WEAR AND SHARE

Blogpost 3, Appearance
Tessa Gielen, ILS1G
Disposable clothes
Every year, we throw for about millions of tons
of textile away. These are mainly clothes,
especially disposable clothes. Not only
because these clothes are worn, but also
because people get bored of those clothes and
subsequently throw them away (RTL Z, 2016).
This is an increasing worldwide problem,
because the waste is bad for the environment.
Moreover, the fashion industry accounts for 10
percent of greenhouse gas emissions. We have Disposable clothes (Demkes, 2016)
not even mentioned the degrading conditions
in which most of the clothes are made (Mechelen, 2017).
Share Wear
This fashion system, explained in the previous paragraph , is likely to change
because of the sharing of clothes. This is part of the sharing economy. Many
things are already shared in this economy like bedrooms (Airbnb), and now also
clothes are taking part of this economy (Singles Site, 2017). Due to the sharing of
clothes, you can make someone else happy with something what is useless for
you and what you would throw away otherwise. Last year Sweden has launched
Share Wear, which is an inspiration for a sustainable way to be fashionable. It is a
ready-to-share collection with Swedish fashion pieces that you can borrow, but
only with the proviso that you share it forward. The clothes will be shared on
social media with the hashtag '#sharewear. The first one who reacts on the
picture may use it as the next owner (Sharewear, 2016).
Scarves and sweaters
In the Netherlands there are also a few initiatives that promote to share clothes.
Natasja van Alphen hangs up scarves in trees for homeless people during the
winter. She did this in order to do something positive and show the beauty of the
human being. Within ten days, there were hanging over 60 scarves in various
places in Tilburg. Natasja van Alphen hopes that this initiative will be taken over
by others and will be distributed throughout the Netherlands (Algemeen Dadblad,
2016). This initiative is about sharing clothes in a very social way and on a small
scale.

(Algemeen Dadblad, 2016)

MUD-jeans
This brand, MUD-jeans, is focused on sustainability. Users
can get many clothes in a cheap and sustainable way. The
concept of MUD-jeans is that they lease recycled jeans.
You do not need to own the jeans, but you can borrow
them. They use the following statement:
It's a kind of Netflix, but for jeans.
This it is also a good example of the individualization that
is going on in the world. People are increasingly setting up
more initiatives like this to make the world more
sustainable in a cheap way (Fashionchick, 2016).
Sharing economy
These initiatives above are a good example of how to
MUD-jeans (Fashionchick,
share clothes. The world needs to be some more socially
2016)
with clothing. The result will be very sustainable and will
probably be a good solution for the problem of wasting clothes. This sharing
economy in the fashion industry, will be the future and continues to grow. It will
become popular, especially with young people. At this time 29% of the people
under 35 years old takes part of this sharing economy (Het Financieele Dagblad,
2016).
Often people tend to solve problems by themselves but solving problems
together is much easier. The economic crisis has led to many people realising
that it is unnecessary to buy everything yourself. The sharing economy is a good
development and it is pleasant for your wallet, because why would you buy
clothes if you can borrow them? Furthermore, it is good for the environment
(Singles Site, 2017).
Conclusion
It is terrible to hear the waste of the fashion industry is so polluting. Because
fashion is so much fun, it is sin that it gets negative attention. I hope that
sustainable, social projects and initiatives greatly improve the fashion industry.
I think the sharing of clothes is a good solution to the environmental problems. To
make sure more people will be part of the sharing economy and share their
clothes, the mind-set of people must change. Nowadays, people do not easily
give away their clothes. A popular app would make this easier.
References
Algemeen Dadblad. (2016, 8 december). Natasja hangt sjaals op om daklozen
warme winter te bezorgen. Geraadpleegd van
http://www.ad.nl/binnenland/natasja-hangt-sjaals-op-om-daklozen-warme-winter-
te-bezorgen~a06ae8c0/
Baas, T. (2017, 21 januari). Politiek heeft steeds meer oog voor milieu.
Geraadpleegd van https://www.bnr.nl/nieuws/duurzaamheid/10316887/partijen-
kunnen-steeds-moeilijker-om-milieu-heen
Fashionchick. (2016, 27 september). Danique van MUD jeans: 'Het is een soort
Netflix, maar dan voor jeans.'. Geraadpleegd van
https://www.fashionchick.nl/fashionnews/danique-van-mud-jeans-het-is-een-soort-
netflix-maar-dan-voor-jeans/7118.html
Het Financieele Dagblad. (2016, 23 december). Potentieel deeleconomie neemt
toe. Geraadpleegd van https://fd.nl/economie-politiek/1180698/potentiel-
deeleconomie-neemt-toe
Mechelen, T. van. (2017, 7 februari). Kleren van oceaanafval en vissenleer:
stijlvolle en betaalbare duurzame mode-initiatieven. Geraadpleegd van
http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/40/Style/article/detail/3074627/2017/02/07/Kleren-van-
oceaanafval-en-vissenleer-stijlvolle-en-betaalbare-duurzame-mode-
initiatieven.dhtml
RTL Z. (2016, 20 januari). Waarom kleding kopen als je ook kunt delen?
Geraadpleegd van http://www.rtlz.nl/life/waarom-kleding-kopen-als-je-ook-kunt-
delen
Sharewear. (2016). A collaborative collection to share. Geraadpleegd van
http://sharewear.se/
Singles Site. (2017, 13 februari). Niet alles draait om geld. Geraadpleegd van
http://www.singlessite.nl/niet-alles-draait-om-geld/
Wagemans, M. (2017, 23 januari). Mishandelde olifanten krijgen trui tegen de
kou. Geraadpleegd van http://www.nationalgeographic.nl/artikel/mishandelde-
olifanten-krijgen-trui-tegen-de-kou

Pictures
Algemeen Dadblad. (2016, 8 december). Natasja hangt sjaals op om daklozen
warme winter te bezorgen [Foto]. Geraadpleegd van
http://www.ad.nl/binnenland/natasja-hangt-sjaals-op-om-daklozen-warme-winter-
te-bezorgen~a06ae8c0/
Demkes, E. (2016, 13 juli). Jaarlijks meer dan een miljoen kledingstukken
vernietigd [Foto]. Geraadpleegd van https://www.oneworld.nl/jaarlijks-meer-dan-
een-miljoen-kledingstukken-vernietigd
Fashionchick. (2016, 27 september). Danique van MUD jeans: 'Het is een soort
Netflix, maar dan voor jeans.' [Foto]. Geraadpleegd van
https://www.fashionchick.nl/fashionnews/danique-van-mud-jeans-het-is-een-soort-
netflix-maar-dan-voor-jeans/7118.html