Fashioning a Circular Economy
There’s no reason why we can’t recycle our textiles and still be fashionable in Philly.
Philadelphia not only now has a fashion district, but it is home to internationally known brands that continue to set trends. But even with this flourishing fashion sector, 85% of all textiles continue to be thrown away.
At Circular Philadelphia, we work with recyclers, tech companies, makers, retailers, second hand stores and donation organizations to ensure that people have the option to find a second or even third life for their clothes as they keep up with the latest fashion trends. We work with designers and manufacturers to optimize supply chains for circularity and minimize production waste.
Textiles Initiatives
Textile Waste Survey
We are working with the Textile Recycling Task Force, led by All Together Now PA, to determine the scope, scale and composition of our region’s textile waste. By working with thrift stores, designers, schools, resellers and the general public, the Task Force is beginning to track the main sources of waste, compile the missing data and identify the best possible solutions for Philadelphia and its surrounding areas in hopes of moving waste into usable material.
If you are an individual, we’d love to know what you do with your clothes and other textile waste when you are done with them. If you are a designer or in the clothing and textiles industry, we also want to hear from you about how you manage your textile waste. Follow the links below to take the surveys.
Textiles Working Group
The Textiles Working Group is a committee of Circular Philadelphia and is chaired by Samantha Wittchen. The working group focuses on circularity in the fashion and textiles industry, including the design and manufacturing processes, pre-consumer and post-consumer collection for reuse and recycling, sorting, recycling and downcycling, and tracking systems and other technology to support circularity. This committee works with designers, manufacturers, reuse organizations, collection and logistics companies, recycling companies and city government to advance textile circularity goals.
Current Projects and Areas of Focus:
- Quantifying the scope, scale and composition of textile waste in the region
- Identifying and building local markets for recycled fibers
- Analyzing the economics and identifying financial resources to support textile recycling in the region
- Developing an advocacy and outreach plan for textile recycling
- Supporting Textile Recycling Task Force initiatives
If you are interested in joining the Textiles Working Group, please contact us for more information.