Governor General Sam Mostyn, who is well known in sustainability circles, caused a stir in the fashion world when she wore a suit made from donated fabric to her swearing in ceremony.
At Mostyn’s request, the custom suit was designed by The Social Outfit ambassador and fashion designer Bianca Spender, daughter of the late fashion icon Carla Zampatti, the brand’s first ambassador. The social enterprise trains and employs refugee women looking to kickstart their fashion careers in Australia, including senior sewing technician Xiuyan Han who made Mostyn’s suit.
The suit and impact it made was designed to send a signal to fashionistas to change their habits and stop this industry wasting 200,000 tonnes of fabric in clothing sent to landfill each year in Australia.
But if you think it’s well heeled older women or young folk who do most of the damage you’d be both right… and wrong.
Contrary to popular belief – and a new study from RMIT – the biggest offenders are people 34 to 54 years of age – and not always women.
The study of 3080 people found 53 per cent of these “early binners” were men.
On the positive side, this age bracket was more likely to do full loads of washing and don’t have a lot of unused items in their wardrobes.
By comparison, both younger, aged 18+ or older, 55+ respondents were more likely to engage in circular practices, with the majority of motivated by social and environmental responsibilities.
Older respondents were more likely to repair and reuse clothes and selectively divert unwanted clothes through donations.
Younger respondents were more likely to shop second-hand and divert their clothes through various channels such as donating, reselling and sharing. The younger respondents were also more likely to discard clothes due to boredom or being “out of style”.
Target, Kmart and the Queensland government commissioned the study.