There was a time when wardrobes were simpler and arguably more sustainable not so long ago, but fast fashion always tempted us to buy more.

With research showing a 60% surge in clothing purchases over the past 15 years, it's a crisis that sees us discarding clothing we've hardly had a chance to wear. This 'fast fashion' phenomenon poses threatening repercussions for our planet. 

Fashion fads come and go, but one trend we hope will firmly root itself — circular fashion. The concept is stirring up the industry, offering a more sustainable way to enjoy the clothes we love.

In the midst of this environmental concern, we at COPALA appreciate the evolution and growth in the clothing industry, and we are passionately committed to creating a Circular Fashion model. This means we're constantly innovating with production materials, keeping waste out of landfills and oceans, and implementing recycling practices throughout our entire business cycle.

What exactly is Circular Fashion? 

Circular fashion is the antidote to the traditional 'take-make-waste' model that dominates the industry.

Think of it as retaining resources in the loop as long as feasible, limiting water consumption, and reducing textile waste in our landfills through recycling, upcycling, and pre-loved sales.

It's a holistic approach that focuses on reducing the fashion industry's carbon footprint, ensuring a more eco-friendly future for fashion.

It's about rethinking how we produce, use, and dispose of our garments. 

Embracing the cycle: A move towards circular practices

The conventional fashion industry is infamous for its colossal waste generation, from excess fabric to unsold stock. Circular fashion, however, transforms this waste into valuable resources, reducing the need for new raw materials, which often come from environmentally damaging mining and farming practices. 

Consider how much water, energy, and raw materials go into producing a single piece of clothing. Now imagine extending the lifespan of that garment by reusing, recycling, or upcycling it. The savings in resources are substantial.

Here are some circular fashion actions we're excited about:

• Upcycling old or discarded clothes into unique pieces

Did you know that 85% of all textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated each year? That's 92 million tons of textile waste annually. For context, the United States alone generated 17 million tons of textile waste in 2018.

Upcycling is an inventive solution to this issue, reviving items destined for landfill, and efficiently mitigating waste.

The beauty of upcycling lies in its creativity. It allows designers and consumers alike to tap into their creativity and recognize the hidden potential in what might otherwise be discarded.

• Recycle and reuse, the circular mantra

For circular fashion, recycling is the key to completing the cycle; currently, the industry lags behind, with only a small fraction of clothing being recycled into new garments. 

Statistics show that only 12% of clothing materials are downcycled into other products, and less than 1% of clothing is recycled into new garments.

The true magic lies in the potential for transformation, morphing the old, discarded, and loved into the new, cherished, and future-worn. Think about how every fiber carries with it a unique narrative, ready to be woven into a new chapter. 

At COPALA, aspire to be the storytellers behind this change by reducing our dependency on virgin materials and embracing the sustainable fabric of the future.

• Secondhand fashion encouraging pre-loved clothing

As pre-loved clothing gains popularity, the stigma associated with wearing used clothes is rapidly fading, making secondhand fashion a savvy way to support the circular fashion movement.

The secondhand clothing market is predicted to grow from $36 billion in 2021 to an impressive $77 billion in 2025, reflecting a shift towards buying quality, durable items and promoting recycling and reusing.

• Clothing rentals: owning the look, not the garment

Challenging traditional norms of clothing ownership, rental services advocate for access without the need for possession - an approach encouraging a more conscious, sustainable fashion relationship. This fresh perspective offers an escape from the fast-paced world of disposable fashion, initiating a responsible consumption revolution.

Consumer behavior and the future of circular fashion

We are excited about the promising future of circular fashion, with the surging appreciation for sustainable products and the parallel rise in green initiatives.

Brands, consumers, and policymakers are all recognizing the need for a more sustainable fashion industry. The industry's pivot to zero-waste methods has designers studying the entire lifecycle of a garment, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. This collective effort is weaving a more resilient and ethical fashion ecosystem; one built on circularity.

Let’s not forget that the real heartbeat of circular fashion comes from you—the consumer. Your choices, values, and commitment can fan the flames of these initiatives. After all, it is you who can propel these initiatives by investing your support.

United, we can redefine fashion and stitch a brighter narrative for generations to come.