What to do with clothes you no longer wear

Image source, Eleanor Jolliffe

The amount of waste she saw when working on modelling jobs was shocking to her.

There are boxes and boxes of dead stock on shoots. They have never been put to use. They are not wanted to be bought by anyone. Clothes go to waste.

The 20-year-old is from London. She was interested in the impact of fashion and the environment.

She says that she had to lay down some boundaries in order to work with.

She realized she had to change her behavior.

She says she used to do cheap fast fashion orders. A lot of the clothes I purchased are unused.

Second-hand clothes can be found on eBay, charity shops or kilo sales.

She says she feels a lot better. If I were buying fast fashion, I'd pay more, but I have plenty of clothes.

She insists it's not synonymous with stepping away from fashion.

There are a lot of ways to dress that don't compromise.

Image source, Wrap

Fast fashion refers to the rapid change of fashion trends and the move towards cheap, mass-produced clothing.

Companies are taking it to a new level. China's Shein is an ultra-fast fashion firm that releases new clothes on a daily basis.

The environment is being put under pressure by that.

Catherine Salvidge is a sustainable textile sector specialist for the waste and resources action programme. Climate change, water scarcity, pollution and biodiversity loss are caused by it.

At the end of the chain, we are disposing of more clothing than ever, because around 34% of materials end up as waste before they even reach the customer.

It is estimated that 921,000 tonnes of used textiles end up in our general waste every year.

We need to consume less new clothing and keep it in use for longer to address the root cause of the problem.

She says that we could curb our reliance on raw materials by recycling unneeded clothes.

Image source, Re_considered

Firms are trying to slow fashion down.

Upcycling is the process of turning unwanted clothes into something new.

Re_considered can transform a dress you no longer wear into a matching top and shorts for about $30. The cost to take a skirt up at the hem is $8.

They will take an old pair of curtains and make a new one for about 45 dollars.

You can apply online to schedule a virtual appointment when you want to chat about your design. They remake your old clothes and send you a new one.

Tabby Bunyan says that before she started Re_considered she would buy new clothes every week. I liked the instant satisfaction but didn't like what I purchased. I didn't wear things much more than a few times.

Image source, Re_considered

Ms Bunyan was unable to shop during the first lockdown. She began re-working her clothes to satisfy her desire for a new outfit.

The Re_considered brand was born in the summer of 2020 when she took some upcycled clothes to a pop up shop in London.

Ms Bunyan started turning the clothes her friends didn't like into new things after that.

Over time, the style will change. You can change and update your wardrobe through upcycling.

Re_considered has recycled 520 items of clothing so far this year.

Ms Bunyan wants to upcycle from a niche to a mainstream one.

She says that repairing and repurposing services are becoming more accessible to younger people. The consumer habits are changing.

Image source, iSsey Gladston

After seeing reports of exploitation in the industry, Josephine fell out of love with fast fashion.

When she couldn't find clothes that were a good fit, she became frustrated.

She started the UK's first clothing alterations app in early 2021.

It's very easy to use. Pick a date and time for collection and enter your postcode. Sojo will deliver your order to a local tailor, who will make it for you.

For repairing a ripped seam, Sojo's costs can be as low as 6 dollars.

She says people don't know how to sew and are used to convenience.

She would like to see a change in the way people view clothing. Instead of fast fashion, where shoppers rush to get the latest look even though they already own loads of clothes, Ms Philips wants a move towards slow fashion.

Image source, Sojo

She says they are going against excessive consumption.

Everyone should like their clothes for a long time. Tailoring and repairing is a slow fashion behavior.

Tailoring services to online fashion brands like Ganni are offered by Sojo.

Almost two-thirds of UK adults say they are more aware of the environmental impact of fashion and the importance of making their clothing last longer, according to Wrap.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the global ethical fashion market is expected to reach more than $10 billion by the year 2020.

"We are seeing an increasing number of businesses moving into resale, rental and repair, as well as apps which encourage us to shop our own wardrobe, instead of buying new clothes," she said.

There is a long way to go to scale these models and encourage customers to use them. Businesses and citizens need to be onboard to make a circular economy happen.

Ms Bunyan thinks it's difficult for consumers to decide which company has a sustainable model. Splashy announcements don't amount to much when it comes to greenwashing.

She wants to take Sojo to the next level by growing its location coverage and increasing brand partnerships.

She says that there is a growing stigma associated with fast fashion. Having clothes that you love, that fit you well, and that last a long time is the future of fashion.