What is Circular Fashion and Why We Need it Now!
We are currently in an environmental and social emergency, and the fashion industry is playing one of the biggest roles due to a lack of circularity in the fashion production process. Although the idea of circular fashion may seem like a complex concept, it is actually quite simple. The idea is to take a linear system, where humans are taking resources from the earth and creating products out of them, then consumers purchase those products, and once they are done with them, throw them away. This system is what makes clothing seem as if its value is lost, when in reality, we are just throwing away resources that can simply get repurposed, and returned into this circular economy. What the fashion industry needs to do is start seeing garbage as an eternal resource. A circular fashion industry would be one in which waste and pollution are designed out of the production process, and all products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. In addition, recycling and reusing are included in this objective in order to have minimal to no waste by the end of a garment’s life. The goal, at a base level is to keep our clothes in use and out of landfills for as long as possible, in order to create more circularity. This occurs when garments get resold, or when brands repair and/or resale. A secondary goal of circularity would be to recycle clothing, and to create new fibers, and then create new products out of the recycled textiles. There are many companies in the industry who are taking on this challenge, by creating new textiles out of recycled materials which could become a viable circular solution in the future.
CC by Circular Flanders via CommonObjective.co
Every part of the lifespan of a garment needs to become circular. It is up to designers to design with the purpose of being circular. The design process needs to begin by generating pieces with longevity and timelessness in mind. Materials are essential, and it is imperative to consider the sustainability of any material before the item goes into production. Production must be ethical and fair, where animal and worker rights are being met. All of these behind-the-scenes details should and must be met by designers and brands if we all want to have a common goal in regards to preventing further environmental issues. It is important to note just how wasteful the fashion industry has become with more than 100 billion garments produced annually, which is predicted to rise to 63 percent by 2030 if we do nothing to stop it. If we do not act now, the continuation of business as usual would result in triple our current consumption of the planet’s already overused and over abused resources. And what shocks me personally about this industry the most, is how across industry, only 13 percent of textiles are recycled after clothing use in some way. Most end up in a second-hand market, but with less than one percent being recycled into new clothing. This is the literal representation of a loss worth over USD 100 billion in raw materials annually. It is crucial that the members of the fashion industry open their eyes to the reality of the consumption impact that is happening to our planet, and how implementing the right changes to their supply chain and goals can create a cleaner environment for everyone. Consumers can do their own part too! Consumers should be holding themselves accountable when purchasing new clothes. There are things that consumers can keep in mind when shopping and supporting the brands they support. Things to consider are:
Does this brand uphold transparent and ethical values?
Does this brand have a mission statement which falls in line with circularity?
Does this brand strive to follow the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
There are plenty of ways in which both consumers and companies can help achieve a circular fashion system, but this transition will be a process which requires both the producer and consumer to do research, and find what changes will help improve our beautiful Earth.