What is Circular Fashion?
In a world where fashion trends change as quickly as the seasons, the concept of circular fashion is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to the traditional model of apparel consumption, where clothes are often discarded after use. But what is circular fashion, and why is it such an important concept?
Circular fashion is about closing the loop linked to apparel use, so designing, producing, and consuming clothing in a way that reduces waste, lowers environmental impact, and increases the life of all garments. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of circular fashion, how it differs from traditional clothing consumption, what benefits it offers, and how circular fashion will change how clothes are manufactured, sold, worn, and reused in the future.
What is Circular Fashion?
At the most basic level, circular fashion is about finding ways to keep clothing in use for as long as possible. It involves minimizing waste through practices like recycling, upcycling, repair, and resale. Instead of discarding old garments, circular fashion aims to create a closed-loop system where used clothing is reused or reprocessed (to create new items) rather than being discarded.
There are generally 4 steps involved:
- Designing clothing for long-term use: Clothes are manufactured to last longer through the use of durable materials and timeless styles.
- Using sustainable materials: Clothes built with circular fashion in mind can be easily recycled or biodegraded, so materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester are common.
- Thrifting and reuse: Consumers are encouraged to buy fewer garments, choose quality over quantity, and opt for secondhand clothing over new items.
- Post-Use: After garments are worn out, practices like repair, resale, and reprocessing help to keep clothes out of landfills.
The concept of circular fashion traces back to broader circular economy initiatives of the 1960s and 1970s as environmental concerns gained more attention. The term “circular fashion” itself was popularized in the 2010s by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a non-profit that has increasingly brought together fashion brands, innovators, and even governments to move towards a circular economy.
How Circular Fashion is Different Than Linear Fashion
The traditional model for fashion apparel is to take resources, make products that will yield immediate profit, and dispose of those items after use. This model doesn’t consider environmental impact, and is both resource-intensive and wasteful. Fast fashion, driven by the rapid production of low-cost, trendy clothing, makes the problem even worse, encouraging overconsumption and short product lifespans.
Circular fashion, on the other hand, focuses on extending the life of fashion garments through reuse, repair, and recycling. It tries to minimize waste and keep garments in use for as long as possible. Thrift stores and thrifting are a key element in this cycle, encouraging consumers to buy and sell secondhand clothing to divert it from landfills.
Benefits of Circular Fashion
The environmental benefits of circular fashion are obvious. With fewer garments going to landfill, there is less waste, fewer resources going to new clothing production, and lower carbon emissions. Brands are also finding new ways to recycle other materials to use in the production of new, sustainable garments. Ralph Lauren, for example, offers an Earth Polo that is made from an average of 12 recycled bottles per shirt, helping to reduce plastic waste in the environment.
Economic advantages are also plentiful. By extending the lifespan of products and expanding the secondhand market, there is increased job creation in the retail, recycling, and repair service sectors. Consumers can also save money by buying secondhand, which often benefits local communities when shopping is done at regional thrift stores and charity shops.
Circular fashion also improves labor conditions by reducing demand for fast fashion, which often relies on exploitative practices.
How Clothing Brands Are Implementing Circular Fashion
A number of fashion brands are introducing circular fashion and sustainable practices into their manufacturing and retail operations to meet consumer demand and distinguish themselves with ethical options. Here are some recent examples from popular brands:
- Patagonia’s Worn Wear program encourages customers to repair and resell clothing instead of discarding it after use. Customers can also exchange used gear for store credit.
- Levi’s Secondhand program offers a similar platform, allowing consumers to buy and sell-preowned products. Their Water<Less® technique for manufacturing jeans contributes to less waste during clothing production.
- Beyond the Earth Polo mentioned above, Ralph Lauren focuses on timeless styles, long-lasting materials and achieving 100% sustainably source materials within the next year. (Source)
Conclusion
As fashion brands and consumers look to the future, circular fashion will move from being a trend to a necessity. The benefits are significant, spanning environmental, economic, and social improvements across the fashion industry. By better understanding and participating in circular fashion (yes, you can use this as a reason to thrift more!), it’s easier than ever to help save money, reduce waste, and contribute to a sustainable fashion industry.
