Institute of Positive Fashion - 8. Ecosystem Modeling

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

LEAD

ENABLERS

KEY SYNERGY TOPICS

CIRCULAR AND SHARING BUSINESS MODELS
POST-USE ECOSYSTEM
SORTATION AND RECYCLING
POLICY AND REGULATION
INNOVATION INVESTMENT

In order to build a circular fashion ecosystem, there must be a clear demonstration of (a) the flows of materials and operational activities envisaged for the future and (b) the economic case for the shift. Multiple industry-led projects to prove concepts are essential to involve all actors and test the system. This is a crucial activity to build confidence in the vision for the future and allow actors across the fashion industry to realise their future role within a circular fashion ecosystem. Fundamentally, stakeholders need to understand exactly what is entailed by this transition for them to come on-board and collaborate in building the circular fashion ecosystem together

CYNDI RHOADES

CYNDI RHOADES, FOUNDER, WORN AGAIN TECHNOLOGIES

“We have an opportunity here, if we are focused on the UK, to get all the right players around the table and create a virtual system before we implement the real one.”

Recommendations

Modelling economic and material flows: Institutions, industry bodies and third sector to lead a government- commissioned project dedicated to modelling the detailed economic and material flows of a future circular ecosystem for UK fashion. This would entail robust quantification of materials flows, for instance through Material Flows Analysis (MFA). The modelling should also assess the subsequent economic implications of these flows, including economic impacts on businesses in the post-use ecosystem.
Supporting manufacturing in the UK: Manufacturers to convene a multi-stakeholder initiative, including brands and government, to support and develop garment manufacturing in the UK. This initiative should focus on facilitating the fundamental conditions for:
1. fair and decent work for all workers; and
2. the utilisation of recycled inputs for UK manufacturing.

This should include research into the drivers of the success of certain UK retailers in expanding domestic manufacturing. The research should also aim to understand the capabilities, technology, capacity, and skills that the UK needs to develop within its infrastructure and workforce

DILYS WILLIAMS

PROFESSOR OF FASHION DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND DIRECTOR OF CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION, LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION

“It is about inverting the current system which is about economic growth. Starting with a paradigm of nature is wealth and human equity, and you design your business or your course on that premise.”

CASE STUDY

New Cotton Project

RELEVANT ACTION AREAS

DEMAND FOR RECYCLED AND RENEWABLE FIBRES
SORTATION AND RECYCLING
ECOSYSTEM MODELLING

The New Cotton Project is a collaboration between twelve pioneering stakeholders within the textile and fashion industry, aimed at demonstrating a circular model for commercial garment production. Over a three-year period, they will collect and sort textile waste and turn it into a soft, new, cotton-like textile fiber, Infinna(™), using Infinited Fiber Company’s technology. The fibres will be spun into different types of yarns and fabrics for clothing that will be designed, manufactured and sold by adidas and H&M. The collaboration has already improved dialogue between actors across the textile manufacturing value chain and given members deeper insight into their current and future roles within the fashion ecosystem. By bringing together brands, manufacturers and research institutes, the project demonstrates the potential of scaleable and collaborative pilot initiatives, to both serve as testbeds, and provide blueprints for further collaborative projects to redesign systems for greater circularity.