Clothes production today is at crisis point – with between 80 to 100 billion garments manufactured each year and 15 million tons of used textile waste generated each year by the United States alone – the figures aren’t stacking up in favour of the planet. Designers, responding to calls to radically overhaul the fashion system, are embracing the principles of the circular economy, but if they are to generate impactful change, we’ll all have to get on board.
In this Masterclass, we unpack the circular economy and what it means to designers and fashion brands. Starting with an introduction to its key principles, learn how circular models affect your choice of materials and waste streams, upcycling methods for sustainable design and ways to embrace recycling technologies. Through exclusive interviews jam-packed with practical tips from pioneering fashion designers and business owners, you’ll discover how they have adapted to working in closed-loop systems as a response to our current polluting and wasteful fashion economy - and how you can become part of the solution too.
In this Masterclass, you will learn:
- What the circular economy is and how can your business play a greater part in it
- The potential of recycling, upcycling and circular systems to positively change our wasteful and polluting industry
- Different ways to embrace upcycling methods in the design of garments and choice of materials
- How charities contribute to sustainable fashion systems by collecting second-hand clothing and recycling schemes
- Working with different materials, being more experimental and learning to work with what you have already
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Introduction to the Circular Economy
with Josie WardenSummary
This is a 33 minute Lesson from Josie Warden, Head of Regenerative Design at the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Josies introduces the principles of the circular economy and why, as designers, we should be engaging with its values.
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Why we should recycle and upcycle textiles
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
Recycling is one of the key principles of a circular economy, yet there have been a lot of questions raised recently about whether it is a viable alternative to the current system. In this video, I explore the damaging effects of our current, linear processes on the environment, the benefits recycling textiles and fashion can bring, and the arguments for and against recycled synthetic fabrics.
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Conscious Consumption with Oxfam, The Better Brand Consultant and Offset Warehouse
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
It’s the age-old, chicken or the egg question for sustainable fashion: are conscious habits the responsibility of the consumer to practise or the brand to enable? In this panel discussion, three fashion experts working across the industry, share their insights into how we all play a part in driving more sustainable and ethical behaviours when buying clothes.
From preventing us from falling prey to marketing tactics, to learning exactly what goes on behind-the-scenes when we donate our garments to Oxfam, to deciding which are the most ethical fabrics, in this video you’ll learn not only how to become a more conscious consumer yourself, but how to drive better solutions forward using your own fashion brand.
This event was organised by Kindred, a community-driven members’ club based in Hammersmith, to mark World Environment Day 2019.
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The Second-Hand Clothing Market and How to Incorporate Upcycled Textiles Into Your Business, with Oxfam
with Elen Newcombe-LingSummary
Have you ever wondered how you can begin to incorporate second-hand textiles into your business? Or wondered where all the clothes that get donated to charity shops actually go?
In this video, we chat to Elen Newcombe-Ling, Private Sector Partnerships Manager at Oxfam GB, about the second-hand clothing industry. We discover how Oxfam processes all their textile donations, the positive social and environmental impacts of the second-hand market, and how to start to incorporate second-hand textiles into your design business.
Interviews
KAPDAA - The Offcut Company: You'll Never Have Scraps Again
Sunday Oct 1st, 2017
Elvis & Kresse: Sustainability, Longevity and Working with Celebrity
Monday Oct 1st, 2018
Linda Thomas Eco Design: Luxury Upcycled Clothing
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
Rifò Lab: Circular-Fibre Fashion Made in Italy
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
Usedem: Upcycled Denim, Remade in China
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
The Very Good Bra: The world's first zero post-consumer waste bra
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
Technical Tutorials
Chemical & Mechanical Plastic Recycling
Monday Oct 1st, 2018
Sustainable Buttons made of Milk and Nuts
Thursday Aug 1st, 2019
Past Events
Ellen MacArthur Foundation's report into the circular economy: A New Textiles Economy
National Geographic Circular Economy Forum 2020 Recap
Interview with co-founder of Elvis and Kresse
Follow on Masterclasses:
Recycled Fabrics: The Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts
Additional Reading
Spring Summer 2022 Colour And Material Trends: Premiére Vision
Monday Feb 22nd, 2021
Eight Last Minute Easy And Beautiful Zero Waste Gifts To Make
Thursday Dec 17th, 2020
What's In Your Mending Pile This Winter?
Tuesday Oct 27th, 2020
In Conversation With Valentina Karellas: Waste Yarns Into Made To Order London Knitwear
Wednesday Sep 16th, 2020
Say Yes to Second Hand September with Oxfam
Monday Sep 7th, 2020
In Conversation With Bundle 'n Joy: Possibly the First Ever Maternity Clothes Rental Scheme
Tuesday Aug 4th, 2020
What can you make with our Recycled Polyester Satin fabrics?
Wednesday Jul 1st, 2020
What are the benefits of using 3D Printing in Fashion?
Saturday Jun 13th, 2020
How To Extend The Life Of Your Materials
Friday Jun 12th, 2020
Material innovations in the sustainable cellulosic fibre realm
Thursday May 7th, 2020