Fashionable Questions - Who Made Your Clothes and Where Do They End Up?
Date: 18-Apr-16
Author: Rebecca Gredley
Donate your old clothes and add to the treasure chest of op-shopping
It’s a simple question, with generally a not-so-simple answer – Who made my clothes?
Fashion Revolution began encouraging fashion shoppers to pose this question to clothing companies following the Rana Plaza collapse in April 2013. The disaster killed over 1,100, and injured 2,500 workers in a Bangladeshi clothing factory. The tragedy not only brought to light the terrible working conditions in the fashion industry, but also the lack of transparency around manufacturing processes.
Fashion Revolution Week, April 24-30 2017, is a global movement that starts with the question “Who made my clothes?” and advocates for greater transparency, traceability and environmental responsibility in the fashion supply chain. We’re also encouraging you to ask where your clothes end up at the end of their life.
Globally, there has been a 400% increase in clothing production in the last 20 years. It takes 30,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of cotton, and 2,720 litres of water for a t-shirt (the amount one person drinks in three years) so this huge increase in clothing production has a significant toll on our natural resources. For just one pair of jeans, up to 11,000 litres of water is used, plus 37.7kg of CO2, chemicals, fuels and labour. Find out more by watching our Crop to Swap video.
Being a mindful fashion lover and using your purchasing power for good central to driving the Fashion Revolution forward. Once your beloved eco and socially conscious threads reach the end of their life what happens top them is up to you.
Melinda Tually, Fashion Revolution Co-ordinator, says the responsibility for reducing the impact of clothes is shared between brands and buyers.
“So often, we don’t look at the care label and end up shrinking or losing the colour in our clothes as we didn’t follow the instructions. Doing so goes a long way to making sure our purchases last longer so they can become valuable members of our wardrobes.”
Caring for clothing mindfully can extend its wearability, use significantly less energy, water and resources. Planet Ark has put together some tips to care for your clothes in a way that’s beneficial for the environment and shows respect for the makers of your clothes.
Does it Really Need to be Washed?
Consider if spot washing or airing out an item will suffice, rather than machine washing it. When running a load in the machine, make sure it’s full as it uses less energy to run a full wash than multiple half full washes.
Keep it Cool
Washing clothes in cold-water uses less energy than a hot water cycle – 75% of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating up the water. Cold water also helps garments retain dyes, quality, and they will be at less risk of losing their shape and size.
Use Responsible Detergents
Choose environmentally responsible washing products like the Aware and Orange Power ranges that are endorsed by Planet Ark. Both are palm oil free, thereby protecting venerable rainforests and are suitable for grey water systems.
Soaps and detergents that are phosphate and chemical-free are better for the environment as phosphate can cause algae, which damages the eco system. If possible, use grey water from your washing machine on the garden.
Other useful tips include air drying clothes, hanging them immediately after washing to avoid ironing, closing zips before washing, freezing denim and avoiding dry cleaning, which use harsh chemicals, when possible.
Mend to Make Amends
Rather than disposing of an item that is lightly worn, see if you (or someone you know) can fix it. A slightly worn seam can easily be sewn up and holes can be patched over. If you’re unsure how to do these just do a quick on-line search and you’ll find lots of tutorials. It will take a little effort to get the hang of, but is a tangible skill worth knowing and you’ll feel a sense of achievement.
Mending clothing doesn’t always have to be done in an invisible way; visible mending is an option that draws attention to fixed areas. Have a look.
Recycle and Donate
If an item in your wardrobe is no longer your style, doesn’t fit, or you need extra closet space there are lots of options to pass it on rather than binning it.
95% of discarded clothing doesn’t need to go landfill, as the condition is good enough to be recycled or upcycled.
Last year the Clothing and Textiles page on ReyclingNearYou received more than 330,000 visits from people looking to do the right thing, making it by far the most searched material. Each year charities redistribute 300,000 tonnes of clothing and use the funds to support their work. Use the search function to also find where you can donate clothes that can no longer be worn, such as those old gym shorts and t-shirts with holes.
