By: Rosen Chang
Living in a fast-fashion-forward world doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice sustainability. As we transition into Circular Economy Month this October, we want to show how simple sustainable fashion choices can be. Let’s complete the clothing loop.
Despite widespread concern about fashion’s environmental impact, many overlook that the industry is the second-largest consumer of water after agriculture and contributes around 10% of global carbon emissions, according to the UN Environment Programme. And unfortunately, nearly 85% of all textiles end up in landfill every year, with less than 1% of clothes recycled due to the mix of different fibers, according to an analysis by Business Insider. This means valuable resources are wasted, and many materials take hundreds of years to break down, releasing harmful chemicals into the soil and methane into the atmosphere.
Though nature gives us just four seasons, today’s fashion industry goes through 11 or more each year, according to Tasha Lewis, a professor from the Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design at Cornell University.
By choosing quality over quantity, re-wearing, repairing, and supporting circular brands, we can help close the loop and reduce fashion’s footprint.
What Can We Do More Of?
Before you shop
Think before you buy.
Before adding something new to your wardrobe, pause and ask yourself if you truly need it and whether you’ll wear it often. While trends are tempting, you can express yourself without always adding something new. Opt for pieces that fit well, work with what you already own, and can be styled in multiple ways. Thoughtful, intentional purchases not only save money and space but also use your purchasing power to support a more sustainable fashion industry.
When you shop, choose well.
Shop Sustainably
Buy pre-owned items through thrift stores, local markets, or online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Depop, ThredUp, Etsy, and eBay. When you do buy new, choose local and sustainable options. Look for brands that are transparent about their entire supply chain, treat workers fairly, and genuinely minimize environmental impact. By being intentional with your purchases, you shift support away from polluting companies and toward businesses that value people and the planet.
In Whistler, check out Re-Use-It Centre, Re-Build-It Centre, F as in Frank Vintage Clothing, and Vula Whistler.
The Clothing Materials You Pick Matter
Natural textiles like cotton, linen, bamboo, flax, jute, silk, wool, and alpaca are often higher quality and shed fewer microplastics into waterways than synthetics. Low-impact options such as modal and lyocell are also good choices. Whenever possible, look for recycled fabrics made from reclaimed plastics or fibers and try to steer clear of polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic, petroleum-based materials with high emissions.
Higher-quality, Durable Clothing Pays Off
In addition to considering natural fabrics, inspect the fabric’s weave and weight for consistency, and durability. Inspect details, even stitching, securely attached buttons and zippers, and finished interior seams indicate strong craftsmanship. High-quality items often last longer, may come with lifetime guarantees, or are designed to be repairable, saving you money and reducing waste. In contrast to lower quality, trendy pieces are often made for just one season before being discarded.
For Whistler’s active, outdoor lifestyle, trusted brands such as The North Face, MEC, Mountain Hardwear, Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, and Patagonia, and many more brands provide solid warranty programs and customer support that are just an email/phone call away.
After you shop, care for your clothes.
Wash Your Clothes with Care
Proper care extends the life of your wardrobe and reduces environmental impact. The process of washing and drying clothes releases microplastics from synthetic fabrics into the ocean, so air-drying whenever possible is best. When doing laundry, reduce the water temperature to save energy and maximize efficiency. Aim to run near-full loads, about 75% full or enough space for a hand to fit vertically. Underloading wastes energy and water, while overloading prevents effective cleaning and can damage clothes. Always follow the care instructions on labels, and separate whites from colors to prevent fading or dye transfer. Stubborn stains can be removed by several methods that may take some research. Depending on the fabric and stain, it may be removed by boiling water, dish soap, baking soda, chemical stain removers, hair spray, or specialty soap such as Savon de Marseille soap bar. Taking these simple steps helps your clothes last longer, keeps them looking their best, and minimizes pollution.
Get Creative and Upcycle Your Clothes
Simple sewing skills can turn tired pieces into something fresh, like altering a dress, patching jeans, cutting pants into shorts, or adding decorative touches through embroidery. There are other creative methods of upcycling such as, if you’re into knitting, you can unravel old sweaters back into yarn for new projects. This not only reduces waste but also lets you express your personal style while keeping clothing out of landfills.
Donate or Sell Worn Items
Go back to previous second hand shopping platforms and give your clean items a chance to reach buyers who will value your pre-loved items. Selling not only extends the life of your clothes but can also earn you extra cash, while donating helps those in need. Items that are heavily contaminated with paint, oil, or other chemicals that cannot be cleaned, as well as textiles that are severely torn, stained, or otherwise unwearable, should be disposed.
We can choose to step back from throwaway culture. As individuals, we often feel powerless to help the environment, but even our everyday clothing choices matter. By making mindful decisions at every stage of building our wardrobes (buying less, supporting sustainable brands, purchasing secondhand pieces), we directly influence demand and shape the market. These small actions reduce our individual footprint and collectively undermine the fast-fashion business model, challenge the status quo, ultimately helping to push the industry toward true sustainability.
Ready to get involved in circular economy with AWARE?
This Circular Economy Month, we’ve got some exciting events and opportunities coming up where you can repair, sell or swap your clothes and other items, to help reduce landfill waste.
Repair Café
Broken zipper? Sweater needs to be patched? Bring your damaged clothes to the Repair Café, where our skilled volunteers will help you repair it, for free!
Thursday October 23, 2025 from 2 PM – 7 PM
Register here: Eventbrite
Price: Free
Community Garage Sale
Have clothes you no longer love? The Community Garage Sale in Creekside is back for fall. From household goods, to kids and baby stuff, clothing, sporting goods, pet items, furniture and much, much more.
Sunday, October 19, 2025
10 AM – 2 PM
Shoppers: Free
Sellers: $25 | 15% discount for AWARE Members (Advance sales only)
Seller Registration: Eventbrite
Clothing Swap
Ready to refresh your wardrobe? Discover your next favourite piece at our Clothing Swap! AWARE’s bi-annual Clothing Swap encourages community members to engage in sustainable fashion practices by swapping instead of shopping.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
6 PM – 8 PM
Price: $10 (with clothes to swap), $20 (without clothes)
Register here: Eventbrite
Want to learn more about the impact of fast fashion on our environment? Check out the links below:
