What Is Circular Fashion—and Why Should You Care?

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Tze Ching Yeung

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Welcome to the Disruptive Journal, where I share thoughts, ideas, interviews and inspirations on how to build a better, more circular business through trust, transparency, integrity and purpose.

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Hi,
I'm tze ching yeung

The fashion industry has a problem: it’s built on a linear model of take, make, waste. Materials are extracted, products are made, worn briefly, and then discarded—creating enormous environmental, social, and economic costs.

But there’s a better way. A smarter, more resilient, and more purposeful way: circular fashion.

If you’re a brand owner, understanding circular fashion is not just an ethical choice—it’s a business imperative. Here’s why.

What Is Circular Fashion?

Circular fashion is about designing products and systems that keep materials and value in use for as long as possible. Instead of ending up in landfill, garments are reused, repaired, resold, recycled, or upcycled.

Key principles of circular fashion include:

  • Design for Longevity: Products are made to last through quality materials and construction.
  • Resource Efficiency: Waste is minimized during production and distribution.
  • Recycling & Reuse: Garments can be returned, repaired, or transformed into new items.
  • Closed-Loop Systems: Materials are kept in circulation rather than discarded.

In short: circular fashion is good for the planet, good for people, and good for business.

Why Circular Fashion Matters for Your Brand

1. Build Trust and Loyalty

Customers increasingly care about the impact of their purchases. Circular fashion communicates responsibility, transparency, and authenticity—all of which foster trust.

2. Reduce Costs and Waste

By designing smarter and using materials more efficiently, you reduce overproduction and excess inventory—saving money while being more sustainable.

3. Unlock New Revenue Streams

Repair services, resale, rental models, and take-back programs can create additional income opportunities for your brand.

4. Future-Proof Your Business

Governments, investors, and consumers are pushing for sustainable practices. Brands embracing circularity are better positioned to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing market.

Simple Ways to Start Practicing Circular Fashion

Even small steps can make a big difference:

  • Offer made-to-order or limited edition collections to reduce overproduction.
  • Implement repair, resale, or take-back programs.
  • Choose durable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials.
  • Educate your customers about product care, repair, and reuse.
  • Use Digital Product Passports to communicate your product’s story and lifecycle.

Circular fashion isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress and making intentional choices that add up.

The Bigger Picture: Circularity as a Competitive Advantage

Circular fashion isn’t just a sustainability initiative—it’s a strategic business move. Brands that embrace circularity:

  • Build stronger customer relationships
  • Stand out in a crowded market
  • Reduce risk and increase resilience
  • Align with modern consumers’ values

For purpose-driven founders, circular fashion is an opportunity to lead the change while growing a profitable and meaningful brand.


Join Circular Fashion 360 and Start Your Circular Journey

If you’re ready to embrace circularity, connect with like-minded founders, and transform your brand for long-term impact, Circular Fashion 360 (CF360) is here to help.

Inside CF360, you’ll get:

  • Guidance on circular business models
  • Access to tools, experts, and community support
  • Strategies to grow profitably while reducing your environmental footprint
  • A network of purpose-driven founders and circular innovators

👉 Join Circular Fashion 360 today and start building a brand that’s future-ready, purpose-driven, and truly circular.

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Earlier today, my co-founder Dinie van den heuvel at Circular Fashion 360, sent me a post about Circ® (via The Earthshot Prize ) who secured a €150M investment in 2023 – and I felt somewhat “annoyed” and started going down the rabbit hole of finding out more about the recycling industry ie. investments vs. Impact […]

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