At a perilous time in our planet’s history, it’s more important than ever to be a conscious consumer. That includes seeking out sustainable and ethical brands, recycling, using fewer one-time-use plastic materials and more. The question of what more can be done to save the environment should also be answered by corporations, companies and other organizations that have a large impact on society and the environment. The Ellen McArthur Foundation has taken up the challenge to further promote eco-friendliness within the fashion industry along with the New York Department of Sanitation and NYC Economic Development Corporation via a citywide social media campaign titled #WearNext.
The goal of the campaign is to decrease the disposal of clothes into landfills by encouraging New Yorkers to donate, repair, resell or swap their old clothes. New York City alone discards 200 million pounds of clothing a year (a number sure to increase with everyone’s Marie Kondo obsession). The campaign includes an online map marked with 1,100 locations across the city that accept unwanted clothes. Included in these locations are participating brands such as ASOS, Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap, H&M, & Other Stories, Reformation and Zara.
Not in New York but want to take part? There’s also a list of places that accept donations by mail, including Nordstrom, Ann Taylor, ThredUp and more. So the next time you spring clean your closet, be sure to support the circular economy. Stay tuned for more updates with Make Fashion Circular and The Ellen McArthur Foundation.
