The clothing industry is the second biggest polluter after the oil industry in the world and accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions (Conca, J., 2015, Forbes). From the harvesting of raw materials; its refinement into fibres and threads; the dyeing, knitting and weaving into fabrics; the preparation and manufacturing into clothes; the packaging and distribution into retail stores; the wear and
laundering and finally the discard and waste, at every stage in this life cycle, the fashion industry can boast detrimental environmental and social impacts. In Australia close to 800,000 tonnes of clothes and textiles end up in landfill each year (Kollmorgen, A. 2021, Choice). On average, fast fashion garments are worn less than five times and kept for around 35 days. This produces 400% more carbon emissions per item per year than garments worn 50 times and kept for a full year (Conca, J., 2015, Forbes). While producing new sustainable lines of clothing across the entire life cycle is the ultimate solution, there are already in circulation a plethora of clothes and textiles that can be reused. By reusing clothing and textiles, the impacts at the higher end of the production process are kept to a minimum or negated all together and at the lower end of the cycle over consumption and unnecessary waste are vastly reduced (Ellen Macarthur Foundation n.d.). These are the major principles for the circular economy by keeping ‘stuff’ in use for longer to:
• eliminate waste and pollutions,
• circulate products and materials (at their highest value) and
• regenerate nature. For the clothing industry this involves business models that circulate products and materials within the economy through:
• Resale
• Repair
• Remaking
• Rental
ReDress is a hub space – actual and virtual – for local clothing retailers, service providers, designers and consumers to collaborate in the use, reuse, restyling, sharing and repair of clothing, to disrupt excessive consumption behaviours and reduce waste to landfill of clothing within regional centres. ReDress aims to keep clothes and textiles in use for longer through education, consulting and reused product. ReDress supports local economies and businesses by utilizing only local resources wherever a prospect exists, or further creating an opportunity if not. As a social enterprise business, profits will be put towards local projects and initiatives that further the principles of ReDress and a localised circular clothing economy.
