4 MIN READ

4-9-2025

The Role of Circular Fashion in Reducing Textile Waste

Alex Schulze , CEO/Co-Founder

The Role of Circular Fashion in Reducing Textile Waste

One of the most urgent problems facing the worldwide fashion business is textile waste, which contributes significantly to environmental deterioration. Over 92 million tons of waste are produced by the fashion industry each year, with a large portion of that waste ending up in landfills, according to the UN Environment Programme. The idea of circular fashion has gained traction as a potent way to cut down on textile waste as businesses and consumers grow more conscious of the negative environmental effects of rapid fashion. The goal of circular fashion is to establish a system in which textiles and apparel are recycled, repaired, and reused instead of being thrown away. This article examines the brands at the forefront of circular fashion, how it is lowering textile waste, and how it contributes to a more sustainable fashion business.

Understanding Circular Fashion
The circular economy's tenets, which emphasize resource efficiency and waste reduction, are the foundation of circular fashion. Circular fashion encourages a regenerative approach, in contrast to the conventional linear model of "take, make, dispose," in which clothing and textiles are continuously repaired, recycled, and reused to prolong their existence. By decreasing the demand for virgin materials, minimizing waste, and lowering the environmental effect of textile manufacture and disposal, this approach aims to close the loop on the fashion production process.

Among the essential elements of circular fashion are:

• Longevity design is the process of making clothing that is strong, classic, and long-lasting.
• Reuse and repair: Promoting clothing reuse through rental services, secondhand markets, and repair programs.
• Recycling and upcycling: To keep used clothing out of landfills, it can be recycled into new fibers or upcycled into new goods.
• Using recycled, biodegradable, or renewable resources in production is known as "sustainable materials."

The Environmental Impact of Textile Waste
One of the biggest global pollutants is the fashion sector. An estimated 87% of all textiles produced each year are thrown away, either as consumer throwaways or unsold inventory, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. In addition to taking up landfill space, textile waste releases dangerous substances into the environment. The industry's environmental impact is further exacerbated by the substantial resources needed for the creation of new clothing, such as raw materials, energy, and water.

The practice of "fast fashion," which pushes people to often purchase inexpensive, disposable apparel, exacerbates the negative effects of textile waste. Because the average consumer now buys more clothing than ever before and throws it away after a short time of use, this throwaway culture contributes to an increase in textile waste.

Circular Fashion: A Solution to Textile Waste
By moving the emphasis from throwaway apparel to a more sustainable approach, circular fashion provides a much-needed answer to the issue of textile waste. Circular fashion seeks to promote material reuse and lessen the quantity of textile waste that ends up in landfills by rethinking the production, consumption, and disposal of clothing. The following are some crucial tactics that circular fashion advocates use to reduce textile waste:

 1. Creating Longevity and Durability in Design - Creating long-lasting apparel is one of the core tenets of circular fashion. Clothing can be worn for longer periods of time and require fewer replacements when it is made with premium materials, creative manufacturing methods, and classic styles. In order to persuade customers to invest in long-lasting clothing instead of succumbing to the fast-fashion cycle, brands are increasingly adding durability into their designs.

One of the first companies in this field is Patagonia, which is dedicated to making long-lasting goods. Additionally, the company launched the Worn Wear program, which incentivizes consumers to purchase pre-owned Patagonia merchandise or exchange their used equipment for store credit. This program encourages clothes reuse and lessens the demand for new apparel manufacturing.

 2. Rental and Secondhand Markets - One of the main components of circular fashion is the rental and secondhand clothes markets. Customers can prolong the life of clothing and lower the demand for new clothing production by buying old clothing or renting it for a brief period of time. Since used clothing doesn't require new materials or energy to make, it usually uses fewer resources. A greater understanding of the environmental effects of fashion has spurred this move toward a more circular model, as evidenced by the rise in popularity of websites like Depop, ThredUp, and Poshmark.

Additionally, renting expensive or occasion-specific clothing has grown in popularity. Customers can enjoy new clothes without the environmental cost of purchasing and discarding them thanks to clothing rental options offered by brands like Rent the Runway and HURR Collective. This concept provides a more sustainable way to access fashion while assisting in lowering the overall consumption of new apparel.

 3. Material Reuse and Upcycling - Circular fashion relies heavily on recycling and upcycling because they help keep materials from ending up in the trash. Recycling is the process of turning unwanted clothing into raw fibers that may be used to make new textiles. Contrarily, upcycling is the act of turning used or abandoned clothing into something fresh and valuable, frequently through imaginative redesigns.

Repreve, a company that recycles plastic waste, including bottles, into recycled fibers utilized by a number of well-known companies, such as Levi's and Patagonia, is a noteworthy example of recycling in the fashion industry. These companies lessen their need on virgin resources and help keep garbage out of landfills by using recycled materials in their clothing.

Another well-liked strategy in the circular fashion trend is upcycling. Designers like UpCycle and Christopher Raeburn have established themselves by producing high-quality clothing from waste materials, demonstrating that garbage can be turned into fashionable yet useful fashion items.

 4. Returning and Reusing Used Clothing Some companies have implemented take-back policies that allow customers to return used apparel for recycling, repair, or refurbishment. This makes it possible for clothing to be recycled or used again instead of being thrown away.
 
One such company is The North Face, which has a Clothes the Loop program in place where consumers can donate their used apparel and equipment to be recycled into new goods. These programs promote a circular economy in the fashion industry and lessen the environmental impact of textile waste by making recycling easier.

Leading Brands in Circular Fashion
Leading the circular fashion trend are a number of companies that are spurring innovation and encouraging others to do the same. Among the most noteworthy are:

• Patagonia: Well-known for its robustness, restoration initiatives, and dedication to using recycled materials.
• Since its founding, the premium brand Stella McCartney has promoted circular business processes and sustainable materials.
• Reformation: A clothing line dedicated to use eco-friendly materials, encouraging recycling, and providing repair services.
• Levi's: renowned for its "Buy Better, Wear Longer" campaign and utilization of recycled fabrics.

Conclusion

One of the most important steps toward decreasing textile waste and developing a more sustainable fashion sector is circular fashion. Circular fashion tackles the environmental issues caused by fast fashion by encouraging the reuse, repair, recycling, and upcycling of clothing. The fashion industry has the ability to drastically lessen its environmental impact and transition to a more sustainable future as more companies adopt circular fashion principles and as consumer awareness increases.

Sources:
1. Ellen MacArthur Foundation, "A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion's Future," 2017.
2. UN Environment Programme, "Fashion's Environmental Impact," UN Environment, 2021.
3. Repreve, "Recycled Fiber Innovation," Repreve, 2023.
4. ThredUp, "Annual Resale Report 2022," ThredUp, 2022.