Leeds fashion futures
Exploring what we can do as a city to minimise the negative impacts of our clothing choices.
Many of us want to make more sustainable clothing choices but don’t know where to start. We’ve launched Leeds Fashion Futures to explore how as a city we can do that. We’ve looked at what makes Leeds unique and spoken to the many people involved in clothing and textiles. Valuing our clothes was a major theme, plus Leeds' rich textile heritage, and the importance of sewing skills. Here we share a bit of all of that, plus some practical tips and ideas.
In Leeds we throw away 4000 tonnes of clothing into our household bins every year. There are much better choices for our clothes at the end of life but waste is just one part of the story. The textile industry is responsible for 10% of carbon emissions, a massive environmental impact. Protecting our planet for future generations is important and when it comes to clothes, there's plenty we can all do. Most are fun too like learning how to sew, clothes swapping with friends, upcycling a favourite item or doing a wardrobe audit before buying anything new.
Every year, global emissions from textile production are equivalent to 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2, a figure that outweighs the carbon footprint of international flights and shipping combined.
Our latest posts about zero waste fashion
In February we held Leeds Fashion Futures Week - a celebration of the things...
We recently launched Leeds Textile Trail, a journey through some of the people,...
As part of our #LeedsFashionFutures project, we recently spoke with Sunny Bank...
Every year, global emissions from textile production are equivalent to 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2, a figure that outweighs the carbon footprint of international flights and shipping combined.
Discover our latest beginner sewing videos
In Leeds, 4,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in Leeds' black bins every year.
To find out more about our Leeds Fashion Futures project or to get involved, join our Leeds Fashion Futures Facebook group. You can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
If you'd like to support our work or collaborate with us, please get in touch by emailing info@zerowasteleeds.org.uk.