OUR MANIFESTO
WHY THE FASHION INDUSTRY NEEDS TO CHANGE?
The clothing industry was worth more than $1.8 trillion in 2024 and employed more than 300 million people worldwide. Yet the industry’s current trajectory is unsustainable: garment output doubled between 2000 and 2014 while per-person purchasing jumped 60 %. If nothing changes, apparel consumption will soar 63 % to 102 million tons by 2030 and pumping out textiles will keep adding approximately 1.2 billion tons of CO₂e each year. That is more than all international flights and shipping combined!
FAST FASHION
Fast fashion is a retail model that compresses the entire design-to-shelf cycle into a matter of weeks, replicating runway and celebrity trends at ultralow prices. By releasing thousands of new styles each season, the two largest global players have attracted 40 % of U.S. consumers and 26 % of U.K. consumers in 2023. The model relies on inexpensive materials, opaque supply chains, and ultra-low labour costs. Those conditions that allow speed and affordability also leave social and environmental safeguards behind. As a result, three out of every five garments produced are landfilled or incinerated within a year, translating commercial gains into escalating resource depletion, carbon emissions, and ethical concerns.
LINEAR ECONOMY
The linear economy follows a one-way street: raw materials are extracted, goods are manufactured, briefly used, and then discarded. This “take-make-dispose” model treats the planet’s raw materials as if they were limitless, drawing down finite resources that cannot be replenished on the time-scales at which we consume them. Millions of tonnes of cotton, oil, metals, and other raw materials, along with trillions of litres of water are required to sustain the fashion industry each year.
At the other end of the line, post-consumer waste is channelled into landfills or incinerators faster than natural systems can absorb or break it down, pushing pollution well beyond the environment’s absorptive capacity.
In fashion, the impacts are acute. Synthetic fibres derived from fossil fuels, energy-intensive dyeing, and rapid garment turnover fuel a pipeline where clothes may be worn only a handful of times before joining the 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated each year. The linear system thus locks the industry into a cycle of permanent resource depletion and ever-growing waste volumes.
A SELF-REINFORCING PROBLEM
Fast fashion, driven by the linear economy model, magnifies the clothing industry’s environmental impact.
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Overproduction fuels overconsumption: Cheap, rapid product drops encourage constant buying, with each purchase priming consumers for the next trend.
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Short product lifespans drive waste: The faster garments leave closets, the sooner virgin materials are extracted, processed, and pushed back into the production pipeline.
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Environmental debt compounds: Increased extraction, energy use, and landfill dependency lock the system into a cycle of escalating emissions and pollution.
THERE IS A BETTER WAY!
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
A circular economy is a way of making and using products that treats everything as part of a loop instead of a one-way system from cradle to grave. Its main aims are to keep materials in use for as long as possible, design waste out from the start, and restore rather than drain natural resources.
In fashion, that means clothing is designed to last, to be repaired and resold. And when it finally wears out to be turned back into new fabric instead of ending up in landfill. This loop cuts the need for raw materials extraction and reduces the waste of discarded garments. By shifting from the current “make, wear, discard” pattern to this circular model, the industry can stay creative and profitable while respecting the planet’s limits.
The 8Rs framework is part of the circular economy model, which aims to create a sustainable system by minimizing waste and making the most out of resources. This approach contrasts with the linear economy model by focusing on keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible and reduce overall consumption by challenging the need to use products in the first place. It consists of 8 approaches in descending order of priority:
REFUSE: Avoid unnecessary consumption and refuse products that are not sustainable OR NEEDED.
RETHINK: Consider alternative ways to meet or needs with fewer resources and items.
REDUCE: Minimize the use of resources and waste production. Use items that are made in an environmentally friendly way.
REUSE: Extend the life of products by using them multiple times.
REPAIR: Fix products instead of discarding them. Resell, donate your clothes instead of throwing them away when you refresh your wardrobe.
REFURBISH: Restore old products to good condition. Buy used clothes to reduce impact on planet and save them from landfill.
RECYCLE: Process materials to make new products. Donate fabrics.
RECOVER: Extract useful materials or energy from waste. Consider what could be a second life for your clothes (e.g. upcycle to a piece of art)
OUR COMMITMENT
We are determined to do our part to accelerate the transition to sustainability while improving your wardrobe, your stye, and your lifestyle. Tailored accelerates the consumer side of the circular equation by leveraging AI to challenge what you actually need and how to use it for maximum personal and environmental value.
AI-guided clarity. We analyse your wardrobe, flag gaps, and veto impulse buys. Saving style seekers time, money, and headspace.
Value-first recommendations. Each suggestion balances aesthetics, is it right for you, longevity, and cost-per-wear.
Education over persuasion. We replace attention-hijacking ads with data-driven insight, empowering choices that honour you and the planet. We strive to educate consumers on the effects of the fashion industry on the environment.
TAILORED ADVICE
Dress beautifully. Own intentionally.
Consume consciously. Learn continuously.