Change Your Clothes: Apparel End Life

Everyday we wake up in North Carolina we are reminded why we love this state so much! Not only are we fortunate enough to have some of the best univiersities in the country, but we're also surrounded by a community of individuals who care. It's nice to know that the conversation surrounding the fashion and textile industry is expanding beyond fashion schools and into management systems. 

 

Our friends from Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment shared their phenomenal study textile waste in the United States and describe how/why to divert textiles from ending up in a landfill. In the process of conducting their research they found out that several major companies have started taking responsibility for the disposal of their products: 

• Several retailers have or are going to launch apparel take-back programs—Patagonia (through in-store drop boxes for used Patagonia products, which are then recycled), H&M (starting February, in-store drop boxes), PUMA (in the future). 
• Many major brands are selling clothes with recycled content--North Face (e.g., Denali fleece jacket), Patagonia, REI (e.g., Ecomade socks), New Balance (e.g., newSKY shoes), and many more. 
• UNIFI Inc., is one of the main producers of yarn from recycled plastic bottles. Other sources of recycled polyester are Teijin (Japan), Foss Manufacturing (MA), Poole Co. (SC), and DAK Americas (NC).

Take a look at this short educational video and gain more insight about how you can make a difference and reduce apparel & textile waste throughout the world. 

How EcoFashion Becomes a Fashion Staple

Have you ever heard of the company Uniqlo? I hadn't, either. I was at the bookstore looking at their fashion selection, and was flipping through a book where all the contributors were fashion bloggers. One of the bloggers said her favorite place to buy cashmere was at Uniqlo, and, of course, reasonably priced cashmere? That's me!

I checked the website, and discovered they have been undertaking a fantastic initiative to develop their company with an all product recycling initiative. Since 2006. How has this company flown under the radar? They have great clothes at reasonable prices, although I have yet to find the cashmere.

As with so many great ideas, this one started as something different. According to their website, Uniqlo intended to recycle the clothing they received from customers for industrial use, but they made the discovery that a lot of the clothing donated was still wearable. So, what to do with the clothing? What any good company would do - donate it to human relief efforts around the globe.

They are expanding their brick and mortar stores, and have recently opened a US flagship store on Broadway in NYC. Feel free to donate what you don't upcycle or consign yourself. In this case, it truly does help to recycle!

The Upcycle 01

In lieu of our upcoming Clothes Swap event, I thought I would start making posts to give all you clever DIYers out there inspiration for all the new goodies you'll acquire.

First up is a post I saw awhile ago on Ecco*Eco, showing this fabulous dress Xing-Zhen Chung Hilyard wore to the  of  The GreenShows' opening night last September. Totally repurposed from a shirt found in a Bushwick clothing bin:

Incredible, right?