‘More in tune with the future of the planet’
It is encouraging to see that people are also becoming more conscious of where they buy clothes. Our latest Twitter and Instagram poll reveals that 80 percent of respondents are looking to buy more from sustainable brands.
Sharif believes that this new mindset is being “championed by both the younger generation who are more in tune with the future of the planet, but also by people who see the benefits of having a capsule wardrobe.”
Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to think more about the circular economy, so from the product development stage, ensuring that design takes into account what happens to products at the end of their life. This is known as the product life cycle.
For more sustainability tips for small businesses, read about OLIO’s journey as a food-sharing startup and what other businesses can do to reduce their impact on the planet.
“Second hand revolution”
Christine Timms has owned The Wardrobe, a small, well-loved clothing agency in Welford on Avon, Warwickshire, for 40 years.
She said: “We’re welcoming new customers every week who are enjoying being part of the ‘secondhand revolution’ – I’ve definitely seen an increase in customers looking for quality, second-hand clothing and accessories.
“People want to save the planet, and small businesses like mine are leading the way. For us, second hand is second nature.”
While many businesses are seeing an increase in interest in used items, our recent Twitter and Instagram poll found that many people are having a hard time finding what they’re looking for.
We found that 64 percent would prefer to buy new clothing and 60 percent said they did not find it easy to buy second-hand.
