London has the potential to lead circular fashion in the UK. Thanks to initiatives like the London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF) and its “Remade in Britain” project, which brings together fashion industry professionals to create clothing from recycled materials designed for reuse.
You may ask why this matters. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has set a target for London to be net zero carbon by 2030. The capital’s ambition to be at the centre of circular fashion in the UK is also tied to the emission targets by the Greater London Authority. The circular fashion system considers materials and production, emphasising the value of utilising the product right to the end and then repurposing it into something else, with little or no waste. Essentially, the “circular” was coined as a better alternative to previous business models that have been “linear” to date and harmful to the planet.
In most definitions, circular fashion is a system in which clothing is designed, produced, and used to minimise waste and maximise the use of resources. It includes practices such as upcycling, repairing, and recycling clothing, as well as designing garments with a focus on durability and reuse. At the core of it is the consideration of the environmental, social and economic impact of the linear fast fashion system.
Along with the CSF in London’s circular fashion movement initiatives is ReLondon. ReLondon works with the Mayor of London and boroughs to improve waste and resource management. ReLondon partners with the Mayor of London to transform the city into a leading low carbon circular economy. It also mobilises London boroughs, businesses and citizens to change their policies, practices and behaviours to revolutionise how Londoners use stuff, including their clothes. Another initiative is the “Fashion Re-Made” project run by the borough of Southwark, which offers grants to local fashion businesses looking to adopt circular practices.
A few years ago the British Fashion Council (BFC) unveiled a roadmap to make the UK a leader in circular fashion economies, in partnership with the non-profit organisation Circle Economy. The BFC’s Institute for Positive Fashion, responsible for the roadmap, had the following target outcomes to double circularity in the fashion industry by 2032;
- Reduced volume of new physical clothing
- Maximised utilisation and revaluation through product circularity
- Optimised sorting methods and materials recovery
In addition to these initiatives, a number of independent fashion designers and retailers in London are committed to circular fashion. For example, the clothing company “Elvis & Kresse” repurposes discarded materials, such as fire hoses and leather offcuts, into stylish and durable bags and accessories.
Overall, these initiatives and businesses demonstrate London’s commitment to sustainability and resource conservation in the fashion industry. As a result, the city has the potential to lead the way in a circular fashion in the UK.