Britain loves high-street fashion. Tempted by rock-bottom prices we’re buying a third more clothing than we did a decade ago. New looks on the catwalk and cut-price competition in the high street mean greater turnover – but more than a million tonnes of textiles end up in landfill each year. Dyes run, polymers break down and toxic chemicals ooze into the environment.
Fashion needs a makeover. Can designers use new technology to create style without waste?
Worn out – what next?
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What happens to your old clothes? To find out their fate we tagged five items of old clothing that were either thrown away, recycled or donated. But why get rid of old clothes when you could transform your sad rags into glad rags with a bit of nip and tuck. Browse our gorgeous gallery of ‘refashioned’ clothes and maybe add your own.
Wear without waste
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Fashion may be fabulous, but the way your clothes are made is incredibly wasteful. Find out how the latest scientific technologies can reduce waste. New types of material and dyeing and cutting techniques can create fashion without clogging up landfill.