Circularity - Fashion's Hottest Trend
It's here: Circular Economy Week, running globally from October 20–26, 2025. For an industry often defined by speed and disposal, this initiative isn't just a calendar event - it’s a necessary intervention.
The stark truth is that the fashion industry's reliance on the linear "take-make-dispose" model is ecologically and economically bankrupt. Every second, the equivalent of one rubbish truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated. This global week of action is designed to flip that destructive narrative, showcasing the work being done worldwide to pivot toward a low-carbon circular economy.
The themes driving this year's week are highly relevant to any forward-thinking fashion business. The focus isn't on contraction, but on opportunity: demonstrating how the circular economy can actively support economic growth, create essential green jobs, and, of course, help the environment.
So what is the Circular Economy?
At its heart, the Circular Economy is a restorative and regenerative industrial model, a complete overhaul of the traditional, destructive "take, make, and waste" system.
It is based on three core, design-driven principles:
Eliminate Waste and Pollution: Designing products and systems to ensure that waste is never created in the first place.
Circulate Products and Materials: Keeping materials in use at their highest value for as long as possible through reuse, repair, refurbishment, and high-quality recycling.
Regenerate Natural Systems: Actively improving the environment, for example, by returning safe materials to the soil (like composting) or using renewable energy.
For the fashion industry, the application of these principles is revolutionary. Instead of a dress having one short life before being tossed, circularity dictates that it must be designed with its next life in mind.
This translates into tangible actions and business models:
Design for Longevity: Creating timeless, durable garments that are easy to repair and disassemble. Moving away from cheap, disposable items unlocks new, resilient revenue streams.
New Business Models: Promoting the explosive growth of resale, rental, and repair markets to extend the life of clothing well beyond the first owner.
Fibre-to-Fibre Recycling: Developing the technology to safely break down old clothing into virgin-quality raw materials, creating a closed-loop system where textiles never have to become waste.
We need skilled workers in fibre-to-fibre recycling, technicians in garment repair, and innovators developing new, durable materials. These are the green jobs of the future, replacing polluting legacy roles.
It's time for every fashion professional to realise that the future of fashion is not found in manufacturing volume, but in valuing every single fibre. Get involved, explore the events, and start building the circular business model that your customers (and the planet) are already demanding.
The greatest design challenge of the 21st century isn't what we make, but how we stop throwing it away.