Would it surprise you to know that Australia is the second-largest consumer of textiles after the United States? Or that we purchase an average of 28kg per year of clothing, and 23kg of that ends up in our landfill? This was the information that rocked my socks when I watched Material Gain, a recent episode of the ABC programme, Compass. It posed a question that prompted my post today - do we ever think about what happens to a garment after we're finished with it?
The destination for any clothing I no longer want (or can't fit into) has for many years been the Opportunity (Op) Shop. Just about every suburb or town has one.
In the past, you may have been looked down on for op shopping, but Richard Wood from the Australian Red Cross commented that there's been a big shift over the last decade and now you're more likely to receive a badge of honour instead! I've certainly noticed the difference. I lived in the UK for six months in 2004, and noted then the top-notch presentation of their op shops, with displays to rival any other retailer on the high street. In the years since then, more second-hand stores in Sydney have followed suit. The stigma is disappearing, and hallelujah, I say!
I was also surprised to discover how big the Op Shop sector is. Susan Goldie from St Vincent DePaul Society shared that visiting one of the 3,000 plus Op Shops in Australia means you are supporting the retailers with the largest footprint in our country. That’s a good thing when their work mostly benefits the range of charities that run them. I hadn't realised though until hearing the stories in Material Gain, that favouring the Op Shop also has the benefit of supporting the circular economy.
What's the circular economy, you ask?
The circular economy favours as much re-using, upcycling, and re-purposing of goods as possible. This increases an item's value by giving it the longest possible life, and keeping it out of landfills. This is in direct contrast to the mainstream economy we are all used to, where make, use, and dispose of is more typically the mantra. We're all aware of the issues we have with single-use plastic bags that don't break down when disposed of, which has led to the big push to remove them from our shopping centres. But have you ever thought about man-made fibres in the same way?
The most commonly used fabrics for clothing are cotton and polyester. Cotton is organic, so will eventually break down, but polyester is a man-made synthetic, and not biodegradable. Clothing made from it will present the same problem in our landfills as anything else made from plastic, even if the fabric is a cotton and polyester blend. It has made me think differently about the alternatives available for passing on pre-loved clothing.
The fact that there are organisations out there who not only share my passion for re-purposing but are working to bring positive change to our buying and discarding habits just energised my day! I was inspired by Camille Reed, who has founded the Australian Circular Textile Association, a collaborative body working with fashion, charity and re-purposing sectors to drive down textile waste. They utilise the proven interest of the fashion industry to move towards sustainability. If businesses get on board, their brands will get the thumbs up from consumers as well as meeting the demands of those wanting to shop more sustainably. That's a winner for business, why wouldn't they want to get involved?
My passion for op shopping has been fuelled by various prompts over the years - financial need, the desire to be creative, the love of a bargain. For the last ten years or so it has been a way of life, and there wouldn't be many days where something I was wearing wasn't getting a second chance at life. Second-hand stores spark my creativity, and my mind goes crazy with the possibilities of how I can re-purpose what I find. I've written before about the fun in recycling jewellery, and it's the same for clothing and accessories. I would have laughed at the thought that I was fashionable, as I have long advocated comfort over style - until the team I work with made a collage of photos and words to describe me. It was this one from 21-year-old Brianna that brought a smile to my face.
I'm always struck by Bri's eclectic and joyful style of dress, so was floored to think she thought me fashionable! Here is a pic of her that I love.
If I was surprised to find she loved what I wore, she was equally so when discovering that my 'fashion' is often second-hand. Bri had made a decision to not buy 'new' in 2020, and she loved that my penchant for pre-loved showed it isn't an impossible task to look good on a budget - no matter what your age.
I would highly recommend watching Material Gain - I've only just touched the surface of why it was a game-changer for me. Let me know what you think!
What better song to encapsulate all I have shared here than Peter Allen's rendition of Everything Old Is New Again from the musical All That Jazz. I'm a sucker for a dance number and who doesn't love an appearance from The Rockettes?
Inspired, Tracey 😍
With thanks to:
The YouTube Channel of AMTProductionCo for Peter Allen - Everything Old Is New Again
Material Gain is part of Series 34 of Compass. It first aired on Sunday May 3, 2020. Comments from Camille Reed, Susan Goldie and Richard Wood from Material Gain have been used in this post. More power to them all!
Black and white photo of Bri by Kate Willcox.
Photos from Burst, EVG Culture and Digital Buggu from Pexels.
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