Everyone has good quality items that never see the light of day. A fun way to clean out these items and freshen up your wardrobe is to host (or attend) a Swap Party with friends or colleagues. The idea is simply that you take items along to be passed on free to others who do the same. We’ve put together everything you need to host your own Swap Party including a how-to guide and video.
Fashion is more than wearing beautiful clothes - be part of the Fashion Revolution and help turn fashion into a force for good!
To find more about Fashion Revolution take a look at their Instagram, and share a photo of yourself with the tag #whomademyclothes
Related News:
- Have yourselves a sustainable little Christmas »
- Top 6 holiday tips from RecyclingNearYou »
- Five things you shouldn't put in the recycling bin - ever! »
- Australia’s largest marathon uses RecycleMe to divert thousands of cups from landfill »
- National Recycling Week 11-17 November 2019 »
- Regis Aged Care furthering its renewable energy commitment »
- 8 ways to spring clean sustainably »
- Planet Ark Power presents at the 24th World Energy Congress »
- How one school in Queensland is saving 40% on their energy bills »
- Choose to reuse and get on the Garage Sale Trail »
- Chemicals of concern in food packaging – what’s in your kitchen? »
- Businesses urged to cease use of till receipts containing potentially harmful chemicals »
- Planet Ark partners with Alliance Paper to provide safer paper products to Aussie businesses »
- Planet Ark meets Australia's new environment minister »
- Planet Ark Power and Regis Aged Care partnership to build a brighter future »
- Sustainable printing? Yes, it is possible! »
- Planet Ark to lead National Circular Economy Hub and Marketplace »
- The latest data on commercial and industrial waste »
- Research finds Aussies have faith in Planet Ark's endorsement program »
- Recycling is not a con. Here's why »
- Planet Ark Power Wins Global Energy Award »
- Innovation, collaboration and bold ideas the way forward for sustainable fashion »
- Planet Ark's National Recycling Week 2018 recap »
- Planet Ark partnership bringing clean energy to schools »
- Clothing and textile sustainability the hottest fashion trend for 2019 »
- Planet Ark endorses Detpak's new coffee cup recycling system »
- A power positive partnership for businesses »
- Rethink - Sustainable clutter free living »
- 5 tips for greening your laundry »
- Planet Ark announces media partnership with Australian Circular Fashion Conference »
- A power positive partnership for schools »
- Important green dates for the 2019 school calendar »
- The new regifting - giving recycled products »
- 5 things you can create from your holiday waste »
- Keep your eco footprint small these holidays with Planet Ark's holiday hacks »
- Brisbane Tool Library takes share economy to the next level »
- Reboot your perspective on recycling this National Recycling Week »
- Unilever takes steps towards a circular economy »
- Naturale pledges to end recycling labelling confusion »
- New research sheds light on Australian attitudes towards environmental sustainability »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - Preloved clothing as your first fashion option »
- California commits to 100% clean energy by 2045 »
- Make the Naturale choice at the supermarket »
- Ireland divests from fossil fuels in world first »
- NSW gets its own revolutionary road »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - Ditching the glossy mags »
- Reflections on a Plastic Free July »
- Where are we with e-waste recycling? »
- China challenge an opportunity for the Australian recycling industry »
- Everyday Enviro with Elise - New life for old things »
- Packaging industry moves towards better plastic recycling outcomes »
- A sustainable future for fashion »
- War on Waste is back! »
