On the photo: A woman works in the Hualida clothing factory in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, 14 November 2023
One of the world's few physical centers for renting worn and new clothing, the "big shared wardrobe" in Amsterdam addresses garment waste and fashion industry pollution.
Hundreds of brightly colored pants, jackets, and overalls are categorized by brand or style and tagged with sale prices or daily rental rates.
Depending on the customer's loyalty—how frequently they hire garments and how many they borrow—the daily rental charge ranges from 50 euro cents ($0.55) to a couple of euros.
The 37-year-old NGO campaign manager Cakir finds the idea "just really good".
"So many clothes are bought and never worn," she told AFP.
"This is an excellent way to wear new clothes without depleting the planet," said Cakir.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a foundation that fights waste and pollution, estimates that a truckload of garments is burned or buried internationally every second.
The textile sector is a major polluter, contributing 2-8% of world carbon emissions (UN, 2022). According to the UN, the average consumer now buys 60% more apparel than 15 years ago and keeps each item for half as long in the fast fashion period.
One quarter of global water pollution and a third of microplastic discharges—toxic to fish and humans—are caused by fashion. This inspired Elisa Jansen to start "LENA, the fashion library" in a chic central Amsterdam neighborhood with her two sisters and a friend.
We opened in 2014—why? She told AFP that fashion is one of the most polluting businesses. - 'Try before you purchase' - The library offers online access and drop-off and collection stations in other Dutch cities. "New outfits always. Healthy for Earth. Vary your style. Try before you buy "sums up LENA's attitude on a poster over its counter and washing machines.
Jansen "always worked in recycling clothes" since starting her profession at antique shops. The vintage company didn't let her buy new goods, and she considered the look too uniform.
"That's when I got the idea of sharing clothes in a massive shared wardrobe," stated. For 10 euros, customers may rent or buy garments from the collection. Jansen acknowledges that not all 6,000 members borrow regularly. She prioritizes excellent clothing and prefers long-lasting brands.
She replied, "You won't find any fast fashion here," alluding to inexpensive clothes that are thrown away after a few wears. Jansen called LENA "really one of the first of its kind" nine years ago.
Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Scandinavia, and Switzerland all attempted similar programs, although Jansen claimed the Scandinavian stores seemed to have closed. It took time to discover a viable company strategy, she says.
However, her stylish location now draws 25–45-year-old women "who want to make sustainable choices but who also want pretty clothes". The intended audience is 35-year-old wine blogger India Donisi.
"It's very convenient," she claimed, trying on an "extravagant" bright pink jacket.
Donisi rents clothes from the library for media appearances, but she lives nearby and wouldn't cross town. Jansen hopes her idea inspires.
"I believe this is the future. She stated our consumption must change. "I hope other clothing brands will even do it themselves ... so you always have the option to borrow if you don't want to buy." /BGNES