Start Your Circular Fashion Journey

Megan Bedford, PECT Volunteer 26th January 2022

In the latest BLUEPRINT Blog Post, Megan from PECT shares her tips for making your wardrobe more sustainable and leaving behind fast fashion for good.

Start with your current wardrobe

Before you decide whether you need new clothes, have a look at what you already own. If you haven’t worn something in the last year or so, you probably won’t wear it any time soon. But do not throw it out! Instead of contributing to the UK’s annual 200,000+ tonnes of textile waste (Labfresh 2020), here’s what you could do instead:

  • Donate to charity shops.
  • Make use of the charity clothing bags that come through your door; all you have to do is fill the bag and leave it on your doorstep!
  • Use clothes and textile banks for clothes that aren’t in the best condition. They will be donated or recycled. Check RecycleNow for textile banks near you.
  • Sell the clothes you don’t wear. Depop, eBay and Vinted are hotspots for second-hand clothing and you can make a bit of money for yourself.
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Try more circular practices when rethinking your wardrobe.
 

Buying more clothes

We all have to buy more clothes from time to time, but think carefully about how you do this:

  • Buy second-hand – check out charity shops, car boot sales and the likes of Depop, eBay and Vinted. Buying pre-loved clothes contributes to a circular economy and saves unwanted clothes going to landfill.
  • Hire clothes for special occasions – if you know you won’t wear an outfit more than once, then hire it instead! Hurr, Rotaro and By Rotation are just a few clothing rental services in the UK; choose your outfit and return it once you’re done.
  • Make your own clothes! If you’re a dab hand at sewing (or not!) why not try making your own clothes? You only buy the amount of material you need, and the result is a unique piece of clothing! But if you aren’t quite ready to tackle the sewing machine yourself, do a bit of research into small local businesses that make their own clothing.
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Why not make your own clothes instead of buying new garments?
 

Buying brand new… research research research!

If you want to invest in some sustainable clothing, always research the brand first. To get you started, check out the brands listed below.

  • Outdoor clothing brand Patagonia has been paving the way for sustainable fashion since 1985. So far, Patagonia has donated $140 million to grassroots environmental groups and repaired over 56,000 garments. The organisation has also founded Worn Wear Patagonia, a second-hand service enabling customers to return used clothes in good conditions to be sold onto new owners. What’s more, clothes that are beyond repair are ReCrafted into new, unique products.
  • UK clothing brand Finisterre offers a repair service for damaged clothes, helping them to last longer. Finisterre is a B Corp™ business that is independently assessed to ensure it is meeting the highest social and environmental standards. The organisation also uses biodegradable packaging, which breaks down naturally in water over 70°C.

So, the next time you fancy some retail therapy, think twice before you buy! Circular fashion is the (old) new trend, helping to solve the textile waste crisis one T-shirt at a time.

About Megan Bedford

Megan is a BLUEPRINT Project Champion, currently studying Geography at Coventry University. Her favourite sustainability swap is using plastic-free shower bars instead of bottles and is amazed at how long the products last – she loves seeking sustainable bargains!