However, making clothes last longer is just as vital, and this is not only down to design but also aftercare. This is the topic that will be addressed in the next Fashion The Change webinar, sponsored by GreenEarth Cleaning.
How garments are looked after impacts how long they last and what happens to them at disposal. If a garment is in poor condition, it is less likely to be donated to charity, passed on to a friend, or find its way into a retail ‘take back’ scheme – and fashion brands and retailers can influence con-sumer behaviour when it comes to aftercare.
Just under a third of the total carbon footprint of an item of clothing comes from its care by the consumer, which is why production and recycling should not be discussed in isolation. Effective and sustainable forms of aftercare can have an impact on not just carbon use but water and waste, not to mention the issue of microfibres and microplastics.
In the third Fashion The Change webinar, expert speakers from across industry will discuss the environmental impact of aftercare in general and different types specifically. It will look at the closed-loop nature of dry cleaning and work that has been done to minimise the release of microfi-bres into the ocean from laundry.
The webinar will also consider the role that aftercare can play in circular models for fashion, how it can contribute to keeping clothes in use for longer, and recommendations for designing and pro-ducing clothing for extra durability. You will also hear from fashion retailer Whistles about their sustainable aftercare journey.
Speakers:
Tim Maxwell – President – GreenEarth Cleaning
Roz Adams – Head of Sourcing – Whistles
Min Zhu Ph.D. – US & Canada, Technical Director – SGS
Andrej Krzan – Chief Research Officer – PlanetCare