What is circular fashion?
I am so glad you asked…
Circular fashion is becoming more and more known within the industry and rightly so as sustainability becomes a pressing concern in the fashion industry.
Did you know, that by 2030, it's estimated that fashion waste could increase by 60%, reaching 148 million tonnes annually.
“Circular fashion” has emerged as the forefront of sustainable fashion. Unlike the traditional linear model of “make, wear, dispose,” circular fashion aims to keep garments and materials in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste and environmental harm. But what exactly does circular fashion mean—and how can we embrace it?
Understanding the Circular Economy
At its core, circular fashion is part of the broader circular economy—a regenerative system designed to reduce waste and extend the life of the product. In fashion, this means designing garments that are high in quality so that the garment is durable during its life, repairable, and recyclable at the end of its life. It also involves rethinking the entire lifecycle of clothing: from sourcing specific materials (and trims) that can be easily recyclable - to where and how they are easily disposed of at the end of its life cycle.
The Problem with Linear Fashion
The majority of clothing in fashion today is linear and fast. Garments are mass-produced at low cost, often using virgin materials. Clothing is worn only a few times, and then discarded. I am sure you can think of an item in your wardrobe that still has its tag on?!
This model contributes to enormous waste: it’s estimated that over 92 million tonnes of textile waste are created each year globally. To help put that large number into perspective, that is enough to fill one rubbish truck every second. Fast fashion also places immense strain on natural resources, with high water usage, carbon emissions, and pollution.
Circular fashion is a direct response to these issues, offering a way to “close the loop” and move away from disposable fashion to responsible, sustainable consumption.
Key Principles of Circular Fashion
Design for longevity: Clothing should be made to last. High-quality fabrics, timeless designs, and strong construction extend a garment’s lifespan.
Material choice: Designers are moving toward natural, biodegradable, or recycled materials that have a lower environmental impact and are easier to repurpose. Reducing the amount of mixed fibres - helps with the recyclability of the garment at the end of its life.
Repair and reuse: Encouraging consumers to mend, alter, and care for their garments instead of discarding them as soon as some damage becomes apparent. Brands have started offering repair services or resale platforms - even alternation services to ensure that your garment is the best fit
Rental and resale: Second-hand fashion, rental platforms, and vintage markets are key components of circular fashion. These models reduce demand for new production while extending the use of existing clothing. Vinted reported a 61 percent growth recently… which shows how much the resale market is growing.
Recycling and upcycling: Once a garment reaches the end of its life, circular systems aim to recycle or repurpose it. Some brands are developing closed-loop systems that turn old clothes into new fabrics. There is so much technology being created - France recently announced there first large scale textile to textile recycling facility. Which shows its importance.
Take-back schemes: More companies are introducing take-back or recycling programs, where customers return used garments for proper disposal or reuse - which are in the retail shops, but also via post.
How can you become more circular?
Circular fashion isn’t just for brands - it’s a mindset shift for customers like us too. We need to be buying less, choosing better-quality pieces, repairing damaged items, donating, swapping, and shopping second-hand are all ways to embrace circularity in everyday life.
In Summary
Circular fashion is about designing waste out of the system and keeping clothing in use for as long as possible. This thinking needs to be thought of at the initial stages of designing. It can’t be an afterthought.
It challenges the throwaway culture of fast fashion and invites us to rethink our relationship with clothes. As innovation grows and consumer awareness increases, circular fashion represents not just a trend, but a necessary and hopeful future for the industry, and the planet.
