Last Day of Repair What We Wear Month

 

During October 2025, we have focused on how to repair clothes as a way of reducing clothing waste. Look back over all the posts that have been made during the month. We have covered a wide range of topics. The items shared will include how to … ideas, links to video instructions, great online articles, case studies as well as where you can get help in Canberra with repairing clothes.

We have focused on what individuals can do to reduce clothing waste. But, more needs to be done by clothing manufacturers and governments to reduce clothing waste.

One scheme to watch is Seamless Australia, which aims to deliver a program to support a coordinated national clothing collection, sorting, reuse and recycling system for Australia. It is supported by the Australian Government. It is initially funded by a 4 cents per garment levy paid by clothing brands that become members of the scheme. You can check out which companies have joined Seamless Australia here. Nina Gbor from the Australia Institute has argued that 4 cents is not enough – it should be 50 cents.

There have been calls to ban fashion advertising. A study undertaken by RMIT University found the same patterns of overconsumption and oversupply of fashion were the main drivers of textile waste in wealthy cities around the world.

Given that so much clothing waste ends up being exported to poorer countries, there have been calls to ban the export of used clothing. Much of the clothes exported to poorer countries ends up in landfill in those countries. It also destroys the clothing industries in those countries. This would force richer countries to investigate ways fo reducing clothing waste in their countries.

 

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