Resources

Whistles wanted to approach durability across different aspects of the business, having identified that making garments last longer was important to its customers, the brand and the environment. WRAP and Whistles looked at opportunities to improve the durability of clothing by ensuring customers have a positive experience when visiting Whistles stores, using the website, and when taking their clothes home.

WRAP works with governments, businesses and citizens to create a world in which resources are used sustainably. Read our April 2020-21 annual review to learn more about our mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.

Textiles take-back schemes, where customers donate unwanted clothing to retailers to be re-used or recycled, are a key part of developing a more circular fashion industry.

The Waste Prevention Programme in England for 2013 was set out in the policy paper ‘Prevention is better than cure: The role of waste prevention in moving to a more resource efficient, circular economy'. This report provides a review of the existing waste prevention programme: actions undertaken and impacts.

Increasing the utilisation of clothing is a daunting challenge in a world of ‘fast fashion’ and accelerating consumption. Many companies have responded to market demand and competition by reinforcing and enabling ‘fast fashion’ trends. 

But simply selling more new clothes to meet demand in high consuming and fast-growing economies is unsustainable. It puts more pressure on natural and human resources that are already over exploited. It will mean even greater negative impacts on the environment and society. 

Identification of and recommendations to overcome barriers to the development of post-consumer, closed loop clothing recycling in the UK.

Working with WRAP, John Lewis identified an opportunity to improve fit consistency, and reduce sampling and product development lead times, for four core men‟s shirts. Bringing quality to life and encouraging sustainable living are core principles for John Lewis. The project aimed to facilitate 'right first time' sampling by creating a set of core blocks for four John Lewis bestselling men's shirts.

F&F has made a conscious decision to be more sustainable, integrating durability into its working practices, from product design to its end of life. WRAP has been working with F&F to help make clothes look as good as new, for longer.

ASOS identified a potential risk in the product durability of blind felled hems on tailored trousers due to hem failure, i.e. falling after washing or wearing. WRAP worked with ASOS to trial a bonding seal on both menswear and womenswear tailored trousers. 

Ted Baker is taking steps to make positive long-term impacts on the durability of its clothing. By reviewing the critical paths for design and development up to production, Ted Baker saw an opportunity to refine part of its quality management process to quickly identify high-risk fabrics.

WRAP worked with COS, which is part of the H&M group, to run extended wash test trials on four different menswear Merino wool jumpers, in order to review and assess the optimal care instructions to maximise the garments’ life. 

Through regular analysis of its products’ returns data, New Look identified above average levels of returns on womenswear stretch jeans due to button attachment failure. WRAP worked with New Look to review the testing process of womenswear stretch jeans to help improve their performance, extending the life of these products.