Are your closets full of unused clothes? Recycling and adopting sustainable fashion practices are essential to combating pollution from the fashion industry.
We have closets full of clothes that we no longer wear because they are no longer in fashion, or because they are a little tight, or simply because we no longer like them.
But what can we do with all these clothes that we no longer use? Recycling clothes should be a priority because the fashion industry has become one of the most polluting in the world since companies began producing an ever-increasing number of collections per year at rock-bottom costs. However, each of us can make a difference by adopting clothing recycling practices.
Sustainable fashion is indeed gaining more and more attention as a necessary response to growing environmental challenges. In Italy, several initiatives are emerging to promote an ethical and sustainable approach to fashion. Among these, the QUID Project in Verona and the "Parma Ri-vestiti" initiative represent excellent examples of how fashion can be a vehicle for positive change.
QUID Project: Social and Environmental Innovation in Verona
The QUID Project was born in Verona with the aim of transforming surplus fabrics into unique clothing items, while promoting social inclusion. Founded on the principles of circular economy, QUID recovers unused fabrics from big brands and transforms them into limited edition collections. This process not only reduces waste, but also offers job opportunities to people at risk of exclusion, with a particular focus on women. QUID collaborates with numerous international brands, demonstrating that sustainability can go hand in hand with high fashion. QUID's creations are "ethically made in Italy" and represent a business model that combines beauty, ethics and sustainability.
Find out more here
Parma Re-dressed: a circular economy and social inclusion project
In Parma, the "Parma Ri-vestiti" initiative fits perfectly into the context of sustainable fashion. This project, promoted by the Municipality of Parma in collaboration with the social cooperative Emc2 Onlus and the cooperative Fiorente, promotes the recovery and reuse of used clothing with the aim of reducing the number of clothes that would otherwise be thrown away.
The collected clothes are selected, washed, repaired and then sold at L'Ostello, a center inside the Citadel that hosts work placement workshops, and in a dedicated shop. This project not only reduces textile waste, but also creates job opportunities for disadvantaged people and people with disabilities, promoting social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
To learn more read here
The examples of Verona and Parma demonstrate how local initiatives can have a significant impact on both an environmental and social level and how sustainable fashion is not just a trend, but a necessity for a more equitable and environmentally friendly future.
What you can do
- Donate clothes in good condition to local organizations, churches, or shelters. Wash and fold them before donating.
- Sell quality clothes on online platforms or to second-hand clothing stores.
- Repair damaged clothes instead of throwing them away or turn old clothes into new pieces or accessories. Explore online tutorials for creative ideas.
- Take your damaged clothes to your city’s textile recycling programs to turn them into new products.
- Shop consciously for quality, sustainable and ethical clothing. Choose classic and versatile pieces.
- Organize clothes swaps with friends or family to give new life to unused items.
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