Clothes - Buying, Recycling, Sharing and Hiring
More than two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute in the UK, according to Oxfam, and much of this is ‘fast fashion’. We buy to cheer ourselves up, to follow fashion, and rarely think about the ‘embedded carbon’ in each item – the fossil fuels used in the growing of cotton; the manufacture of textiles, dyes, buttons and zips; or the transport of all these items around the world – and the packaging. We buy with the intention of throwing the item away in the foreseeable future.
|
What can we do? How do we change this culture to one of buying better? Below are some thoughts on how you can cut the footprint of your clothing.
- Don’t impulse buy
- Better buying – organic clothing, baby clothing, outdoor wear, shoes and boots
- Sharing, hiring and buying second-hand
- Recycling
1. Don't Impulse Buy
The best option is of course not to buy anything. Really consider whether you need another new item of clothing and don’t use clothes shopping as a ‘pick-me-up’. Resist the clever advertising and the lure of ‘free shipping’! Love Your Clothes, No New Clothes and Second-hand September (though you can pledge not to buy new clothes for any month) are some of the platforms where you can get and share ideas, and make your pledge not to buy.
The good news is that already these initiatives are having an impact on the fashion industry, making them rethink their long-term growth models.
The best option is of course not to buy anything. Really consider whether you need another new item of clothing and don’t use clothes shopping as a ‘pick-me-up’. Resist the clever advertising and the lure of ‘free shipping’! Love Your Clothes, No New Clothes and Second-hand September (though you can pledge not to buy new clothes for any month) are some of the platforms where you can get and share ideas, and make your pledge not to buy.
The good news is that already these initiatives are having an impact on the fashion industry, making them rethink their long-term growth models.
2. Better Buying – Organic Clothing, Baby Clothing, Outdoor Wear, Shoes and Boots
When you buy new clothes, look for quality that will last. There are an increasing number of organic and local options that will cut your footprint considerably. Here are a few that we know about.
Organic Clothing for Babies and Young Children
Please search online for more options. Meanwhile, Frugi and Tilly and Jasper are a couple of suggestions.
Bristol Cloth
Did you know Bristol has a manufacturer of cloth from regeneratively farmed wool, using organic dyes and biological soaps? You can buy cloth by the metre, your own yarn, or scarves.
Better Outdoor Clothing
Much of our waterproof clothing is made using perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which come into the category of F-gases, our longest-acting and most powerful greenhouse gases.
Some companies are pledging to stop using these chemicals. Below are some suggestions but you should do your own investigation on each, and others may be available.
Shoes, boots and sandals
There are many shops offering ‘green’ footwear. Here are a few – but please search the internet for others.
When you buy new clothes, look for quality that will last. There are an increasing number of organic and local options that will cut your footprint considerably. Here are a few that we know about.
- Tentree – uses hemp, fibre from wood pulp and recycled polyester.
- Spirit of Nature – for women and babies.
- Bamboo Clothing – website says ‘limited water and pesticides’.
- Nomads – organic cotton for men and women.
- Komodo – ‘organic and ethical’ clothing.
- Thought – hemp and bamboo clothing for men and women, some fairtrade.
- Organic Cotton Clothing – for men, women and children.
- EKO – organic women’s clothing from a Cornish company.
Organic Clothing for Babies and Young Children
Please search online for more options. Meanwhile, Frugi and Tilly and Jasper are a couple of suggestions.
Bristol Cloth
Did you know Bristol has a manufacturer of cloth from regeneratively farmed wool, using organic dyes and biological soaps? You can buy cloth by the metre, your own yarn, or scarves.
Better Outdoor Clothing
Much of our waterproof clothing is made using perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) which come into the category of F-gases, our longest-acting and most powerful greenhouse gases.
Some companies are pledging to stop using these chemicals. Below are some suggestions but you should do your own investigation on each, and others may be available.
- Hilltrek – a British company with a line of organic outdoor wear.
- Vaude has a range of ‘sustainable’ outdoor clothing and goods.
- Patagonia is developing its own PFC alternative but not quite there yet – clothes sold through many other outlets online.
Shoes, boots and sandals
There are many shops offering ‘green’ footwear. Here are a few – but please search the internet for others.
- Greenshoes – handmade boots, shoes and sandals
- Conker Shoes – hand made in Devon
- Po-Zu – designed in London, made in Portugal
3. Buying Second-Hand, Sharing and Hiring
Although there has been much in the media about clothes sharing, hiring and swapping, there seems to be little activity in our area. That may be because of the high quality of charity shops nearby.
Here’s one site, Swishing, that may develop. Here’s a guide to some of Bristol’s vintage clothing shops.
Repairing
Timpson’s have three branches not far from our area. There are many reasons to support Timpson’s but the fact that they have stayed a family business and their employment of ex-offenders are certainly things to consider. Gloucester Road has Express Shoe Repairs and Instant Services in St Nicholas’s Market is another alternative.
Although there has been much in the media about clothes sharing, hiring and swapping, there seems to be little activity in our area. That may be because of the high quality of charity shops nearby.
Here’s one site, Swishing, that may develop. Here’s a guide to some of Bristol’s vintage clothing shops.
Repairing
Timpson’s have three branches not far from our area. There are many reasons to support Timpson’s but the fact that they have stayed a family business and their employment of ex-offenders are certainly things to consider. Gloucester Road has Express Shoe Repairs and Instant Services in St Nicholas’s Market is another alternative.
4. Textile recycling
Charity shops end up with a lot of unsaleable stuff but the good news is that most of it is collected by recycling companies such as Bristol Textile Recyclers who sort it and make the best use of it possible. It appears that schools and other organisations can make money by collecting old clothes and selling them on. Bristol City Council can only take wearable or usable clothing items in black boxes, not rags.
M & S Cribbs has clothes recycling bins and the member of staff was knowledgeable about the recycling project.
Other than that, chop them up and make them into rags for use around the home. Cut the j-cloth and paper wipe habit!
Charity shops end up with a lot of unsaleable stuff but the good news is that most of it is collected by recycling companies such as Bristol Textile Recyclers who sort it and make the best use of it possible. It appears that schools and other organisations can make money by collecting old clothes and selling them on. Bristol City Council can only take wearable or usable clothing items in black boxes, not rags.
M & S Cribbs has clothes recycling bins and the member of staff was knowledgeable about the recycling project.
Other than that, chop them up and make them into rags for use around the home. Cut the j-cloth and paper wipe habit!
Did you find our resources helpful?
If so, please make a donation to support our work. We can't do it without you!
If so, please make a donation to support our work. We can't do it without you!