This Fashion Revolution Week, bloggers are taking part in the eco-fashion campaign, #LoveNotLandfill – myself included!
Did you know that this week it’s Fashion Revolution Week? Between the 22nd and 28th of April, bloggers are taking part in the eco-fashion campaign, #LoveNotLandfill – myself included. The campaign is asking young people to slow down their shopping and reverse it. Instead of doing a haul (just log onto Youtube and you can see thousands of haul videos, seeing fashion bloggers buying piles of new clothes, often only to be worn once or twice before binning them) – and instead do a dehaul – cutting down their wardrobe and recycling what clothes they no longer need.
I am all about sustainability right now. Last week, my friend Leah wrote a great guest post for me all about giving up fast fashion. This, paired with the recent Marie Kondo craze, means I’ve been tempted more than ever to change my shopping habits. Hearing about the #LoveNotLandfill campaign couldn’t have come at a better time.
I actually dehauled a little just after Christmas. But this week, I’ve been slowly moving back into my room after having it redecorated. Having already gotten rid of a lot of junk and furniture I didn’t need, my room is already looking a lot more spacious and minimal. But I’ve already found it tough trying to find space for my things – especially in my wardrobe which has led to another cut down of clothes.
Like fashion influencers running this change – Adeola Patronne, Paloma in Disguise and Venetia Falconer – I am also sitting down to rift through the extra garments I don’t want, wear or need anymore. Except I’m not filming it because lolz, can you imagine me as a vlogger?!).
Why Dehaul?
According to #LoveNotLandfill, there are £30 billion worth of unworn clothes in the UK’s wardrobes. Most of this could be loved and worn by someone else! 300,000 tonnes of unwanted clothes go into landfill or get incinerated every year. Whether it’s an ex’s T-shirt, one pair of black skinny jeans too many or the prom dress that cannot be seen again on social, it can all be recycled or worn again by someone else. (I mean, all of these apply to me. I have about three ex’s t-shirts I use for when I’m dying my hair, jeans with the tags still on that don’t fit me and so many dresses I have kept just for memories).
It’s time to wake up: the fashion industry as a whole contributes more to climate change than the aeronautical and shipping industries combined. According to the UK Government’s Environmental Audit Committee report Fixing Fashion, we buy more clothes per person in the UK than any other country in Europe. ‘Fast fashion’ means we overconsume and underuse clothes.
“We need to change how we think about fashion. A dehaul is like a detox for your wardrobe; pull out everything you haven’t worn for 12 months and think about why you bought it and whether you will ever wear it again. If the answer is no, give it to someone else or recycle it. And next time, before hitting the high street, check out vintage and charity shops; shopping is fun, but it shouldn’t cost the earth.” Hannah Carter commented.
How to Dehaul
#LoveNotLandfill recommends filming a dehaul, bagging up old items you don’t wear and taking them to a clothes bank. The campaign suggests:
- Tell your followers and friends why you’re getting rid of those clothes
- Tag #LoveNotLandfill and #dehaul in your posts
- Remember old knickers, bras, stained or torn clothes and broken shoes, bags etc can all go in a bank – don’t bin it!
But there are also other ways to dehaul – especially if you don’t fancy yourself as a vlogger! You can also sell clothes on at a bootsale or using apps like Vinted or Depop. You can also drop them into your local H&M to exchange for vouchers. And why stop there? Once you’ve decluttered all your clothes, move onto the rest of your room too.
Local to London? A #LoveNotLandfill limited-edition Bambi textile clothing bank is stationed in Spitalfields Market for the entire week. You can also find a map of all Love Not Landfill’s Clothes Banks in London for Fashion Revolution Week here. Each clothes bank is designed street artist Bambi!
What Next?
All garments will then be sorted through and recycled by LM Barry textile recyclers.
There’s also a nifty little project called #messageinapocket. Basically, if your items are still wearable, they are sorted and sent to second-hand markets and shops around the world. You can grab a note (available at each clothes bank) to fill in and add in the pockets of your garments. Then, follow Love Not Landfill on social media. Use the hashtags #messageinapocket and #lovenotlandfill to see if anyone gets back in touch!
What a great campaign. If there’s something gathering dust at the back of your wardrobe, take action and make a change now so it can be re-worn by someone else or recycled.
For more information about the #LoveNotLandfill campaign, visit www.lovenotlandfill.org.
Will you be taking part in the #LoveNotLandfill campaign? Let me know!
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