The circular economy and sustainable fashion: what are we talking about?

You know the drill: at Aatise la Mode, we don't just think beautiful, we also think good. That's why, in this article, we've set out to tackle the complex and fascinating subject of the circular economy.

It's not our intention here to give you an overly technical or in-depth presentation of the subject. Many articles already exist, and they do it better than we do! But our aim in writing this post is to make it easier for you to grasp these concepts and make them your own.

Let's begin our explanations with a quick definition of the concept: adhering to the circular economy means going beyond the usual linear economic mode, i.e. “extract - manufacture - consume - throw away”. This is achieved through “sober” and more responsible consumption, with the use of natural resources, for example. Put simply, promoting the circular economy means limiting the waste of resources and the impact on the environment.

If you'd like to find out more about this growing concept, and maybe even take part in it, just put on your glasses!

Natural resources: preservation and optimization

Consumer society has mutated since the Industrial Revolution, and has continued to grow ever since. In recent years, this phenomenon, as applied to fashion, has been transformed into a frenzied consumerism known as Fast Fashion. This detrimental trend has forced us to rethink the management of and access to raw materials, because our natural resources are not infinite!

Many studies, including one by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), have shown that at this rate, there will be no more resources available by 2050. So, to put it simply, taking care of our beloved planet has now become an imperative!

What's the circular economy all about?

The circular economy is not just a set of defined actions, but also a concept and a way of thinking about consumption and production. More clearly, it means trying to prevent or minimize the squandering of natural materials in favor of better use and consumption. To achieve this, we need to increase the efficiency of resource use and, of course, reduce environmental impact. And since there's no such thing as a small action, we're counting on you!

Ecodesign is part of the circular economy concept, and at Aatise we're proud to be part of it. The idea is to take into account the product's entire life cycle, minimizing its environmental impact right from the design stage.

So don't just think about the evening when you'll be able to show off in your gorgeous Zoalie dress from Aatise, but (also) think about the fact that it's made from viscose and won't affect the planet's future. Good and beautiful, we say! We think it's really cool, don't you?

Aatise and the circular economy:

At Aatise, we think and work within this circular logic, favoring natural, recycled, biodegradable or compostable materials and, of course, Slow Fashion. It's with this in mind, for example, that we use Lyocell for some of our creations, a natural fiber extracted from wood pulp that's non-polluting because it's obtained from a closed-circuit process.

We also use recycled polyester yarns or laser-printed, ink-free fabric scraps for our labels. Last but not least, our 100% linen T-shirts are compostable because they're made from cotton yarns, not polyester (see the proof in pictures on our Instagram story, here). And these are just a few examples!

As you can see, we're fully committed to the Slow Fashion concept, so that you can buy better and more beautiful clothes: thanks to CrowdFashion, you can design your clothes with us, but also limit waste and losses with a pre-order system. Isn't that nice?

Here's a small overview of the actions we, the Aatiseuses, are taking to help the planet and take part in this global and benevolent movement that is the circular economy. How are you contributing? And how do you plan to contribute?

To find out more

Circular economy: http://www.ademe.fr/expertises/economie-circulaire

Editor: Marine from Team Aatise.