The future of fashion is circular

12 | DIY FACE MASKS 13 | PAINTING THE CANNON 16 | CUT-OUT AFFIRMATION CARDS

The upcycled fashion show featured four designers' takes on reusable fashion. CREDIT: JAIDYN MCCRAE

JAIDYN MCCRAE

October is Circular Economy Month, and the Guelph Tool Library set out to prove just how stylish, cool, and fun reducing waste consumption can be.

There’s no denying the value in re-sourcing clothing. Personally, I have always loved scouring local thrift stores in hopes of coming across a lost gem that I couldn’t find anywhere else. It’s an incredibly rewarding feeling, and one that has roots in an important aspect of environmental conservation; clothing.

Fast fashion’s trend focused model has permanently altered our environmental landscape. According to the Waste Reduction Week in Canada movement, North Americans send over 10 million tonnes to the landfill each year, according to Waste Reduction Week Canada.

Not only does it wreak havoc on our Earth, but it also poorly impacts individual fashion. Rather than encourage creativity and personal style, fast fashion retailers relentlessly pump out cheap, uninspired, and monotonous clothes to try and keep up with an insatiable trend cycle. You’ll be on trend, but you’ll also look just like everyone else.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve fallen for the lure of cheap clothing. Web-based retailers, like SheIn, Zaful, and Romwe, seem to offer it’s consumers the perfect deal. For a fraction of the price, you have access to an endless variety of trendy clothing.

But the more you shop, the more you waste. Our Earth can no longer afford to pay the price of an industry that takes and never gives. This linear economic model, where resources are extracted, used, and thrown away, is the unstable basis of our current society. But if this isn’t working anymore, then what do we do?

The Circular economy works to solve this problem. By its design, already existing resources are valued and repurposed. It promotes skill-sharing, slow fashion, and a shift to appreciating what we already have.

Over the years, the demand for second-hand clothes has skyrocketed. Value Village is the new Forever 21. With clothing reseller apps like Depop, Thredup, and Poshmark, it seems consumers are enthusiastically searching for more sustainable alternatives to traditional retail stores.

We want to do better, but maybe don’t know how. In response to this, the Guelph Tool Library created their very own Circular Fashion Festival which coincided with Canada’s Waste Reduction Week.

Running from October 17th to October 23rd, the Guelph Tool Library curated a collection of eight separate events which advocated for the necessity of slow fashion and the circular economy.

Held at 10C Shared Space on Carden Street, their up-cycled fashion show showcased four designers each with their own take on reusable fashion.

Shop the Swap, Gather and Make, The Muse and I and Bobby Raffin’s Three Pieces each offered their intricate collections of upcycled and revitalized clothing to an eager audience. The buzz in the room was palpable as the crowd cheered for the designers and the innovative outfits they saw before them.

The whole experience was inspiring. It encouraged me to create and explore fashion in a way I hadn’t thought of before.

The upcycled fashion show proved that second hand clothing is cool, chic, and necessary for protecting our planet. It helps that you can look amazing while doing something that makes a difference, too.

Rather than buying something new, repurpose what you already own. Go shopping in your own closet, learn a new skill, and most importantly, seek inspiration in everything.