Relevant: Style without waste

Problem:

The textile industry is one of the most harmful businesses facing the environment today. The amount of water used in the production of clothes is equal to what a human consumes in 10 to 20 years and 85% of the garments sold end up in landfills and garbage dumps which produce even more air and soil pollution. This materialistic industry is fueled by fast fashion. This issue is specially relevant to Chile, where 550 tons per year of textiles end up in landfills.

Idea:

Relevant is a space where people can repair or reinvent their old clothes. We will receive all kinds of clothing and footwear, in good or bad shape, in containers all over the city which will be classificated and separated. The clothes in perfect shape will be donated and the clothes in bad shape would be transformed into new clothes or other items to sell them in a Relevant shop. We can also do the link with local seamstresses for people that want to repair their old clothes.

Main Beneficiaries:

The recipients of the Relevant project will be any Chilean citizen that wants to repair one of their clothes or wishes to get rid of pieces of clothing they no longer use. On the other hand, people who want to purchase clothing with a lower ecological footprint can also benefit from the project as well as people who need clothes but don't have the resources to pay for quality items. The system of donation works by taking the clothes in good condition to communities where people can't afford to buy these clothes and offering them the opportunity to choose what they really need instead of receiving things that they don't need or want. As the project aims to reinvent the fashion industry and view clothing in a different way, any Chilean willing to change their decision making when it comes to fashion can not only benefit from unique pieces of clothing, but reduce their environmental impact. The clothing repair services in Chile have decreased significantly, which is why it becomes harder to find these facilities and people become even more discouraged to try and fix their broken items. By offering this service, we hope to work together with different seamstresses and shoemakers from the local community in order to achieve our goal and support local commerce instead of labor exploitation. Relevant will not only serve the environment, but also the working people and the various clients who will reach out for our sustainable service. By spreading awareness on this topic we can reinvent the fashion industry in our country.

Stage:

Inspiration and ideation

SDG:

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

University:

Pontificia Universidad Católica (Chile) '21