In New Zealand, 234,000 tonnes of textiles are passed on by their owners each year, a 2020 report found, and only a tiny fraction (0.3 percent) find a new home - the rest go to landfill.

However, Wastebusters Slow Fashion Report 2022 highlights this community’s passion for caring for, sharing and repairing their clothes, and their desire for more mindful shopping, Wastebusters project manager Sophie Ward says.

The report was informed by an online survey which ran from February 14 to March 31 during Wastebusters’ annual focus on slow fashion: The art of choosing well, making it last, repairing and wearing. 

Wastebusters project manager Sophie Ward said there was an amazing response to the survey, with 104 people taking part.

“We discovered many people choose quality over quantity (66 percent), buy less (46 percent), shop second hand (45 percent), and take great care of their clothes (25 percent) to reduce their environmental impact,” Sophie said.

A strong theme of second hand shopping and donating was evident throughout. 

“This reflects Wastebusters presence in Wānaka and Alexandra for the last 22 years. The combination of reuse shops and zero waste education has resulted in reuse becoming part of the social norm,” Sophie said.

Respondents shared their slow fashion stories, celebrating their clothes, whether it was something they cherished because it had been handed down, or simply because it was good quality so it had stood the test of time.

Among the oldest items still going strong were a velvet cape from the late 1800s, a dinner suit made in 1937 and a lace party dress circa 1931.

“Thanks to everybody who took part in the survey and shared their slow fashion stories, helping to bring awareness to the issues of fashion consumption and waste. We loved reading about the textile treasures you’ve held on to over the years and the reasons why,” Sophie said.

She also thanked Queenstown Lakes District Council for providing Wastebusters with the support and funding needed to produce an in depth report on the findings.

Read the full report here.

PHOTO: Supplied