Reworked Clothing: A Modern Approach towards Sustainability and Waste Reduction

by Komail Noori on October 10, 2023

The era of 2024 as marked by a heightened consciousness and increasing concern for the well-being of planet and individuals, the industry of fashion lies at its crossroads. As more mindfulness is being developed in the individuals about their choices with a single person using approximately 11.4 kgs of clothing every year, the reduction in wastes and sustainability have become the most important considerations in the fashion world.

Clarifying what Reworked Clothing is most important first. With representing a transformative shift in the fashion practices, Reworked Clothing champions the concept of Circular Fashion. It involves the process of Reusing, Upcycling and Repurposing the already existing clothing pieces or textiles to create something new and unique. It basically breathes new life into the old worn out clothes and gives them a second chance in life.

The importance of sustainability and waste reduction within the industry of fashion cannot be neglected as the fashion industry is one of the main culprit behind the greenhouse gas emission contributing almost 4-10% to it. According to a survey, big contribution towards environmental pollution is made by the fashion industry through the usage of water accounting for 113 billion liters of water required for one year global textile production.

But within this dilemma, sustainable fashion practices have emerged as a ray of hope. It calls for an industry wide transformation that urges brands and consumers to make conscious choices. Whilst this movement, Reworked Clothing is a shining example of saving the environment through the numerous benefits of sustainability and waste management.

The lifespan of clothes is extended using Reworked Clothing that reduces the need to produce new clothes. When the clothes are disposed of, they still have 70% of the useful life left. Utilizing the existing or the discarded clothes, energy is conserved, and the carbon footprint is reduced that is associated with the production of newer ones.

Additionally, Circular fashion economy that accounts for approximately 7.2% globally, aligns perfectly with the Reworked clothing addressing the problem of Textile Waste reduction that sees 92 million tons of clothing being discarded annually. So, instead of adding more to this alarming figure, Reworking Clothes diverts the textiles from discarding them into landfills to repurposing them into fresh and stylish pieces the consumers can wear proudly. Although with only 1% of the textiles production currently being recycled, major improvements towards a sustainable environment are welcomed.

The Role of Sustainable Fashion in the Environment

Sustainable practices in the fashion industry has made a paradigm shift emerging as a modern approach to address the environmental impact that are being caused by the fashion industry in the view of “Fast Fashion” that dominates the market and represents not only a conscious choice but also reduce the impact made on the environment.

The fundamental aspects of Sustainable fashion practices revolves around the cautious selection of the materials used for clothing production. Organic, recycled or upcycled materials has the potential to mitigate the footprint made on the environment by the fashion industry. An analysis revealed that the use of organic cotton instead of the conventional cotton reduces the energy demands by 62%.

Additionally, the use of polyester surpassed the use of organic cotton in 2002 and with up to 52% fibers made up of polyester in 2020. Huge energy savings of up to 45% are reported with the use of recycled polyester in the process of fabric production.  Fibers like polyester do not lose their shape easily that makes their wear life longer.

Furthermore, sustainable fashion practices extends beyond the selection of materials and includes environmentally responsible production processes. With eco-friendly dyeing and finishing processes, water consumption can be reduced by a good amount. This helps in the preservation of the aquatic eco-systems but also highlights the dedication of the fashion industry made towards minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

How Reworked Clothing contributes to Waste Reduction in the Fashion Industry?

While talking about sustainable fashion practices, the issue of textile wastes loops around and it is a problem that cannot be ignored. Annually, around 87% of textile is discarded globally and end up in landfills. These staggering wastes not only depletes the infinite resources available but also contributes significantly to environmental degradation including the greenhouse gas emission.

Reworked Clothing is based on the core principle of reducing the need to produce new clothes thereby working to address the problem of textile waste production. This practice not only conserves the valuable resources like water but also cause a reduction in the burden of waste disposal.

Iconic Celebrities and Major Brands practicing Sustainable Fashion through Reworked Clothing

Many iconic celebrities are seen practicing sustainable fashion through Reworked Clothing including:

1. Emma Watson

Apart from being a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, and a popular actress, Emma Watson is  a vocal proponent of sustainable fashion. Her partnership with various online thrift, consignment stores and sustainable fashion brands has shown her dedication towards Reworked Clothing to promote sustainable fashion practices. She stated once The second largest contribution towards the freshwater pollution is made by the fashion industry that contributes to a huge impact on the human and environment.

Emma Watson

2. Billie Eilish

The Seven times Grammy award winning sensation, Billie Eilish has a strong commitment to sustainable fashion practices. With launching a sustainable clothing line in partnership with H&M, her advocacy and love for Reworked Clothing is reflected upon. Her love for thrifting was never ending as she once said What she likes most about the freedom of thrifting is that nobody tells you anything. There is a girl section and there’s a boys section. Then there’s a section that is fancy and there’s a casual section. It is all just up to you, and you decide whatever you want.

Billie Eilish

3. Angelina Jolie

Working under two decades for the UNHCR and won Oscar for her best acting, Angelina Jolie has been a prominent figure in the world of sustainable fashion. Her preference for sustainable fashion practices is shown in Atelier Jolie, that revolutionizes the fashion industry by promoting sustainability. While expressing her vision for Atelier Jolie, she conveys her desire to utilize vintage materials of high quality and repurpose the remnant fabrics.

Angelina Jolie

4. Stella McCartney

With being one of the leading designers in the sustainable fashion practices, Stella McCartney has always benefitted the environment in numerous ways and  designing eco-friendly materials in on the top of list. She many times calls out the fashion industry to rethink about the textile production methods so that the amount of waste they produce can be minimized. She stated, With me being a designer, the minute I think about making something, the thought of planet always comes to my mind first.

Stella McCartney

Customer’s Role in promoting sustainability through Reworked Clothing

Role of a customer towards a modern approach to sustainability and waste reduction by using Reworked Clothing is crucial to address. Consumers must be educated about the benefits and importance of purchasing Reworked Clothing as it is a fundamental step towards creating an eco-friendlier environment.

Firstly, they must be told about the uncountable advantages of Reworked Clothing. These clothing pieces not only conserves the resources but also helps in minimizing the global CO2 emission of 10% by the fashion industry due to the production of new clothes. According to a survey, 73% of the global consumers when talked about the benefits of reworked clothing says they would change their consumption habits to reduce the environmental impact.

Secondly, their mindset can be changed towards adapting to a more conscious shopping habit. They must be encouraged to prioritize quality over quantity and invest in pieces that significantly reduces the demand for fast fashion. They must be motivated to buy less but buy better. A survey was conducted in 2022 in which approximately 35% of the customers reported that they are willing to pay more money for the clothing that is eco-friendly and sustainable. Hence, by choosing Reworked Clothing, not only style but environmental responsibility can be achieved too.

Ending The Debate

A modern approach towards sustainability and waste management is made by choosing Reworked Clothing that breathes new life into fashion through the reuse and repurposing of the existing garments that reduces the burden of textile waste production. The change needed cannot be argued upon as substantial carbon emission and water consumption along with generation of millions of textile waste has made an alarming impact on the environment.

Hence, sustainable fashion through its commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical methods for production leads to the minimization of waste and makes Reworked Clothing a shining player offering multiple benefits aligning well with the sustainable fashion practices.

A Modern Approach towards Sustainability and Waste Reduction
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