We dig into the ways preloved clothing can transform the industry.
It’s no secret that fashion has an ugly underbelly. The incessant trend cycle promoted by fast fashion retailers means the flow of clothing is fast and calamitous; every season, people cleanse their wardrobes of unwanted pieces, only to replace them with brand-new styles. What happens to the majority of these discarded garments? You guessed it: landfills.
According to Earth.org, of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. That’s the equivalent of a truckload of clothing being dumped every second.
The problem of fashion waste
According to Earth.org , of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. That’s the equivalent of a truckload of clothing being dumped every second. Once an item reaches a landfill, it becomes waste, doomed to release pollutants as it slowly decomposes. As the trend of turnover repeats, the mass of harmful textile waste grows – and with it, the impact on the planet.
Changing our future
This is a linear path, headed directly towards climate collapse. We might not be able to reverse the damage to date, but there are things we can do to slow down this troubling trajectory. It starts with a total mindset shift. We’re all encouraged to consume in every aspect of our lives, from expensive meals to the latest technology. But it’s time we all adopt a more thoughtful approach to shopping, focusing on quality over quantity and evaluating the use we’ll get out of an item before pressing ‘purchase’.
Choosing better fabrics
We’re not telling fashion enthusiasts to stop buying clothes; but when you buy, buy mindfully. Instead of adding several low-quality, synthetic items to your basket, spend a little more on a timeless piece made from eco-friendly materials. Organic natural fibres can biodegrade in a matter of months, so even if a cotton shirt ends up in a landfill, it will break down much faster than synthetics like polyester and acrylic. The production of organic fabrics is also less resource-intensive, so the environmental impact is lower than non-organic alternatives.
“Some of the most-worn pieces in my wardrobe came from hole-in-the-wall vintage shops and preloved websites,” enthuses our founder, Cat. “Blending secondhand and sustainably made clothing is what the future of fashion looks like.”
Mixing ‘old’ and new
As a retailer of new clothing, treen prioritises materials which are kinder to the planet. We strive to offer better options for buying new while recognising that the most sustainable choice is shopping secondhand. Diverting clothes from landfills and finding new homes is the single most effective way to curb textile waste. Not only that, but it can also be a lot of fun. “Some of the most-worn pieces in my wardrobe came from hole-in-the-wall vintage shops and preloved websites,” enthuses our founder, Cat. “Blending secondhand and sustainably made clothing is what the future of fashion looks like.”
Resale and renting
By taking a circular approach, we can collectively close the loop and keep the problem of fashion waste at bay. Resale sites such as Vinted , eBay , Vestiaire Collective and Retold Vintage – as well as rental platforms like HURR and ByRotation – prove that preloved clothes can be just as exciting as new, simultaneously revealing the repetitive nature of trends. Trust us, no one will be looking at your past-season pieces and thinking they look dated.
Repair-first approach
You’ll often find new-with-tags or hardly worn items on these websites, but another crucial aspect of circularity is the willingness to repair damaged clothing. Don’t be daunted by a needle and thread – there are plenty of simple fixes you can do to give your tired item a new lease of life. For bigger jobs, seek out a local seamstress. Trusting an expert to mend your clothes is a quick and affordable solution that is so much more rewarding than buying a replacement.
“We offer a tailoring service to our customers to promote the importance of repair,” says Cat. “I’d much rather they avail of this service than come back to purchase something new – it’s all about doing what we can to minimise the waste we produce.”
You’ll soon be able to resell your treen pieces and buy preloved from other members of our community. Sign up to our newsletter for updates.
