Hello, Aimee here, writer at NDF. For this week’s article I decided to delve into the world of Circular Fashion and the designers and organisations that are paving the way in the North.
I was really excited to write about this topic having recently starting to make a conscious effort to ditch fast fashion myself - switching to scrolling endlessly through Vinted to find unique, vintage pieces. I’ve also had a dabble at up-cycling clothing through my brand Duende Designs where I hand paint unique designs on pre-loved items.
Anyway, now that the shameless plug is over with let’s dive in…
A SHORT BUT SWEET HISTORY OF CIRCULAR FASHION
Circular fashion is a hot topic as more people begin to see the need in reducing waste and creating a more sustainable world. It can be described as keeping existing items in circulation to prolong the items life through up-cycling, reusing and recycling.
The term first came about in 2014 in Sweden, as Anna Brismar, owner of Green Strategy, was preparing for a sustainable fashion event in Stockholm. Although the practices of up-cycling, reusing and recycling aren’t something new, this approach to design has certainly gained traction since the birth of the term ‘Circular Fashion’.
The stats are staggering; in the UK alone, it is estimated that £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year, with less than 1% of clothing waste recycled into new clothes – mainly due to the challenges existing recycling systems face.
The ethics of the fast fashion industry are also beginning to be questioned, with some of the biggest players in the game facing allegations of child labour, inhumane working conditions, and minimal pay.
However, there is hope on the horizon, with more designers choosing a more sustainable approach to their practice, including those within the much beloved North.
DESIGNERS IN THE NORTH
Over Snakes Pass, in Sheffield you’ll find ReTribe, a fashion brand who are transforming salvaged and deadstock materials into upcycled pieces. Their work includes reworking unwanted tents, left behind at festivals, into quirky accessories such as bottle carriers, backpacks, and bucket hats. Their style is practical and earthy appealing to the ‘outdoorsy’ type. For those who attend festivals, you’ll know just how many tents are left by revellers, with Retribe so far saving 415 of these from heading to the landfill.
Sheffield is also home to Kimonooh, who specialise in reworking vibrant, and pattern enriched kimonos into fresh, one-of-a-kind items of clothing. What’s really fun about this brand is the way they so effortlessly transform a basic item into a wearable, sustainable and radiant piece of art.
If you head to Leeds, Trad Collective are a sustainable clothing and lifestyle shop. Owners Jo and James opened the store in 2021 after realising how hard it was to shop sustainably in the city. Their store is filled with upcycled items as well as a mending and alteration studio so that customers can use their clothes for longer and consume less. Their store is also home to their upcycled clothing brand, Wanner Label.
ORGANISATIONS IN THE NORTH
There are also some fantastic organisations who are waving the circular fashion flag by sharing their knowledge and skills. In Manchester, not-for-profit Community Benefit Society, Stitched Up, host a wide range of workshops for both individuals and groups focused on ‘inspiring action on sustainable fashion’. Their workshops include sewing and making, repair and upcycling, as well as upcycling parties to add more fun into the mix!
What’s great about Stitched Up is they cater for all levels, allowing everyone to do their bit - whether it’s repairing an old pair of jeans that have been sitting in your wardrobe, or creating a whole fashion line created from old material cut offs.
Elsewhere in Manchester, Manchester Fashion Movement are educating around the damaging effects of clothing consumption and encouraging a more sustainable outlook through events, workshops, and collaboration. Over the last 12 months they’ve hosted some incredible events; The Sustainable Fashion Party and Horticultured celebrated independent sustainable designers in the north, showcasing over 30 brands.
This is just a fraction of the sustainable brands and organisations out there trying to make a difference. There is something that feels more meaningful in re-using existing materials, it almost has an added layer of intrigue, a whole story behind it. By giving new life to existing materials and garments, we’re not only reducing our impact on the environment, but we’re also creating unique pieces with their own personality.
We’ve all been guilty of heading to our favourite fast fashion brand, to scroll for hours and hours to find a ‘going out out’ outfit, but perhaps if we all started to take small steps to reduce our consumption, we could really make a difference together.
