changes.
4. Material innovation
Have you ever thought about where your chewing gum ends up? Apart from on the bottom of your shoe? The forecast sales of chewing gum, globally in 2025, is estimated to reach 48.68 billion US dollars. That’s a lot of unused material out there on the streets.
GUMDROP have a solution. They recycle used gum and turn it into reusable coffee cups, trainers and more collection bins. Reinventing a common previously unutilised material, GUMDROP have created a closed loop cycle for a previously disposable and damaging product.
Raw materials such as mushrooms to make leather, seaweed, as well as bamboo and hemp are being used to create more sustainable fabrics and materials that we can continue to love year after year, without as much cost to the environment.
J.Clarke
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