Recycling and reselling post-consumer textile waste
Based on restorative and regenerative economics, Kiki’s rematerializes post-consumer textiles through reselling and redesigning practices through multi-channel platforms, with the aim to reshape the way people value their clothing by developing a curated sustainable fashion brand in which consumers can buy, sell, repair, and redesign their clothes to decrease environmental impact and promote the capacity to live better via consuming less.
Challenge
It is no question that society is going through a problem of waste and instant gratification, thanks to modern technology. The current cycle of consumption not only damages the environment but also degrades our own psychological and social well-being. 17 million tons of fabric and textiles are produced annually, and only 13% of that is recycled. 85% of clothing donated to goodwill ends up in a landfill. The amount of usable material is undeniably infinite. There is a desperate need for ethical clothing recycling and material production.
Outcome
Products are designed to be timeless and versatile, so garments can be used in many different ways and situations. However, Kiki’s design strategies, such as customization and modularity, offer possibilities to make sustainable clothing more adaptable to fashion trends in a sustainable manner. There is a desire to be able to form a longer term relationship with their clothing. And there needs to be solutions that care for textiles and quality. The cycle of take, make, and dispose might not end but it can definitely shift its thinking.