From manufacturing to disposal, clothing has a big impact
The fashion industry is responsible for
10% of global carbon emissions
and is a significant contributor to pollution and health hazards.
as we continue to make more than we wear, the quantity of textiles landfilled increases
Textile recycling primarily relies on downcycling (making new, less valuable products) or clothing exported for resale.
Significant quantities of clothing sent overseas for resale are landfilled, as markets can’t keep up with the vast amounts of incoming material.
Fabrics shredded down or cut up for reuse stay in circulation a bit longer, but don’t have anywhere to go but the trash in the end.
Circular Triangle’s Textile Incubator
will develop local solutions to help fight big problems.
We will focus on 3 goals:
Encourage markets and organizations that keep clothing in local use.
Find the best possible outcomes for material that doesn’t get used.
Raise awareness about what circularity means in the fashion industry.
One barrier to getting used clothing in the hands of people who can use it is making space available for people to go through things.
Vintage clothing resellers, zero-waste designers, local makers, etc can recover fabric and turn it into something valuable.
To encourage keeping clothing in local use, we will provide a supply of used clothing and space to sort through materials.
For things that don’t find a new home, we want to find the best possible way to retain the value of our fibers.
Businesses are investing in new ways to turn old textiles into new yarn, especially here in NC!
Challenges include the need to have materials separated by fiber type and color to be reusable.
We'll look for our best options, and learn how to efficiently manage materials to maximize their utility.
The textile industry must move towards systems that prioritize on reduction, reuse, and regeneration.
We aim to raise awareness about what circularity means for the industry and encourage the growing movement towards sustainable fashion.
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