The rise of the FASHION CONSCIOUS

After the Princess of Wales wore a rented gown, Woman looks at how to support sustainability in the clothing industry

We are a nation of fashion lovers, always searching for the latest trends and styles. But as many of us take steps towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle, there W is a growing appetite for a more sustainable wardrobe. And we're not the only ones.

The Princess of Wales recently wore a bright green, off-the-shoulder gown by Solace London.

The £350 dress was rented from the Hurr collective, a clothing platform that offers designer dresses on loan for a fraction of the original price. According

to Hurr, by opting to rent her gown instead of purchasing new, Kate saved the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of travelling 1,231 miles in a car or six trees being cut down.

It seems small changes can make a big difference. And it's needed - around 80 billion pieces of clothing are produced every year, yet it is estimated that 300,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in landfill or incinerators.

So can we all become more fashion-conscious?

Woman speaks to three women who are committed to creating a more circular economy.

'I WANTED MY BRAND TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION'

Nicky Elliott, 39, from Hertfordshire, is the founder of Wilder Ones an ethical (wilderones.co.uk), clothing brand.

When I started in 2021, I made a promise that my brand would be part of the solution for waste within the fashion industry and I swore that none of my clothes would ever end up in landfill.

Acrylic, nylon and polyester, all of which are types of plastic, are part of the composition of many cheap clothes. They contain petrochemicals, which are harmful to the environment, and the fibres are prone to pilling and bobbling, equating to a short shelf life.

Fibres can only be recycled

singularly, so if a garment is made from a blend of these fibres, they are difficult to extract and become destined for landfill or incineration.