Hi everyone! As we approach the final topic of this newsletter, we will spend the next four months exploring textiles, the clothing industry, and waste!

Have you ever considered how many clothes you own, how often you purchase new items, what they are made of, where they are produced, and where they end up after you discard them?

Let’s delve into these questions and topics in our upcoming newsletters. Together, we’ll learn about reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling clothes; how the textile industry operates and its impact on the environment; various movements like Minimalism and No-Wash; and how we can adopt new environmentally-friendly habits!

The Clothing Industry and Waste

Textiles have been a fundamental part of human life for thousands of years. However, over the past century, clothing has become increasingly disposable due to rapid global industrialization. Particularly in the last 15 years, fast fashion has dominated production, encouraging consumers to quickly discard and replace garments while depleting considerable natural, social, and creative resources, resulting in excessive waste.

The clothing industry is responsible for approximately 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of worldwide wastewater. Alarmingly, up to 85% of textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated if they cannot be reused. In the European Union, it’s estimated that each person consumes about 26 kg of textiles annually, with 11 kg discarded per person each year.

With this new change of the textile industry it became the second most polluting industry in the world, behind only the oil.

What is "fast-fashion"?

According to Oxford dictionary, fast fashion is inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. With this new change of the textile industry it became the second most polluting industry in the world, behind only the oil.

Here are some facts that can help us understand the extent of the issue textile represents.

It is crucial to understand the textile industry and the waste it generates so we can make informed decisions on how to reduce our environmental impact.

Let’s put your knowledge to the test with this short quiz!

After answering the questions, take a moment to reflect on what we can do to contribute to a more sustainable planet and change the current situation. You can advocate for climate action, reduce your carbon footprint, consume less, support environmental organizations, and embrace sustainable habits, among other actions.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE AND UPCYCLE!

Here are some practical tips that I find possible and easy to put in implement in everyday life:

Reduce: before going shopping for clothes, take a look at your wardrobe and see how many pieces you already have and how much you truly need. Organize your wardrobe in a way that allows you to see what you have and ensures you utilize everything. If you still require something, consider attending swap parties or visiting second-hand or charity shops in your area. For specific occasions, think about borrowing from a friend or renting instead of buying.

Reuse: There are many creative ways to repurpose old clothes that you no longer wear. For example, old shirts or socks can be used to clean your bike, or you can cut a piece from a shirt to use as a waxing cloth instead of buying wax strips. Additionally, look for swap parties in your city or host one among your friends for a fun experience! You might also explore online zero waste groups like Caring is Sharing, where you can contribute with your clothes or request items, from clothing to furniture, shoes, and lamps.

Recycle: Instead of throwing your clothes in the trash, consider donating them to people in need, charity shops, or institutions that truly require them. As we’ve seen, a very small percentage of clothing is recycled. If you must dispose of clothes, find a designated recycling container in your city and, if possible, check to see what happens to the items collected!

Upcycle: For those unfamiliar with the term, upcycling means creating something new from old or used materials. For instance, if you have a beloved pair of jeans that you can’t bear to part with, consider getting creative and turning them into a custom bag! Alternatively, you can transform a favorite shirt into a cushion using old clothes as filling. There are many ideas on the internet to upcycle your clothes and do really nice things!

Here are some ideas of what you can make with your own clothes that you don't use anymore:

A DIY jeans bag, with this great tutorial by Hearth & Vine:

DIY Bag from Jeans - A Fun Way to Recycle and Repurpose Old Stuff

Reuseable Make Up remover Pads with fabric scraps:

https://www.arosetintedworld.co.uk/how-to-make-reusable-make-up-remover-pads/

A repurposed denim wall organizer:

https://redoityourselfinspirations.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-repurposed-denim-wall-organizer.html

Here are our challenges of the month for you:

Commit to not buying any new clothes for one month. If you do need to purchase something, make sure to shop at second-hand stores, vintage shops, or charity shops.
Find swap parties in your city and share your discoveries with us! Feel free to share your finds on social media—Tag us on Instagram @vow.valueofwaste or on Facebook @udrugavestigium.
Upcycle a Piece of Fabric and Share a Picture with Us! If you’re in Zagreb, be sure to check out Paramparam upcycle for some great upcycling inspiration.

To explore this topic further, I recommend to read this article:

And watch this documentary:

Hi everyone! I’m Marilia, and I volunteer at Udruga Vestigium, where I write projects, coordinate, and facilitate activities. I’m passionate about reducing waste and finding everyday solutions to decrease our carbon footprint. Since joining this project, I’ve learned a great deal about the textile industry and its environmental impact, which has motivated me to share important information about clothing awareness.

Over the next three newsletters, I hope to inspire you with tips on how to reduce clothing purchases, what to do with clothes instead of tossing them, how to create new items from old fabrics, and how to develop sustainable habits!

See you next month!

Marilia

Author

You can't wait to dive into the topic and meet other people involved?

Here are some local events that you can join this month!

When?	What?	Where?
November 30th, 10-12am	Monthly Clothing Exchange	Udruga Vestigium, Zagreb, Croatia

Udruga Vestigium

Everyone is invited to participate in our next clothing exchange!

How our Clothing Exchanges Work:

1️⃣ Meet with one of our volunteers.
2️⃣ Bring up to five of your nicest unwanted seasonal clothes to donate, or just come along. Please note: *only clothing*! No children's clothing, underwear, socks, etc.
3️⃣ Choose up to five pieces of clothing for free.

Why Participate in Our Clothing Exchange?

Promote Sustainability: Your contributions help reduce waste and promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle by giving clothes a second chance.

Refresh Your Wardrobe: Enjoy the thrill of "free shopping" as you update your closet without spending a dime!

You were wondering what else we've been up to?

Upcycling Workshops at KNOF

On the 9th and 15^th of October, we organized workshops for high school students. In our workshop, participants explored sustainable practices by repurposing "waste materials" into new items, gaining practical skills to extend the life of everyday objects. They created makeup remover pads from reused towels, restored chairs, learned renewal techniques for particle board furniture, and crafted keychains and dreamcatchers from recycled plastic, all while understanding the importance of mindful consumption.

Clothing Exchange and Upcycling Workshops at Vestigium

On October 26th, we successfully hosted our monthly clothing exchange, welcoming approximately 40 visitors to our association. We were thrilled to see many new faces alongside familiar ones from the neighborhood. The event's success was evident in the warm, inviting atmosphere and the significant reduction in clothing left behind.

Additionally, we organized a follow-up upcycling workshop where participants creatively repurposed some of the remaining items. Thank you to everyone who joined us! We look forward to seeing you at our next event in November.

We hope to see you all there!