- How Cartridges 4 Planet Ark is part of the solution to plastic pollution »
- How one employee implemented change that's good for both the business and the environment »
- Planet Ark urges Ipswich Council to reverse decision to send valuable materials to landfill - and the Council agrees »
- The 'queen of green steel' launches landmark e-waste microfactory »
- Celebrating 25 years of positive environmental action »
- Introducing our new partner Planet Protector Packaging »
- Win the war on waste at work! »
- How online sharing groups are building communities »
- 8 ways to green your 2018 »
- Our green resolutions »
- Wynyard Station's old Wooden Escalators Repurposed Into a Public Artwork »
- Office paper flung all over the country »
- Pay it forward and get a recycled bargain on Buy It Back Day »
- Inspiring story: "Charging" up local battery recycling »
- Inspiring story: Making 3D printer parts from e-waste »
- Inspiring story: Building roads from cigarette butts »
- Inspiring story: Creating outdoor furniture from soft plastics »
- Inspiring story: Landscaping a garden bed from printer cartridges »
- 3 tips for businesses to buy recycled »
- Carbon Neutral Community Precincts »
- Car Dealership Installs State of the Art Solar Power Plant »
- There's still time for a Fling »
- The missing piece of the recycling puzzle »
- We're bursting with ideas, events and activities to share with you for National Recycling Week »
- Why buying it back is good for business and the environment »
- What's so special about Naturale? »
- Fight waste and get a bargain at the Big Aussie Swap »
- 5 ways to start your environmental sustainability journey today »
- Schools are going solar with Planet Ark Power »
- Take the Schools Recycle Right Challenge »
- Sunshine Coast sisters launch Australian-first sustainability project »
- What do Smiths, Kathmandu and Jurlique have in common? »
- Keep on recycling »
- Going plastic free: what does it take? »
- Orange's power bears fruit for Planet Ark and Aware Environmental »
- The Positive Results of the War on Waste »
- Australia's First Rescued Food Supermarket is a Win-win for the Planet and Those in Need. »
- Do you print on 100% recycled office paper? Epson does! »
- 14 Items You Can Recycle - But Probably Aren't (Part One) »
- Architecture Students and Refugees Build a Timber Community Centre for a Refugee Camp in Mannheim, Germany. »
- Australia's Tallest Engineered Timber Building to be Built in Brisbane »
- Stadium for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to Feature a Wooden Arena »
- Spotted Gum and Ironbark Feature in ICC Sydney »
- Construction to Commence on the Otago Polytechnic Student Village »
- WoodTek Headquarters - Taiwan's First CLT Building »
- Two More Wood Encouragement Policies Introduced in Western Australia »
- Flings Save Tonnes of Paper »
- Kaikoura District Council Building Survives Major Earthquake Unscathed »
- Construction Commences on a 10-storey CLT Luxury Retirement Village in Sydney »
- Get Crafty this Christmas »
- How to Reduce Spending and Your Eco-Footprint This Christmas »
- Soft Plastic - Scrunch and Recycle »
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life Launched »
- Low Carbon Football Stadium Made of Sustainably Sourced Wood »
- Cleaning Up Confusion for National Recycling Week »
- New Endorsement - Soft on the Environment and You »
- Planet Ark Launches 100% Recycled Office Paper »
- Planet Ark Launches 100% Recycled Office Paper »
- Win a YEAR'S SUPPLY of Naturale Toilet Tissue »
- Taking Shape - South Australia's First Timber Apartment Building »
- Giving Coffee Pods Another Life »
- Canada Tops Out World's Tallest Wood-Frame Building »
- Post Back Your Post Packs »
- 5 Photos You Can Take to Help the Environment »
- Marist College, Bendigo Wins Sustainability Category in the 2016 Australian Timber Design Awards »
