Our thinking

Reviving Fashion

18 October, 2024

We’re probably all aware by now that fashion often comes with sustainability issues. Whether through creation, transportation, or disposal, clothes leave a negative impact on the environment. And according to The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, the average consumer now buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago.

This means we’re always on the look out for innovative fashion-related solutions, and two caught our eye this week.

The first answers the question of what you do with that old pile of t-shirts that are probably at the end of their useable life? Rapanui invites customers to send back their old cotton-based clothing—no matter the condition—at no cost. In return, you receive a £5 voucher to spend on their recycled cotton creations. Not only do you declutter your wardrobe, but you also get rewarded for doing so.

The second takes the concept of circularity and runs with it. Stillbaar is a new company which comes with a promise: it will buy back every garment it sells, regardless of its state. So if you buy something and later find you no longer want or need it, you can trade it in for store credit. When garments finally reach the end of their journey, Stillbaar ensures they’re sent off to textile-to-textile recyclers to be transformed into new fibres.

Two new additions to a growing mix – alongside resale platforms like Vinted and Ebay and the growing list of rental sites, to help make fashion work better for everyone.

By Emma Alajarin