- New Nelson Airport to Showcase Engineered Wood »
- Donating Your Old Smartphone Could Change Someone's Life »
- Provide Feedback and Win One of Five Battery Chargers »
- Construction Milestone for World's Tallest Mass Timber Building »
- East Gippsland Shire Council Adopts a Wood Encouragement Policy »
- The Rise of the Coffee Pod Machine »
- Landmark Timber Skyscraper to be Built in Amsterdam »
- Community Garden Transformation Competition 2016 »
- Using Timber to Assist in the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy - A UN Report »
- Grow a Green Thumb »
- How to Recycle Whitegoods »
- Recycle Right and Have a Cuppa »
- First Shipment of CLT Arrives in Campbelltown »
- Community Garden Competition »
- Official Opening of the Centre for Future Timber Structures at UQ »
- Toowoomba is Buzzing About Free Rechargeable Battery Recycling »
- Waste and Resource Recovery Facilities Workshops »
- Adding Trees - A Prescription for Health, Happiness and Fulfilment »
- The Cleaning Fairy Is On Its Way »
- A Quick Recycling Guide To 3 Tricky Items »
- Working It Out At Officeworks »
- Battery Stewardship Solutions for Australia »
- Come and Join us at SEE Sustainable Experience »
- Keeping Warm for the Planet »
- Learn From The New Wave In Innovation »
- How Does Laundry Powder Help Trees Grow? »
- World's Tallest Mass Timber Building Is Underway In Vancouver »
- Who Made the Top Ten Cartridge Recyclers »
- Cash For Containers In NSW - It Pays To Recycle »
- 57m Tall Timber Building Wins Competition In France »
- Reimagining Rubbish as a Resource »
- Maleny Wood Expo 20th Anniversary »
- Does Timber High-Rise Equal High Risk? »
- Four Eyes For Recycling »
- Norwegian Project Breaks Tall Wood Building Record »
- A Tablet for Your Thoughts »
- 2015 Australian Timber Design Award »
- Have A Light Bulb Moment With Broken Bulbs »
- Power Tool Battery recycling creates buzz in Brisbane »
- New Code Allows for Eight-Storey Timber Buildings »
- Change Accelerates 'Wood First' Policies »
- Get Your 2016 Environment Action Planner »
- New Year, New Products »
- 'Tis the Season to De-Clutter »
- Cleaner Transport »
- Discount Tickets for 'dirtgirl's get grubby the musical' at the Opera House »
- Drink Coffee? Take our Coffee Recycling Survey »
- Recycle Right »
- Recycle your old mobiles & help the Salvos »
- Have an Appy Christmas »
- Re-Wrap It Up »
- Celebrate Recycling at Work »
- 'Appy' Christmas gift from Planet Ark »
- Save the date! 'Waste Not, Want Not' Day is coming »
- $50,000 Rebate Open for NSW Businesses to Increase Recycling »
- What's In a Label? »
- Is it Gold For Australia? »
- Make Recycling at Work, Work »
- Let the Flings Begin »
- Recycling Role Models »
- Inspiring Performers »
- Answers to the Big Recycling Questions »
- Test Your Recycling Knowledge! »
- Getting Your Recycling Sorted »
- Advanced Waste and Resource Recovery Facilities Training Workshop »
- Help Save Safe Toilet Paper! »
- Planet Ark's new packaging tool a finalist in Banksia Sustainability Awards »
- New Label Makes Recycling Easy »
- Garage Sale Trailing Right Around Australia »
- An Office Fling Is Good For Circulation »
- Awake to the Fun of Recycling »
- Planet Ark Project - Answering Kid's Questions »
- Declutter Your Office E-waste for FREE »
- Power Tool Battery Recycling Pilot Launches in Brisbane »
- Reduce Your Pet's Paw Print »
- Bagging Waste »
- A Rock 'N' Roll Tree Day »
- Wise Words From An Eleven-Year-Old »
- E-Waste Busters »
- Identifying Asbestos »
- One House, Four Hours, Four Tonnes of Recycling »
- The art of upcycling »
- Happy Eco-Easter! »
- Creative Composting »
- Clean Clothes for Sensitive Souls »
- PREP For Better Recycling »
- Planet Ark Ambassadors Honoured »
- Turning Trash Into Treasure »
- Sourcing the right wood - Druce Davey »
- Recycling wooden pallets creates jobs »
- Wood - A Growing Answer to Climate Change »